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.
January 1, 1932 ~ Opera conductor Giuseppe Patanè born in Naples, Italy ~ Son of conductor Franco Patanè. Best known as chief conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra from 1985 to 1989. Suffered a heart attack while conducting The Barber Of Seville at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and passed away the same day at the hospital ~ Patanè passed away in 1989
January 1, 1932 ~ Jazz, classical pianist Jack Reilly, full name Jack Aloysius Reilly, born in Staten Island, New York, USA ~ A musician's musician, higly admired by peers but never earning much public recognition. About a dozen albums to his name, particularly noted for November and Masks. Has collaborated with the likes of John LaPorta, Lennie Tristano, George Russell, Carol Lian, and Bill Charlap ~ Reilly passed away in 2018
January 1, 1931 ~ Country pianist, singer Bobbie Nelson, full name Bobbie Lee Nelson, born in Abbott, Texas, USA ~ Married to singer, comedian Bud Fletcher, with whom she also worked, until the mid 1950s after which the band dissolved. Best known as member of her brother Willie Nelson's backing unit on tour and record, including on pivotal albums such as Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger and The Willie Nelson Family. Released her first solo album, Audiobiography, in 2008 at age 76 mainly consisting of ragtime standards alongside her brother's Crazy reimagined as a lounge number ~ Nelson passed away in 2022January 1, 1931 ~ Percussionist Manny Oquendo born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Eddie Palmieri, Carlos Valero, Luis del Campo, Juan El Boy Torres, Chano Pozo, Jose Budet, Juanito Sanabria, Marcelino Guerra, Jose Curbelo, Pupi Campo, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Vicentico Valldes, Conjunto Liber, Andy González, Eddie Palmieri, and Paul Quinichette ~ Oquendo passed away in 2009
January 1, 1930 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Ack van Rooyen born in The Hague, the Netherlands ~ Brother of trumpeter Jerry van Rooyen, with whom he also worked. Has also played with Ernst van 't Hoff, Aimé Barelli, Kenny Clarke, Lucky Thompson, the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, Hans Koller, Bert Kaempfert, Ake Persson, Volker Kriegel, Charly Antolini, Friedrich Gulda, Slide Hampton, and Eberhard Weber ~ Van Rooyen passed away in 2021January 1, 1926 ~ Composer, flutist Claire Pollin born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Her teachers included Vincent Persichetti, Lukas Foss, Roger Sessions, and Peter Mennin. Her works were performed by the Seoul National Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Bach Society, and London Pro-Musica Antiqua ~ Polin passed away in 1995
January 1, 1923 ~ Ray Cline, commonly known as bluegrass fiddler Curly Ray Cline, born in Mingo County, West Virginia, USA ~ Formed the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers with his cousin Ezra Cline and brother Ned Cline. Also worked with Jimmy Martin, the Sunny Mountain Boys, Bobby Osborne, the Stanley Brothers, Hobo Jack Adkins and extensively with Ralph Stanley as a member of Stanley's backing unit the Clinch Mountain Boys. Has released over a dozen solo albums, starting with Fiddle in 1969 ~ Cline passed away in 1997
January 1, 1923 ~ Vibraphonist Milt Jackson born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Revolutionized the vibraphone. Long-time member of the Modern Jazz Quartet. As a leader or co-leader especially acclaimed for albums such as Jackson's Ville, Bags & Trane with John Coltrane, Bags' Opus, and Sunflower. Also present on albums by the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk (The Genius Of Modern Music Vol.1), Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Hank Mobley, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Charlie Parker, Miles Davis (Porgy & Bess), and Ray Charles ~ Jackson passed away in 1999
January 1, 1923 ~ Pablo Rodriguez Lozada, commonly known as singer, bandleader Tito Rodriguez, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, USA ~ Lovingly dubbed “El Involvidable” (The Unforgettable One) by his fans, a moniker based on his most popular song. Sang under the tutelage of his brother, Johnny Rodriguez, before embarking on a solo career. In the 1940s the brothers moved to New York where Tito worked as a percussionist and singer for Eric Madriguerea, and later Xavier Cugat. In the 1950s, to great success Tito directed his own groups, recording mambos, cha-cha-cha, boleros, sones, guaraches and pachangas ~ Rodríguez passed away in 1973
January 1, 1922 ~ Felix Manuel Rodriguez, commonly known as singer, songwriter Bobby Capó, born in Coama, Puerto Rico ~ Merged ballads with classical music also drawing from folk and world music. Best known for songs such as El Negro Bembon, Capo Sin Fe and perhaps his best known Piel Canela ~ Capó passed away in 1989
January 1, 1919 ~ Jazz double bassist Al McKibbon born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Lucky Millinder, Tab Smith, JC Heard, and Coleman Hawkins before taking over for Ray Brown in Dizzy Gillespie's orchestra in 1947, remaining for three years. In the 1950s McKibbon played with Miles Davis, Earl Hines, Count Basie, Johnny Hodges, Thelonious Monk, George Shearing, Cal Tjader, Nat Adderley, and with Herbie Nichols. During the 1960s he appeared as sideman on albums by Lorez Alexandria, Sonny Criss, Charles Kynard, Jack Wilson, the Jazz Crusaders, and Shuggie Otis (Here Comes Shuggie). He also played on Randy Newman's 1970 critically acclaimed sophomore LP 12 Songs. McKibbon would continue to perform until 2004 ~ McKibbon passed away in 2004January 1, 1913 ~ Big bandleader, pianist, accordionist, conductor, composer Eric Winstone born in London, UK ~ Best known for entertaining the British troups during World War II. Once ordered by a judge to stop playing the piano each day at 6pm in his home in order not to disturb his wife and young daughter. Four months later his wife filed for judicial separation ~ Winstone passed away in 1974
January 1, 1912 ~ Saxophonist, percussionist Svein Overgaard, full name Svein Arne Overgaard, born in Kristiana, Norway ~ Member of the Norwegian resistance during World War II. As a musician worked with Fred Lange-Nielsen, Per Gregersen, Finn Westbye, Arvid Gram Paulsen, Pete Brown, Einar Gustavsen, and Robert Normann ~ Øvergaard passed away in 1986
January 1, 1908 ~ Pianist Eileen Joyce, full name Eileen Alannah Joyce, born in Zeehan, Australia ~ Popular in the 1930s and 1940s and at her peak compared in popular esteem to Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn. Drew comparisons to Clara Schumann, Sophie Menter and Teresa Carreño ~ Joyce passed away in 1991
January 1, 1908 ~ Howard William Johnson, commonly known as swing alto saxophonist Howard Johnson, born ~ Member of the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band. Member of the Savoy Sultans. Also worked with Billy Cato, James P Johnson, Fess Williams, Benny Carter, Teddy Hill, Claude Hopkins, Maxine Sullivan, Dizzy Gillespie, Red Norvo, Bessie Smith, and Panama Francis ~ Johnson passed away in 1991
January 1, 1906 ~ Songwriter Giovanni D'Anzi born in Milan, Italy ~ Frequent collaborator of Alfredo Bracchi, working prolifically for radio, film and stage from the 1930s through the 1950s. The pair is responsible for songs such as Lina Termini's Ma L'Amore No, Tony Dallara's Bambina Innamorata and Carlo Buti's Ti Diro. Other artists who recorded their songs include Caterina Valente, Ornella Vanoni, Gigliola Cinquetti, Nicola Arigliano, Luciano Pavarotti, and José Carreras ~ D'Anzi passed away in 1974
January 1, 1904 ~ Dance bandleader, saxophonist Orville Knapp born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ As a sideman worked with Vincent Lopez, Leo Reisman, the Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra. As a bandleader enjoyed popularity in the 1930s employing vocalists such as Edith Caldwell, Ray Hendricks, Don Raymond, Norman Ruvell, Virginia Verrill, and Leighton Noble. Married Broadway actress, singer Gloria Grafton in 1935. Knapp died the following year at age 32 in a plane crash ~ Knapp passed away in 1936
January 1, 1900 ~ Bandleader, violinist, arranger Xavier Cugat born in Girona, Spain ~ Leading figure in Latin music. Led the resident orchestra at the the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, and owned and operated a restaurant in West Hollywood, California, shuttling between the two for some 30 years. His orchestra included musicians such as Desi Arnaz, Abbe Lane, Tito Rodriguez, Yma Sumac, and Miguelito Valdes, many of whom going on to become stars in their own right ~ Cugat passed away in 1990January 1, 1896 ~ Estelle Harris, commonly known as blues, boogie-woogie singer Estelle Yancey, born in Cairo, Illinois, USA ~ Began singing in church choirs in her youth. Married to boogie-woogie pianist Jimmy Yancey from 1925 until his death in 1951, the couple recording several notable blues songs including Make Me A Pallet On The Floor, Four O'Clock Blues, Monkey Woman Blues, Santa Fe Blues, and How Long Blues. After Jimmy's death Estelle would continue to perform and record, working with pianists such as Don Ewell, Art Hodes, and Erwin Helfer ~ Harris passed away in 1986
January 1, 1895 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Art Gillham born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Considered one of the very first crooners, known for songs such as Angry, I'm Confessing, Shine On Harvest Moon, I'd Climb The Highest Mountain, Cecilia, I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In, Thinking and Tenderly ~ Gillham passed away in 1961
January 1, 1894 ~ Jazz drummer, percussionist Jasper Taylor born in Texarkana, Arkansas, USA ~ Perhaps best known for Don't Eat At Jasper's and Stockyard Strut, both self-penned. After working the minstrel shows and theaters in Mexico and the Southern USA, including stints with WC Handy on whom he would be influential, and Jelly Roll Morton, Taylor relocated to Chicago by the late-1910s where he would become a fixture on the local jazz scene. Taylor led the Chicago Novelty Orchesta, formed a trio with Dave Peyton and Fess Williams, and has notably collaborated with Will Marion Cook, Clarence Williams, and Natty Dominique ~ Taylor passed away in 1964January 1, 1889 ~ Conductor, music director Alexander Smallens born in St Petersburg, Russia ~ Worked with the Boston Opera Orchestra, the Anna Pavlova Ballet Company, the Chicago Opera Company, the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Radio City Music Hall ~ Smallens passed away in 1972
January 1, 1888 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Frank Stokes born in Whitehaven, Tennessee, USA ~ Generally considered to be the father of the Memphis blues guitar style. Influenced Memphis Minnie. Known for songs such as Chicken You Can't Roost Too High For Me, Mr Crump Don't Like It, You Shall Be Free, and Hey Mourner, often teaming up with either Dan Sane or Will Batts ~ Stokes passed away in 1955