About maketodayrock.com: We celebrate musicians' birthdays, remember those we've lost, and highlight key moments in music such a release dates, chart peak dates, or anything else tied to a specific date. Pick any day from the menu in the top right. The front page shows recent obituaries.
February 10, 1940 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Hamish Imlach born in Calcutta, British India ~ Perhaps best known for his late 1960s recording Cod Liver Oil And The Orange Juice. Though his commercial succes was limited Imlach has had a profound influence on fellow Scots such as John Martyn, Billy Connolly, and Christy Moore ~ Imlach passed away in 1996
February 10, 1940 ~ Folk rock, jazz-pop singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Kenny Rankin, full name Kenneth Joseph Rankin, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Actively recording as a solo artist since the mid 1960s, initially folk-rock and later gravitating more towards jazz-influenced work. Sessioned on Bob Dylan's 1965 Bringing It All Back Home album. Has also worked with Alan Broadbent, Mike Wofford, Bill Watrous, Michael Brecker, and Ernie Watts ~ Rankin passed away in 2009
February 10, 1937 ~ Jazz cornetist, bandleader Ed Polcer born in Paterson, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Benny Goodman, John Bunch, Bucky Pizzarelli, Slam Stewart, Al Klink, Zoot Sims, George Masso, Peter Appleyard, Teddy Wilson, Bobby Hackett, Kenny Davern, Dick Wellstood, Gene Ramey, Sonny Greer, Joe Muranyi, Herbie Nichols, Joe Venuti, Leon Redbone, Barbara Lea, Terry Blaine, Daryl Sherman, Lino Patruno, the Statesmen Of Jazz, Allan Vaché, Bill Dodd, Mark Shane, Jonathan Russell, and Judy KurtzFebruary 10, 1937 ~ Jazz singer Lee Wiley records I've Got You Under My Skin ~ Lee Wiley, backed by Victor Young & his Orchestra, records the Cole Porter-penned I've Got You Under My Skin. Originally recorded by Frances Langford with Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra. Later notable recordings would include versions by Ray Noble, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Bobby Troup, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Eric Gale, and Dionne Warwick
February 10, 1937 ~ R&B, soul singer Roberta Flack, full name Roberta Cleopatra Flack, born in Asheville, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song, both Grammy Award-winners in respectively 1973 and 1974. Debuted in 1969 with the album First Take and has recorded steadily since to critical acclaim and commercial success. Well known songs include Feel Like Makin' Love, You Are Everything and Making Love. Also scored a number of duet hits, notably The Closer I Get To You with Donny Hathaway, Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You with Peabo Bryson, and Set The Night To Music with Maxi Priest ~ Flack passed away in 2025February 10, 1935 ~ Composer, conductor Theodore Antoniou born in Athens, Greece ~ Wrote operas, choral works, chamber music, film and theater music. Worked with the Boston Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, the Torhalle Orchestra, and the National Opera Of Greece. As a composer influenced by Jani Christou, Bernd Alois Zimmermann, and Krzysztof Penderecki ~ Antoniou passed away in 2018
February 10, 1934 ~ Jazz pianist Rahn Burton born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Worked with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, George Adams, Roland Alexander, Bob Cunningham, Ricky Ford, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Carlos Garnett, Beaver Harris, Jemeel Moondoc, Charlie Rouse, Leon Thomas, Stanley Turrentine, Nicholas Simon, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Michael Carvin, Ellen Christi, Dick Griffin, and Massimo Urbani ~ Burton passed away in 2013
February 10, 1932 ~ Alton Jay Rubin, commonly known as zydeco singer, accordionist Rockin' Dopsie, born in Carencro, Louisiana, USA ~ Being left-handed played the accordion upside down. Active locally since his mid-teens, playing parties and clubs and sometimes covering R&B hits in a zydeco style. Released his Doin' The Zydeco debut album in 1976. Initially enjoyed popularity especially in Europe, also gaining attention in the USA by the early 1980s. Plays the signature accordion on That Was Your Mother of Paul Simon's quintessential Graceland album. Has also recorded with Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper ~ Rubin passed away in 1993
February 10, 1932 ~ Jazz, avant-garde jazz, jazz fusion pianist Roland Hanna, full name Roland Pembroke Hanna, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Inventive pianist with a thorough understanding of the roots of jazz. Well over a dozen albums as a leader, especially acclaimed for 1959's Easy To Love and 1974's Perugia. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Kenny Burrell, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus (Mingus Ah Uhm), Sarah Vaughan, Elvin Jones, Herbie Mann, Stanley Turrentine (Look Of Love), Ruth Brown, Freddie Hubbard (The Hub Of Hubbard), Ron Carter (All Blues), Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stéphane Grappelli, George Benson, Don Sebesky, the New York Jazz Quartet, the Mingus Dynasty (Live At The Village Vanguard), and Eddie Lockjaw Davis ~ Hanna passed away in 2002
February 10, 1932 ~ Walter Perkins, commonly known as jazz drummer Walter Baby Sweet Perkins, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Perkins started hi career in Chicago with pianist Ahmad Jamal in 1956. Recorded and performed as a leader from 1957 through 1962, including in various line-ups sidemen such as Paul Serrano, Nicky Hill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Bob Cranshaw, Willie Thomas, Frank Strozier, and Harold Mabern. Perkins then moved to New York, played with Sonny Rollins, Carmen McRae, Art Farmer, and with Teddy Wilson through the mid 1960s. From here on he would continue to play and record with a wide array of noted jazz musicians including Rahsaan Roland Kirk, George Shearing, Gene Ammons, Charles Mingus, Billy Taylor, Booker Ervin, Jaki Byard, Lucky Thompson, Pat Martino, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Criss, and Charles Earland ~ Perkins passed away in 2004February 10, 1930 ~ Jazz guitarist Shungo Sawada born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Founded the Double Beats. Founded the record label Elec in 1972. Has played with artists such as Shotaro Moriyasu, Norio Maeda, Akitoshi Igarashi, Motohiko Hino, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Thad Jones, Helen Merrill, Oscar Peterson, and Sonny Stitt ~ Sawada passed away in 2006
February 10, 1927 ~ Operatic soprano Leontyne Price, full name Mary Violet Leontyne Price, born in Laurel, Mississippi, USA ~ Rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s. First African-American to become leading performer at the Metropolitan Opera. Would go on to become one of the most acclaimed and popular classical singers of her generation. Has also sung with orchestras such as the Vienna Staatsoper, the Royal Opera House, the Chiago Lyric Opera, and the Berlin Philharmonic
February 10, 1924 ~ José Gonzaga Ferreira, commonly known as pop singer Carlos Gonzaga, born in Paraisopolis, Brazil ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name since the late 1950s, enjoying popularity in his native Brazil. Best known for his 1958 rendition of Diana, a translation of Paul Anka's Diana released a year earlier. Other well known songs include Oh Carol, Juramente De Playboy, Bat Masterson, Sereno, and Cavaleiros Do Céu ~ Gonzaga passed away in 2023
February 10, 1914 ~ Harmonica player Larry Adler, full name Lawrence Cecil Adler, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Worked in theatre, film, orchestras collaborating with Flo Ziegfield, Lew Leslie, Charles B Cochran, Paul Draper, and George Martin. Later in his career Adler also worked with pop stars such as Peter Gabriel, Oleta Adams, Elton John, Sting, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Meat Loaf, Sinéad O'Connor, Robert Palmer, Cher, Kate Bush, Elvis Costello, Courtney Pine, Issy van Randwyck, Lisa Stansfield, and Carly Simon ~ Adler passed away in 2001
February 10, 1908 ~ William Augusta Trice, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer Willie Trice, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA ~ Released only a handful of recordings, notably Come On In Here Mama and Let Her Go God Bless Her in the late 1930s, yet without commercial success ensuing. Well known locally though, playing his ragtime-influenced country blues in the 1930s and 1940s to some success. Trice would release a full-length album containing standards and originals, Blue And Rag'd, in the mid 1970s ~ Trice passed away in 1976
February 10, 1907 ~ Walter Purl Thomas, commonly known as saxophonist, flutist, arranger Walter Foots Thomas, born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known for his association with Cab Calloway, including arranging Calloway's 1931 hit Minnie The Moocher. Has also worked with Jelly Roll Morton, the Missourians, Don Redman, Coleman Hawkins, Hilton Jefferson, Eddie Barefield, Ben Webster, Budd Johnson, and Emmett Berry. Would venture into music management by the 1950s, serving as a music manager and booking agent ~ Thomas passed away in 1981
February 10, 1905 ~ William Henry Webb, commonly known as jazz, swing drummer, bandleader Chick Webb, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Influenced Buddy Rich. Leading figure of swing. One of the first bandleaders to work with Ella Fitzgerald, who sang with Webb's orchestra from the mid 1930s while still in her teens until his death at the end of the decade, notably on songs such as A-tisket A-tasket ~ Webb passed away in 1939
February 10, 1888 ~ Pianist, composer William Murdoch, full name William David Murdoch, born in Sandhurst, Australia ~ Known for his sparkling technique. By the mid-1910s considered one of the finest interpreters of Frédéric Chopin and Claude Debussy. Participated in the premieres of Edward Elgar's Violin Sonata In E Minor and Piano Quintet In A Minor. Formed the Chamber Music Players with Albert Sammons, Lauri Kennedy, and Lionel Tertis ~ Murdoch passed away in 1942
February 10, 1884 ~ Lyricist Bert Kalmar born in New York, New York, USA ~ Kalmar worked as a magician, comedian and dancer before a knee injury ended his vaudeville career. Turning to songwriting Kalmar, often partnering up with Harry Ruby, scored numerous Broadway and Hollywood musicals, notably for the Marx Brothers (Animal Crackers, Horse Feathers). Well known songs co-written by Kalmar include Who's Sorry Now, I Wanna Be Loved By You, and Nevertheless ~ Kalmar passed away in 1947February 10, 1831 ~ Pianist, composer, music publisher Peter K Moran passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Probably the earliest classical composer from Ireland to emigrate to the United States. Known for compositions such as The Carrier Pigeon, Kinlock Of Kinlock, Swiss Waltz, Stantz Waltz, and Suabian Air ~ Moran was born in 1767