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 11, 1942 ~ Gospel, R&B singer Otis Clay born in Waxhaw, Mississippi, USA ~ Sang in a number of gospel groups, including the Golden Jubilaires, the Famous Blue Jay Singers, the Holy Wonders, and the Pilgrim Harmonizers, before turning to secular music. As a solo artist known for songs such as That's How It Is When You're In Love, Lasting Love, She's About A Mover, Hard Working Woman, Is It Over, Trying To Live My Life Without You, If I Could Reach Out, and All Because Of Your Love ~ Clay passed away in 2016February 11, 1942 ~ Anthony George Chalk, commonly known as keyboardist, singer, producer Tony Colton born in Tunbridge, UK ~ Member of Heads Hands & Feet, known for a handful of early 1970s album starting with their eponymous Heads Hands & Feet debut album released in 1971. The band has served as opening act for Deep Purple in early 1971. Colton and bandmate Ray Smith also co-wrote and co-produced for artists such as Richard Harris and Shirley Bassey, and notably wrote and performed the soundtrack for the 1970 BBC documentary The World Of Georgie Best ~ Chalk passed away in 2020
February 11, 1941 ~ Pianist, bandleader, songwriter Sérgio Mendes, full name Sérgio Santos Mendes, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Jazz and funk-infused bossa nova. Over 50 albums to his name starting in the early 1960s. Especially acclaimed for the 1966 Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 album. Best known for his breakthrough hit Mas Qua Nada ~ Mendes passed away in 2024
February 11, 1939 ~ Gerald Goffin, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Gerry Goffin, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Half of the Goffin & King songwriter duo, the other half being his wife singer, songwriter Carole King, known for songs such as Will You Love Me Tomorrow for the Shirelles, Take Good Care Of My Baby for Bobby Vee, Go Away Little Girl for Steve Lawrence, and The Loco-motion for Little Eva. After their divorce Goffin collaborated with songwriters such as Barry Goldberg and Michael Masser, writing hits such as Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) for Diana Ross and Saving All My Love For You for Whitney Houston. Others who have recorded Goffin's songs include Tony Orlando, Billy Fury, the Chiffons, the Cookies, Herman's Hermits, the Animals, Maxine Brown, Dusty Springfield, the Byrds, Aretha Franklin, the Monkees, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, and George Benson ~ Goffin passed away in 2014February 11, 1939 ~ Soul, R&B, gospel singer Liz Lands, full name Elizabeth Lands, born in Georgia Sea Islands, Georgia, USA ~ Scouted by Berry Gordy Jr, though never recorded much on his Motown label. Best known for her 1963 May What He Lived For Live single, the song included in the memorial for president John F Kennedy at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Lands would also perform the song at the 1968 funeral of the reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Lands would record only sporadically after that and never became a household name despite general praise for her five octave vocal range ~ Lands passed away in 2013
February 11, 1935 ~ Vincent Eugene Craddock, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Gene Vincent, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Iconic rock & roll, rockabilly singer backed by the Blue Caps, which at times included rhythm guitarist Willie Williams, bassist Jack Neal, drummer Dickie Harrell, and guitarist Cliff Gallup. Best known for writing and first recording the rock & roll classic Be-bop-a-lula in 1956 ~ Craddock passed away in 1971February 11, 1932 ~ Classical pianist Jerome Lowenthal born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Debuted as solo pianist at age 13 with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Has also worked with the New York Philharmonic, Leonard Statkin, Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Leopold Stokowski, Ursula Oppens, the Avalon Quartet, and the Shanghai Quartet
February 11, 1931 ~ Jazz trombonist Bobby Lamb born in Cork, Ireland ~ Worked with Teddy Foster, Jack Parnell, Ted Heath, Charlie Barnet, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, the BBC Show Band, Cyril Stapleton, the BBC Radio Orchestra, Ray Premru, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Kenny Clare, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Johnny Harris, Kenny Wheeler, Johnny Mercer, Laurie Johnson, Sacha Distel, and Tubby Hayes
February 11, 1928 ~ Trombonist, actor Conrad Janis born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for playing the role of Frederick McConnell, Mindy's father on the sitcom Mork & Mindy. As a musician known for keeping traditional jazz alive working with James P Johnson, Henry Goodwin, Edmond Hall, and Baby Dodds ~ Janis passed away in 2022February 11, 1925 ~ Louis Armand Aristide Bruand, commonly known as cabaret singer, comedian, songwriter Aristide Bruant, passed away in Paris, France ~ Credited as pioneer of the chanson réliste genre. Nightclub owner, known for insulting his upper-class audience clubbing in Montmartre. Well known songs include Nini Peau D'Chien, Le Chat Noir and Les Mômes De La Cloche, many of his songs considered part of the French cultural canon ~ Bruand was born in 1851
February 11, 1922 ~ Robert Kahakalau, commonly known as bassist, arranger Bob Carter, born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Son of a vaudeville performer, Carter played in local orchestras and led his own trio from the mid 1930s through the mid 1940s before moving to New York around the end of World War II. Here he played in various groups with artists such as Tony Scott, Dizzy Gillespie. Charlie Parker, Stuff Smith, and Charlie Shavers. He would continue with stints backing Allen Eager, Max Roach, Charlie Ventura, Benny Goodman, Johnny Smith (including on Jazz At NBC and The Johnny Smith Quintet featuring Stan Getz), and Bobby Hackett. In the 1960s he worked in Germany in Kurt Edelhagen's orchestra. Carter did little playing after the 1960s ~ Kahakalau passed away in 1993
February 11, 1918 ~ Producer, music executive Wesley Rose born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Son of songwriter Fred Rose. Followed in his father's footsteps joining music publishers Acuff/Rose Music in 1945, a publishing company founded by his father and Roy Acuff. Incremental in the creation of the Country Music Association. First publisher to serve on the Board of Directors of the ASCAP ~ Rose passed away in 1990
February 11, 1914 ~ Piedmont blues, country blues singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, civil rights activist Josh White, full name Joshua Daniel White, born in Greenville, South Carolina, USA ~ Trailblazer bluesman since the early 1930s, responsible for introducing white audiences to folk-blues. First black musician to perform at the White House in 1941, and a personal favorite of the Roosevelts. Known for songs such as Evil Hearted Me, I'm A Mean Mistreater, and Timber. Slandered during the McCarthy era as a communist for his political songs, which seriously hindered his career. Hugely influential on numerous artists including Pete Seeger, Alexis Korner, Elvis Presley, Merle Travis, Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Blind Boy Fuller, Lena Horne, and Ray Charles ~ White passed away in 1969
February 11, 1914 ~ Singer, pianist, bandleader, arranger, songwriter Matt Dennis, full name Matthew Loveland Dennis, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Active since the early 1930s. Served as pianist and singer in Horace Heidt's orchestra. Vocal coach, accompanist for Martha Tilton. Best known for his association with Tommy Dorsey, writing a number of early 1940s hits for Dorsey including Everything Happens To Me, Let's Get Away From It All, Will You Still Be Mine, and Violets For Your Furs ~ Dennis passed away in 2002February 11, 1911 ~ Bandleader, singer Art Mooney, full name Arthur Joseph Mooney, born in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA ~ Enjoyed success in the 1940s and 1950s with songs such as I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover, Baby Face, and Nuttin' For Christmas. His 1955 Honey-Babe million-seller would be used in the motion picture Battle Cry ~ Mooney passed away 1993
February 11, 1909 ~ Robert Hanley Casey, commonly known as jazz double bassist, guitarist Bob Casey, born in Johnson County, Illinois, USA ~ Regarded as a technically fine bassist, guitarist, in part due to his virtue on his first instrument, the banjo. First gained attention in the late 1920s, backing artists such as Joe Gill and Joe Reichman. After relocating to Chicago, Casey spent most of the 1930s working with Wingy Manone, the King's Jesters, Muggsy Spanier, Gus Arnheim, and Charlie Spivak. From the 1940s onwards, Casey worked in New York, teaming up with the likes of Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett, and Art Hodes ~ Casey passed away in 1986February 11, 1903 ~ Singer Antonio Machín, full name Antonio Abad Lugo Machín, born in Sagua la Grande, Cuba ~ Perhaps best known for his 1930 rendition of El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor), recorded with Don Azpiazú's orchestra. It would become the first recording for a Cuban artist to sell a million copies ~ Machín passed away in 1977
February 11, 1900 ~ Jazz singer Aida Ward born in Washington DC, USA ~ Popular 1920s, 1930s singer known for her performances on Broadway and in the Cotton Club. Worked with Adelaide Hall, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway. First to introduce the often covered Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea and I've Got The World On A String ~ Ward passed away in 1984
February 11, 1882 ~ Fiddler, percussionist, composer Joe Jordan, full name Joseph Taylor Jordan, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with the Taborian Band, Tom Turpin, Sam Patterson, Louis Chavin, Bob Cole, Rosamond Johnson, Ernest Hogan, James Reese Europe, the Chocolate Drops, Jabbo Smith, Garvin Bushell, James P Johnson, Fats Waller, Porter Grainger, Asadate Dafora, and WC Handys ~ Jordan passed away in 1971
February 11, 1795 ~ Composer, poet Carl Michael Bellman passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Central figure in Swedish songs tradition and remains a powerful influence in Swedish music and literature. Mixed classical references with comic lyrics both regretting and celebrating sordid drinking and prostitution. Best known for two collections of poems set to music, namely Fredman's Songs and Fredma's Epistles ~ Bellman was born in 1740