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 3, 1943 ~ R&B, soul, psychedelic soul, disco singer Dennis Edwards born in Fairfields, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Mighty Clouds Of Joy. Member of the Contours. Best known as member of the Temptations from 1968, replacing David Ruffin, through 1977, rejoining on later occasions. Helped transition the band through its psychedelic soul and later still disco era, singing lead on songs such as Cloud Nine, I Can't Get Next To You, Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today), Papa Was A Rollin' Stone and Shakey Ground. As a solo artist known for a number of 1980s recordings, perhaps most notably his 1984 hit duet Don't Look Any Further with Siedah Garrett. Once romantically involved with Aretha Franklin, the latter stating her Daydreaming was inspired by Edwards. Briefly married to the Pointer Sisters singer Ruth Pointer, with whom he has one daughter ~ Edwards passed away in 2018
February 3, 1940 ~ Marijke Ouwejan, commonly known as actress, singer Marijke Merckens, born in Magelang, Indonesia ~ Best known as an actress for stage, TV and film active since the early 1960s, notably known for her role as Rosmarijn in the TV series De Zevensprong. As a singer known for songs such as Happy End, Mammie, Kareltje De Grote, and De Modepop, the latter a Dutch-language version of France Gall's 1965 Eurovision Songfestival-winner Poupée De Cire (Poupée De Son) ~ Ouwejan passed away in 2023
February 3, 1939 ~ R&B, soul, pop singer, producer, songwriter Johnny Bristol, full name John William Bristol, passed born in Morganton, North Carolina, USA ~ As a solo artist scored a 1974 hit with Hang On In There Baby, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. However, Bristol is best known as a songwriter and producer. Bristol co-wrote Someday We'll Be Together, best known as a 1969 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for the Supremes, the last single by the girl group to feature Diana Ross. Bristol also co-wrote Love Me For A Reason, a 1974 Billboard Hot 100 No.10 hit for the Osmonds, and revived by Boyzone two decades later. Both songs had originally been recorded by Bristol in the early 1960s, the former as part of a duo with Jackey Beavers, the latter as a solo artist. Artists who recorded songs written or produced by Bristol include Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Edwin Starr (25 Miles), the Velvelettes, David Ruffin (My Whole World Ended The Moment You Left Me), Gladys Knight & the Pips, Junior Walker & the All-Stars, the Four Tops (What Is A Man), the Miracles, Randy Crawford, Boz Scaggs (I Got Your Number), Marlena Shaw, Jermaine Jackson, Johnny Mathis, Tavares, Margie Joseph, and the Jackson Sisters. Bristol has one daughter with Iris Gordy, his second wife and the niece of Motown executive Berry Gordy Jr ~ Bristol passed away in 2004
February 3, 1938 ~ R&B singer, guitarist, songwriter Jimmy Hughes born in Temecula, California, USA ~ Cousin of Percy Sledge. Member of gospel quartet the Singing Clouds. Member of the Darling Buds. As a solo artist best known for his 1964 self-penned single Steal Away, a recording that helped define Muscle Shoals sound. His career would wane with his label turning their attention to the Beatles and the Four Seasons but reemerged at the end of the decade. Other well known songs include Try Me, Neighbour Neighbour, I Worship The Ground You Walk On, Why Not Tonight and I Like Everything About You
February 3, 1937 ~ Jazz drummer Bobby Durham born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Active since his mid-teens, starting with the Orioles at age 16. Following a stint in the Army, where he played in a military band, Durham would become an in-demand accompanist and session drummer, a favorite of producer Norman Granz. Best known for his associations with pianist Oscar Peterson, singer Ella Fitzgerald, and organists Charles Earland and Shirley Scott. After relocating to New York by the early 1960s, his career took off, employed by the likes of Wild Bill Davis, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Slide Hampton, Grant Green, Harry Sweets Edison, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Rowles, and Duke Ellington. Outside of jazz, Durham has appeared on recordings by James Brown, Ray Charles, and Marvin Gaye. Later on in his career, Durham has recorded as a leader starting with Bobby Durham Trio released in 1979, and several more in the 2000s, the late 1990s boom of acid jazz renewing an interest in Durham's work ~ Durham passed away in 2008
February 3, 1935 ~ John Watson Jr, commonly known as blues, soul, funk singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Guitar Watson, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Active since the mid 1950s working with artists such as the Shields, Larry Williams, Little Richard, Don & Dewey, and Johnny Otis. Best known for a string of funky 1970s hits such as Ain't That A Bitch, Superman Lover and his biggest hit A Real Mother For Ya, the latter reaching top 10 on the American R&B charts in 1977 and in retrospect considered one of grooviest dancefloor fillers of the day. His music would later be sampled by various hip-hop and rap artists including Redman, Ice Cube, Eazy E, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Jay-Z, and Mary J Blige. Watson died of a heart attack, suffered on stage, at age 61 while on tour in Japan ~ Watson passed away in 1996
February 3, 1933 ~ Jazz, avant-garde, jazz fusion saxophonist John Handy, full name John Richard Handy III, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Rose to prominence in the 1950s backing pianist Charles Mingus, including on the seminal 1959 Mingus Ah Uhm album. Led several ensembles in the 1960s, noted for the albums John Handy and The 2nd John Handy Album. Also noted as a member of 1980s outfit Bebop & Beyond, recording tributes album to Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious MonkFebruary 3, 1928 ~ Frank Ableson, commonly known as singer Frankie Vaughan, born in Liverpool, UK ~ English easy listening singer actively recording since the early 1950s. Known as “Mr Moonlight” after one of his early hits, Give Me The Moonlight (Give Me The Girl). Best known for his covers of American hit songs by Perry Como, Jimmie Rodgers, Guy Mitchell, Jim Lowe, Boyd Bennet, and the Fleetwoods ~ Abelson passed away in 1999
February 3, 1921 ~ George Owen Smith, commonly known as bandleader, conductor, arranger, composer Reg Owen, born in Hackney, UK ~ Worked with Teddy Joyce, the Royal Kiltie Juniors, Benny Glassman, Ted Heath, and Cyril Stapleton. Best known as a film composer, starting with 1957's A Date With Disaster. Scored a 1959 American hit with Manhattan Spiritual, which peaked at No.10 Billboard ~ Smith passed away in 1978
February 3, 1919 ~ Eugene Edward Young, commonly known as trumpeter Snooky Young, born in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with Count Basie, Gerald Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Doc Severinsen, the Tonight Show Band, the Band, Norris Turney, Booty Wood, Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Marshal Royal, Ross Tompkins, Freddie Green, Ray Brown, Louie Bellson, Ray Charles, Milt Jackson, Sam Jones, Mark Murphy, Oliver Nelson, Charles Mingus, Quincy Jones, Ray Bryant, Herbie Mann, Chico O'Farrill, JJ Johnson, Lalo Schifrin, Maria Muldaur, Gene Ammons, BB King, Tracy Chapman, and Gerald Wilson ~ Young passed away in 2011
February 3, 1915 ~ Jazz pianist Bill Miller born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with Frank Sinatra, backing the singer on stage and on record for the better part of some five decades starting in the early 1950s. Miller also performed One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) at Sinatra's funeral. Miller has also worked with Red Norvo, Mildred Bailey, Charlie Barnet, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and the last years of his life with Sinatra's son Frank Sinatra Jr ~ Miller passed away in 2006
February 3, 1911 ~ Organist, composer Jehan Alain, full name Jehan Aristide Alain, born in St-Germain-en-Laye, France ~ Son of Albert Alain, brother of Olivier Alain and Marie-Claire Alain, all renowned organists. Influenced by Claude Debussy. Composed until the outbreak of World War II, serving as a dispatch rider in the French Army where he was killed in action in the Battle of Saumur ~ Alain passed away in 1940February 3, 1911 ~ Blues guitarist, singer Jesse Thomas, also known as Jesse Babyface Thomas, born in Logansport, Louisiana, USA ~ Brother of country blues singer, slide guitarist Ramblin' Thomas. Dubbed “the Blues Troubadour” and best known for his 1929 recording Blue Goose Blues. Would continue to record throughout the 1950s and perform locally throughout the 1990s ~ Thomas passed away in 1995
February 3, 1906 ~ Herbert Feuerman, commonly known as jazz, big band bandleader, violinist Bert Firman, born in London, UK ~ Popular bandleader from the 1920s through the 1940s. Employed sidemen such as Sylvester Ahola, Chelsea Quealey, Frank Guarente, Arhur Lally, Danny Polo, Max Goldberg, Sam Costa, Freddy Gardner, Ivor Mairants, George Melachrino, Stéphane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt. Staff musician, musical director for Zonophone Records, recording some 750 sides for them during the 1920s alone. Guest conductor with the NBC Orchestra in 1929, becoming the first British bandleader to broadcast in America ~ Feuerman passed away in 1999
February 3, 1898 ~ Lilian Hardin, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Lil' Armstrong, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Second wife of Louis Armstrong, whom she convinced to leave King Oliver's band and pursue a solo career. As a composer known for songs such as Strutting With Some Barbecue, Don't Jive Me, Two Deuces, Knee Drops, Doing The Suzie Q, Just For A Thrill (a 1959 hit for Ray Charles), Clip Joint, Bad Boy, the latter notably covered by Ringo Starr in 1978 ~ Armstrong passed away in 1971February 3, 1896 ~ Thomas Valentine, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, bandleader Kid Thomas Valentine, born in Reserve, Louisiana, USA ~ Rose to prominence in the early 1920s with a hot distinctive, at times percussive style. Would front his own ensembles by the mid 1920s. Has worked with Kid Ory, Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Louis Nelson, Big Bill Bissonnette, John Robichaux, and Preston Jackson ~ Valentine passed away in 1987