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 20, 1939 ~ Alvin Lee Johnson, commonly known as singer, pianist Al Johnson, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Not to be confused with Al Johnson, lead singer of Unifics. Johnson credits James Sugarboy Crawford, Fats Domino and Smiley Lewis as influences and recorded his first songs, Ole Time Talking and I've Done Wrong, in 1956. Johnson is best known for his 1960 release of Piano Carnival Time, produced by Joe Ruffino, which would become one of the most played and requested classics of the New Orleans Mardi Gras
June 20, 1939 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, banjoist Bob Neuwirth born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Underground cult hero. Influential on close friend and associate of Bob Dylan, with whom he also played including in the 1967 tour documentary Don't Look Back. Assembled Dylan's backing band for the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Mercedes Benz with Michael McClure and Janis Joplin, the latter first recording the song as the B-side to Cry Baby released in 1971. Recorded five albums through the late 1990s, starting with his eponymous Bob Neuwirth debut in 1974. Collaborated with John Cale on the 1994 collaborative Last Day On Earth album. Songs written or co-written by Neuwirth have been recorded by Kristofferson, Peter Case, T-Bone Burnett, Robert Earl Keen, and Todd Snider ~ Neuwirth passed away in 2022
June 20, 1938 ~ Jazz, pop, rock guitarist Dennis Budimir, full name Dennis Matthew Budimir, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Active since his mid-teens, initially focused on jazz working with artists such as Don Cherry, Ken Hanna, Harry James, Chico Hamilton, Bud Shank, and Peggy Lee through the early 1960s. After a stint in the military toured with Bobby Troup before settling in Los Angeles to become an in-demand session musician. Appeared frequently on albums by the 5th Dimension, Harry Nilsson, Quincy Jones, the Partridge Family, and Sérgio Mendes. Other notable collaborations include Bobby Darin, Milt Jackson, Gene Ammons, Glen Campbell, Neil Diamond, Cass Elliott, Randy Newman (Good Old Boys), Cher, Barbra Streisand, Judy Collins, Rodney Franklin, Melissa Manchester, Barry Manilow, Ringo Starr, Lou Rawls, Bette Midler, Amy Grant, and Lee Ann Womack. Has also recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader or solo artist, starting with The Creeper released in 1965 ~ Budimir passed away in 2023
June 20, 1938 ~ Michael Peter Hayes, commonly known as producer, label executive Mickie Most, born in Aldershot, UK ~ Produced singles such as the Animals' debut single Baby Let Me Take You Home, Brenda Lee's Is It True and What'd I Say, Donovan's Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow, Lulu's To Sir With Love, the Seekers' The Days Of My Life an Nancy Sinatra's The Highway Song. Worked with Jeff Beck on the albums Truth and Beck-ola. Continued into the 1970s producing acts such as Alexis Korner's CCS, Smokie, Hot Chocolate, Julie Felix, Suzi Quatro (Can The Can, Devil Gate Drive), and Mud (Tiger Feet). Discovered Kim Wilde singing background vocals for her father and Most immediateley scored with Kids In America, launching Kim's career. Most's son Calvin Hayes is a member of pop group Johnny Hates Jazz, also signed to Most's RAK Records. Other acts that Most worked with throughtout the years include Terry Reid, the She Trinity, New World, Duncan Browne, Cozy Powell, Tam White, and Chris Spedding ~ Hayes passed away in 2003
June 20, 1937 ~ Easy listening, traditional pop singer, songwriter Jerry Keller born in Fort Smith, Kansas, USA ~ Member of the Tulsa Boy Singers. As a solo artist best known for the self-penned Here Comes Summer, which reached top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. Co-penned Almost There recorded by Andy Williams, How Does It Go recorded by Ricky Nelson, and Turn Down Day recorded by Cyrkle
June 20, 1937 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Robert Johnson records Hellhound On My Trail in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Regarded by many as one of Robert Johnson's greatest performances, arguably his greatest. Thematically inspired on a number of earlier blues recordings. Often mentioned are Johnny Temple's Evil Devil Blues, Kansas Joe McCoy's Evil Devil Woman Blues and Skip James' Devil Got My Woman. Johnson recorded Hellhound on the second and last day of his final recording session. Recorded on the same day: Love In Vain and Stop Breaking Down
June 20, 1934 ~ Composer Alain Bancquart born in Dieppe, France ~ Musical director for ORTF and subsequently the Orchestre National de France, having previously served as violinist in the latter. As a composer has written symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music ~ Bancquart passed away in 2022
June 20, 1934 ~ Anne-Marie Beugras, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Anne Sylvestre, born in Lyon, France ~ Active since the 1950s starting in cabarets. Discovered by Michel Valette. Had her Porteuse D'Eau covered by Jean-Claude Pascal, retitled to La Terre. Recorded for a wide range of audiences, and touched on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from children's music to love songs and socially conscious material. Has collaborated with Isabelle Aubret, Pauline Julien, and Michele Bernard ~ Beugras passed away in 2020
June 20, 1934 ~ Louis Thomas Watts, commonly known as blues, R&B, rock & roll singer Kid Thomas, born in Sturgis, USA ~ Best known for his 1959 George Motola-produced recording Rocking This Joint To-nite. Would continue to record into the mid 1960s but would be unable to replicate its success. Also worked with Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Bo Diddley, and Hound Dog Taylor ~ Watts passed away in 1970
June 20, 1933 ~ Songwriter Ben Peters, full name Ben James Peters, born in Greenville, Mississippi, USA ~ As a recording artist known for his sole charting single San Francisco Is A Lonely Town. Revered as a songwriter, writing or co-writing numerous hits for a host of artists, mostly in the country idiom, including Eddy Arnold, Lynn Anderson, Duane Dee and Freddy Fender (both recorded Before The Next Teardrop Falls), Johnny Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers (Daytime Friends), Charlie Rich, John Conlee, the Bellamy Brothers, Roy Drusky, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis (Before), Boris Gardiner (I Wanna Wake Up With You), Val Doonican, David Frizzell, and Charley Pride (Kiss An Angel Good Morning) ~ Peters passed away in 2005
June 20, 1933 ~ Leslie Johnson, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Lazy Lester, born in Torras, California, USA ~ Known for songs such as I'm A Lover Not A Fighter, I Hear You Knocking and Sugar Coated Love. Worked with Slim Harpo, Lightning Slim, Katie Webster, Mike Buck, Sue Foley, Gene Taylor, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, Jimmie Vaughn. Had his songs covered by the Kinks, the Flamin' Groovies, Freddy Fender, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Edmunds, Raful Neal, Anson Funderburgh, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds ~ Johnson passed away in 2018
June 20, 1932 ~ Composer Mzilikazi Khumalo, full name James Steve Mzilikazi Khumalo, born in Natal, South Africa ~ Known for compositions such as Ma Ngificwa Ukufa premiered in 1959, the cantate Ushaka Kasengzangakohna, and the opera Princess Magogo Kadinuzulu, the latter would be the first opera in the Zulu language ~ Khumalo passed away in 2021
June 20, 1931 ~ Composer Arne Nordheim born in Larvik, Norway ~ Composed for stage, orchestral works, chamber music, choral works, and for film and TV. Well-known composition include String Quartet, the song ccylce Aftonland (Evening Land), Canzona Per Orchestra, and perhaps his best known Epitaffio Per Orchestra E Nastro Magnetico published in 1963. Nordheim's popularity grew immensely after Frank Zappa visited Denmark in 1973 and told journalists he wanted to meet Nordheim. The two would later develop a longtime friendship ~ Nordheim passed away in 2010
June 20, 1929 ~ Classical pianist Ingrid Haebler born in Vienna, Austria ~ Made her first public performance at age 11. One of several Austrian musicians to experiment with period instruments, notably recording Johann Christian Bach's keyboard concertos on a fortepiano. Also well known for her recordings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven ~ Haebler passed away in 2023
June 20, 1928 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Eric Dolphy, full name Eric Allan Dolphy Jr, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Pushed bop to its outer limits. Helped establish the bass clarinet as a viable jazz instrument. Extended the boundaries of the alto saxophone. During his lifetime released about half a dozen albums as a leader, with a multitude of recordings released posthumously. Especially acclaimed for the albums Looking Ahead and Out There, both released in 1960. Closely associated with Charles Mingus, John Coltrane and Booker Little. Also present on albums by Teddy Charles, Ernie Andrews, Chico Hamilton (Gong's East), Oliver Nelson (Screamin' The Blues), John Lewis, Eddie Lockjaw Davis (Trane Whistle), George Russell, Booker Little (Out Front), Max Roach, Ted Curson, Pony Poindexter (Pony's Express), Freddie Hubbard, and Andrew Hill (Point Of Departure. Dolphy passed away at age 36, most likely due to undiagnosed diabetes ~ Dolphy passed away in 1964
June 20, 1924 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer Chet Atkins, full name Chester Burton Atkins, born in Luttrell, Tennessee, USA ~ Important behind the scenes country musician. Along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson helped develop the Nashville sound. Highly admired as a guitarist. Influenced by Merle Travis, Django Reinhardt, George Barnes, Les Paul, Jerry Reed. Has collaborated with numerous artists, notably as a producer for Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, and Waylon Jennings ~ Atkins passed away in 2001
June 20, 1913 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Al Gallodoro, full name Alfred J Gallodoro, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Praised as “the best sax player who ever lived” by bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. Best known for his longtime associations with Paul Whiteman and the NBC Symphony Orchestra led by Arturo Toscanini ~ Gallodoro passed away in 2008
June 20, 1907 ~ Paul Wesley Evans, commonly known as jazz, classical cornetist Doc Evans, born in Spring Valley, Minnesota, USA ~ Worked with the Carleton Collegians in college. Traded in his saxophone for cornet in the late 1920s. Performed and recorded as a leader, notably for Disc Records and Joco Records throught the 1950s. Founded the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in the mid 1970s, which he conducted until his death a few years later ~ Evans passed away in 1977
June 20, 1907 ~ James Corbitt Morris, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, banjoist, fiddler, songwriter Jimmie Driftwood born in Mountain View, Kansas, USA ~ Best known for penning and first recording The Battle Of New Orleans, based on the traditional Eighth Of January, and Tennessee Stud, both songs becoming country, folk standards covered by numerous artists. Driftwood reportedly adapted or wrote over an estimated 6,000 songs, hundreds of which have been recorded by the likes of Eddy Arnold, Odetta (He Had A Long Chain On), Porter Wagoner, Patrick Sky, Doc Watson, Malcolm Price (Get Along Yearlings), Country Joe McDonald, Sherwin Linton, Chris LeDoux, and Johnny Cash. Morris was also known as an environmental advocate, notably playing a major role in the preservation of the Blanchard Springs Caverns in the Ozark-St Francis National Forest in northern Arkansas ~ Morris passed away in 1998
June 20, 1907 ~ Jazz trumpeter Lammar Wright Sr born in Texarkana, Texas, USA ~ First gained attention playing with Bennie Moten's band in the 1920s, prior to relocating to New York by 1927 to join the Missourians, staying with the group after Cab Calloway became its leader, serving as lead trumpeter through the early 1940s. Wright has subsequently also worked with Don Redman, Claude Hopkins, Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Sy Oliver, and Louis Armstrong, in addition to from time to time leading his own ensembles. Wright's sons Lammar Wright Jr and Elmon Wright would both follow in their father's footsteps, and become professional trumpeters ~ Wright passed away in 1973
June 20, 1899 ~ Opera, concert, nightclub, cabaret singer Helen Traubel, full name Helen Francesca Traubel, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Dramatic soprano best known for her roles in operas composed by Richard Wagner, notably as Brunnhilde in Die Walküre and as Isolde in Tristan Und Isolde. Trauble is most closely associated with the Metropolitan Opera, singing with the orchestra from 1937 to 1953. The singer also enjoyed a parallel career singing lighter repertoire in nightclubs, musical theatre, TV and film ~ Traubel passed away in 1972