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 28, 1943 ~ Guitarist Bobby Harrison, full name Robert Leslie Harrison, born in East Ham, UK ~ Early member of Procol Harum who, along with guitarist Ray Royer, left the band shortly after recording the 1967 hit single A Whiter Shade Of Pale to form the band Freedom ~ Harrison passed away in 2022
June 28, 1942 ~ Roy Samuel Reid, commonly known as reggae, dancehall DJ I-Roy, born in St Thomas, Jamaica ~ Influenced by U-Roy and Dennis Alcapon. Worked with Dennis Walks, Harry Muddle, Lloyd Campbell, Bunny Lee, Derrick Harriott, Lee Scratch Perry, Glen Brown, Rupie Edwards, Byron Lee, Keith Hudson, Rudy Redwood (Sidewalk Killer), and Prince Jazzbo ~ Reid passed away in 1999
June 28, 1941 ~ Singer Vello Orumets born in Viljandi, Estonia ~ Best known as soloist for Laine from 1960 through 1977. The ensemble consisted of members of the Estonian State Philharmonic and is known as one of the few to have introduced Estonian pop music to other Soviet republics during the Soviet era. Subsequently Orumets was a member of Erfia from 1978 through 1988 ~ Orumets passed away in 2012June 28, 1929 ~ Gospel singer, music director Milton Brunson, also known as Rev Milton Brunson, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Mentored by Reverend Thomas A Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson. Founded the Thompson Community Singers, well known for their regular appearances on Jubilee Showcase TV concert series. Especially acclaimed for his 1988 Available To You album, its title track becoming a gospel standard ~ Brunson passed away in 1997
June 28, 1924 ~ Country singer, guitarist George Morgan, full name George Thomas Morgan, born in Waverly, Tennessee, USA ~ Father of country singer Lorrie Morgan. Though Morgan is the lesser known of the three, alongside contemporaries Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves Morgan is considered one of the few, and finest “country crooners”, sometimes dubbed “the Candy Kid” for his first hit Candy Kisses. Morgan has recorded over a dozen albums until his death in the mid 1970s. Other than Candy Kisses, his sole Billboard Country No.1 hit, he is known for songs such as Please Don't Let Me Love You, Rainbow In My Heart, Room Full Of Roses, I Love Everything About You, Almost, I'm In Love Again, and You're The Only Good Thing (That Happened To Me). In 1974, Morgan was the last person to perform on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium before the Grand Ole Opry moved to the Grand Ole Opry. A week later, he would be the first to sing on the stage of the new venue, also located in country music capitol Nashville, Tennessee ~ Morgan passed away in 1975
June 28, 1924 ~ Kenneth Parkin, commonly known as singer, actor Kenneth Sandford, born in Surrey, UK ~ Best known for his performances in baritone roles of Gilbert & Sullivan operas. Closely associated with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, remaining with the company for over two decades starting in 1957 ~ Parkin passed away in 2004
June 28, 1903 ~ Saxophonist, pianist, vibraphonist Adrian Rollini, full name Adrian Francis Rollini, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for 1930s recordings such as Savage Serenade, Got The Jitters, Tap Room Swing, Riverboat Shuffle, and Small Fry. Worked with artists such as Annette Hanshaw, Ukulele Ike, Joe Venuti, Miff Mole, Red Nichols, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Frankie Trumbauer, Red Nichols, Bert Lown, Lee Morse, the Dorsey Brothers, Ben Selvin, Jack Teagarden, Bunny Berigan, and Vaughn Monroe ~ Rollini passed away in 1956
June 28, 1902 ~ Composer Richard Rodgers, full name Richard Charles Rodgers, born in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most important composers of the 20th century with over 40 musicals to his name and some 900 songs, often in collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart. Well known songs co-written by Rodgers include Some Enchanted Evening (Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Al Goodman), Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered (Vivienne Segal, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald), My Funny Valentine (Mitzi Green, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock), Falling In Love With Love (Muriel Angelus, Rita Reys, Patti Page), Dancing On The Ceiling (Jessie Matthews, Buddy Greco, Peggy Lee), Lover (Jeanette Macdonald, Jimmy Dorsey, Margaret Whiting), Hello Young Lovers (Gertrude Lawrence, Mabel Mercer, Tommy Sands), The Sound Of Music (Mary Martin, Eddie Fisher, Vic Damone), This Nearly Was Mine (Ezio Pinza, Giorgio Tozzi, Fred Waring), It Might As Well Be Spring (Dick Haymes, Sammy Kaye, Rosemary Clooney), It Never Entered My Mind (Shirley Ross, Buddy Morrow, Julie London), and Little Girl Blue (Gloria Grafton, Lena Horne, Pinky Winters) ~ Rodgers passed away in 1979