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.
November 12, 1950 ~ Jazz trombonist, composer James E Pugh, full name James Edward Pugh, born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked with Woody Herman from 1972 through 1976, including on albums such as Thundering Herd, and briefly with Chick Corea before focusing on his work as a session musician in jazz and pop. Has released about a dozen albums as a leader, starting with Crystal Eyes released in 1981. As a session trombonist, Pugh is present on albums by Yusef Lateef, Harry Connick Jr, James Taylor, Joe Lovano, Steely Dan (Two Against Nature), Carla Bley, Wayne Shorter, and John Scofield
November 12, 1949 ~ Thomas Wisse, commonly known as punk rock, post punk, rock singer, keyboardist, percussionist Damon Edge, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of post-punk outfit Chrome, which earned a cult following in the UK and Germany with their amalgation of punk, psychedelia, and early industrial music. The band is best known for the albums Alien Soundtracks and Half Machine Lip Moves released respectively in 1977 and 1979. Following Edge's death at age 45 guitarist Helios Creed has revived the band. Damon has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Alliance released in 1985 ~ Wisse passed away in 1995
November 12, 1945 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Neil Young born in Toronto, Canada ~ Member of the Squires. Member of the Mynah Birds, which also included Rick James. Member of Buffalo Springfield, known best for the pivotal 1960s hit For What It's Worth. Teamed up with Crosby Stills & Nash, noted for their 1970 Déjà Vu album. Released his eponymous Neil Young solo debut album in 1968 and has recorded extensively since. Especially acclaimed for the albums Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After The Gold Rush, On The Beach, Tonight's The Night, Rust Never Sleeps, Freedom and Weld
November 12, 1943 ~ Pop, bubblegum pop, country singer, guitarist Brian Hyland born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Best known for his 1960 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini debut single, which helped define the bubblegum pop of the early 1960s prior to the emergence of the Beatles. Hyland would continue to record into the mid 1970s but was unable to repeat the massive success of his debut single. The singles Sealed With A Kiss and the Curtis Mayfield-penned Gypsy Woman, released respectively in 1962 and 1970, would both reach top 10 thoughNovember 12, 1943 ~ Singer, songwriter Errol Brown, full name Lester Errol Brown, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known as Hot Chocolate frontman, known for 1980s recordings such as Emma, You Sexy Thing, So You Win Again, No Doubt About It, and It Started With A Kiss. Left the band in 1985. As a solo artist known for songs such as Personal Touch, Body Rocking and This Time It's Forever ~ Brown passed away in 2015
November 12, 1943 ~ Guitarist Thorgeir Stubø born in Narvik, Norway ~ Regarded by some of the best Norwegian guitarist of all time. Father of jazz guitarist Håvard Stubø and jazz singer Kjersti Stubø, grandfather of electronic musician Mathias Stubø. Has backed artists such as Jan Garbarek, Knut Riisnæs, Svein Christiansen, and Arild Andersen. As a leader best known for his 1986 Rhythm'a'ning album, recorded live in Tromsø ~ Stubø passed away in 1986
November 12, 1942 ~ Singer Arthur Tavares, full name Arthur Lee Tavares, born ~ Member of sibling R&B, disco outfit Tavares, known best for She's Gone, It Only Takes A Minute, Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel, Don't Take Away The Music and More Than A Woman, the latter notably featured on 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack ~ Tavares passed away in 2024
November 12, 1942 ~ Organist Booker T Jones, full name Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Leader of Stax/Volt house band Booker T & the MG's, appearing on numerous of the label's releases. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Otis Redding's I Love You More Than Words Can Say and Albert King's Born Under A Bad Sign. Produced albums such as Bill Withers' 1971 Just As I Am debut, sister-in-law Rita Coolidge's 1978 Love Me Again and Willie Nelson's Stardust. Has also worked with Rosanne Cash, Rod Stewart, LeAnn Rimes, Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, John Lee Hooker, Elton John, Neil Young, and Rodney Crowell
November 12, 1942 ~ Singer, guitarist, mandolinist Jim Schwall born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as co-leader of the Siegel-Schwall Band, co-founded with Corky Siegel. Though not as popular as contemporaries the Paul Butterfield Blues Band or John Mayall the band would still be able to fill the larger venues. They are noted for becoming the first blues band to collaborate with a classical orchestra, recording the William Russo-penned Three Pieces For Blues Band And Symphony Orchestra in 1972 with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Seiji Ozawa ~ Schwall passed away in 2022
November 12, 1941 ~ Samba singer, songwriter João Nogueira born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Has recorded well over a dozen albums since the early 1970s. Recorded his first composition, Espera ó Nega, in 1968, and would gain attention two years later when Elizeth Cardoso recorded his song Corrente De Aço. Nogueira would become one of Brazil's most revered singers, his songs covered by the likes of Elis Regina, Clara Nunes (As Forças Da Natureza), Emílio Santiago, Beth Carvalho, and Alcione Nazareth. Nogueira's son Diogo Nogueira would follow in his father's footsteps, actively recording as a samba singer and songwriter since the early 2000s ~ Nogueira passed away in 2000November 12, 1940 ~ Composer, violinist Alejandro García Caturla passed away in Havana, Cuba ~ Along with Amadeo Roldán a leading figure in the Afro-cubanismo movement, a nationalist music trend merging white and black culture incorporating Afro-Cuban songs, rhythms and dances. Known for works such as Tres Danzas Cubana, Bember and Obertura Cubana ~ García was born in 1906
November 12, 1939 ~ Edward William Taylor, commonly known as rock & roll, beat singer, guitarist Kingsize Taylor, born in Crosby, UK ~ Dubbed “Kingsize” for his stature, standing at 6'5". Fronted Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes, active from the late 1950s through the early 1960s. Regarded as one of the first beat groups, they enjoyed some regional popularity as well as in Germany with covers of American songs such as Money, Whole Lotta Lovin', Hippy Hippy Shake, and Stupidity. The band is also known for ocassionally featuring a then-unknown Cilla Black at gigs. Drummer Ringo Starr had also been offered a slot in the band but opted for the Beatles instead ~ Taylor passed away in 2023
November 12, 1938 ~ Songwriter, singer, pianist Mort Shuman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote numerous 1960s hits for artists such as Dion & the Belmonts (A Teenager In Love), the Flamingos, Andy Williams (Can't Get Used To Losing You), Bobby Darin, Fabian (Turn Me Loose), the Drifters (Save The Last Dance For Me, Sweets For My Sweet), Elvis Presley (Little Sister, (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame, Viva Las Vegas), the Small Faces, and Cilla Black ~ Shuman passed away in 1991
November 12, 1938 ~ Isaiah Johnson, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Terry Buzzy Johnson, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Key member of 1950s doo-wop outfit the Flamingos. Sang lead on Fool Heart and Are You Sorry, co-lead on Never Say Goodbye, Love Walked In and Time Was. Recruited in 1964 by Smokey Robinson to join Motown as staff writer. Wrote or co-wrote songs for artists such as the Four Tops, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers (Malinda), the Temptations, Martha & the Vandellas, the Supremes and perhaps most notably the Miracles (Here I Go Again, Baby Baby Don't Cry) ~ Johnson passed away in 2025November 12, 1936 ~ Romeo Maurice Arnold, commonly known as rock, blues-rock bassist Jerome Arnold, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Brother of Billy Boy Arnold, whom he backed on the 1964 More Blues On The South Side album. Backed Howlin' Wolf on the 1965 The Real Folk Blues album. Original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, appearing on the band's acclaimed albums The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and its follow-up East-West. Has also worked with blues-rock outfit Southern Comfort
November 12, 1932 ~ Carmen Esme Steele, commonly known as actress, singer Carmen Munroe, born in New Amsterdam, British Guyana ~ Best known as an actress pivotal to the development of black British theatre, making her West End debut in the early 1960s. Co-founding member of Talawa, the UK's leading black theater company. To TV audiences best known for her role as Shirley in the sitcom Desmond's
November 12, 1930 ~ Songwriter, producer, manager Bob Crewe, full name Robert Stanley Crewe, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Frequent songwriting collaborator of Bob Gaudio, with whom he wrote several of the Four Seasons's best known, including the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like A Man, and Rag Doll. Others who recorded songs co-written by Crewe include the Rays, Freddy Cannon (Tallahassee Lassie), Barbara Lewis, Lesley Gore, Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, Vikki Carr, Labelle, and Disco Tex & his Sex-o-lettes ~ Crewe passed away in 2014November 12, 1928 ~ Jazz singer, pianist, songwriter Audrey Morris born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Specialized in ballads. Influenced by Billie Holiday, Lee Wiley, Mildred Bailey, Peggy Lee. Singing professionally since the early 1950s. Recorded two albums in the 1950s, 1955's Bistro Ballads Sung By Audrey Morris with backing from Johnny Pate and 1956's The Voice Of Audrey Morris ~ Morris passed away in 2018
November 12, 1924 ~ Hard bop, post-bop bassist, celloist Sam Jones born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ As a leader especially acclaimed for his early 1960s albums The Soul Society, The Chant and Down Home. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Chet Baker, Kenny Dorham, Jimmy Smith, Clark Terry (In Orbit), Betty Carter, Cannonball Adderley (Somethin' Else), Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk (5 By Monk By 5), Blue Mitchell, Red Garland, Dizzy Reece, Yusef Lateef, Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard (Open Sesame), King Curtis (Soul Meeting), John Lee Hooker, Wes Montgomery (The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery), Ike Quebec, Grant Green, Big Mama Thornton (Ball 'n Chain), Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, and Gene Ammons ~ Jones passed away in 1981November 12, 1923 ~ Classical guitarist, composer Alirio Díaz born in Carora, Venezuela ~ Known for his expression, clarity, and flawless technique, Díaz is considered one of the most prominent composer guitarists of South America. Studied with Andrés Segovia. Combined baroque music with the works of modern Latin American composers. Especially acclaimed for his 1994 Five Centuries Of Spanish Guitar Music album ~ Díaz passed away in 2016
November 12, 1923 ~ Carmine Ugo Mariano, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, flutist Charlie Mariano, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Married to Toshiko Akiyoshi from 1959 through 1967, with whom he regularly collaborated. Their daughter is actress and singer Monday Michiru. Besides playing sax and flute Mariano is also noted for playing the nadaswaram, a classical wind instrument. Well over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially acclaimed for Boston All-Stars, Charlie Mariano Plays, and Helen 12 Trees. Also appears on albums by Nat Pierce, Stan Kenton, Herb Ellis (Ellis In Wonderland), Shelly Manne, Manny Albam, Jackie & Roy, McCoy Tyner (Live At Newport), Charles Mingus (The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady), Elvin Jones, Embryo (We Keep On), Eberhard Weber, and the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble ~ Mariano passed away in 2009
November 12, 1922 ~ Jazz trombonist Lou Blackburn born in Rankin, Pennsylvania, USA ~ As a leader acclaimed for a number of early 1960s albums, perhaps most notably Two Note Samba. Toured extensively with Lionel Hampton during the late 1950s. Backed Charles Mingus at Monterey, recorded on the 1964 Mingus At Monterey album. To pop audiences known for his contributions to recordings by the Turtles, the Righteous Brothers, and the Beach Boys, including on the latter's Good Vibrations. Founded and led the heavily influenced by African music ensemble Mombassa during the 1970s. Other notable associations include Nancy Wilson, Oliver Nelson, the Monkees, and Michael Nesmith ~ Blackburn passed away in 1990November 12, 1921 ~ Pianist, organist, choirmaster, film composer Robert Fleming born in Prince Albert, Canada ~ Best known as a film composer closely associated with Canada's National Film Board, serving as staff composer from 1946 to 1958 and subsequently as its music director until 1970. Has written over 200 scores for film, documentaries and TV including for the 1953 documentary Herring Hunt and the 1962 Canada At Waar documentary series ~ Fleming passed away in 1976
November 12, 1919 ~ Blues, folk, jazz singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Jackie Washington born in Hamilton, Canada ~ As a solo artist debuted with the Blues And Sentimental album in 1976. In-demand sideman for artists including Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Joni Mitchell, and Gordon Lightfoot. Washington was honored in the Blackie & the Rodeo Kings song Jackie Washington, released on their 2003 BARK album ~ Washington passed away in 2009
November 12, 1917 ~ Singer Jo Stafford, full name Jo Elizabeth Stafford, born in Coalinga, California, USA ~ Classically trained to become an opera singer. Became one of the best-selling female pop singers of the 1950s instead. First female singer to top the UK charts, namely with the 1952 single You Belong To Me. Worked with the Pied Pipers, Tommy Dorsey, Paul Weston, Gordon Macrae, and Frankie Laine ~ Stafford passed away in 2008