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 14, 1942 ~ Guitarist Billy Harrison born in Belfast, Ireland ~ Original member of Them, best known for also including Van Morrison, scoring the hits Baby Please Don't Go and Here Comes The Night and for despite a brief recording career being immensely influential on a wide array of acts including the Doors
October 14, 1942 ~ Joel Arthur Gibbs, commonly known as reggae producer Joe Gibbs, born in St James, Jamaica ~ Worked with Bunny Lee, Roy Shirley (Hold Them), the Pioneers, Errol Dunkley, Ken Parker, Lynn Taitt, the Hippy Boys, Nicky Thomas (Love Of The Common People), the Ethiopians, Delroy Wilson, the Heptones, Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Sylford Walker, the Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs, Prince Alla, Junior Byles, Marcia Aitken, Althea & Donna, John Holt, Barrington Levy, Cornell Campbell, Dean Fraser, Beres Hammond, Ranking Joe, Prince Jazzbo, Dillinger, Prince Far I, June Lodge (Someone Loves You Honey), and Sydney Crooks ~ Gibbs passed away in 2008
October 14, 1940 ~ Harry Rodger Webb, commonly known as singer, guitarist Cliff Richard born in Lucknow, British India ~ Sold over 250 million records. Originally marketed as a rebellious rock & roll singer but would soften down to a more mainstream image from the 1960s onwards. Backed by the Shadows dominated the British popular music scene untill the Beatles came along. Best known for songs such as 1958's Move It, arguably the first British rock & roll song, 1960s songs such The Young Ones, Lucky Lips, and Summer Holiday. Would continue to regularly reach the charts in the UK and continental Europe well through the 2000s, notably with 1976's Devil Woman, 1979's We Don't Talk Anymore and a 1986 remake of Living Doll with the Young Ones, albeit it to lesser success than in his heyday. Has worked with Cilla Black, Olivia Newton-John, Phil Everly, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sheila Walsh, Janet Jackson, Sarah Brightman, Elton John, Van Morrison, Helen Shapiro, Dionne Warwick, and Daniel O'Donnell
October 14, 1939 ~ Christostomos Karanikis, commonly known as jazz drummer, percussionist Chris Karan, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ In-demand session musician. Worked with the Yardbirds, Michel Legrand, Lalo Schifrin, Charles Aznavour, Stanley Myers, Basil Kirchin, Tony Hatch, Jackie Trent, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Jerry Goldsmith, Jerry Fielding, Pat Williams, André Previn, Richard Rodney Bennett, Barry Tuckwell, Carl Davis, Henry Mancini, the Beatles, the Seekers, Roy Budd, Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Laine, the Bee Gees, Caterina Valente, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, the Swingle Singers, the Harry Stoneham Group, Katie Melua, and Oliver NelsonOctober 14, 1938 ~ Singer Bing Crosby, backed by Bob Crosby and his orchestra, records You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby ~ Written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer for the 1938 Hard To Get film, in which it was performed by Dick Powell. It was Bing Crosby's version, released as a single b/w Summertime, that would become the biggest hit. Recorded the same year by Russ Morgan, Tommy Dorsey featuring Edythe Wright, Blue Barron, and Chick Bullock. Notably revived by Bobby Darin in 1961, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic
October 14, 1937 ~ Producer, label executive, author Ken Mansfield born in Pennsylvania, USA ~ Manager for Apple Records in the USA during the 1960s, and as such helpful in the careers of a number of British acts including the Beatles, Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, and Jackie Lomax. Helped popularize the Outlaw country movement in the 1970s, notably producing the Waylon Jennings Are You Ready For The Country album as well as Jessi Colter's I'm Not Lisa crossover hit single. Successful in gospel music in the 1990s, producing acts such as the Imperials and the Gaither Vocal Band. Authored a number of books in the 2000s, starting with The Beatles The Bible And Bodega Bay published in 2000 ~ Mansfield passed away in 2022
October 14, 1935 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Alex Glasgow born in Gateshead, UK ~ Traditional working class singer, songwriter drawing from traditional British folk, especially Geordie songs, though Glasgow himself resented the “folk” characterization. Would often include socialist and trades union-focused themes. Well-remembered for the song cycle The Tyne Slides By written in the 1970s for the BBC series The Camera & The Song. Composed for the musical plays Close The Coal House Door and On Your Way Riley. Perhaps best known for Dance Ti Thi Daddy, written and performed by Golasgow and used as the theme song to the TV series When The Boat Comes In ~ Glasgow passed away in 2001
October 14, 1935 ~ Avant-garde, minimalist, microtonal, jazz composer La Monte Young, full name La Monte Thornton Young, born in Bern, Idaho, USA ~ One of the first American minimalist composers. Leading figure in avant-garde music. Best known for his 1958 composition Trio For Strings. Has collaborated with Tony Conrad, John Cale, and extensively with his wife Marian Zazeela
October 14, 1932 ~ Singer Bing Crosby records I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance ~ Lyrics by Bing Crosby and Ned Washington, music by Victor Young. Released as a 78 single b/w Just An Echo In The Valley it would reach the top 10 in early 1933. Notable covers would include recordings by Dave Brubeck, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, and Linda RonstadtOctober 14, 1931 ~ Jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger Dusko Gojkovic born in Jajce, Yugoslavia ~ As a leader perhaps best known for his 1994 Soul Connection album, featuring guests such as Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Heath, and Mickey Roker. In-demand sideman, appearing on albums by the likes of Woody Herman, Francy Boland, Tete Montoliu, Klaus Doldinger, and Maynard Ferguson ~ Gojkovic passed away in 2023
October 14, 1930 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Henry Creamer, full name Henry Sterling Creamer, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Revered songwriter, often in partnership with James P Johnson, Bert Williams and most frequently with Turner Layton. Wrote or co-wrote early standards such as Strut Miss Lizzie (the Original Dixieland Jazz Band) After You've Gone (Campbell & Burr, Ruth Etting, Bessie Smith), and Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (the Peerless Quartet, Dean Martin, Freddy Cannon, Dinah Shore, Jan & Dean) ~ Creamer was born in 1879
October 14, 1927 ~ Ione Emily Bryant, commonly known as traditional pop, vocal jazz, gospel singer, dancer, civil rights activist Joyce Bryant, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Known for her signature silver hair and tight mermaid dresses, Bryant became one of the first African-American sex symbols earning her the nickname “the Black Marilyn Monroe”. Songs such as Love For Sale and Drunk With Love would be banned from radio for their provocative lyrics, yet would nevertheless find a wide audience. Civil rights advocate, strongly opposing the practice of racial billing at night clubs, at times even defying the Ku Klux Klan. Bryant retired from music by the mid 1950s at the peak of her popularity, only to return about a decade later as a classically trained singer working with the New York City Opera and other renowned orchestras ~ Bryant passed away in 2022
October 14, 1926 ~ William Everett Justis Junior, commonly known as rock & roll composer, arranger, singer, trumpeter, saxophonist Bill Justis, born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ As a solo artist known for his 1957 recording Raunchy, arguably the first rock & roll instrumental hit and successfuly covered by both Ernie Freeman and Billy Vaughn. Worked as staff musician at Sun Records, arranging for Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Charlie Rich. Played saxophone on Elvis Presley's Kissin' Cousins soundtrack. Managed Ronny & the Daytonas. Composed the scores for several films, notably Smokey & the Bandit in 1977 and The Villain in 1979 ~ Justis passed away in 1982
October 14, 1926 ~ Carel Verbrugge, commonly known as singer Willy Alberti, born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Renowned torch, pop singer, balladeer, popular from the late 1940s through the 1970s. Sang in Dutch and Italian. Father of singer Willeke Alberti. Known for songs such as Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu, Ik Zing Dit Lied Voor Jou Alleen, Marina, and De Glimlach Van Een Kind ~ Verbrugge passed away in 1985October 14, 1899 ~ William McKenzie, commonly known as singer, songwriter, trombonist Red McKenzie, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Co-founded the Mound City Blowers in 1923 with Jack Bland and Dick Slevin, later joined by guitarist Eddie Lang. The quartet is known for songs such as One Hour and Hello Lola and worked with artists such as Glenn Miller, Pee Wee Russell, Coleman Hawkins, Bunny Berigan, Jimmy Dorsey, and Muggsy Spanier ~ McKenzie passed away in 1948
October 14, 1891 ~ Blues singer Edna Hicks born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best remembered for her recordings of Hard Luck Blues, Poor Me Blues, Down Hearted Blues, and Gulf Coast Blues. Half-sister of singer Lizzie Miles ~ Hicks passed away in 1925
October 14, 1889 ~ Jazz singer, pianist, composer Spencer Williams born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best remembered as a songwriter. Closely associated with Josephine Baker and with Fats Waller. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Shim-me-sha-wabble (the Emerson Dance Orchestra, Willie The Lion Smith, Zutty Singleton) Basin Street Blues (Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke), I Ain't Got Nobody (Marion Harris, Bessie Smith, Louis Prima), Royal Garden Blues (Mamie Smith, Wingy Manone), I've Found A New Baby (the Dixie Stompers, McKinney's Cotton Pickers), When Lights Are Low (Benny Carter, Chet Baker, Vic Damone), Everybody Loves My Baby (Aileen Stanley, the Boswell Sisters, Lionel Hampton), and Tishomingo Blues (Eddie Nelson, Duke Ellington) ~ Williams passed away in 1965