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.
October 1, 1925 ~ Producer, label executive Harry Balk born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Discovered acts such as Little Willie John, Johnny & the Hurricanes, Rodriguez. Co-produced Del Shannon's Runaway. Noted for pushing Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, a career-changing and era-defining song disliked by Motown head Berry Gordy Jr but released partly thanks to Balk's insistence. Also pivotal to the career of Rare Earth ~ Balk passed away in 2016
October 1, 1924 ~ Louis Jacob Weertz, commonly known as pianist Roger Williams, born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Member of Brass Monkey. Majored in piano but reportedly expelled for playing Smoke Gets In Your Eyes in the practice room instead of classical music. Known for songs such as Almost Paradise, Till, Near You, Born Free, and Autumn Leaves. The latter stands as the only piano instrumental since 1955 to top the Billboard charts ~ Weertz passed away in 2011
October 1, 1918 ~ Jessie Mae Booker, commonly known as R&B, pop songwriter Jessie Mae Robinson, born in Call, Texas, USA ~ One of the first black songwriters to break the colour barrier. Wrote or co-wrote numerous 1940s, 1950s hits recorded by artists such as Charles Brown (Black Night), Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (Cleanhead Blues, Old Maid Boogie), Amos Milburn (Tears Tears Tears), Patti Page (I Went To Your Wedding), Elvis Presley (Let's Have A Party), and Jo Stafford (Keep It A Secret) ~ Booker passed away in 1966October 1, 1915 ~ Enos William McDonald, commonly known as country, honky-tonk, rockabilly singer, guitarist, songwriter Skeets McDonald, born in Greenway, Arkansas, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity during the 1950s and 1960s. Honky-tonker bridged the gap between country and rock & roll. Perhaps best known for Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes, a Billboard Country charttopper in 1952. Subsequent hits include This Old Heart, Call Me Mr Brown and Mabel ~ McDonald passed away in 1968
October 1, 1913 ~ Jazz violinist Harry Lookofsky born in Paducah, Kentucky, USA ~ Worked in both classical music, noted specifically for his tenure with the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Arturo Toscanini, and in jazz, regarded as one of bebop's earliest and most accomplished violinists. Critically especially acclaimed for his 1959 Stringsville album, bridging the gap between classical and jazz. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Coleman Hawkins, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather), Chris Connor, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Sarah Vaughan, Wes Montgomery (Bumpin'), Blood Sweat & Tears (Child Is Father To The Man), Antônio Carlos Jobim, Roberta Flack (Chapter Two), Hank Crawford, Bette Midler (The Divine Miss M), and Grover Washington Jr. To pop audiences Lookofsky is also known for co-producing Walk Away Renee, a 1968 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for his son Michael Brown's band the Left Banke ~ Lookofsky passed away in 1998
October 1, 1912 ~ Songwriter, pianist Sol Marcus born in New York, New York, USA ~ Frequent songwriting collaborator of Bennie Benjamin, Eddie Seiler, Guy Wood. Songs co-written by Marcus include Till Then (the Mills Brothers, Ray Peterson, Sammy Davis Jr), Ask Anyone Who Knows (the Ink Spots), Fabulous Character (Sarah Vaughan), Lonely Man and Anyone Could Fall In Love With You (Elvis Presley), Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Nina Simone, the Animals, Elvis Costello), Forever My Darling (the Crew Cuts), I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire (Harlan Leonard, the Charioteers, Vera Lynn), and You're All I Want For Christmas (Brook Benton) ~ Marcus passed away in 1976October 1, 1904 ~ Pianist Terry Shand, full name Terence Alister Shand born in Uvalde, Texas, USA ~ Worked with Jack Teagarden, Wingy Manone, Muggsy Spanier, Freddy Martin. Also known as a songwriter. Co-wrote Dance With A Dolly With A Hole In Her Stocking first recorded by Tony Pastor. Co-wrote I'm Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key, recorded by Billie Holiday ~ Shand passed away in 1977
October 1, 1903 ~ Classical pianist, composer Vladimir Horowitz, full name Vladimir Samoyiovich Horowitz, born in Kyiv, Russian Empire ~ Generally regarded as one of the all-time greatest pianists known for his virtuoso . Early on in his career toured Russia paid in bread, butter and chocolate rather than money due to the economic hardship of the day. Best known for his interpretations of the Romantic repertoire, notably his 1932 recording of Piano Sonata in B Minor to this day considered the best performance of the Franz Liszt composition. Married to Wanda Toscanini, daughter of renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini ~ Horowitz passed away in 1989