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 31, 1944 ~ Richard Samet Friedman, commonly known as rock, country rock, progressive country, outlaw country singer, guitarist Kinky Friedman, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Flamboyant satirist with well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with the acclaimed Sold American released in 1973. Following the wave of country rock from acts such as Gram Parsons, the Band, and the Eagles, Friedman would gain a cult following through provocative songs such as We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To You, They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore, and Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed, gaining more exposure after touring with Bob Dylan in 1975 and 1976. After his music career stalled in the 1980s, Friedman shifted his focus to writing detective novels, often featuring a fictionalized version of himself, his books laced with the same wit and satirism known from his lyrics. Upon hearing of Friedman's death, close friend and longtime collaborator Kent Perkins commented: “He was the last free person on earth. He had an irreverence about him. He was a fearless writer” ~ Friedman passed away in 2024October 31, 1944 ~ Jazz drummer Sherman Ferguson, full name Sherman Eugene Ferguson, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Influenced by Max Roach and Roy Haynes. First gained attention in the 1960s backing Charles Earland and subsequently Pat Martino, notably present on the albums Desperado and Consciousness. Ferguson would become best known as co-founding member of pioneering fusion group Catalyst. Drawing from both funk and jazz, the group released a handful of albums through the mid 1970s, starting with their eponymous Catalyst debut album, earning them critical acclaim and a cult following. Ferguson would remain active until his death at age 61, appearing on albums by Kenny Burrell, Red Callender (Night Mist Blues), Bobby Bradford, Bud Shank (Serious Swingers), Warne Marsh, Mike Wofford (Funkallero), Holly Hofmann, Lorez Alexandria (I'll Never Stop Loving You), Pharoah Sanders, Joe Wilder (No Greater Love), Karrin Allyson, Benny Carter, Lou Rawls, Sweet Baby J'ai (Evolution), and Larry Coryell ~ Ferguson passed away in 2006
October 31, 1943 ~ Pop, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Tony Hazzard, full name Anthony Hazzard, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Had his songs recorded by the Hollies (Listen To Me), Manfred Mann (Fox On The Run), the Yardbirds (Goodnight Sweet Josephine), Herman's Hermits (You Won't Be Leaving), the Tremeloes (Hello World), Gene Pitney (Maria Elena), Richard Barnes (Take To The Mountains), and Andy Williams (Getting Over You)
October 31, 1939 ~ Ali Ibrahim Touré, commonly known as world music singer, guitarist Ali Farka Touré, born in Timbuktu Region, Mali ~ One of the internationally most acclaimed African musicians, merging traditional Malian music with American blues. Actively recording and touring since the mid 1970s with close to two dozen albums to his name. Has collaborated with Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder (Talking Timbuktu), Corey Harris and Toumani Diabaté ~ Fouré passed away in 2006
October 31, 1939 ~ Drummer John Guerin, full name John Payne Guerin, born in Hawaii, USA ~ Briefly a member of the Byrds in the early 1970s. Member of Joni Mitchell's backup outfit the LA Express. Also had an affair with Mitchell who later wrote the song Hejira about him. As a session musician Guerin backed artists such as Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Frank Zappa, the Animals, Them, Thelonious Monk, Lou Rawls, Ray Conniff, George Shearing, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Nelson Riddle, Oscar Peterson, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Ray Charles, Sonny Rollins, Justin Morell, Andreas Pettersson, David Bass, David Garfield, Gary Lemel, and Mike Melvoin ~ Guerin passed away in 2004
October 31, 1931 ~ Robert Frederickson, commonly known as singer Bob Regan, born in Rolia, Canada ~ Formed the country duo the Canadian Sweethearts along with his wife Lucille Starr, known for mid 1960s recordings such as Stand Upon The Mountain, Lookin' Back To See and Don't Knock On My Door ~ Frederickson passed away in 1990
October 31, 1930 ~ Tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin, full name Booker Telleferro Ervin II, born in Denison, Texas, USA ~ Hard bop player characterised by strong sound and blues phrasing. Over a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for the albums Cookin' and That's It. Closely associated with Charles Mingus, including on the highly acclaimed Mingus Ah Uhm. Has also appeared on albums by Horace Parlan, Pony Poindexter, Jaki Byard, Randy Weston, Don Patterson, Sonny Stitt (Soul People), Andrew Hill (Grass Roots), and Isaac Hayes (Black Moses). Ervin passed away of kidney disease at age 39 ~ Ervin passed away in 1970
October 31, 1927 ~ Singer, songwriter Hoagy Carmichael records Stardust at Gennett Studios, Richmond, Indiana ~ Penned by Hoagy Carmichael. It would become a standard covered over an estimated 1,500 times, including by the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Erroll Garner, Oscar Pettiford, John Coltrane, Toots Thielemans, Stéphane Grappelli, Willie Nelson, and Wynton MarsalisOctober 31, 1926 ~ Singer, guitarists, songwriter Colette Magny born in Paris, France ~ Drew from blues, jazz, protest songs and spoken word poetry. Discovered by singer Mireille Hartuch who featured Magny on her TV show Le Petit Conservatoire De La Chanson. The exposure earned Magny critical acclaim leading to a record deal with CBS. Magny released her eponymous Colette Magny in 1963 and recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since ~ Magny passed away in 1997
October 31, 1922 ~ Jazz, swing saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist Ted Nash, full name Theodore Malcolm Nash, born in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA ~ Nash initially aimed to become a classical flutist until he began playing saxophone in his early teens. Nash is perhaps best known for his association with bandleader Les Brown starting in the mid 1940s, including on the hits Sentimental Journey and My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time both of which featured lead vocalist Doris Day, and with film composer Henry Mancini from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums including notably performing the saxophone solo on the main theme from The Music From Peter Gunn soundtrack. Besides his soundtrack work with Mancini, Nash has also worked with film composer John Williams for the soundtracks of Jaws and Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom and with Quincy Jones for the soundtrack of the TV series Roots (The Saga Of An American Family). Over the course of his career, Nash has appeared on albums by June Christy, Frank Sinatra (In The Wee Small Hours), Stan Getz, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald (Sings The Cole Porter Song Book), Barney Kessel, George van Eps (Mellow Guitar), Buddy Rich, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather), Dennis Farnon, Bob Thompson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Nancy Wilson, and Billy Eckstine. Outside jazz and film circles, Nash may be known for his forays into pop and rock starting in the late 1960s, including with Tak Shindo, the Monkees, Van Dyke Parks (Song Cycle), Frank Zappa (Lumpy Gravy), and Judy Collins. Nash has occassionally recorded as a leader or co-leader, notably on the acclaimed 1957 Brothers Nash album collaborating with his brother trombonist Dick Nash. Nash retired from music in the 1980s. Ted Nash is not to be confused with his nephew Ted Nash born in 1960, named after him, who continued the family tradition and became a professional saxophonist ~ Nash passed away in 2011
October 31, 1921 ~ Jazz clarinetist, bandleader Toshiyuki Miyama born in Chiba, Japan ~ Joined the Lucky Puppy Orchestra after World War II. Would lead his own ensemble from 1950 onwards, initially named Jive Ace and renamed to the New Herd in 1958. The group would record with Charles Mingus in the 1971 and tour the world throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Miyama would lead the ensemble for over 5 decades, remaining active well into the 2000s ~ Miyama passed away in 2016
October 31, 1915 ~ Jazz trumpeter Chris Griffin, full name Gordon Claude Griffin, born in Binghamton, New York, USA ~ Started out in dance bands working with Charlie Barnet, Rudy Vallée, Miff Mole, Mildred Bailey, Teddy Wilson, and Joe Haymes through-out the 1930s. Joined Benny Goodman's big band in 1936, remaining until 1939. Later played with artists such as Jimmy Dorsey, Tex Beneke, Pee Wee Erwin, Warren Covington, Bud Freeman, and Warren Vaché Sr. Led an ensemble of his own in 1980s which included Marty Napoleon, Sonny Igoe, Jane Jarvis, and Major Holley ~ Griffin passed away in 2005
October 31, 1912 ~ Lucille Wood Smith, commonly known as singer, actress, songwriter Dale Evans born in Uvalde, Texas, USA ~ Third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers, with whom she formed a successful on- and off-screen team starring in numerous films. The couple remained married until Rogers' death in 1998 ~ Smith passed away in 2001October 31, 1909 ~ John Rufus Sharpe III, commonly known as songwriter, music publisher, author Jack Sharpe, born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Best remembered for writing So Rare with Jerry Herst. The song was first published in 1937 and is perhaps best known as a late-career hit for Jimmy Dorsey just months before his death in 1957. Others who have recorded the song include Carl Ravell, Gus Arnheim, Ella Fitzgerald, King Curtis, Chet Atkins. Sharpe has also written lyrics for other songs, notably Margaret Whiting's The Dream Peddler's Serenade with music by composer Johnny Mercer, and formed the music publishing company Rondo Music in the mid 1960s ~ Sharpe passed away in 1996
October 31, 1902 ~ Blues, R&B singer, pianist Julia Lee born in Boonville, Missouri, USA ~ Known for a string of 1940's R&B hits including Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got, Snatch It And Grab It, King-Size Papa, I Didn't Like It The First Time and My Man Stands Out. Her recordings regulary featured backing musicians such as Jay McShann, Vic Dickenson, Benny Carter, Red Norvo, Nappy Lamare, Red Nichols and Jack Marshall ~ Lee passed away in 1958
October 31, 1896 ~ Singer Ethel Waters born in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA ~ 1920s blues singer known for recordings such as Stormy Weather, Taking A Chance On Love, Supper Time, Am I Blue, and His Eye Is On The Sparrow. Would go on to perform jazz, swing, pop and star in Broadway musicals ~ Waters passed away in 1977
October 31, 1886 ~ Vaudeville entertainer, musical actor, singer Charles King, full name Charles Joseph King, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Made his Broadway debut by the late 1900s and would appear in numerous revues and musicals throughout the 1920s before moving on to the big screen. Frequently cast opposite Elizabeth Brice, for example in the musicals A Winsome Widow and Miss 1917. Best remembered for the lead role in the 1929 musical film The Broadway Melody, introducing the song You Were Meant For Me. The film would be the first all-talking film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Other notable credits include introducing the song Orange Blossom Time in The Hollywood Revue Of 1929 the same year and introducing Happy Days Are Here Again in Chasing Rainbows the following year. Died aged 57 of pneumonia while on tour in England entertaining troops serving in the USO ~ King passed away in 1944October 31, 1865 ~ Violinist Achille Rivarde, full name Serge Achille Rivarde, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Principal violinist with the Orchestra Lamoureux from 1885 through 1891. Premiered Eduoard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole in the UK in 1895. Professor at the Royal College Of Music in London from 1899 through 1936. Authored The Violin And Its Technique As A Means To The Interpretation Of Music ~ Rivarde passed away in 1940