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.
June 10, 1956 ~ Barrington Scott Henderson, commonly known as R&B, soul singer Barrington Bo Henderson, born in Washington, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Latter-day member of R&B, funk outfit Lakeside, appearing on the band's last two albums. Subsequently briefly worked with the Dramatics, and sang lead for the Temptations from 1998 through 2003 prior to releasing his Best Kept Secret solo debut album in 2003
June 10, 1953 ~ Violinist, conductor, composer Grzegorz Fitelberg passed away in Katowice, Poland ~ Alongside Karol Szymanowski, Ludomir Rózycki, and Mieczyslaw Karlowicz part of a generation of Polish artists dubbed the Young Poland Group, known for their promotion of neo-romaticism, impressionism and art nouveau. Of Jewish descent fled Europe during World War, several of his family members interned and murdered in the Holocaust, to return after the war. Best known as a conductor active since the early-1900s, working with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Warsaw Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Teatro Colón, and perhaps most notably the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra ~ Fitelberg was born in 1879
June 10, 1952 ~ Country, country-pop singer, songwriter Thom Schuyler born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA ~ One third of S-K-O, alongside Fred Knobloch and Paul Overstreet. Revered songwriter wrote or co-wrote songs such as Point Of Light (Randy Travis), Love Will Turn You Around (Kenny Rogers), Long Line Of Love (Michael Martin Murphey) and Years After You (John Conlee). Other artists who have recorded Schuylers songs include Lacy J Dalton, Leon Everette, Levon Helm, Eddie Rabbitt, Dan Seals, the Forester Sisters, Judy Rodman, Tom Wopat, Clint Black, and LeAnn Rimes
June 10, 1951 ~ Bassist, violinist, pianist Tom Fowler born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ~ Best known for his association with Frank Zappa, appearing on well over a dozen of Zappa's albums since the mid 1970s including the acclaimed Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe, and One Size Fits All. Fowler also played with Air Pocket, which among others included several of his siblings, and has appeared on recordings by a wide array of artists in jazz, rock, R&B, and experimental music including It's A Beautiful Day, George Duke, Jean-Luc Ponty (Imaginary Voyage), Steve Hackett (Please Don't Touch), Kim Angelis, Don Preston, and Ray Charles. As a solo artist, Fowler is best known for his Heartscapes album released in 1992. Upon hearing of his death, fellow Zappa alumnus Arthur Barrow commented: “He was a hero to me, (…) he was an inspiration for me to buy a bass and start practising” ~ Fowler passed away in 2024
June 10, 1950 ~ Carlos Althier de Souza Lemos Escobar, commonly known as guitarist, songwriter Guinga, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Dubbed Guinga for his pronounciation of “Gringo”, his nickname as a child for his pale skin. Classically trained guitarist, drawing from choro, samba, balão, waltz, foxtrot, blues, classical music, and jazz. Accompanied artists such as Beth Carvalho, João Nogueira, Cartola, and Clara Nunes. As a songwriter, often teaming up with poet, lyricist Paulo César Pinheiro, had his songs recorded by the likes of Elis Regina, Nelson Gonçalves, Miúcha, José Milton (Bolero De Satã), and Michel Legrand. As a singer has recorded about a dozen albums. Especially acclaimed for the albums Delirio Carioca and Simples E Absurdo, both released in 1994
June 10, 1950 ~ Country singer, guitarist Tommy Alverson born in Itasca, Texas, USA ~ Considered a legend in his native Texas for helping define the Texan country. Has recorded over half a dozen studio and live albums, starting with Texasongs released in 1995 which consisted of material previously released on cassette records. It would not be until his 1999 sophomore effort, Me And The Jukebox which gave him the regional hit Una Mas Cerveza, that Alverson would be able to quit his day job of three decades working for the Miller Brewing Company and focus on his music career fulltime. Alverson would be held in the highest regards by fellow Texan singers, including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Larry Joe Taylor, Michael Martin Murphey, and Willie Nelson, many of whom he collaborated with. Alverson is also well known for founding the Texas Music Family Gathering in the late 1990s, which grew from a small event to one of the most legendary annual gatherings in Texas music around. Alverson has also produced Shadows Where The Magic Was, the 1999 debut album for fellow Texas icon James Hand, and has guested on recordings by Gary P Nunn, Brian Burns (Highways Heartaches & Honky-Tonks), Ed Burleson, Johnny Bush, and Ed Burleson. Upon hearing of Alverson's passing, close friend and fellow musician Dallas Wayne commented: “We lost one of the best today. I'm not talking about his songwriting, singing or his guitar playing. Although he was amazing at all those things. I'm talking about him as a man, father, husband and a friend. Alverson was all about kindness, heart and compassion” ~ Alverson passed away in 2024June 10, 1944 ~ Lutenist Anthony Rooley born in Leeds, UK ~ Founded early music ensemble the Consort Of Musicke in 1969, serving as its director since. The group has released over a 100 recordings and at times included members such as sopranos Emma Kirkby and Evelyn Tubb, and tenors Paul Agnew, Andrew King, and Joseph Cornwell. Rooley is also noted for several collaborative albums with James Tyler. As an author known for Performance (Revealing The Orpheus Within), published in 1990
June 10, 1944 ~ Bassist Rick Price, full name Richard Gordon Price, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Member of a number of Birmingham-based bands starting with Sight & Sound, and subsequently with the Move from 1969 through 1971 and perhaps most notably Wizzard from 1972 through 1975 scoring the UK No.1 hits See My Baby Jive and Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad). Briefly played with the Electric Light Orchestra, though his bass parts would not make it to the band's 1971 eponymous Electric Light Orchestra debut album. Married to singer Dianne Lee of the 1970s duo Peters & Lee ~ Price passed away in 2022
June 10, 1942 ~ Chantal de Guerre, commonly known as singer, actress Chantal Goya, born in Saigon, French Indochina ~ Initially a yé-yé singer during the mid 1960s, merging girl group pop with chansons. Would switch to children's music by the mid 1970s working with her husband songwriter Jean-Jacques Debout. Also known as an actress, notably for her role as Madeleine in the 1966 Masculin film by Jean-Luc GodardJune 10, 1941 ~ Singer Janet Vogel born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Vogel passed away in 1980
June 10, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter Shirley Owens born in Pasaic, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of 1960s girl group the Shirelles, known for songs such as Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Dedicated To The One I Love, Mama Said, Baby It's You, Soldier Boy and Foolish Little Girl
June 10, 1940 ~ Jazz, free jazz drummer John Stevens, full name John William Stevens, born in Brentford, UK ~ Considered a key figure in British free improvisation, perhaps best known for co-founding the Spontaneous Music Ensemble with Trevor Watts, The band, an influential loose collective, at one time or another included most of the UK's top experimental jazz musicians. Stevens was notably present on albums such as Karyobin, Face To Face, and Mouthpiece. Stevens has also recorded as a solo artist, noted especially for the albums For You To Share, Chemistry, Away, and SMO all released during the mid 1970s. Stevens has also worked with Amalgam, Steve Lacy, Dudu Pukwana, John Martyn (Live At Leeds), Ralph McTell, Charlie Watts, Detail, and Dick Heckstall-Smith ~ Stevens passed away in 1994
June 10, 1934 ~ Classical composer Frederick Delius, full name Frederick Theodore Albert Delius, passed away in Grez, France ~ Influenced by European composers such as Edvard Grieg and Richard Wagner as well as African-American music encountered during a stay in Florida as manager of an orange plantation. Enjoyed popularity in Germany from the 1890s and in his native England from the 1900s onwards. Best known for his cantata Mass Of Life based on the Friedrich Nietzsche-novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra and the opera A Village Romeo And Juliet ~ Delius was born in 1862June 10, 1933 ~ Operatic soprano Cecilia Fusco, full name Maria Cecilia Fusco, born in Rome, Italy ~ Daughter of film composer Giovanni Fusco and pianist Adriana Dante. Active since the late 1950s, debuting in Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto in the role of Gilda. Best known for her longtime association with La Scala. Has also worked with opera houses and orchestras such as La Fenice, Teatro Comunale Di Bologna, Teatro Regio Di Parma, La Monnaie, the Cairo Opera House, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Teatro Real, the Washington National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera ~ Fusco passed away in 2020
June 10, 1931 ~ João Gilberto Prado Pereira, commonly known as guitarist, singer João Gilberto born in Juazeiro, Brazil ~ Leading figure in Bossa nova, acclaimed for late 1950s, early 1960s albums such as Chega De Saudade and O Amor O Sorriso E A Flor. Especially known for his collaboration with Antônio Carlos Jobim and Stan Getz on the 1964 Getz/Gilberto album, merging Latin music with jazz, which spawned the hit The Girl From Ipanema featuring Astrud Gilberto ~ Pereira passed away in 2019
June 10, 1926 ~ Singer, acress Brita Borg, full name Brita Kerstin Gunvor Borg, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Internationally perhaps best known for representing her native Sweden at the 1959 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 9th place with Augustin ~ Borg passed away in 2010June 10, 1926 ~ Jazz guitarist Joe Negri born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Taught jazz guitar at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for nearly five decades. Negri has been performing since a young age, appearing on the radio as young as age 3, shared stages with his brother pianist Bobby Negri, performed on the children's educational TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for nearly four decades, has recorded as a leader, and collaborated with Buddy DeFranco, and Michael Feinstein
June 10, 1923 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Paul Brunelle born in Granby, Canada ~ Considered the pioneer of Quebec country music, especially influential on Willie Lamothe. Known for songs such as Cruel Destiny, On This White Rock, In A Night Of Stars, The Song Of The Vagabond, and In The Distance (There In My Prairie). To American audiences best known for his 1955 novelty yodeling hit The Cowboy Of The Mountains ~ Brunelle passed away in 1994
June 10, 1922 ~ Frances Ethel Gumm, commonly known as singer, actress Judy Garland, born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA ~ Child star. Would go on to enjoy a career spanning over four decades. Mother of singer Liza Minnelli. Noted for her role as Dorothy in the 1939 Wizard Of Oz film, in which she also sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Her 1961 Judy At Carnegie Hall album made her the first female to be awarded a Grammy Award for Album of the Year ~ Garland passed away in 1969June 10, 1921 ~ Jazz alto, tenor saxophonist Porter Kilbert born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Nat Towles, Benny Carter, Willard Brown, Curly Russell, Max Roach, Oscar Bradley, Ulysses Livingston, Sonny White, Teddy Brannon, Bumps Myer, Gene Porter, Alton Moore, JJ Johnson, Shorty Haughton, Claude Dunson, Snooky Young, Freddie Webster, Gerald Wilson, Jake Porter, Roy Eldridge, Red Saunders, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Navarro, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Clarence Samuels, Horace Henderson, Quincy Jones, Phil Woods, and Carmen McRae ~ Kilbert passed away in 1960
June 10, 1910 ~ Chester Arthur Burnett, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Howlin' Wolf, born in White Station, Mississippi, USA ~ Best remembered for his influence in electric blues alongside rival bluesman Muddy Waters. Known for songs such as Smokestack Lightnin', Killing Floor and Spoonful, all of which regarded as blues, blues rock classics and of major influence on a generation of rock artists ~ Burnett passed away in 1976
June 10, 1910 ~ Pianist, conductor, arranger, songwriter Leon Carr born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by the likes of Harry James, Pearl Bailey (Hug Me A Hug Kiss Me A Kiss), Teresa Brewer, the Blossoms, the Cinderellas, Patti Page (Two Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Three Miles), Craig Alden, Brook Benton (Hotel Happiness), the Tymes, Ruby & the Romantics (Hey There Lonely Boy), Bobby Vinton, Bonnie Guitar, Tom Jones (The Young New Mexican Puppeteer), and Eydie Gormé ~ Carr passed away in 1976
June 10, 1907 ~ William Wells, commonly known as jazz trombonist Dicky Wells, born in Centerville, Tennessee, USA ~ Brother of trombonist Henry Wells. Worked steadily behind the likes of Cecil Scott, Spike Hughes, Fletcher Henderson, and Benny Carter before rising to fame playing with Count Basie. About half a dozen albums as a leader, noted for Goin' To Kansas City released in 1960. Has also worked with Jimmy Rushing, Jelly Roll Morton (Mr Jelly Roll), Buddy Tate, Buck Clayton, Booty Wood, Nancy Harrow, James Brown (Live At The Apollo), and Jimmy Rushing ~ Wells passed away in 1985June 10, 1905 ~ Jazz clarinetist Willie Lewis, full name Willie Meria Tawlton Lewis, born in Cleburne, Texas, USA ~ Served in ensembles led by Will Marion Cook and Sam Wooding through the early 1930s. Led his own band for the next decade finding popularity in Europe, the band including sidemen such as Herman Chittison, Benny Carter, Garneth Clark, and June Cole. Returning to New York by 1941 and with his fortunes in decline Lewis would only sparsely perform since, working as an actor and bartender to pay the bills ~ Lewis passed away in 1971
June 10, 1901 ~ Friedrich Lowe, commonly known as composer Frederick Loewe, born in Berlin, Germany ~ Best known as frequent collaborator of lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, co-writing Broadway musicals such Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, Camelot and perhaps their best known My Fair Lady ~ Lowe passed away in 1988