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 12, 1946 ~ Singer, actress Ajda Pekkan, full name Ayse Ajda Pekken, born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ With a career spanning five decades one of the most popular female singers in Turkish pop selling over 15 million records. Considered by some the Turkish Cher for her longevity and her status as an icon in the Turkish gay scene
February 12, 1946 ~ Joseph Edward Schermetzler, commonly known as rock bassist Joe Schermie born in Madison, Wisconsin, USA ~ Original member of Three Dog Night, leaving the band in 1973 and present on most of the band's hits including One, Mama Told Me (Not To Come) and Joy To The World. Subsequently founded SS Fools which also included Chuck Negron and Bobby Kimball. Has also worked with Stephen Stills, and Yvonne Elliman ~ Schermetzler passed away in 2002
February 12, 1944 ~ Marion Franklin Bandy Jr, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Moe Bandy born in Meridian, Mississippi, USA ~ Frequent collaborator of Joe Stampley. Known for a string of 1970s, 1980s country hits ranging from rowdy anthems to sentimental tongue-in-cheek including It Was Always So Easy To Find An Unhappy Woman, Hank Williams (You Wrote My Life), Two Lonely People, I Cheated Me Right Out Of You, Rodeo Romeo, She's Not Really Cheatin' (She's Just Gettin' Even and perhaps his best known Bandy The Rodeo ClowenFebruary 12, 1941 ~ Jazz, rock drummer, actor Bruno Lawrence, full name David Charles Lawrence, born in Worthing, UK ~ Founded Blerta in the early 1970s, a theatrical co-operative touring New Zealand and Australia. Has also worked with Max Merritt & the Meteors, Quincy Conserve, and the Crocodiles. Also well known as an actor for TV, short films, and feature films, notably in the 1981 Smash Palace drama ~ Lawrence passed away in 1995
February 12, 1939 ~ Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr, commonly known as keyboardist Ray Manzarek, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Doors, staying with the band from its inception in 1965 till shortly after lead singer Jim Morrison's death in 1973. Co-founding member of the short-lived Nite City in the late 1970s. Performed and recorded with Doors-bandmate Robby Krieger under the moniker Manzarek-Krieger from 2001 until his death in 2013. Also worked as a contributing collaborator and as a producer with artists such as Iggy Pop, Echo & the Bunnymen, trumpeter Piotr Bal, Beat Generation poet Michael McClure, Darryl Read, and notably with punk rockers X, producing the latter's first four albums ~ Manczarek passed away in 2013February 12, 1938 ~ Martinho José Ferreira, commonly known as singer, songwriter Martinho de Vila, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Over 40 albums to his name. Considered of the leading figures in samba. Had his songs recorded by Nana Moskouri, Ornella Vanoni, Katia Guerreiro, Rosario Flores. Has collaborated with Zeca Pagodinho, Arlindo Cruz, Chico Buarque, Beth Carvalho, Noel Rosa, and Alcione Nazareth
February 12, 1937 ~ Keyboardist, trombonist, producer Larry Muhoberac, full name Lawrence Gordon Muhoberac Jr, born in Louisiana, USA ~ Best known as the original keyboardist in Elvis Presley's latter day backing unit the TCB Band. Replaced by Glen Dee Hardin in 1970. Would go on to play with Neil Diamond, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Ray Conniff, Barbra Streisand, arrange and conduct for Seals & Crofts (including on the albums Summer Breeze and Diamond Girl) and the Archers, and relocate to Australia in the mid-1980s where Muhoberac would work with artists such as Keith Urban, Rick Price, Grace Knight, Silverchair, and Col Joye ~ Muhoberac passed away in 2016
February 12, 1935 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Gene McDaniels born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ As a singer known for early 1960s hits such as A Hundred Pounds Of Clay and Tower Of Strength. As a songwriter McDaniels is best known for the jazz-soul protest song Compared To What, made famous by Roberta Flack and also recorded by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, Ray Charles, Della Reese, John Legend, the Roots, and Sweetwater. In the 1970s McDaniels turned to producing working with artists such as Gladys Knight, Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Smith, the Floaters, and Jennifer Rush ~ McDaniels passed away in 2011
February 12, 1928 ~ Producer, bandleader, arranger, songwriter Vincent Montana Jr born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Sometimes referred to as “the Godfather of Disco”. Founding member of MFSB. Founding member of the Salsoul Orchestra. Active since the late 1940s, initially working with jazz giants such as Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, and Red Garland, later venturing into R&B and pop with artists such as Frankie Avalon (Venus), Chubby Checker, and Bobby Rydell. Teamed up with Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell by the 1970s to play a key role in the development of disco. Has worked with the Intruders, the Delfonics, the Spinners, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O'Jays, the Trammps, Eddie Kendricks, William DeVaughn, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, the Stylistics, and Teddy Pendergrass ~ Montana passed away in 2013
February 12, 1926 ~ Marion Childers, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, composer Buddy Childers, born in Belleville, Illinois, USA ~ Playing professionally since age 16, hired by Stan Kenton in 1942 for the position of lead trumpeter. Would go on to become a respected bandleader and collaborator working with a host of artists from jazz and other idioms well into the 1990s including Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Charlie Barnet, the Monkees, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Captain & Tennille, Barry Manilow, Laura Nyro, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Ray Charles, Charlie Parker, Maynard Ferguson, Art Pepper, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Lalo Schifrin, and Henry Mancini ~ Childers passed away in 2007February 12, 1923 ~ Art Mardigian, commonly known as jazz drummer Art Mardigan, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Active since the 1940s. Perhaps most noted for forming the first house band at the Blue Bird Inn jazz club in Detroit, Michigan, in the late 1940s with Phil Hill and Abe Woodly. Has toured with Woody Herman, and Pete Rugolo, and appears on recordings by the likes of Wardell Gray (Tenor Sax), Dexter Gordon, Annie Ross, Jimmy Raney, Stan Getz, Chris Connor (Sings Lullabies Of Birdland), and Fats Navarro (Nostalgia) ~ Mardigian passed away in 1977
February 12, 1923 ~ Melvin Epstein, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer, arranger Mel Powell, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Has worked with Bobby Hackett, George Brunies, Zutty Singleton, and notably Benny Goodman while still in his teens. Arranged Goodman tunes such as The Earl, Mission To Moscow, Clarinade, and Jersey Bounce. As a leader especially acclaimed for his 1942 The World Is Waiting album. From the early 1950s onwards, after studying with Paul Hindemith, Powell diverted his attention to classical music and only occasionally worked in jazz. As a composer best known for his Duplicates (A Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra), earning him a Pullitzer Prize in 1990 ~ Epstein passed away in 1998February 12, 1921 ~ Jazz saxophonist, bandleader Hans Koller born in Vienna, Austria ~ Worked with Freddie Brocksieper, Albert Mangelsdorff, Jutta Hipp, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Russo, Lee Konitz, Stan Kenton, Eddie Sauter, Benny Goodman, Attila Zoller, Oscar Pettiford, Kenny Clarke, Wes Montgomery, Martial Solal, Jimmy Pratt, the Norddeutscher Rundfunk, and the International Brass Company ~ Koller passed away in 2003
February 12, 1920 ~ Guitarist, bassist Bill Pitman, full name William Keith Pitman, born in Belleville, New Jersey, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Christian and Eddie Lang. Got his first big break backing Peggy Lee in the early 1950s. Would work mostly in jazz throughout most of the decade, backing artists such as Mel Tormé, Buddy Rich, Red Callender. Ventured into pop and rock & roll by the mid- to late 1950s, aligning himself with a loose group of first-call session musicians dubbed the Wrecking Crew. Present on some of the era's most influential songs by acts such as Frank Sinatra (Strangers In The Night), Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys (Good Vibrations), Jan & Dean, Elvis Presley, the Ronettes (Be My Baby), the Mamas & the Papas, the Byrds, Bobby Darin, the Ventures, and Nancy Sinatra ~ Pitman passed away in 2022
February 12, 1920 ~ Abraham Shadrinsky, commonly known as producer, label owner Bob Shad, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Produced artists such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Smokey Hogg, Peppermint Harris, Curley Weaver, Sarah Vaughan, Maynard Ferguson, Clifford Brown, Max Roach, Billy Eckstine, Dinah Washington, Patti Page, Vic Damone, the Platters, Big Bill Broonzy, Shelly Manne, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Haynes, Blue Mitchell, Buddy Terry, Pete Yellon, Big Brother & the Holding Company (1967's Big Brother & the Holding Company), and Ted Nugent ~ Shadrinsky passed away in 1985
February 12, 1915 ~ Lyon Himan Green, actor, singer, commonly known as Lorne Greene, born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Best known as an actor, specifically in the roles of Ben Cartwright in the NBC TV series Bonanza and Commander Adama in the ABC series Battlestar Galactica. As a singer, Greene is best known for Ringo, a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 in 1964 ~ Green passed away in 1987
February 12, 1912 ~ Saxophonist Paul Bascomb born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Bama State Collegians, at the height of their fame led by Erskine Hawkins, and well known for hits such as Tuxedo Junction. The band also included his brother, trumpeter Dud Bascomb. Bascomb would remain with the band through the mid 1940s, apart from a brief interval in the late 1930s, where he played with Count Basie ~ Bascomb passed away in 1986
February 12, 1911 ~ Producer, label executive Steve Sholes, full name Stephen Henry Sholes, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Executive and staff producer at RCA-Victor. Signed, produced artists such as Eddy Arnold, the Browns, Hank Locklin, Homer & Jethro, Hank Snow, Jim Reeves, Pee Wee King, and perhaps most notably Elvis Presley ~ Sholes passed away in 1968
February 12, 1907 ~ Gospel singer, pianist, songwriter Roberta Martin, full name Roberta Evelyn Martin, born in Helena, Arkansas, USA ~ Co-founded the Martin Frye Quartet with the help of Reverend Thomas A Dorsey. The group would be renamed to the Roberta Martin Singers by the mid 1930s and set the standard for future gospel choirs and become known for hits such as Only A Look, Try Jesus He Satisfies and Grace. Martin would be influential on artists such as Albertina Walker, James Cleveland and Alex Bradford, the latter two starting their careers in Martin's group ~ Martin passed away in 1969
February 12, 1903 ~ Baritone opera singer, actor Todd Duncan, full name Robert Todd Duncan, born in Danville, Kentucky, USA ~ Played the role of Porgy in the original 1935 production of George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess. One of the first African-Americans to sing with a major opera company, namely the New York City Opera in 1945, performing the role of Tonio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. Sang the first version of Unchained Melody, written by Alex North and Hy Zaret, for the 1955 film Unchained. It would be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and be covered by numerous others, perhaps most notably the Righteous Brothers in 1965 ~ Duncan passed away in 1998February 12, 1896 ~ Composer Ambroise Thomas, full name Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas, passed away in Paris, France ~ Best remembered for his 1866 Mignon and his 1868 Hamlet operas. His work would be neglected during most of the 20th century but in more recent decades have gained new attention and appreciation ~ Thomas was born in 1811
February 12, 1885 ~ Ragtime, march, waltz pianist, organist, bandleader, composer, arranger James Scott, full name James Sylvester Scott, born in Neosho, Missouri, USA ~ Along with Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb regarded as one of the most important composers of ragtime. Known for songs such as Frog Legs Rag, Grace & Beauty, Sunburst Rag, Ragtime Oriole and perhaps his best known Climax Rag ~ Scott passed away in 1938