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.
July 2, 1949 ~ Jazz guitarist, banjoist, singer Bud Scott, full name Arthur Bud Scott, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Worked with Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, James Reese Europe, King Oliver, Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Blythe, Erskine Tate, Jelly Roll Morton, Dave Peyton, Ethel Waters, Jimmie Noone, Mutt Carey, Ed Garland, Zutty Singleton, and Buster Wilson ~ Scott was born in 1890
July 2, 1949 ~ Composer, conductor David Eaton born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with the NEw York Symphony, serving as its music director since the mid-1980s. Conductor of the Goldman Band during the late 1990s. Has guest conducted with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Tapei City Symphony Orchestra, and the Orquestra Sinfonic Nacional de Guatemala. Also known as an advocate for peace and interreligious reconciliation, co-founder and President of the Peace Music Foundation, and awarded honorate doctorate degrees from the Universidad Metropolitana de Asuncion and the Unification Theological Seminary for his efforts to promote peace through the art of music
July 2, 1949 ~ Drummer, singer Joe English born ~ Member of Paul McCartney's 1970s outfit Wings from 1975 through 1977, present on the albums Venus And Mars and Wings At The Speed Of Sound. Sang lead vocals on the track Must Do Something About It taken of the latter album. Subsequently worked with Sea Level through 1980, first appearing on the 1978 On The Edge album. Became a born-again Christian by the early 1980s and is currently involved with the Word Of Faith Fellowship churchJuly 2, 1947 ~ Saxophonist Reggie Houston born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his association with Fats Domino, backing Domino for nearly two continuous decades starting in 1983. Has also worked with Dr John, Ziggy Modeliste, the Neville Brothers, Mary Flower, the Indigo Girls, John Koerner, and Buffy Sainte-Marie
July 2, 1945 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, acid rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Randy Holden born ~ Influenced by the Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, leading him to experiment with distortion and feedback. Perhaps best known as member of acid rock outfit Blue Cheer, present on the band's 1969 New Improved album. As a solo artist best known for his 1970 Population II album, considered a precursor to doom metal. Has also worked with the Fender IV, Sons Of Adam, and the Other Half
July 2, 1943 ~ Singer Bing Crosby records Sunday Monday Or Always ~ Written by Jimmy van Heusen and Johnny Burke. Recorded during the musicians strike, featuring the Ken Darby Singers as vocal accompaniement instead of an orchestra. It would be a No.1 hit for Bing Crosby, and be used in the film Dixie. Recorded around the same time by Frank Sinatra. In later years the song would be covered by Mildred Bailey, Nat King Cole, and Pat Boone
July 2, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter Stéphane Venne born in Verdun, Canada ~ Recorded some half a dozen albums as a singer, mostly from the mid 1960s through the mid 1970s, as well as composed and performed several soundtracks including notably for the early 1980s Canadian drama film Les Plouffe. Artists who recorded songs written by Venne include Renée Claude, Donald Lautrec (Un Jour Un Jour), Pierre Lalonde, Isabelle Pierre, Emmanuëlle, and Suzanne Stevens. Venne has also served as label executive and producer for Barclay Records and as a radio station executive ~ Venne passed away in 2025
July 2, 1940 ~ Classical hornist Dale Clevenger born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as principal hornist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1966 through 2013. Has also notably worked with the American Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leopold Stokowski, Symphony Of The Air and the Kansas City Philharmonic ~ Clevenger passed away in 2022July 2, 1937 ~ Keyboardist, clarinetist, arranger Dee Palmer born in Hendon, UK ~ Arranged Bert Jansch's Nicola album released in 1967. Would go on to arrange and conduct for Jethro Tull, starting with the band's This Was 1968 debut album and subsequently all albums through the mid 1970s. Would become a full band member, performing keyboards and arranging, starting on the 1977 Songs From The Wood album. In the late 1990s Palmer, born David Victor Palmer, came out as transgender and legally change her name to Dee
July 2, 1934 ~ Dionysius O'Brien, commonly known as folk, pop singer, pianist, guitarist, producer, songwriter Tom Springfield born in London, UK ~ Brother of Dusty Springfield, with whom he also worked in the Springfields. After the band disbanded would go on to produce and write for the Seekers, including their biggest hits such as Georgy Girl, I'll Never Find Another You and A World Of Our Own. Also wrote or co-wrote for others, including Summer Is Over for Frank Ifield, Adios Amour (Goodbye My Love) recorded by José Feliciano, and Losing You for his sisterJuly 2, 1928 ~ Jazz pianist Richard Wyands born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Played with Vernon Alley, Carmen McRae, Roy Haynes, Charles Mingus, Jerome Richardson, Gigi Gryce, Kenny Burrell, Gene Ammons, Benny Carter, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Teddy Edwards, Frank Foster, Freddie Hubbard, Etta Jones, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Oliver Nelson, Houston Person, Jerome Richardson, James Spaulding, Buddy Tate, with Illinois Jacquet, and with Kenny Burrell
July 2, 1927 ~ Big band saxophonist Charlie Kennedy, full name Charles Sumner Kennedy, born in Staten Island, New York, USA ~ Worked with Louis Prima, Gene Krupa, Terry Gibbs, Charlie Ventura, Flip Phillips, Chico O'Farrill, Bill Holman, Terry Gibbs, June Christy, Med Flory, Dizzy Gillespie, Neal Hefti, Chubby Jackson, Shelly Manne, Anita O'Day, Art Pepper, and Zoot Sims ~ Kennedy passed away in 2009July 2, 1927 ~ Saxophonist Lee Allen born in Pittsburg, Kansas, USA ~ Best known as a mentor and eventually member of the Blasters. Has also worked with Paul Gayten, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Earl King, Huey Piano Smith, Professor Longhair, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Dr John, Buddy Miles, and the Stray Cats ~ Allen passed away in 1994
July 2, 1925 ~ Marvin Karlton Rainwater, commonly known as country, pop, rockabilly singer, songwriter Marvin Rainwater, born in Wichita, Kansas, USA ~ Best known for a number of late 1950s hits, notably Gonna Find Me A Bluebird, Whole Lotta Woman and Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You). UK guitarist Hank Marvin chose his stage name in honor of Rainwater ~ Rainwater passed away in 2013
July 2, 1916 ~ Curtis Wain Gates, commonly known as singer, actor Ken Curtis, born in Lamar, Colorado, USA ~ Best known as actor, notably portraying the role of Festus Haggen on the CBS western TV series Gunsmoke. Sang with Tommy Dorsey's band in the early 1940's joining the ensemble as replacement for Frank Sinatra. Also lead singer of pivotal country group the Sons Of The Pioneers from 1949 through 1952 including on the hits Room Full Of Roses and Ghost Riders In The Sky ~ Gates passed away in 1991July 2, 1914 ~ Conductor Frederick Fennell born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Praised by some as the most famous band conductor since John Philip Sousa. Well known for his association with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Has also worked with renowned ensembles such as the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra ~ Fennell passed away in 2004
July 2, 1910 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Earl Robinson, full name Earl Hawley Robinson, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Father of jazz clarinetist Perry Robinson. Influenced by classical music and folk artists such as Woody Guthrie, Paul Robeson, and Pete Seeger. Penned and first recorded The House I Live In, which would be covered by Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Sarah Vaughan, Mahalia Jackson, and Kim Weston. Co-penned Ballad For Americans, which would become a signature for Robeson. Blacklisted during the MacCarthy era for his membership of the Communist Party ~ Robinson passed away in 1991
July 2, 1905 ~ Jazz bandleader, saxophonist Harlan Leonard born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Playing professionally since age 17 starting with serving under Bennie Moten and eventually leading the band's reed section. Active as a bandleader since the early 1930s. Once employed Charlie Parker but fired him after just weeks for lack of discipline. Has also worked with Thamon Hayes, Vic Dickenson, Myra Taylor, Tadd Dameron. Would retire from music by the mid 1940s and has worked in banking and with the IRS for the remainder of his life ~ Leonard passed away in 1983
July 2, 1894 ~ Songwriter, singer, pianist Turner Layton, full name John Turner Layton Jr, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter, frequent collaborator of Henry Creamer. Co-wrote the standard After You've Gone, first popularized by Sophie Tucker and also recorded by Marion Harris, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Sonny Stitt, Peggy Lee, and Phil Collins. Also co-wrote Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, recorded by Frankie Trumbauer, Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby, Freddy Cannon, Patti Page, and Jan & Dean ~ Layton passed away in 1978