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 27, 1959 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist Charlie Burchill born in Glasgow, UK ~ Co-founding and along with lead singer Jim Kerr the only other constant member of the Simple Minds, known for songs such as Promised You A Miracle, Waterfront, Alive And Kicking and Belfast Child
November 27, 1958 ~ Opera, symphonic conductor Artur Rodzinski passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Discovered by Leopold Stokowski who invited him to be his assistant with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Would go on to work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Especially acclaimed for conducting Richard Wagner's Tristan Und Isolde with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1958. Exhausted from the performance he checked into the hospital where he would die less than two weeks later ~ Rodzinski was born in 1892November 27, 1957 ~ Singer, songwriter Frank Boeijen, full name Franciscus Johannes Maria Boeijen, born in Nijmegen, the Netherlands ~ Fronted Frank Boeijen Groep. Also worked with Wout Pennings, the Gathering, Raymond van het Groenewoud, Harry Sacksioni, Stef Bos, Daniël Lohues, and Henk Hofstede
November 27, 1956 ~ Rock guitarist Simon Binks, full name Simon John Banks, born in Mount Eliza, Australia ~ Co-founding and constant member of the Australian Crawl, known for songs such as Downhearted, Errol, Shut Down and their best known Reckless (Don't Be So), the latter a No.1 hit in their native Australia and a top 10 hit in New Zealand
November 27, 1955 ~ Composer Arthur Honegger, full name Arthur Oscar Honegger, passed away in Paris, France ~ Member of Les Six, a name give to six composers living and working in Montparnasse. Probably best known for Antigone, an opera in three acts premiered in 1927. Honegger also composed orchestral music, oratorios, ballets, and chamber music ~ Honegger was born in 1892
November 27, 1953 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion pianist, songwriter Lyle Mays, full name Lyle David Mays, born in Wausaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Best known for his close association with Pat Metheny, longtime member of the Pat Metheny Group, co-writer and arranger on nearly of all the band's music. Has also led small ensembles backed by sidemen such as Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine, Eric Hochberg, Mark Walker, and Bob Sheppard. Also worked with Pedro Aznar, Betty Buckley, Igor Butman, Woody Herman, Mark Isham, Rickie Lee Jones, Nando Lauria, Bobby McFerrin, Joni Mitchell, Bob Moses, Steve Swallow, Toots Thielemans, and Eberhard Weber ~ Mays passed away in 2020
November 27, 1946 ~ Bassist, singer Barry Devlin born in Ardboe, Northern Ireland ~ Fronted rock outfit Horslips, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums. The pioneering band merges folk rock, hard rock, and progressive rock with a heavy dose of Celtic influences, and is especially acclaimed for the early 1970s albums Happy To Meet Sorry To Part and The Tain. Following the band's disbandement in the late 1970s, Devlin has recorded as a solo artist, notably the 1983 Breaking Star Codes album, directed pop-videos for U2, and has worked as a screenwriter for radio, TV and filmNovember 27, 1945 ~ Ska, rocksteady, reggae organist, singer Glen Adams born in Jones Town, Jamaica ~ Brother of singer Yvonne Adams. Formed the duo Ken & Glen with Ken Boothe. Co-founded the Heptones. Member of the Pioneers, present on songs such as Shake It Up and Good Nanny. Would go on to work as a solo artist and session singer and organist for artists such as Lester Sterling, Slim Smith, the Hippy Boys, the Upsetters, the Wailers, writing the latter's Mr Brown ~ Adams passed away in 2010
November 27, 1944 ~ Pop, rock, country drummer Sammy Creason, full name Sammy Lee Creason, born ~ In-demand session and studio musician. Present on Tony Joe White's Tony Joe and Continued albums. Member of Atlantic Records in-house band the Dixie Flyers, an association through which he would regularly guest on Rita Coolidge's albums as well as recordings of her husband Kris Kristofferson, including on the latter's Easter Island, and To The Bone. Creason has also appeared on albums by Jerry Jeff Walker, Delaney & Bonnie, Aretha Franklin (Spirit In The Dark), Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Buffett, Booker T Jones, Gene Clark, and Willie Nelson. Through his association with Kristofferson, Creason landed small parts in the films Convoy and A Star Is Born ~ Creason passed away in 1995
November 27, 1942 ~ Johnny Allen Hendrix, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Jimi Hendrix, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Hugely influential guitarist set the bar for generations to follow. One of the first to extensively use tone-altering effects such as fuzz distortion, wah-was, and uni-vibe. The first to use stereophonic phasing effects in recording. Despite recording only three albums during his lifetime, Are You Experienced, Axis (Bold As Love), and Electric Ladyland, Hendrix is regarded as one of the most important and influential guitarists, expanding the range of the instrument. Well known songs include All Along The Watchtower, Hey Joe, Purple Haze, The Wind Cries Mary, and Foxy Lady ~ Hendrix passed away in 1970
November 27, 1941 ~ Country, country pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Eddie Rabbitt, full name Edward Thomas Rabbitt, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Pivotal figure in 1970s and 1980s country, easing country music into a smoother territory with crossover hits creating the template for the urban cowboy era. Wrote or co-wrote Inherit The Wind, Kentucky Rain, and Kentucky Rain, all recorded by Elvis Presley at the turn of the 1970s. As a solo artist, Rabbitt recorded well over a dozen albums, and he is especially acclaimed for the early 1980s albums Horizon and Step By Step. Rabbitt has scored over a dozen Billboard Country charttoppers, including Drivin' My Life Away, I Love A Rainy Night, Step By Step, and the Crystal Gayle-duet You And I which all crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where they reached top 10 ~ Rabbitt passed away in 1998
November 27, 1939 ~ James Elmore Cason, commonly known as rock & roll, pop, country singer, songwriter, producer Buzz Cason, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for penning Everlasting Love with Mac Gayden. The song would first be recorded by Robert Knight in 1967, with Cason and Gayden also serving as producers, and has been covered by dozens of artists including notably Love Affair, whose rendition topped the UK charts, and Carl Carlton, who took the song to No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Knight's original had reached No.13 in America. Other songs written or co-written by Cason have been recorded by Jan & Dean, Arthur Alexander (Soldier Of Love), Brenda Lee, the Fleetwoods, Ronny & the Daytonas, and TG Sheppard. Cason has also worked as a singer, notably founding the Casuals, the first rock & roll band to come out of Nashville, as a solo singer going by the moniker Garry Miles, and as a backing singer for Elvis Presley and Kenny Rogers. In 1970, Cason founded the Creative Workshop recording studio, located in Nashville, where artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and the Doobie Brothers have recorded ~ Cason passed away in 2024November 27, 1938 ~ Pop, rock singer, keyboardist, songwriter Dave Adams, full name David Malcolm Adams, born in Saint Heller, Jersey ~ Closely associated with producer Joe Meek. Member of Heinz's backing unit alongside a then-unknown Ritchie Blackmore. Also half of the duo Joy & Dave, member of country-rock outfit Dee & the Housecats, member of jazz band the Funny Valentines ~ Adams passed away in 2016
November 27, 1938 ~ Jazz trumpeter Don Sleet, full name Donald Clayborn Sleet, born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA ~ Critically compared to Kenny Dorham and Art Farmer. Played with Terry Gibbs, the San Diego Symphony, Howard Rumsey, and Lenny McBrowne. Sadly, shortly after the release of his sole album as a leader, 1961's All Members, Sleet's struggles with substances would lead to him abandoning music altogether. His sole album, however, would be held in the highest regard by jazz aficionados, described as “outstanding” by Down Beat. Besides Sleet the album featured an all-star line-up with saxophonist Jimmy Heath, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Sleet has only performed occasionally since, and would pass away decades later of lymphoma ~ Sleet passed away in 1986November 27, 1937 ~ Harriet Ostrowsky, commonly known as pop singer Tina Robin, born in New Jersey, USA ~ Would serve as session singer for many of Gerry Goffin & Carole King's early 1960s demo recordings. As a recording artist known for her sole charting single, Play It Again written by Goffin, King, and Howard Greenfield, barely reaching the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961 ~ Ostrowsky passed away in 1996
November 27, 1937 ~ Jazz, free jazz double bassist Wilber Morris born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Brother of cornetist Butch Morris. Played drums before settling on bass. Closely associated with David Murray, including on the albums Ming, New Life, and Murray's Steps. As a leader best known for his 1981 Collective Improvisations album. Morris has also appeared on albums by Billy Bang, Frank Lowe, Denis Charles, Bob Ackerman, Andrew Lamb, Charles Gayle, Lou Grassi, Interface, Claude Lawrence, Frode Gjerstad, Yuko Fujiyama (Re-Entry), Ken McIntyre, and Steve Swell ~ Morris passed away in 2002
November 27, 1936 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Robert Johnson records They're Red Hot at Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas ~ Penned by Robert Johnson. Produced by Don Law. Somewhat of an atypical Johnson song, aptly described as “the most lighthearted interlude in all of Johnson's oeuvre” by one music historian. Released the following July featuring Come On In My Kitchen on the flip side. The same day Johnson also recorded Cross Road Blues, Dead Shrimp Blues and Last Fair Deal Gone DownNovember 27, 1935 ~ Trombonist Charlie Green passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Soloist with Fletcher Henderson orchestra. Would go on to work with Benny Carter, Chick Webb, Jimmie Noone, Don Redman, and Kaiser Marshall. Served in the pit orchestra for the 1928 all-black Broadway revue Keep Shufflin' alongside Fats Waller and James P Johnson. Green has also recorded with blues singer Bessie Smith, notably present on tracks such as Trombone Cholly and Empty Red Blues ~ Green was born ca.1893
November 27, 1935 ~ Jazz, classical, avant-garde saxophonist, clarinetist, composer Michel Portal born in Bayonne, France ~ Leader and sideman. Considered “one of the architects of modern European jazz”. Co-founded improvisation group New Phonic Art. Alswo worked with Pérez Prado, Raymond Fonseque, Aimé Barelli, Claude Nougaro, Sunny Murray, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Miroslav Vitous, and Jacky Terrasson
November 27, 1920 ~ Richard Kirk, commonly known as songwriter Winfield Scott, born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA ~ Perhaps best known for writing Tweedle Dee for Lavern Baker, and co-writing Return To Sender with Otis Blackwell for Elvis Presley. Presley also recorded several other songs written by Blackwell and Scott, including Such An Easy Question, One Broken Heart For Sale, I'm A Roustabout, and Long Legged Girl (With The Short Dress On). Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Scott include Oscar McLollie, the Robins, Johnnie Ray, Clyde McPhatter (Deep Sea Ball), Connie Francis (Many Tears Ago), Solomon Burke, the Drifters, and Ray Charles ~ Scott passed away in 2015
November 27, 1914 ~ Drummer, bassist Warren Vaché Sr born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Started on drums but switched to bass, establishing himself on the double bass. Has worked with Eddie Condon, Doc Cheatham, and led his own band the Syncopatin' Six and the Syncopatin' Seven. Co-founded the American Jazz Hall Of Fame. Longtime editor for the magazine Jersey Jazz. Father of trumpeter Warren Vaché Jr and clarinetist Allan Vaché ~ Vaché passed away in 2005
November 27, 1904 ~ Jazz violinist, bandleader Eddie South, full name Edward Otha South, born in Louisiana, Missouri, USA ~ South is considered one of the top pre-bop violinists. Child prodigy, studied classical music but turned to jazz as the classical world offered little career opportunities for African-American musicians. Toured Europe as early as the late 1920s, leading Eddie South's Alabamians. Employed sidemen such as Milt Hinton and Everett Barksdale, and recorded with the likes of Stéphane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt, and Michel Warlop through the 1930s. In later years South would work for radio and TV, and perform around New York, New York, though he never became a household name. As a recording artist perhaps best remembered for The Distinguished Violin Of Eddie South, released in 1959 ~ South passed away in 1962