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 28, 1918 ~ Hilliard Goldsmith, commonly known as lyricist Bob Hilliard, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Enjoyed his first big success in the mid 1940s co-writing The Coffee Song, recorded by Frank Sinatra. Sinatra also recorded his In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning. Other well known songs co-written by Hilliard include Bouquet Of Roses (Eddy Arnold), Careless Hands (Sammy Kaye), Dear Hearts And Gentle People (Dinah Shore), Please Stay (the Drifters), Any Day Now (Chuck Jackson), and Our Day Will Come (Ruby & the Romantics) ~ Goldsmith passed away in 1971January 28, 1916 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Cliff Townshend, full name Clifford Blandford Townshend, born ~ Father of the Who's Pete Townshend. Joined the UK Armed Forces in the 2nd World War, playing in the army band the Squadronaires. As a solo artist best known for his 1956 rendition of Unchained Melody ~ Townshend passed away in 1986
January 28, 1900 ~ Pianist, organist, singer, composer Michael Head, full name Michael Dewar Head, born in Eastbourne, UK ~ Concert pianist, singer active since the late 1920s. Wrote a piano concerto, a tone poem and scherzo for orchestra. Best known for his song cycles Over The Rim Of The Moon and Songs Of The Countryside, the former containing his best known song The Ships Of Arcady ~ Head passed away in 1976
January 28, 1899 ~ Jazz trumpeter Zilner Randolph, full name Zilner Trenton Randolph, born in Dermott, Arkansas, USA ~ Father of jazz trumpeter Lucious Randolph. Best known for his association with Louis Armstrong, backing the trumpeter in the early 1930s. Co-wrote Old Man Mose, first recorded by Armstrong, later covered by dozens of artists including Teresa Brewer, Louis Prima, Connie Francis, and Kenny Ball. Randolph has also served as arranger for the likes of Earl Hines, Woody Herman, Fletcher Henderson, and Duke Ellington. From the 1940s onward, Randolph has focused mostly on teaching ~ Randolph passed away in 1994
January 28, 1896 ~ Elizabeth Carlisle, commonly known as singer Elsie Carlisle, born in Manchester, UK ~ Perhaps best known for introducing What Is This Thing Called Love by special request of the song's writer Cole Porter in 1929. The song would become a jazz standard recorded by hundreds of artists including Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra. Carlisle enjoyed popularity in her native UK especially during the 1930s, Carlisle at the time dubbed “Radio Sweetheart No.1”. Well known songs include A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, Alone And Afraid, and My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes. Carlisle rarely performed or recorded from the early 1940s onward ~ Carlisle passed away in 1977
January 28, 1887 ~ Pianist Arthur Rubinstein born in Lodz, Russian Empire ~ Child prodigy, fascinated by the piano from age two onward. The violinist Joseph Joachim, on hearing a four-year-old Rubinstein play, told Rubinstein's family: “This boy may become a very great musician, he certainly has the talent for it. When the time comes for serious study, bring him to me, and I shall be glad to supervise his artistic education.” Rubinstein would go on to become widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest pianists, especially known as an interpreter of the works of Frédéric Chopin ~ Rubinstein passed away in 1982January 28, 1868 ~ Classical pianist, composer Frederic Lamond, full name Frederic Archibald Lamond, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Early champion of Johannes Brahms. Considered an authority of Ludwig van Beethoven. Highly respected teacher, mentoring pupils such as Victor Borge, Jan Chiapusso, Gunnar Johansen, Ervin Nyiregyházi, and Carrie Burpee Shaw ~ Lamond passed away in 1948