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 10, 1946 ~ Musical actor, dancer, singer Ben Vereen, full name Benjamin Augustus Vereen, born in Laurinburg, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for portraying the title role in the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which earned him a Tony Award nomination
October 10, 1946 ~ Country-folk, progressive country singer, guitarist, songwriter John Prine, full name John Edward Prine, born in Maywood, Illinois, USA ~ Discovered by Kris Kristofferson. Prine became an important figure in the Chicago folk revival, with well over a dozen album to his name, and is generally regarded as one of the most influentual songwriters of his generation, known for his dry wit and social commentary. . Well-known songs include Illegal Smile, The Great Compromise, Dear Abby, Saigon, and The 20th Century Is Almost Over. Prine is held in the highest regards by artists such as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Kacey Musgraves, and Bonnie Raitt, the latter notably covering his Angel From Montgomery ~ Prine passed away in 2020October 10, 1945 ~ Bass singer Headman Shabalala, full name Headman Msongelwa Shabalala, born in Ladysmith, South Africa ~ Original member of choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo founded by his brother Joseph Shabalala. Headman was shot and killed at age 46 in an apparent racially motivated killing, his murder is referenced in Adam Again's song Worldwide ~ Shabalala passed away in 1991
October 10, 1944 ~ Pop, rock drummer Trevor Morais born in Liverpool, UK ~ Replaced Ringo Starr in Rory Storm & the Hurricanes when Starr left to join the Beatles. Co-founded 1960s group the Peddlers, remaining with the band through 1972. Member of Quantam Jump, noted for their 1979 UK top 10 hit The Lone Ranger. In-demand session drummer, perhaps most noted for his drumming on Tina Turner's Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Better Be Good To Me of her 1984 Private Dancer comeback album. Other notable collaborations include Jim Capaldi, David Essex, Rupert Hine, Chris De Burgh, Howard Jones, Björk (Homogenic), Underworld, and Mike Batt
October 10, 1942 ~ Singer Bob Minsky born ~ Formed the Roommates with Steve Susskind, then both aged 15. The duo would become a quartet with the addition of Jack Carlson and Felix Alvarez. The band would record a number of unnoticed singles, until teaming up with singer Cathy Jean for Please Love Me Forever. Billed as Cathy Jean & the Roommates the single would reach top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961 ~ Minsky passed away in 2006
October 10, 1942 ~ Hard bop trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater born in Urbana, Illinois, USA ~ Married to Dee Dee Bridgewater in the 1970s, their daughter Tulani Bridgewater is a producer. Leader and sideman. Led the Bridgewater Brothers Band. Worked with Horace Silver, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Randy Weston, Charles McPherson, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Joe Henderson, Roy Brooks, Abdullah Ibrahim, Sam Rivers, Anthony Braxton, Jon Faddis, Mel Lewis, and McCoy Tyner
October 10, 1929 ~ Jazz drummer Ed Blackwell, full name Edward Joseph Blackwell, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Rose to fame backing Ornette Coleman, including on pivotal albums such as Free Jazz and The Art Of The Improvisers. In-demand sideman, present on albums by the American Jazz Quintet, Eric Dolphy (Here And There), Don Cherry (Complete Communion), Karl Berger, Archie Shepp (On This Night), Clifford Jordan (In The World), Albert Heath, Stanley Cowell, Marion Brown, Old And New Dreams, Anthony Davis, and Mal Waldron ~ Blackwell passed away in 1992
October 10, 1928 ~ Julian Clifford Mance Jr, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Junior Mance, born in Evanston, Illinois, USA ~ Active since the late 1940s. Sideman and leader. Debuted as a leader in 1959. Played with Gene Ammons, Lester Young, Israel Crosby, Buddy Smith, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Sonny Stitt, Dinah Washington, Clifford Brown, Clark Terry, Maynard Ferguson, Herb Geller, Harold Land, Richie Powell, Keter Betts, George Morrow, Max Roach, Benny Carter, Dexter Gordon, Al Grey, Johnny Griffin, Joe Gordon, Buddy Guy, Red Holloway, José James, Eddie Jefferson, Etta Jones, Irene Kral, Jay Leonhart, Les McCann, Howard McGhee, James Moody, Sandy Mosse, Ken Peplowski, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Gonsalves, Wilbur Ware, Ben Webster, Leo Wright, and Cannonball Adderley ~ Mance passed away in 2021
October 10, 1928 ~ Ayse Leyla Ceyrekgil, commonly known as operatic soprano Leyla Gencer, born in Polonezkoy, Turkey ~ Bel canto soprano active mostly in the 1950s through the 1980s in Italy. Especially known for her roles in operas composed by Gaetano Donizetti. Has worked with the Teatro Di San Carlo, La Scala, the Royal Opera House, and the San Francisco Opera ~ Ceyrekgil passed away in 2008
October 10, 1925 ~ Drummer, percussionist Francisco Aguabella born in Matanzas, Cuba ~ Over half a dozen albums to his name as a leader. In-demand sideman. Member of Latin rock outfit Malo during the 1970s. First gained attention in the USA backing Peggy Lee from the early 1950s through 1960. Has also backed artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Frank Sinatra, Cachao, Lalo Schifrin, Nancy Wilson, Bebo Valdes, Carlos Santana, Louie Bellson, and Paul Simon ~ Aguabella passed away in 2010
October 10, 1921 ~ Jazz trumpeter, hornist Julius Watkins born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ The definitive master of the French horn. Occasionally recorded as a leader, noted especially for the mid 1950s two-volume set Julius Watkins Sextet. Co-led Les Jazz Modes with Charlie Rouse, recording about half a dozen albums from 1955 through 1959. In-demand sideman, present on quintessential jazz recordings by Thelonious Monk (We See), Milt Jackson, Benny Golson (New York Scene), Oscar Pettiford (Deep Passion), Quincy Jones, Miles Davis (Porgy & Bess), Art Farmer (Brass Shout), Randy Weston (Uhuru Afrika), Les Spann, Benny Bailey, Jimmy Heath, Phil Woods (Right Of Swing), Cal Massey, John Coltrane (Africa/Brass), Oscar Peterson, Freddie Hubbard, Gil Evans, Kenny Burrell (Guitar Forms), Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Pharoah Sanders (Karma), Charles Mingus (Let My Children Hear Music), and McCoy Tyner ~ Watkins passed away in 1977October 10, 1921 ~ William Howard Montgomery, commonly known as jazz bassist, double bassist Monk Montgomery, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Influenced by Jimmy Blanton, Ray Brown, and Charles Mingus. Pioneered the use of electric bass guitar, taking up the instrument in the early 1950s. As a leader, Montgomery recorded with the Mastersounds, notably The King And I released in 1957, and a few albums under his own name, noted most for Reality released in 1974. As a sideman, Montgomery is present on albums by Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer (The Art Farmer Septet), Jon Hendricks, Hampton Hawes (The Green Leaves Of Summer), Jack Wilson, Eddie Harris (Silver Cycles), the Jazz Crusaders, and Kenny Burrell. Montgomery has also recorded with his younger brothers guitarist Wes Montgomery and vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery, including over half a dozen albums under the common moniker the Montgomery Brothers ~ Montgomery passed away in 1982
October 10, 1921 ~ Jazz pianist, singer Roy Kral born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Brother of singer Irene Kral. Best known for forming the duo Jackie & Roy with his wife singer Jackie Cain. The duo had met working with Charlie Ventura in the late 1940s. Shortly after leaving Ventura they married and would record and perform as a duo until Kral's death some five decades later, their music characterised by an unusual yet attractive pairing of harmony vocals ~ Kral passed away in 2002
October 10, 1918 ~ Trombonist, bandleader Bobby Byrne born in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Joined the Dorsey Brothers orchestra at age 16, following Jimmy Dorsey to serve as Dorsey's primary trombonist after the brothers split in 1935. With the help of Jimmy founded his own orchestra a few years later, notably recording Meditation At Moonlight, struggling to keep the orchestra going through the war years as one after the other band member was called upon to serve in the Army. Byrne is especially known for backing Eartha Kitt on her early 1950s album That Bad Eartha Kitt, serving as musical director for WNBT-TV, and backing Cootie Williams on the 1958 Cootie Williams In Hi-Fi album ~ Byrne passed away in 2006
October 10, 1917 ~ Jazz, cool jazz, bebop, hard bop pianist, composer Thelonious Monk, full name Thelonious Sphere Monk, born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA ~ Second-most-recorded jazz composer, after Duke Ellington, known for standards such as Round Midnight, Blue Monk, Straight No Chaser, Ruby My Dear, In Walked Bud and Well You Needn't ~ Monk passed away in 1982
October 10, 1915 ~ Trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison born in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his tenure in Count Basie's orchestra, working alongside Buck Clayton, Lester Young (who named him “Sweets”), Buddy Tate, and Freddie Green. Has also worked with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Lucky Millinder, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Harry Belafonte, Louie Bellson, Bob Brookmeyer, Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Milt Jackson, the Pointer Sisters, BB King, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Carole King, and Ella Fitzgerald ~ Edison passed away in 1999
October 10, 1914 ~ R&B, blues, boogie-woogie pianist, singer, songwriter Ivory Joe Hunter, born in Kirbyville, Texas, USA ~ Billed as “the Baron of the Boogie”, Hunter would enjoy popularity especially in the 1940s and 1950s, merging a velvety voice, smooth delivery and a rebellious nature drawing from R&B, blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, pop, and country music. It is estimated that by the mid 1950s, Hunter had recorded over a 100 songs, many of which have become classics. Well known tracks include Blues At Sunrise, Pretty Mama Blues, Don't Fall In Love With Me, What Did You Do To Me, Waiting In Vain, Jealous Heart, and Empty Arms, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B. Hunter is perhaps best remembered for penning and first recording the tracks I Almost Lost My Mind and Since I Met You Baby, the former covered by among others Nat King Cole, Connie Francis, Bill Haley, Solomon Burke, and Albert King, the latter among others by Sam Cooke, Brook Benton, Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, and Lou Rawls. Several of his songs have also been recorded by Elvis Presley, including I Need You So, My Wish Came True, and Ain't That Lovin' You ~ Hunter passed away in 1974October 10, 1910 ~ Jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer Milt Larkin born in Navasoto, Texas, USA ~ Got his start in the 1930s with minor territory bands backing Chester Boone and Giles Mitchell. Perhaps most acclaimed for leading his own band from the mid 1930s through the mid 1940s, with whom he toured the Midwest and Southwest as well as held a nine-month residency at the Rhumboogie Café, Chicago, Illinois, where on occasions they backed T-Bone Walker. Larkin was offered the opportunity to record but declined, in part of the low wages labels offered to black musicians, a decision that haunted later jazz fans because of the many young sidemen in the band who would later rise to fame in their own right, including saxophonists Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, and Tom Archia, pianists Cedric Haywood and Wild Bill Davis, and drummers Alvin Burroughs, Joe Marshall and Roy Porter. Larkin disbanded the group when he himself enlisted, but following his stint in the US Army would continue to lead several ensembles well into the 1990s, most notably the non-profit group Get Involved Now giving hundreds of performances for crippled and burned children, special needs children, mentally ill patients and elderly audiences, mostly around the Houston, Texas, area ~ Larkin passed away in 1996
October 10, 1908 ~ Songwriter, pianist Johnny Green, full name John Waldo Green, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Body And Soul from the 1930 Broadway musical Three's A Crowd with Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Sour. The song would be first introduced by Gertrude Lawrence in the UK and by Libby Holman in the USA. The song became a jazz standard recorded by numerous artists including notably Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Paul Whiteman, Jack Fulton, and as a duet by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse ~ Green passed away in 1989October 10, 1906 ~ Film composer, pianist, conductor Giovanni Fusco born in Benevento, Italy ~ Brother of composer Tarcisio Fusco. Married to pianist Adriana Dante, their daughter being the acclaimed operatic soprano Cecilia Fusco. Has composed numerous film scores, notably Cronacio Di Un Amore, Mon Amour, L'Avventura and La Guerre Est Finie ~ Fusco passed away in 1968
October 10, 1904 ~ Singer, actor, comedian, songwriter Sam Theard, full name Samuel F Theard, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Active since the 1920s, going by various monikers. Regularly backed by pianist Albert Ammons on his mid 1930s recordings. Best known for I'll Be Glad When You're Dead (You Rascal You), covered by numerous artists. Co-wrote Let The Good Times Roll, an oft-covered hit and signature song for Louis Jordan ~ Theard passed away in 1982
October 10, 1903 ~ Vladimir Dukelsky, commonly known as composer, songwriter Vernon Duke, born in Vilna Governorate, Russian Empire ~ Collaborated with lyricists such as Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, Ogden Nash, and Sammy Cahn. Well known songs co-written by Duke include Taking A Chance On Love from the 1940 musical Cabin In The Sky, Hal Kemp's I Can't Get Started, April In Paris from the 1932 musical Walk A Little Faster and perhaps his best known Autumn In New York from the 1934 revue Thumbs Up. The latter would become a jazz standard recorded by Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Stan Kenton, Sarah Vaughan, and Tal Farlow ~ Dukelsky passed away in 1969
October 10, 1891 ~ Wallace Theodore Kirkeby, commonly known as bandleader, singer, artist manager Ed Kirkeby, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as manager for pianist Fats Waller. Kirkeby was one of the first recording managers at Columbia Records to record jazz, organizing several groups of session musicians. A&R executive at RCA-Victor. After Waller's death in 1943 would mostly work as a manager for other artists including Pat Flowers ~ Kirkeby passed away in 1978October 10, 1813 ~ Composer Giuseppe Verdi, full name Giuseppe Fortunini Francesco Verdi, born in Le Roncole, Italy ~ Influenced by Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Gioachine Rossini. Dominated the Italian opera. Best known for operas such as La Traviata, Aida and Falstaff. Briefly an elected politician sympathizing with the Risorgimenti movement, seeking the unification of Italy ~ Verdi passed away in 1901