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 15, 1949 ~ Singer, songwriter Billy Nicholls, full name William Morris Nicholls Jr, born in London, UK ~ Perhaps best known for I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try), notably covered by Leo Sayer, and for writing several tracks for the film McVicar including Roger Daltrey's hit Without Your Love. Has worked with a wide array of artists ranging from big band to rock including Oscar Rabin, the Squadronaires, Deep End, Pete Townshend, the Who, and the NiceFebruary 15, 1949 ~ Conductor Hans Graf born in Marchtrenk, Austria ~ Debuted at the Vienna State Opera in 1981 conducting Igor Stravinsky's Petrouchka. Would go on to work with the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Also noted as the music director of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg from 1984 through 1994, where he recorded the complete symphonies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
February 15, 1948 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Keith Gemmell born in London, UK ~ Best known as member of art rock band Audience. Also a member of the short-lived Sammy, whose sole album Sammy was produced by Deep Purple's Ian Gillan. Has also worked with Roy Young, Eddie Thornton, Rico Rodriguez, and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra ~ Gemmell passed away in 2016February 15, 1947 ~ Contemporary classical, minimalist composer, conductor John Adams, full name John Coolidge Adams, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Holds six honorary doctorates. Wrote over 60 major compositions. Best known for pieces such as Shaker Loops, Harmonielehre, Short Ride In A Fast Machine and On The Transmigration Of Souls, the latter a Pullitzer Prize-winning composition commemorating the victims of the 9/11 attacks
February 15, 1947 ~ Singer, actress Wenche Myhre, full name Wenche Synnove Myhre, born in Kjelsås, Norway ~ Sings in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and German. First gained international attention in 1968, representing Germany in the Eurovision Songfestival with the song Ein Hoch De Liebe reaching 6th place. Also known for songs such as Beiss Nicht Gleich In Jeden Apfel, Komm Allein, Er Steht Im Tor, Er Hat Ein Knallrotes Gummiboot, Eine Mark Fur Charlie and Lass Mein Knie Joe, all of which reached the German top 10
February 15, 1945 ~ Ricardo Maldonado Morales, commonly known as salsa singer, pianist, composer Richie Ray, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Half of the famed duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, the other half being Bobby Cruz. The duo would become one of the most beloved and influential salsa duo's known for songs such as Aguzate, Sonida Bestial, Amparao Arrebato, El Diferente, Mi Bandera and A Mi Manera, the latter a translation of the French song Comme D'Habitude best known in the English version as My Way recorded by Frank Sinatra
February 15, 1944 ~ Rock drummer Mick Avory, full name Michael Charles Avory, born in Hampton Court, UK ~ Member of early 1960s outfit Bobby Angelo & the Tuxedos, known for the modest UK hit Baby Sittin'. Reportedly rehearsed a number of times with what would later become the Rolling Stones. Best known as longtime member of the Kinks, joining the band briefly after its formation in 1964 replacing Micky Willet. With the exception of some early hits, such as You Really Got Me, which would generally feature session drummers Avory appeared on most of the band's best known. After his departure from the Kinks in 1984, Avory has played with the Kast Off Kinks, Shut Up Frank, and the Animals
February 15, 1941 ~ Songwriter, producer, singer Brian Holland born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ One third of renowned Motown songwriting, production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, responsible for numerous hits by artists such as Martha & the Vandellas (Heat Wave), the Andantes, the Supremes (Stop In The Name Of Love), Mary Wells, the Four Tops, the Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye (How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)), the Elgins, and Honey Cone
February 15, 1939 ~ Alvin Welch, commonly known as pop singer Alvin Cash, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Fronted Alvin Cash & the Crawlers, known for mid 1960s recordings such as the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Twine Time, The Barracuda, The Philly Freeze, and Keep On Dancing. Following the band's disbandement by the late 1960s, Cash has recorded a handful of singles as a solo artist, and acted in several blaxploitation films including Pete Wheatstraw and Black Bart ~ Welch passed away in 1999February 15, 1937 ~ Jazz pianist Kirk Lightsey born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Has worked with artists such as Yusef Lateef, Betty Carter, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Stitt, Chet Baker, Kenny Burrell, Dexter Gordon, the Leaders, Harold Danko, Jimmy Raney, Clifford Jordan, Woody Shaw, David Murray, Joe Lee Wilson, Louis Stewart, Adam Taubitz, Harold Land, Gregory Porter, Ricky Ford, Sonny Fortune, and Rufus Reid
February 15, 1924 ~ Musical composer Lionel Monckton, full name Lionel John Alexander Monckton, passed away in London, UK ~ Britain's most popular musical composer in the early 20th century. Well-known works include A Country Girl, Our Miss Gibbs, and perhaps his best known the 1909 hit The Arcadians ~ Monckton was born in 1861
February 15, 1924 ~ Antoinette Ardizzone, commonly known as singer Toni Arden, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Sang with big bands in the 1940s, including with Al Trace, Joe Reichman, Ray Bloch and Shep Fields. Turned to traditional pop starting in the early 1950s, scoring solo hits such as I'm Yours, Kiss Of Fire, Too Young, I Can Dream Can't I and perhaps her biggest hit Padre, a million-seller in 1958 ~ Arden passed away in 2012
February 15, 1918 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Hank Locklin, full name Lawrence Hankins Locklin, born in McLellan, Florida, USA ~ One of country's earliest honky tonk singers. Influential on later generations. Known for songs such as Please Help Me I'm Falling, Send Me The Pillow You Dream On, Geisha Girl, Happy Journey, and Fraulein. Locklin's songs have been covered by artists such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Roy Rogers, Dwight Yoakam, and Dean Martin ~ Locklin passed away in 2009February 15, 1916 ~ Easy listening, jazz pianist, conductor, arranger, composer Ronnie Aldrich, full name Ronald Frank Aldrich, born in Erith, UK ~ Prolific pianist recording extensively from the 1940s onwards, notably with his orchestra the Squadronaires. Also worked with the BBC Radio Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra, served as musical director at Thames Television and is perhaps best known as musical director of Benny Hill Show ~ Aldrich passed away in 1993
February 15, 1915 ~ Jazz trumpeter Taft Jordan born in Florence, South Carolina, USA ~ Started with the Washboard Rhythm Kings. Well-known for his stint with Chick Webb, serving in Webb's orchestra for about a decade starting in the early 1930s. As a leader best known for his 1961 album Taft Jordan Plays Duke Ellington. Also present on albums by Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Big Joe Turner, Miles Davis (Sketches Of Spain), and Louis Armstrong ~ Jordan passed away in 1981
February 15, 1907 ~ Organist, composer Jean Langlais, full name Jean François-Hyacinthe Langlais III, born in La Fontenelle, France ~ Served as church organist for the the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris from 1945 until 1988, a post previously held by César Franck and Charles Tournemire. In-demand concert organist, touring extensively across Europe and America. Prolific composer, mainly of choral music yet has also written orchestral works and chamber music, and best known for his masses Messe Solennelle, Missa Salve Regina and Missa In Simplicitate ~ Langlais passed away in 1991
February 15, 1905 ~ Hyman Arluck, commonly known as songwriter Harold Arlen, born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing several songs for the 1939 film Wizard Of Oz with lyricist Yip Harburg including Over The Rainbow. Arlen wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs, some of its best known include That Old Black Magic (Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald), I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (Lillian Shade, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke), Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (Aida Ward, Louis Armstrong, Carmen McRae), Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive (Johnny Mercer, Bing Crosby, Ella Mae Morse), Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (Ruby Hill, Pearl Bailey, Barbra Streisand), Let's Take The Long Way Home (Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore, the Ames Brothers), and One For My Baby And One More For The Road (Lena Horne, Fred Astaire, Harry Belafonte) ~ Arluck passed away in 1986
February 15, 1893 ~ Songwriter Walter Donaldson born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Popular songwriter of the 1910s through the 1940s, addding several classics to the Great American Songbook. Songs written or co-written by Donaldson include Did I Remember (Tommy Dorsey, Patti Page, Nancy Wilson), At Sundown When Love Is Calling Me (Bert Kaplan, Mildred Bailey, Teresa Brewer), My Baby Just Cares For Me (Ted Weems, Count Basie, Nina Simone), Love Me Or Leave Me (Ruth Etting, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee), Yes Sir That's My Baby (Gene Austin, Jack Hylton, Nat King Cole) ~ Donaldson passed away in 1947