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 19, 1939 ~ Singer Al Wilson, full name Allen LaMar Wilson, born in Meridian, Mississippi, USA ~ After serving in the military, Wilson relocated to Los Angeles, toured the local nightclubs and was a member of Jewels, then the Rollers, followed by the Souls. Signed with artist manager Marc Gordon, who secured an audition for Johnny Rivers. It led to a record deal with Soul City with Rivers producing the sessions that yielded 1966's The Snake, which would become a Northern soul anthem and remains popular to this day. Wilson is also remembered for Show And Tell, a 1973 Billboard No.1 hit ~ Wilson passed away in 2008
June 19, 1937 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Robert Johnson records Me And The Devil Blues in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ One of Robert Johnson's best known and most typical, gloomy songs telling of the Devil knocking on the singer's door one morning, telling him it's time to go. Penned by Johnson. Produced by Don Law. Released as a single the following year. Recorded on the same day: Stones In My Passway and From Four Until Late. Johnson would also record several songs the next day, it would be his last recording session
June 19, 1936 ~ Singer Shirley Goodman born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Formed the 1950s duo Shirley & Lee with singer Leonard Lee, known for I'm Gone, Let The Good Times Roll and Feel So Good. Sang backup for Sonny & Cher, Dr John, and notably for the Rolling Stones on their 1971 Exile On Main St album. Perhaps best known for her disco hit Shame Shame Shame recorded under the moniker Shirley & Company, a disco favorite to this day ~ Goodman passed away in 2005
June 19, 1932 ~ Guitarist Ernest Ranglin born in Robin's Hall, Jamaica ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, especially noted for Boss Reggae released in 1969. Influenced by jazz and mento helped create the rhythmic guitar style characteristic to the early ska sound. In-demand session guitarist and music director, present on albums by George Moxley, the Skatalites, Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Max Romeo, the Royal Rasses, Lee Scratch Perry, and Clancy Eccles
June 19, 1930 ~ Blues harpist, singer Jerry McCain, also known as Jerry Boogie McCain, born near Gadsden, Alabama, USA ~ Though a formidable guitarist and singer, McCain is best known as a blues harpist, influential on the likes of Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. McCain recorded actively since the early 1950s, known for songs such as The Jig's Up, My Next Door Neighbor, She's Tough and Steady. After spending too many years in obscurity, McCain's career would resurge in the 1990s with albums such as Struttin' My Stuff, I've Got The Blues All Over Me, and notably This Stuff Just Kills Me, the latter featuring an all-star cast which included Johnnie Johnson, John Primer, Anson Funderburgh, Jimmie Vaughan, Tommy Shannon, and Chris Layton ~ McCain passed away in 2012June 19, 1928 ~ Singer, pianist Leroy Carr and guitarist Scrapper Blackwell record How Long How Long Blues ~ Written by Leroy Carr. Based on How Long How Long Blues, a 1925 recording by Ida Cox. Released later the same year the Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell tune instantly became a blues classic and would inspire several of the day's as well as later musicians including the Mississippi Sheiks, Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon and Ray Charles. It would be covered well up to the end of the century, notably by Pigmeat Markham, Lou Rawls, Dinah Washington, Hot Tuna, Eric Clapton, Pinetop Perkins, and Ella Fitzgerald
June 19, 1925 ~ Charles Edward Springall, commonly known as comedian, singer Charlie Drake, born in Southwark, UK ~ Best known as a comedian. As a singer known for a number of covers and novelty hits starting in the late 1950s including singles such as the Bobby Darin cover Splish Splash, My Boomerang Won't Come Back and the Peter Gabriel-produced You Never Know ~ Springall passed away in 2006
June 19, 1922 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger David Van Kriedt born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Worked with the Jazz Workshop Ensemble which would eventually evolve into Dave Brubeck octet. Appears on Stan Kenton's pivotal Contemporary Concepts album alongside Charlie Mariano, Carl Fontana, Bob Fitzpatrick ~ Van Kriedt passed away in 1994
June 19, 1922 ~ Elmer Alexander, commonly known as jazz drummer Mousey Alexander, born in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Jimmy McPartland, Marian McPartland, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Johnny Smith, Benny Goodman, Bud Freeman, Eddie Condon, Charlie Ventura, Red Norvo, Clark Terry, Ralph Sutton, Sy Oliver, Doc Severinsen, Eddie Barefield, Buck Clayton, Beverly Kenney, Lee Konitz, Gene Krupa, Sal Salvador, and Jimmy Witherspoon ~ Alexander passed away in 1988
June 19, 1918 ~ Folk singer Joe Glazer born in New York, New York, USA ~ Often called “Labor's Troubadour” and closely associated with the labor unions. Recorded over 30 albums. Best known for songs such as The Mill Was Made Of Marble, Too Old To Work, and Automation ~ Glazer passed away in 2006
June 19, 1917 ~ Jazz singer, songwriter Dave Lambert, full name David Alden Lambert, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Brought modern singing into jazz. Best known as a member of Lambert Hendricks & Ross alongside Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross. Also sang with with Lambert & Co teaming up with Mary Vonnie, Leslie Dorsey, David Lucas, Sarah Boatner. Killed in a roadside accident aged 49 ~ Lambert passed away in 1966
June 19, 1914 ~ Bluegrass, country guitarist, mandolinist, singer Lester Flatt, full name Lester Raymond Flatt, born in Overton County, Tennessee, USA ~ Rose to prominence as member of bluegrass icon Bill Monroe's backing unit. Teamed up with banjoist Earl Scruggs to form the famed duo Flatt & Scruggs, one of the most important bluegrass acts in the history of country music and especially known for Foggy Mountain Breakdown, The Ballad Of Jed Clampett, Pearl Pearl Pearl, and You Are My Flower ~ Flatt passed away in 1979
June 19, 1909 ~ Jazz saxophonist, singer Joe Thomas, full name Joseph Vankert Thomas, born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry. Worked with Earl Hood, Horace Henderson, Stuff Smith, Jimmie Lunceford, Johnny Grimes, and George Duvivier ~ Thomas passed away in 1986
June 19, 1909 ~ Singer, songwriter Otto Nielsen, full name Otto Louis Nielsen, born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Important figure in Norwegian culture with a career spanning five decades. Performed with his sister Gerd Nielsen under the moniker Otto & Gerd in the 1930s. Wrote children's opera. Program director for Norwegian radio show Søndagsposten for nearly two decades. Renowned songwriter ~ Nielsen passed away in 1982
June 19, 1899 ~ Francis Drake Ballard, commonly known as songwriter Pat Ballard born in Troy, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for penning songs such as I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You) (the Four Knights, Bing Crosby, Maria Cole), and Mr Sandman (Vaughn Monroe, the Chordettes, the Four Aces, the Mills Brothers) ~ Ballard passed away in 1960