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 16, 1956 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Marcus Turner, full name Marcus William Turner, born in Roxburgh, New Zealand ~ Member of High Country. Co-founding member of the Chaps. Also known for two solo albums, 1983's The Best Is Yet To Come and 2005's Laid Down, showcasing both tongue-in-cheek comedy and sensitive introspective songs ~ Turner passed away in 2016
February 16, 1956 ~ Conductor, composer Thomas Sleeper born in Wagoner, Oklahoma, USA ~ In-demand guest conductor, has worked with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Central Philharmonic Of China, the San Juan Symphony Orchestra, and the Ruse State Philharmonic. Closely associated with the Frost Symphony Orchestra and the Florida Youth Orchestra, serving as the latter's director from 1993 through 2020 ~ Sleeper passed away in 2022
February 16, 1954 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Jeff Clayton born in Venice, California, USA ~ Brother of bassist John Clayton, with whom he also worked under the moniker the Clayton Brothers. Founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with drummer Jeff Hamilton. In-demand sideman and session musician. Worked with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Ethan Smith, Lena Horne, Thad Jones, Gene Harris, Dianne Reeves, Joe Cocker, BB King, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, and Madonna ~ Clayton passed away in 2020
February 16, 1952 ~ Singer James Ingram born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits I Don't Have The Heart and Baby Come To Me, the latter a duet with Patti Austin. Also known for duetting with Linda Ronstadt on Somewhere Out There, with Melissa Manchester on Brightest Star, and with Dolly Parton on The Day I Fall In Love. In-demand collaborator and backing singer, present on albums by Donna Summer, Ray Charles, Anita Baker, Viktor Lazlo, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, and Quincy Jones ~ Ingram passed away in 2019February 16, 1952 ~ Synth-pop, electronica, punk-pop singer, keyboardist Tracy Howe, full name Tracy Marlowe Howe, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Member of the Normals. Drummer, singer in Heaven Seventeen, one of the first punk bands to use synthesizers. Member of Men Without Hats. Best known as member of the Rational Youth, which he co-founded with Bill Vorn, considered to be one of the first Canadian synth-pop groups. Married to percussionist Gaenor Howe, bandmate in Youth
February 16, 1949 ~ Singer Lyn Paul born in Manchester, UK ~ Rose to fame in the early 1970s as member of the New Seekers, including as lead vocalist on Beg Steal Or Borrow which reached 2nd place in the 1972 Eurovision Songfestival. Also present on songs such as You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me, I Get A Little Sentimental Over You, and I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony). Paul left the group in 1974 to pursue a solo career. Has recorded and performed as a solo artist and has collaborated with Andy Williams, Dionne Warwick, and Liza Minnelli
February 16, 1948 ~ Electro, synth-pop keyboardist, organist Dominique Perrier born in Champillon, France ~ Married to singer Janet Woollacott, who would join her husband in the 1990s band Stone Age. The band is known for merging electro, Celtic and Breton influences. Previously Perrier co-founded electro, synth-pop act Space Art with whom he recorded three albums from 1977 through 1980, and has worked with Christophe, Louis Deprestige, the Gipsy Kings, and perhaps most notably Jean-Michel Jarre including on the acclaimed albums The Concerts In China and Waiting For Cousteau ~ Perrier passed away in 2023
February 16, 1945 ~ Funk, R&B singer Lenny Williams, full name Leonard Charles Williams, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA ~ Lead singer of Tower Of Power from 1972 through 1975, present on some of the band's best known songs, notably What Is Hip, and recording three albums with the funk outfit. As a solo artist known for songs such as 1977's Choosing You and 1978's Cause I Love You. Has worked with artists such as Sly Stone, Andráe Crouch, Billy Preston
February 16, 1945 ~ Bebop, West Coast jazz, hard bop saxophonist Pete Christlieb born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Played the sax solos on Steely Dan's Deacon Blues and FM (No Static At All). Has also worked with Louie Bellson, Chet Baker, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Tom Waits, Warne Marsh, Doc Severinsen, Bob Florence, Frank Mantooth, Gary Urwin, Phil Kelly, Bill Holman, the Tall & Small Band, Don Lanphere, Ernie Watts, Dick Hyde, Hadley Caliman, Wayne Bergeron, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, the Manhattan Transfer, Diane Schuur, Bobby Blue Bland, Freddie Hubbard, Carmen McRae, and Joey DeFrancescoFebruary 16, 1941 ~ Jazz bassist Jim Richardson, full name James Anthony Richardson, born in Tottenham, UK ~ Member of pioneering progressive rock, jazz-rock band If from 1969 through 1973, present on the band's first four albums. Would go on to work with Elton Dean, Keith Tippett, Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Helen Shapiro, Tommy Whittle, and the Weightwatchers
February 16, 1939 ~ Czeslaw Juliusz Wydrzycki, commonly known as rock singer, songwriter Czeslaw Niemen or mononymously as Niemen, born in Nowogrodek Voivodeship, Poland ~ Considered one of the most important Polish singers of the 20th century, noted as one of the main pillars of big beat for his early work. Over time, Niemen would also draw from progressive rock, avant-garde jazz and free improvisation. Has recorded over a dozen albums in Polish, including Enigmatic widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest Polish rock albums, one more in Russian and a few in English. Well known songs include Czy Mnie Jeszsze Pamietasz, adapted by Marlene Dietrich to Mutter Hast Du Mir Vergeben after she heard Niemen perform the song as he opened for her, and Dziwny Jest Ten Swiat which is generally acknowledged to be the most important Polish protest song of the late 1960s. Internationally, Niemen is perhaps best known for performing in the opening show for the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Germany, alongside the likes of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin, and Charles Mingus, and for his 1974 English-language album Mourner's Rhapsody featuring guests such as Michal Urbaniak, Don Grolnick, Seldon Powell, John Abercrombie, Steve Khan, Jan Hammer, and Rick Laird. The singer also participated in the 1979 edition of the Intervision Song Contest, the East Bloc's alternative to Eurovision Songfestival, his performance of Nim Przyjdie Wiosna winning the contest for Poland ~ Wydrzycki passed away in 2004February 16, 1938 ~ Contemporary classical composer, film composer John Corigliano, full name John Paul Corigliano, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of concertmaster John Paul Corigliano Sr and pianist Rose Butzen. Composer-in-residence for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Known best for his 1963 Sonata For Violin And Piano, the 1977 Clarinet Concerto, and for scoring the music for films such as 1985's Revolution and 1998's The Red Violin
February 16, 1936 ~ William Henry Deppenschmidt, commonly known as jazz drummer Buddy Deppenschmidt, born ~ Worked with territory and local bands, prior to joining Charlie Byrd's trio by the late 1950s, a role he would become best known for. Played with Byrd through 1963, including on the acclaimed Jazz Samba album which started a bossa nova craze fueled by the album's hit single Desafinado. Following his tenure with Byrd, Deppenschmidt has worked with Herb Ellis, John Coates Jr, Bernard Peiffer, Jim Kweskin (Jump For Joy), Mose Allison, Chet Baker, Lionel Hampton, Milt Hinton, Maxine Sullivan, and Joe Venuti, and led his own band Jazz Renaissance with a rotating cast of sidemen ~ Deppenschmidt passed away in 2021
February 16, 1935 ~ Salvatore Phillip Bono, commonly known as producer, singer, songwriter Sonny Bono, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Half of Sonny & Cher, the other half being his wife Cher, known for songs such as I Got You Babe, The Beat Goes On, Little Man, Baby Don't Go, All I Ever Need Is You, and A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done. As a solo artist known for his sole US hit Laugh At Me, a Billboard Top 10 hit. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Little Things You Do (Sam Cooke) and Needles And Pins (Jackie DeShannon). Served as Republican mayor of Palm Springs, California, from 1988 through 1992 and as Congressman from 1995 up to his death in 1998 ~ Bono passed away in 1998February 16, 1934 ~ Jazz, vocal jazz singer Al Bowlly records Midnight The Stars And You at Abbey Road Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Harry M Woods, Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly. Considered one of Al Bowlly's best recordings. Used in the classic Stanley Kubrick-directed 1980 horror movie The Shining in two scenes
February 16, 1934 ~ Twin brothers singers Harold Kalin and Herbie Kalin born in Port Jervis, New York, USA ~ The siblings formed the duo the Kalin Twins, known for their 1958 hit When, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. The follow-up single Forget Me Not, released shortly thereafter, also reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100. The siblings would continue to record regularly through the early 1960s, but were unable to repeat their earlier success ~ Harold passed away in 2005, Herbie in 2006
February 16, 1934 ~ Theodore Taylor, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Ted Taylor, born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA ~ Influenced by Little Willie John, Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. Started his career singing with the Mighty Clouds Of Joy gospel group. Would go on to sing secular R&B with the Cadets and the Jacks, which were basically the same group. Sang lead on the former's Do You Wanna Rock (Hey Little Girl) and I Cry, and on the latter's Away and My Darling. Taylor ventured out on his own by 1957 and is known for being the first to record Be Ever Wonderful in 1959, notably covered by Dee Dee Sharp in 1963 and by Joe Hinton in 1968. As a solo artist Taylor would also reach national succes with Stay Away From My Baby, a Billboard R&B top 20 hit in 1965 ~ Taylor passed away in 1987
February 16, 1932 ~ Johnny Davenport, commonly known as singer, songwriter Otis Blackwell, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote several songs pivotal to the development of rock & roll, including Great Balls Of Fire for pianist Jerry Lee Lewis, and Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up, and Return To Sender for Elvis Presley. Others who recorded his songs include Little Willie John (Fever), Ben E King, Thurston Harris, Solomon Burke (Home In Your Heart), the Drifters, Ray Charles, Kenny Lee Martin, Jimmy Jones (Handy Man), and the Four Lovers ~ Blackwell passed away in 2002February 16, 1925 ~ Virtuoso fado, classical guitarist, composer Carlos Paredes born in Coimbra, Portugal ~ Son of guitarist Artur Paredes. Dubbed “the man with the thousand fingers” and regarded as one of the all-time premier Portuguese guitarists. Imprisoned during the late 1950s for his membership of the Communist Party. Has collaborated with artists such as Fernando Gusmão, Amália Rodrigues, Cecilia de Melo, Manuel Alegre, António Victorino de Almeida, and Charlie Haden ~ Paredes passed away in 2004
February 16, 1916 ~ Jazz, R&B organist, pianist Bill Doggett, full name William Bill Doggett, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Started in swing, to transition into R&B. Considered helpful to the development of rock & roll. Led his own trio from the early 1950s onward, known for the instrumental Honky Tonk, as well as for Slow Walk, Ram-Bunk-Shun, and Hold It, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B. As a sideman Doggett has worked with the likes of Buddy Tate, Lucky Thompson, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, Lucky Millinder, Willis Jackson, Coleman Hawkins, and Paul Quinichette ~ Doggett passed away in 1996
February 16, 1914 ~ Actor, singer, songwriter Jimmy Wakely, full names James Clarence Wakely, born in Howard County, Arkansas, USA ~ One of the last singing cowboys. Appeared in over two dozen westerns, usually as a side act. Had his own comic book series. Known for songs such Lonesome Guitar, My Kind Of Country, Twilight On The Trail, I'm Sending You Red Roses, I Love You So Much It Hurts. Also known for a number of duets such ar Slippin' Around and Broken Down Merry-go-round with Margaret Whiting, and Beautiful Brown Eyes with Les Baxter ~ Wakely passed away in 1982February 16, 1907 ~ Composer, songwriter Alec Wilder, full name Alexander Lafayette Chew Wilder, born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Known for writing or co-writing songs such as Give Me Time (Mildred Bailey), Who Can I Turn To (Gene Krupa), Moon And Sand (Xavier Cugat), I'll Be Around (Cab Calloway), While We're Young (Fred Waring), Trouble Is A Man (Peggy Lee), and The Lady Sings The Blues (Cleo Laine) ~ Wilder passed away in 1980
February 16, 1904 ~ Actor, singer James Baskett, full name James Franklin Baskett, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Voiced the character Uncle Remus in the Disney animated film Song Of The South, including singing Zip-a-dee-doo-dah which would win an Academy Award for Best Song. Other notable credits include appearing in the 1929 Broadway revue Hot Chocolates alongside Louis Armstrong and voicing Fats Crow in the original 1941 Dumbo animated film ~ Baskett passed away in 1948
February 16, 1866 ~ Violinist, composer John Dunn born in Kingston-upon-Hull, UK ~ Gave his first public performance at age 9. Considered the premier British violinist of his day, especially acclaimed for his interpretation of works by Niccolò Paganini. Also known for premiering Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in the UK in 1902. ~ Dunn passed away in 1940