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 23, 1929 ~ Cassietta Baker, commonly known as gospel singer, songwriter Cassietta George, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Influenced by Clara Ward. Best known as a member of Albertina Walker's backing unit the Caravans. Wrote songs such as To Whom Shal I Turn, and I Believe In Thee ~ Baker passed away in 1995
January 23, 1928 ~ Actress, novelist, playwright, songwriter Françoise Dorin, full name Françoise Andrée Renée Dorin, born in Paris, France ~ Enjoyed her peak popularity in the 1970s. Authored some 30 plays and over two dozen books. To music audiences best known for co-writing Que C'Est Trist Venise with Charles Aznavour, first recorded by Aznavour in 1964 and covered by Simone, Gigliola Cinquetti, Mario Pelchat, and Julien Clerc. Dorin also co-wrote N'Avoue Jamais, performed by Guy Mardel at the 1965 Eurovision Songfestival reaching third place ~ Dorin passed away in 2018January 23, 1927 ~ Gospel singer, choir director, arranger, composer Alex Bradford born in Bessemer, Alabama, USA ~ Influenced artists such as Little Richard, Bob Marley and Ray Charles. Backed Roberta Martin and Mahalia Jackson before venturing out on his own, founding the Bradford Singers and later the Bradford Specials. Best known for his 1954 Too Close To Heaven single, which sold over a million copies and achieved Gold status ~ Bradford passed away in 1978
January 23, 1926 ~ Hard bop, West Coast jazz double bassist Curtis Counce born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Active since the mid 1940s. Leader and sideman. Worked with Shorty Rogers, Stan Kenton, Shelly Manne, Lyle Murphy, Teddy Charles, Clifford Brown, Harold Land, Jack Sheldon, Carl Perkins, Frank Butler, Elmo Hope, Buddy Collette, Maynard Ferguson, Jimmy Giuffre, Illinois Jacquet, Stan Kenton, and Johnny Otis ~ Counce passed away in 1963
January 23, 1916 ~ Classical cellist Gabor Rejto born in Budapest, Hungary ~ Studied with Pablo Casals. Best known as co-founding member of the Alma Trio, remaining with the ensemble from 1942 until its disbandement in 1976. Has also worked with Yaltah Menuhin, the Paganini Quartet, and the Hungarian Quartet ~ Rejto passed away in 1987
January 23, 1915 ~ Charles Artice Glenn, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Artie Glenn, born ~ Best remembered for writing Crying In The Chapel. The song would first be a hit as recorded by his son Darrell Glenn in 1953, despite the recording being only intended as a demo version to get it published. It would be covered by a number of artists during the 1950s, notably Ella Fitzgerald, Eddy Arnold, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The song would however become most closely associated with Elvis Presley who recorded three takes in 1960, shelved them for five years as he was unhappy with the takes and had a million-seller with the single in 1965 ~ Glenn passed away in 1994January 23, 1915 ~ George Dorman Carry, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Scoops Carry, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA ~ Brother of guitarist, bandleader Ed Carry. Has worked with Cassino Simpson, the Midnight Revellers, Boyd Atkins, Lucky Millinder, Zutty Singleton, Fletcher Henderson, Roy Eldridge, Art Tatum, Horace Henderson, Darnell Edward, and Earl Hines ~ Carry passed away in 1970
January 23, 1910 ~ Jean Reinhardt, commonly known as gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt born in Liberchies, Belgium ~ Icon of Gypsy jazz. Regarded as one of the most important jazz guitarists in history. Founded the Quintette du Hot Club with violinist Stéphane Grappelli. Recorded with Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter. Toured with Duke Ellington. As a composer revered for songs such as Minor Swing, Daphne, Djangology, Swing '42 and Nuages ~ Reinhardt passed away in 1953January 23, 1908 ~ Jacinto Chabania, commonly known as jazz alto saxophonist Jerry Blake, born in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ Played violin before switching to reeds. Worked with the Sells Fioto Circus Band, Al Wynn, Bobby Lee, Charles Turner, Sam Wooding, Chick Webb, Zack Whyte, Don Redman, Willie Lewis, Claude Hopkins, Fletcher Henderson, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Earl Hines, and Lionel Hampton ~ Chabania passed away in 1961
January 23, 1907 ~ Edith Mae Stith, commonly known as jazz, blues, show tunes singer, dancer Mae Barnes, born ~ Introduced the Charleston dance to Broadway in the 1924 Runnin' Wild musical. Would go on to become a successful nightclub singer. Has released a number of albums in the 1950s ~ Stith passed away in 1996
January 23, 1837 ~ Pianist, composer John Field passed away in Moscow, Russia ~ Best known as inventor of the nocturne, a musical composition inspired by, or evocative of, the night. Admired by peers. Influenced many major composers including Frédéric Chopin, Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Franz Liszt ~ Field was born in 1782
January 23, 1752 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Muzio Clementi, full name Muzio Filippo Vincenzo Francesco Saverio Clementi, born in Rome, Italy ~ Influenced by Domenico Scarlatti, Joseph Haydn, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ignazio Cirri. Dubbed “the Father of the Piano” best known for his piano sonatas, especially Sonatinis Op.36, which would serve as a model for both contemporary and later composers ~ Clementi passed away in 1832