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 16, 1951 ~ Singer Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads record Cry ~ Written by Churchil Kohlman. Produced by Mitch Miller. Perhaps Johnnie Ray's best known song. Released later the same month. Notably covered by Lynn Anderson, Ray Charles, Brenda Lee, Tammy Wynette, and Gene McDaniels
October 16, 1948 ~ Producer, arranger, conductor, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, label executive Jim Ed Norman, full name Edward James Norman, born in Fort Edwards, Florida, USA ~ Considered one of the prime architects of 1970s West Coast pop and rock. Label executive with Warner Bros Records, eventually rising to the position of president. Started his career in music as a member of Shiloh, which also included Don Henley. Pianist on the Eagles' Lyin' Eyes and Take It To The Limit. As a producer has worked with Jackie DeShannon, the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Glenn Frey, the Osmonds, Jennifer Warnes (Right Time Of The Night), Anne Murray, Charlie Rich, Mickey Gilley, Janie Fricke, Michael Martin Murphey, TG Sheppard, Southern Pacific, and Crystal Gayle
October 16, 1947 ~ Robert Hall Parker, commonoly known as rock, psychedelic rock, folk guitarist, singer, songwriter Bob Weir, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Best known as founding member of the Grateful Dead staying with the band up to its disbandement in 1995. Has also worked with Kingfish, Bobby & the Midnites, the Other Ones, Ratdog, Scaring The Children, Furthur, and Dead & Company ~ Parker passed away in 2026
October 16, 1946 ~ Organist, pianist, composer Wolfgang Rübsam, full name Wolfgang Friedrich Rübsam, born in Giessen, Germany ~ Recorded prolifically, including the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, César Franck, and Jehan Alain. As a teacher best known for his stints at the Northwestern University, Illinois, and at the Hochschüle für Musik Saar, Saarbrücken, Germany
October 16, 1945 ~ Songwriter James Monaco, full name James Vincent Monaco, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It) with lyricist Joseph McCarthy, performed originally by Al Jolson in 1913 and recorded by numerous artists including Doris Day, Perry Como, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and Patsy Cline. Also known as a frequent collaborator of Johnny Burke, especially writing for several Bing Crosby films. Four songs co-written by Burke would receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Song: Only Forever from 1940's Rhythm On The River co-written with Burke, We Mustn't Say Goodbye from 1943's Stage Door Canteen co-written with Al Dubin, I'm Making Believe from 1944's Sweet And Low-down co-written with Mack Gordon, I Can't Begin To Tell You from 1945's The Dolly Sisters also co-written with Gordon ~ Monaco was born in 1885October 16, 1945 ~ Guitarist, composer, bandleader Mose Se Sengo born in Leopoldville, Congo ~ Pioneer of Congolese soukous. Best known for founding and fronting Somo Somo. Has also worked with TPOK Jazz, Lovy du Zaire, and Bana OK ~ Sengo passed away in 2019
October 16, 1945 ~ Soul, rock drummer Roger Hawkins born in Sheffield, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Present on classic recordings such as Percy Sledge's When A Man Loves A Woman, Aretha Franklin's RESPECT, Wilson Pickett's Land Of 1,000 Dances. Has also worked with the Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Cat Stevens, Duane Allman, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, Bobby Blue Bland, Boz Scaggs, Albert King, Traffic, Willie Nelson, and Eric Clapton ~ Hawkins passed away in 2021October 16, 1944 ~ Folk singer, banjoist Patsy Watchorn born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Founded and fronted the Quare Fellas, renamed to the Dublin City Ramblers by the early 1970s and known for songs such as Rare Ould Times and The Ferryman. Joined the Dubliners in 2005, taking over for Paddy Reilly, and remained with the band until its disbandement in the early-2010s
October 16, 1943 ~ Charles Frederick Turner, commonly known as bassist, singer, songwriter CF Turner, born in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Co-founding member of 1970s rock outfit Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Also worked with Pink Plum, Brave Belt, D-Drifters, Randy Murray, and the Little River Band
October 16, 1943 ~ Kathleen Dorritie, commonly known as glam rock, glam punk singer, songwriter Cherry Vanilla. born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Acted in Andy Warhol's play Pork. Publicist for David Bowie. As a solo singer best known for two late-1970's albums, namely Bad Girl and Venus D'Vinyl
October 16, 1939 ~ Amarendra Roy Chowdhury, commonly known as jazz, experimental music, world music percussionist, tabla player Badal Roy, born in Comilla, Bangladesh ~ Influenced by Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington. Self-taught, his playing considered freer that that of most tabla players. Leader and sideman. First gained attention backing Miles Davis, appearing on late 1960s, early 1970s albums such as On The Corner, Big Fun and Get Up With It. Would go on to collaborate with the likes of Dave Liebman, Pharoah Sanders, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Herbie Mann, Pat Metheny, Lester Bowie, Airto Moreira, Charlie Haden, Yoko Ono, Ornette Coleman, Duofel, Stomu Takeishi, and Muruga Booker ~ Chowdhury passed away in 2022
October 16, 1939 ~ William Cox, commonly known as bassist Billy Cox, born in Wheeling, West Virginia, USA ~ Best known for backing Jimi Hendrix. Has also toured or recorded with Sam Cooke, Slim Harpo, Joe Simon, Charlie Daniels, John McLaughlin, Rufus Thomas, Lou Rawls, Etta James, Jackie Wilson, and Little RichardOctober 16, 1939 ~ Singer Joe Dolan, full name Joseph Francis Robert Dolan, born in Mulingar, Ireland ~ The only Irish singer to score a No.1 in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Known for songs such as Pretty Brown Eyes, Teresa, Sister Mary, More And More, and Good Looking Woman. Dolan has also collaborated with Sweeney's Men, the Drifters Showband, and Kelly Marie ~ Dolan passed away in 2007
October 16, 1938 ~ Christa Päffgen, commonly known as avant-garde, gothic rock, art rock, folk kock singer, actress Nico, born in Cologne, Germany ~ Rose to prominence acting in films such as Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita and Andy Warhol's Chelsea Girls. Sang with the Velvet Underground on the band's Velvet Underground & Nico debut album. As a solo artist known for her 1965 I'm Not Sayin' single produced by Jimmy Page and the Bob Dylan-penned I'll Keep It With Mine of her 1967 Chelsea Girl debut album ~ Päffgen passed away in 1988October 16, 1937 ~ Michael Emile Telford Miller, commonly known as rock & roll, pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer Emile Ford, born on Castries, Saint Lucia ~ Best known for his 1959 UK No.1 hit What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For with his backing unit the Checkmates ~ Miller passed away in 2016
October 16, 1936 ~ Bolero, bossa nova singer, pianist, politician Agnaldo Timóteo, full name Agnaldo Timóteo Pereira, born in Caratinga, Brazil ~ Over 40 albums to his name starting in the mid 1960s. Known for songs such as Ave Maria, Mamãe, Os Verdes Campos De Minha Terra and Meu Grito. Politically active from the early 1980s through the 2010s, serving in various functions including Federal Deputy and City Councillor ~ Timóteo passed away in 2021
October 16, 1935 ~ Umpeylia Marsema Balinton, commonly known as R&B singer Sugar Pie DeSanto, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Discovered by Johnny Otis who gave her the stage name Sugar Pie. Toured as backing singer with James Brown in the late 1950s. As a solo artist rose to fame with her 1960 hit I Want To Know. Would go on to release a number of classic 1960s R&B hits throughout the remainder of the decade, notably Slip-in Mules, Use What You Got, Soulful Dress, I Don't Wanna Fuss and Do I Make Myself Clear, the latter a duet with Etta James ~ Balinton passed away in 2024
October 16, 1932 ~ Jazz pianist Ben Aronov, full name Benjamin James Aronov, born in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ In-demand sideman. Worked with Terry Gibbs, June Christy, Lena Horne, Al Cohn, Benny Goodman, Jim Hall, Morgana King, Lee Konitz, Peggy Lee, Liza Minnelli, George Mraz, Mark Murphy, the National Jazz Ensemble, Ken Peplowski, Tom Pierson, Zoot Sims, Carol Sloane, and Warren Vaché Jr ~ Aronov passed away in 2015
October 16, 1932 ~ Double bassist, conductor Henry Lewis, full name Henry Jay Lewis, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Married to singer Marilyn Horne from 1960 until 1972. Child prodigy. Member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic by age 16. Director of the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra. Also worked with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Itzhak Perlman, Misha Dichter, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, the Chicago Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Lewis passed away in 1996October 16, 1923 ~ Bandleader, singer Fred Waring and his Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians record Sleep ~ Written by Earl Burtnett and Adam Geibel, lyrics added by Fred Waring's brother Tom Waring who would also sing on the recording. Released the following month, b/w The West A Nest And You, it would become the band's biggest hit, a signature tune and would serve as the theme song for the musical variety TV show The Fred Waring Show. The tune would be covered by a wide array of artists included Tommy Dorsey, Earl Bostic, Chico Hamilton, Boots Randolph, Les Paul & Mary Ford, and Chet Atkins
October 16, 1923 ~ Saxophonist Lenny Hambro born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ As sideman played with Gene Krupa, Glenn Miller, Roy Eldridge, Billy Butterfield, Bobby Byrne, Vincent Lopez, Pupi Campo, Machito, Ray McKinley, Charlie Ventura, and Joe Loco. As leader he employed artists such as Wade Legge, Rene Hernandez, Eddie Costa, Hank Jones, Dick Garcia, Sal Salvador, Barry Galbraith, Louis Barretto, Clyde Lombardi, Arnold Fishkind, Eddie Bert, Mel Zelnick, Harold Granowski, Gus Johnson Jr, Sid Bulkin, Jose Mangual, Ubaldo Nieto, Ray Santamaria, and Babs Gonzales ~ Hambro passed away in 1995
October 16, 1922 ~ Walter William Bygraves, commonly known as comedian, actor, singer Max Bygraves, born in London, UK ~ Known for his catchphrase “I wanna tell you a story” which became an integral part of his act although it originated with comedian Mike Yarwood impersonating Bygraves. Opened for Abbott & Costello and for Judy Garland before scoring a string of UK top 10 hits starting in the early 1950s, including Heart Of My Heart, Meet Me On The Corner and You Need Hands ~ Bygraves passed away in 2012October 16, 1918 ~ Dale Troy Cooper, commonly known as bluegrass, country fiddler, guitarist Stoney Cooper born in Harman, West Virginia, USA ~ Member of gospel outfit the Leary Family, eventually marrying one of its singers, Wilma Lee Cooper. Starting in the 1940s as a duo they would score several country hits including Big Midnight Special and There's A Big Wheel ~ Cooper passed away in 1977
October 16, 1917 ~ Jazz pianist, singer Pat Flowers, full name Ivelee Patrick Flowers, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Worked with Fats Waller during the last year of Waller's life. Subsequently manager Ed Kirkeby attempted to book him as Waller's successor. Flowers would record for most of the decade in New York, eventually returning to Detroit where he would become a mainstay on the local jazz scene ~ Flowers passed away in 2000
October 16, 1903 ~ Joseph Lee Williams, commonly known as Delta blues guitarist, singer Big Joe Williams, born in Crawford, Mississippi, USA ~ Plays a nine-string guitar. Known for songs such as Baby Please Don't Go, Crawlin' King Snake and Peach Orchard Mama. Worked with Sonny Boy Williamson I, Robert Nighthawk, and Peetie Wheatstraw ~ Williams passed away in 1982
October 16, 1903 ~ Ford Lee Washington, commonly known as vaudevillian, pianist, singer Buck Washington, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Formed the duo Buck & Bubbles with John W Bubbles, reportedly becoming the first black artists to appear on TV anywhere in the world performing at the Alexandra Palace in November 1936 aired by the BBC. Washington is also known for backng artists such as Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith and Coleman Hawkins ~ Washington passed away in 1955