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 14, 1947 ~ Rock, blues rock, hard rock, acid rock drummer Paul Whaley, full name Paul Gene Whaley, born in Albany, California, USA ~ Son of country singer Paul Edward Whaley. Member of the Oxford Circle, present on the live album Live At The Avalon 1966. Best known as drummer for rock band Blue Cheer, present on some of the band's best known including the 1968 singles Summertime Blues and Just A Little Bit ~ Whaley passed away in 2019January 14, 1945 ~ Poet, singer, screenwriter Jacques Werup born in Malmö, Sweden ~ Best known as a poet and author, publishing his first novel Returbiljett Polen in 1971. As a musician and songwriter closely associated with singer, guitarist Michael Saxell, co-writing songs for their own projects as well as others including collaborations with Lill Lindfors, Mats Ronander and Benneth Fagerlund ~ Werup passed away in 2016
January 14, 1943 ~ Conductor Mariss Jansons, full name Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons, born in Riga, Latvia ~ Revered interpreter of the works of Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Dmitri Shostakovich. Closely associated with the Oslo Philharmonic serving as its music director from 1979 through 2000. Has also worked with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Jansson passed away in 2019
January 14, 1940 ~ Georges Mayer Dahan, commonly known as pop singer Georgie Dann, born in Paris, France ~ Enjoyed popularity in Spain during the 1970s and 1980s with upbeat, catchy and danceable songs such as El Bimbo, Carnaval Carnaval, El Dinosaurio and Mi Cafetal. Dann was honored in the song Que Vuelva Ya Georgie Dann, recorded by La Banda Del Capitán Canalla ~ Dahan passed away in 2021
January 14, 1938 ~ Pianist, producer, songwriter Allen Toussaint born in Gert Town, Louisiana, USA ~ Iconic New Orleans all-hatter. Influenced by Professor Longhair. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Mother-in-law and Here Come The Girls (Ernie K-Doe), I Like It Like That (Chris Kenner), Fortune Teller (Benny Spellman), Get Out Of My Life Woman and Working In The Coal Mine (Lee Dorsey), Yes We Can Can (the Pointer Sisters), Play Something Sweet (Three Dog Night), Southern Nights (Glen Campbell), Right Place Wrong Time (Dr John), Ruler Of My Heart (Irma Thomas), Pain In My Heart (Otis Redding), and Lady Marmalade (Labelle). As a leader, sideman, producer or songwriter Tousssaint has worked with Snooks Eaglin, Huey Piano Smith, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Lee Allen, Smiley Lewis, Alvin Tyler, Frank Fields, Charles Hungry Williams, the Meters, and the Wild Tchoupitoulas ~ Toussaint passed away in 2015
January 14, 1938 ~ Billie Jean Moore, commonly known as singer Billie Jo Spears, born in Beaumont, Texas, USA ~ Recorded well over a dozen albums from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Scored her first hit in 1969 with Mr Walker It's All Over, a tale of a secretary standing up against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Best known for her 1975 Billboard Country No.1 hit Blanket On The Ground. Other well known songs include What I've Got In Mind, Misty Blue, If You Want Me, and '57 Chevrolet ~ Spears passed away in 2011
January 14, 1938 ~ John Allan Jones, commonly known as singer Jack Jones, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention in the late 1950s, performing with his father singer Allan Jones in Las Vegas, to become somewhat of an anomaly during the 1960s, an era dominated by pop, rock & roll and British Invasion while Jones favored big band material, lush arrangements and romantic ballads, though ocassionally Jones did venture into pop, country and bossa nova. Well known songs include Wives And Lovers, Dear Heart, The Race Is On, The Impossible Dream (The Quest), and If You Ever Leave Me. To younger audiences, Jones is perhaps best remembered for Love Boat Theme, the theme to the popular TV show The Love Boat which aired from 1977 through 1986 ~ Jones passed away in 2024
January 14, 1936 ~ Blues, soul singer, guitarist, songwriter Clarence Carter, full name Clarence George Carter, born in Montgomery, Alabama, USA ~ Probably best known for his 1970 rendition of Patches, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic and earned Carter a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song. Over the course of his career, Carter has recorded well over a dozen albums, enjoying popularity especially through the early 1970s. Well known songs include Slip Away, Snatching It Back, Doin' Our Thing, and I Can't Leave Your Love Alone, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B. Carter was married to singer Candi Staton from 1970 through 1973 ~ Carter passed away in 2026
January 14, 1935 ~ R&B, rock & roll drummer Charles Connor born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for backing Little Richard on iconic rock & roll recordings such as Lucille, She's Got It and Keep A-Knockin'. Described as “the first to put the funk into the rhythm” by James Brown, with whom he also worked. Has worked with Professor Longhair, Smiley Lewis, Guitar Slim, Champion Jack Dupree, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, the Coasters, Big Joe Turner, and Don Covay ~ Connor passed away in 2021
January 14, 1932 ~ Jazz, soul jazz drummer, singer Grady Tate born in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Got his start in music in the early 1960s working with Quincy Jones. Would go on to work with the New York Jazz Quartet during the 1970s. Drummed for Simon & Garfunkel during their famed 1981 Central Park concert. As a singer known best for I Got Six, Naught Number Nine and Fireworks. In-demand sideman, worked with Jimmy Smith, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stan Getz, Cal Tjader, Wes Montgomery, Eddie Harris, and JJ Johnson ~ Tate passed away in 2017
January 14, 1931 ~ Singer, guitarist, actress Caterina Valente born in Paris, France ~ Sings in various languages including French, German and English. Known for songs such as Malagueña, The Breeze And I, Dreh Dich Nicht Um, Gans Paris Traumt Von Der Liebe. Over the course of her lengthy career, Valente has collaborated with a wide array of artists including Kurt Edelhagen, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Claus Ogerman, Tommy Dorsey, Sy Oliver, Buddy Rich, and Edmundo Ros ~ Valente passed away in 2024
January 14, 1930 ~ Country singer, songwriter Joy McKean, full name Mildred Geraldine Joy McKean, born in Singleton, Australia ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Australian Country” and considered one of the country's leading songwriters and bush balladeers. Married to Slim Dusty, also serving as his manager, songwriter, and musical partner for some five decades. Well-known Dusty songs written by McKean include The Lights On The Hill, Indian Pacific, and Walk A Country Mile. Sister of Heather McKean, with whom she also performed under the moniker the McKean Sisters ~ McKean passed away in 2023January 14, 1930 ~ Jazz, avant-garde jazz trumpeter, hornist Kenny Wheeler, full name Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Leader and sideman. Especially acclaimed for his mid-1980s streak, consisting of the albums Double Double You, Jumpin' In, and Rambler. Closely associated with John Taylor, including in Azimuth. Has also worked with Johnny Dankworth, the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, the Globe Unity Orchestra, Anthony Braxton, Lee Konitz, Marc Copland, and John Abercrombie ~ Wheeler passed away in 2014
January 14, 1925 ~ Blues singer Bessie Smith records Saint-Louis Blues ~ Penned by WC Handy, reportedly inspired by a chance meeting with a woman on the streets lamenting her husband's absence. Sometimes referred to as “the jazzmen's Hamlet” the song would become a standard recorded by numerous artists including Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, and Guy Lombardo. Bessie Smith's version would be released in April 1926, paired with Cold In Hand Blues on the flip side. Jazz icon Louis Armstrong would also record his own version in 1929, as well as play the cornet on Smith's 1925 recording
January 14, 1919 ~ Joel Seneca McGhee, commonly known as actor, singer, songwriter Joe Seneca, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as an actor for film and TV, notably portraying the role of Dr Hanes in The Cosby Show. To music audiences perhaps best known for penning Talk To Me, originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1958. Seneca himself would record the song two years later. Other songs written or co-written by Seneca include Break It To Me Gently (Brenda Lee), What Kind Of Girl Do You Think I Am (the Charmaines), and Same Time Same Place) (Clyde McPhatter) ~ McGhee passed away in 1996January 14, 1916 ~ Violinist, orchestra director, composser Enrique Mario Francini born in San Fernando, Argentina ~ Formed the Orquesta Francini-Pontier in 1945 with bandoneonist Armando Pontier. Also noted for working with Astor Piazzolla's Octeto Buenos Aires. Has also worked with Miguel Caló, Hector Stamponi, the Quinteto Real, Elvino Vardaro, Orlando Tripodi, and the Buenos Aires Philharmonic ~ Francini passed away in 1978
January 14, 1916 ~ R&B saxophonist, arranger, producer Maxwell Davis born in Independence, Kansas, USA ~ Worked with Fletcher Henderson, Jay McShann, Jimmy Witherspoon, Percy Mayfield, Peppermint Harris, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, T-Bone Walker, BB King, and Amos Milburn ~ Davis passed away in 1970
January 14, 1908 ~ Ruggerio Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo, commonly known as baritone singer, violinist, songwriter, actor Russ Columbo, born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Known for songs such as Prisoner Of Love, Too Beautiful For Words and perhaps his best known You Call It Madness But I Call It Love ~ Columbo passed away in 1934
January 14, 1895 ~ Violinist, bandleader Erskine Tate born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Early figure on Chicago's jazz scene. Has worked with sidemen such as Louis Armstrong, Freddie Keppard, Buster Bailey, Jimmy Bertrand, Ed Atkins, Teddy Weatherford, Stump Evans, Bob Shoffner, Punch Miller, Omer Simeon, Preston Jackson, Fats Waller, and Teddy Wilson ~ Tate passed away in 1978
January 14, 1880 ~ Violinist, pianist Alfred Wittenberg born in Breslau, Poland ~ Fled Nazi Germany prior to World War II, eventually settling in America. Has worked with the Staatskapelle Berlin, Frederic Lamond, Anton Hekking, Artur Schnabel, and Heinrich Grünfeld ~ Wittenberg passed away in 1952
January 14, 1710 ~ Giovanni Battista Draghi, commonly known as composer Giovanni Pergolesi, born in Jesi, Italy ~ Baroque composer, violinist, organist best known for his Stabat Matar and the opera La Serva Padrona. Given the nickname “Pergolesi” for the town of Pergola, the birthplace of his ancestors. Died of tuberculosis at age 26 ~ Draghi passed away in 1736