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.
March 30, 1947 ~ Pianist Marilyn Crispell born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sidewoman. Closely associated with Anthony Braxton, especially during the 1980s and 1990s. has also worked with Cecil Taylor, Wadada Leo Smith, Reggie Workman, Roscoe Mitchell, Quartet Noir, Andrea Centazzo, Barry Guy, Steve Lacy, Joe Lovano, and Ivo Perelman
March 30, 1947 ~ Upright bassist Terje Venaas born in Molde, Norway ~ Worked with his brother Age Venas, Geir Schumann, Svein Jens Thorso, Jan Garbarek, Espen Rud, Carl Magnus Neumann, Per Husby, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Toots Thielemans, Michel Petrucciani, and others ~ Venaas passed away in 2025
March 30, 1946 ~ Raymond Lema Ansi Nzinga, commonly known as pianist, guitarist, songwriter Ray Lema, born in Cattlier, Belgian Congo ~ Initially aimed to become a priest and entered the seminary in 1957 where his musical talent would be recognized. Would leave the seminary in the early 1960s and by the 1970s would beome a leading figure in world music, blending sacred music, Western rock and jazz and African heritage.
March 30, 1945 ~ Guitarist, singer Eric Clapton, full name Eroc Patrick Clapton, born in Ripley, UK ~ Early member of the Yardbirds. Briefly worked with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, present on The Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton which is generally regarded as one of the best John Mayall albums. Formed Cream with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce, a trio credited with reshaping blues and rock. Formed supergroup Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech. Has recorded close to two dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Eric Clapton released in 1970. Known for songs such as the the JJ Cale-cover After Midnight, Layla with his backing unit Derek & the Dominos, the Bob Marley-cover I Shot The Sheriff which helped boost reggae, Wonderful Tonight, and Tears In Heaven. Later in his career drew ire and ridicule for racist remarks and his staunch antivax views during the COVID pandemicMarch 30, 1944 ~ Singer, songwriter Javier Krahe, full name Francisco Javier Krahe de Salas, born in Madrid, Spain ~ As a songwriter strongly influenced by Georges Brassens and Leonard Cohen. Member of La Mandragora alongside Joaquin Sabina and Alberto Pérez. As a solo artist has well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Valle De Lagrimas released in 1980 ~ Krahe de Salas passed away in 2015
March 30, 1943 ~ Singer Jay Traynor born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of the Mystics, singing lead on Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Blue Star. Co-founding member, original lead singer of Jay & the Americans, present on the band's 1962 She Cried debut album. Has subsequently recorded as a solo artist, noted for his Up & Over single ~ Traynor passed away in 2014
March 30, 1942 ~ Country singer Bobby Wright, full name John Robert Wright, born in Charleston, West Virginia, USA ~ Son of singers Johnny Wright and Kitty Wells. Known for a number of recordings from the mid 1960s through the late 1970s, his highest-charting being Here I Go Again of the 1971 album of the same name reaching top 20 on the Billboard Country charts
March 30, 1941 ~ Drummer Graeme Edge, full name Graeme Charles Edge, born in Rochester, UK ~ Drummer, co-founding member of the Moody Blues, best known for their 1964 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Go Now and the 1967 single Nights In White Satin. Edge wrote or co-wrote songs such as Late Lament, In The Beginning, Beyond, Balance and Procession. Following their 1974 world tour the band would go on a hiatus for a number of years, during which time Edge fronted the Graeme Edge Band, known for the albums Kick Off Your Muddy Boots and Paradise Ballroom. The former featured Ginger Baker co-drumming with Edge on the track Gew Janna Woman ~ Edge passed away in 2021
March 30, 1940 ~ Label executive, producer Charles Koppelman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of the Ivy Three, known for their sole hit Yogi which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. Koppelman would go on to hold several executive positions at companies such as Columbia Music, CBS Records, and SBK Records ~ Koppelman passed away in 2022March 30, 1938 ~ Enka singer Chiyoko Shimakura born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Dubbed “the Goddess of Enka” with a career spanning three decades starting with her 1955 Konoyo No Hana debut single. Well-known songs include Tokyo Kiddo, Ringo Oiwake, Kawa No Nagare No Yoni, and perhaps her best known Jinsei Iroiro, a million-seller released in 1987 ~ Shimakura passed away in 2013
March 30, 1935 ~ Electronic composer Gordon Mumma born in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA ~ Drew from Johann Sebastian Bach and Joseph Haydn as well as modern composers such as Béla Bartók, Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern and Charles Ives. Has collaborated with the likes of John Cage, David Tudor, and notably Robert Ashley. Resident composer with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Member of the Sonic Arts Union
March 30, 1935 ~ Jazz pianist, conductor Karl Berger, full name Karl Hans Berger, born in Heidelberg, Germany ~ About two dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially acclaimed for Transit released in 1987. Closely associated with Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman, founding the Woodstock-based Creative Music Studio study center with the latter in 1972. In-demand sideman, present on albums by the likes of Gato Barbieri, Lee Konitz, John McLaughlin, Marzette Watts, Sly & Robbie, Joe Lovano, Jeff Buckley (Grace), Better Than Ezra, Bill Laswell, Natalie Merchant (Ophelia), Angélique Kidjo, and Lil Haydn ~ Berger passed away in 2023March 30, 1931 ~ Singer Bing Crosby records Out Of Nowhere ~ Written by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman. Popularized by Bing Crosby. The first recording under his Brunswick Records contract, his first solo No.1 hit. Would also be recorded by Leo Reisman, Smith Ballew, Ruth Etting, Roy Fox, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, Patti Page, and Art Tatum
March 30, 1927 ~ Rafael Leon René, commonly known as R&B, rock & roll, jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, songwriter Googie René, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of producer, songwriter Leon René. Father of singer Chris René. Helped set up Class Records with his father and Preston Love, serving as the label's general manager. Appears on a number of the label's best known, notably Bobby Day's signature tune Rockin' Robin. As a bandleader known for leading the Googie Rene Combo whose early 1960s recording are credited by some as the start of hipster lounge music, fusing jazz-infused pop with easy listening. Notable recordings with the Combo include The Slide Part 1, Flapjacks Part 1 and Smokey Joe's La La ~ René passed away in 2007March 30, 1924 ~ Violinist, conductor Robert Brink, full name Robert Greenleaf Brink, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Closely associated with harpsichordist Daniel Pinkham. Premierd works by Walter Piston, Henry Cowell, Alan Hovhaness. As a violinist served under conductors such as Serge Koussevitzky, Aaron Copland, Darius Milhaud. Founded the Boston Classical Orchestra, serving as its concertmaster until 1995. Also founded and conducted the Orchestra For The Art Of Music ~ Brink passed away in 2014
March 30, 1914 ~ John Lee Curtis Williamson, commonly known as blues harpist, singer, songwriter Sonny Boy Williamson I, born in Madison County, Tennessee, USA ~ Regarded as the premier blues harpist of his generation. Influential on post-war blues artists such as Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Snooky Pryor. Mentored Muddy Waters. Best known for his 1937 debut single Good Morning School Girl, which quickly became a blues standard covered by numerous artists ~ Williamson passed away in 1948
March 30, 1913 ~ Francesco Paolo LoVecchio, commonly known as singer Frankie Laine, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ In a career spanning seven decades drew from pop, jazz, gospel, country, folk, blues, R&B and other idioms to score numerous hits including That's My Desire, Shine, That Lucky Old Sun, Mule Train, Dream A Little Dream Of Me, Jezebel, Granada, Moonlight Gambler, High Noon, and Stars Fell On Alabama ~ Laine passed away in 2007
March 30, 1750 ~ Composer, church organist, musicologist John Stafford Smith born ~ One of the first serious collectors of manuscripts of works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Membger of the select Anacreontic Society, a popular London gentleman's club, for whom he wrote the music to their constitutional song To Anacreon In Heaven, also known as The Anacreontic Song. The song would serve as the basis for the American patriotic song The Star-Spangled Banner, adopted as the American national anthem in 1931 ~ Smith passed away in 1836