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 6, 1947 ~ Saxophonist Allen Jones born in Swansea, UK ~ Member of late 1960s outfit Amen Corner, known for songs such as Gin House Blues, Bend Me Shape Me and perhaps their best known (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice, the latter topping the UK charts in 1969. After the dissolution of the band Jones would go on to form Judas Jump, a short-lived progressive rock supergroup
February 6, 1947 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Bill Staines, full name William Russell Staines, born in Medford, Massachusetts, USA ~ Over 20 albums to his name since the 1960s. Has toured excessively, playing up to 200 dates per year. Known for songs such as The Boats They Come And The Boats They Go, A Place In The Choir, The Roseville Fair, Flowers In The Snow, Sueño, and Spirit Song. Has his songs recorded by Nanci Griffith, the Highwaymen, Glenn Yarbrough, Grandpa Jones, the Clydesiders, Foster & Allen, Debby McClatchy, Wendy Grossman, Sheila Noonan, Liam Clancy, and Jerry Jeff Walker ~ Staines passed away in 2021
February 6, 1946 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Kate McGarrigle born in Montreal, Canada ~ Best known for performing with her sister Anna McGarrigle as Kate & Anna McGarrigle, debuting with the critically acclaimed eponymous Kate & Anna McGarrigle album in 1976. The duo has collaborated with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, the Chieftains, and Marianne Faithfull. Mother of singers Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright from her marriage to singer Loudon Wainwright III ~ McGarrigle passed away in 2010
February 6, 1946 ~ Richard Hayward, commonly known as drummer Richie Hayward, born in Des Moines, Iowa, USA ~ Best known as member of Little Feat. Also worked with the Fraternity Of Man, the Factory, Joan Armatrading, Delaney Bramlett, Kim Carnes, Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, James Cotton, the Doobie Brothers, Bob Dylan, Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Arlo Guthrie, Al Kooper, Jonny Lang, Barbra Streisand, Nils Lofgren, Taj Mahal, Coco Montoya, Robert Palmer, Van Dyke Parks, Robert Plant, Paul Rodgers, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Seger, Carly Simon, Nancy Sinatra, Stephen Stills, Tom Waits, John Cale, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, and Helen Watson ~ Hayward passed away in 2010
February 6, 1945 ~ Reggae singer Bob Marley, full name Robert Nesta Marley born in St Ann, Jamaica ~ Icon of reggae. The first Jamaican artist to reach international stardom. Fused reggae, ska, rocksteady with spiritual and socially conscious lyrics, often showcasing a positive vibe including on subjects relating to personal hardship or social injustice. As a lyricist held in the highest regard, on par with artists such as Bob Dylan. Backed by the Wailers would score hits with songs such as Get Up Stand Up, I Shot The Sheriff, No Woman No Cry and Could You Be Loved ~ Marley passed away in 1981
February 6, 1944 ~ Wilson Turbinton, commonly known as pianist, singer Willie Tee, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Helped shape New Orleans funk and soul. Influenced by Professor Longhair and John Coltrane. Led the Wild Magnolias and co-wrote and arranged the band's material on their 1974 album The Wild Magnolias. As a solo artist and songwriter Turbinton is known for songs such as Teasing You, Walking Up A One Way Street, and Thank You John. Many of Turbinton's early recordings have been sampled by rappers including Geto Boys, Puff Daddy, and Lil Wayne ~ Turbinson passed away in 2007
February 6, 1941 ~ David Holgate Grundy, commonly known as singer Dave Berry, born in Woodhouse, UK ~ Best known for songs such as I'm Gonna Take You There and This Strange Effect. Also known for Memphis Tennessee, Little Things, Mama, Crying Game, and Don't Gimme No Lip Child. Regularly backed by session musicians such as Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Big Jim Sullivan, and Bobby GrahamFebruary 6, 1939 ~ Reggae, ska, rocksteady producer, singer Derrick Harriott, full name Derrick Clifton Harriott, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Member of the Jiving Juniors. As a producer worked with Scotty, Big Youth, the Charlot Riders, the Chosen Few, Dennis Brown, the Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, the Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Sly & the Revolutionaries, I-Roy, and Winston McAnuff
February 6, 1939 ~ Jair Rodrigues de Oliveira, commonly known as singer, guitarist, percussion Jair Rodrigues, born in Igarapava, Brazil ~ Father of Luciana Mello and Jair Oliveira, both singers. Started in the mid 1950s as a crooner. First gained attention in the early 1960s through television appearances. Has notably worked with Elis Regina and the Quarteto Novo. As a solo artist known best for songs such as O Menino Da Porteira, Boi Da Cara Preta and Majestade O Sabia ~ De Oliveira passed away in 2014
February 6, 1931 ~ Jazz guitarist John Pisano born in New York, New York, USA ~ First gained attention in the mid 1950s, taking over for Jim Hall in Chico Hamilton's quartet. Would go on to become an in-demand session musician, and occasional leader, co-leader including forming the duo Pisano & Ruff with Willie Ruff. Other notable associations include Joe Pass, backing Peggy Lee for about a decade, and playing with Herb Alpert's renowned unit the Tijuana Brass. Pisano has also appeared on albums by the likes of Tony Bennett (The Beat Of My Heart), Ken Nordine, Sam Cooke (Ain't That Good News), Bill Perkins, Sérgio Mendes (Equinox), Pete Jolly, Ben Sidran, Dan Hicks (It Happened One Bite), the Manhattan Transfer, Nino Tempo, and Barbra Streisand. In the 1990s Pisano has performed with his wife singer Jeanne Pisano in a group called the Flying Pisanos ~ Pisano passed away in 2024
February 6, 1927 ~ Trumpeter Don Fagerquist born in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ~ In-demand soloist worked with Mal Hallett, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Dave Pell, and Ella Fitzgerald in the 1940s and 1950s. Only recorded sparsely as a leader. Signed on as staff musician for Paramount Films in 1956, still recording with the likes of Shelly Manne, Mel Tormé, Art Pepper, Pete Rugolo, Frank Comstock, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Paul Weston, Si Zentner, and Dean Martin. By 1966 Fagerquist quit studio recording altogether due to health issues ~ Fagerquist passed away in 1974
February 6, 1926 ~ Jazz trumpeter Bernie Glow born in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Snooky Young and Billy Butterfield. Toured with the likes of Richard Himber, Xavier Cugat, Artie Shaw and Woody Herman early on in his career through the last years of the big band era. Would go on to become an in-demand session musician for radio orchestras and studio sessions led by composers, arrangers such as Nelson Riddle, Quincy Jones and Oliver Nelson. Closely associated with Miles Davis, appearing on albums such as Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess and Sketches Of Spain. Also present on albums by the likes of Sarah Vaughan (In The Land Of Hi-Fi), Tito Puente, Coleman Hawkins, Jimmy Giuffre, Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Johnny Mathis, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather), Quincy Jones, Urbie Green, Denise Jannah, Ruth Brown, Anita O'Day, Art Farmer, Aretha Franklin (Aretha Now), Solomon Burke, Wes Montgomery, Al Kooper, Grover Washington Jr, Freddie Hubbard, and Van McCoy ~ Glow passed away in 1982
February 6, 1921 ~ Ernest Andrew Royal, commonly known as trumpeter Ernie Royal, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Brother of clarinetist, saxophonist Marshal Royal. Active since the late 1930s, serving under bandleaders such as Les Hite, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. Would go on to become an in-demand session musician, perhaps best known for his association with Miles Davis appearing on albums such as Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess, and Sketches Of Spain. Other notable credits include Coleman Hawkins, Sarah Vaughan (In The Land Of Hi-Fi), Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins, Coleman Hawkins, Dinah Washington, Oscar Pettiford, Art Farmer, Chubby Jackson, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Bob Brookmeyer, Oliver Nelson (Afro-American Sketches), Joe Morello, Charles Mingus, Shirley Scott (For Members Only), Freddie Hubbard, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Lee Morgan, Aretha Franklin (I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You), Freddie King, Al Kooper, Roberta Flack (Chapter Two), Quincy Jones, BB King, Yusef Lateef, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Freddie Hubbard ~ Royal passed away in 1983February 6, 1914 ~ Singer Thurl Ravenscroft, full name Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft, born in Norfolk, Nebraska, USA ~ Member of vocal group the Mellomen, known for backing numerous artists during the Big Band era including Bing Crosby, Frankie Laine, Spike Jones, Jo Stafford, and Rosemary Clooney. Best known as a voice actor with a career spanning six decades starting in 1940. Uncredited on a number of well known songs for TV and feature films, perhaps most notably singing lead on the song You're A Mean One Mr Grinch from the 1966 animated TV special Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas often mistakenly attributed to either Boris Karloff or Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Ravenscroft passed away in 2005
February 6, 1902 ~ Songwriter Leon René born in Covington, Kentucky, USA ~ Known for writing or co-writing songs such as Gloria (Bob Hayward), I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City (Johnny Mercer), Rockin' Robin (Bobby Day), When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Louis Armstrong), Dig That Crazy Santa Claus (Oscar McLollie), Gee Whiz (Bob & Earl), and I Sold My Heart To The Junkman (the Basin Street Boys) ~ René passed away in 1982
February 6, 1888 ~ James Lamont Gillespie, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Haven Gillespie, born in Covington, Kentucky, USA ~ Frequent collaborator of songwriters such as Beasley Smith, Ervin R Smith, Richard Whiting, Wayne King, Loya Curtis, and J Fred Coots. Perhaps best known for co-penning Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town with Haven Gillespie. The song, first recorded by banjoist Harry Reser, would become a Holiday classic recorded by over 200 artists. Other well known songs co-written by Gillespie include You Go To My Head (Larry Clinton, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong), That Lucky Old Sun (Frankie Laine, Vaughn Monroe, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Benson, Aretha Franklin), and Breezin' Along With The Breeze (Johnny Marvin, Abe Lyman, the Revelers, Fred Waring) ~ Gillespie passed away in 1975