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 7, 1940 ~ Keyboardist, organist Larry Young born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Acclaimed organ innovator active in soul jazz, avant-garde, fusion. Influenced by Jimmy Smith and John Coltrane. Frequently collaborated with Grant Green and Elvin Jones in the mid 1960s. About a dozen albums as a leader, noted especially for his 1965 release Unity which also featured Joe Henderson and a young Woody Shaw. Backed Tony Williams on Emergency. Backed Miles Davis on Bitches Brew. Other notable collaborations include Jimmy Forrest, Thornel Schwartz (Soul Cookin'), Gildo Mahones, Buddy Terry, John McLaughlin (Devotion), Lenny White (Venusian Summer), and Steve Khan ~ Young passed away in 1978
October 7, 1939 ~ Blues guitarist, singer Mel Brown born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for his association with Bobby Blue Bland. Also a solo artist with over a dozen albums to his name starting with Chicken Fat in 1967. Has worked with Clifford Coultier, BB King, Albert Collins, James Cotton, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy McGriff, Doug Sahm, Earl Hooker, and T-Bone Walker ~ Brown passed away in 2009
October 7, 1939 ~ David Curtis Glover, commonly known as blues harpist, guitarist, singer, author, rock critic Tony Glover, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Reportedly gave harmonica lessons to both David Johansen and Mick Jagger. Closely associated with Dave Ray and John Koerner, the trio recording and performing in various configurations, in solo turns and duets, but rarely as a trio. Ray suggested that it would be more accurate to refer to them not as Koerner Ray & Gloever, but rather Koerner and/or Ray and/or Glover. As a trio noted for appearing at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964, captured on the Newport Folk Festival 1964 (Evening Concerts III) album. In later years they would occasionally perform together, until Ray's death in the early 2000s. Glover has also formed Nine Below Zero, co-authored the Little Walter biography Blues With A Feeling (The Little Walter Story), and has written prolifically as a rock critic ~ Glover passed away in 2019
October 7, 1937 ~ Chester William Powers Jr, commonly known as rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Dino Valenti, born in Danbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for writing the 1960s anthem Get Together. The song has been recorded by several artists, including notably by the Youngbloods, whose 1969 single reached No.5 Billboard Hot 100. Valente has recorded one album as a solo artist, his name misspelled on the eponymous Dino Valente released in 1969, and four albums with psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service, starting with Just For Love in 1970. Valenti co-wrote and sang lead on several of Quicksilver Messenger Service's best known songs including Fresh Air and What About Me ~ Powers passed away in 1994
October 7, 1936 ~ Conductor Charles Dutoit, full name Charles Edouard Dutoit, born in Lausanne, Switzerland ~ Started as a viola player in the mid 1950s. Has been conducting since his 1959 debut with the Radio Lausanne Orchestra. Has conducted renowned orchestras including the London Royal Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Tokyo NHK Symphony, the Orchestre National de France, and the Saint Petersburg PhilharmoniaOctober 7, 1936 ~ Elio Osacar, commonly known as Latin jazz, jazz pianist Sonny Bravo born in New York, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with Tipica '73 in the 1970s, and with Tito Puente from the 1980s onwards. Has also worked with Jimmy Sabater, George Benson, Rubén Blades, Dimension Latina, José Fajardo, Mongo Santamaria, Louie Ramirez, Johnny Pacheco, Tito Nieves, Justo Betancourt, Terry Gibbs, Hector Ramos, Daniel Santos, and Janis Siegel
October 7, 1934 ~ Guitarist, luthier Dan Armstrong, full name Dan Kent Armstrong, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as an instrument builder, his line of guitars, basses and amplifiers used by artists such as Randy Jo Hobbs, Keith Richards, Randy California, Lou Reed, Steve Miller, Greg Ginn, Dave Grohl, Geezer Butler, Paul McCartney, Phil Lynott, Randy Rhoads, Ronnie Wood, King Buzzo, Joe Perry, Ronnie Lane, George Kooymans, Rich Robinson, Josh Homme, Jack Bruce, and John Frusciante. Once romantically involved with singer Carly Simon, who wrote the song Dan My Fling of her 1971 eponymous Carly Simon debut album about him ~ Armstrong passed away in 2004
October 7, 1928 ~ Singer, pianist, poet, songwriter Raymond Lévesque born in Montreal, Canada ~ Pioneer of Canadian chansonnier tradition. Perhaps best known for penning Quand Les Hommes Vivront D'Amour, which quickly became a standard covered by numerous artists including Fabienne Thibeault, Michel Louvain, Félix Leclerc, Robert Charlebois, and Céline Dion ~ Lévesque passed away in 2021
October 7, 1927 ~ Alfred Cini, commonly known as singer Al Martino born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Popular Italian-American pop crooner from the early 1950s through the mid 1970s. Sang in nightclubs and recorded a handful of songs for Jubilee but got his big break winning first place on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts performing Perry Como's If. This led to a record deal and the release of his breakthrough single Here In My Heart. It would top the pop charts in America and the UK. It also attracted the attention of the maffia who bought out Cini's management contract and ordered him to pay $75,000 to safeguard their investment. Cini moved to Britain, continuing to record and perform. He would later play the role of Johnny Fontane in the movie The Godfather ~ Cini passed away in 2009
October 7, 1925 ~ Jazz drummer Alvin Stoller born in New York, New York, USA ~ Though largely forgotten, Stoller was an in-demand sideman during the 1940s and 1950s. Performed on nearly all of Frank Sinatra's 1950s albums, including In The Wee Small Hours and Songs For Swingin' Lovers. Other notable credits include Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Bob Keene (Big Band Bash), Harry Sweets Edison (Sweets At The Haig), June Christy, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, George van Eps (Mellow Guitar), Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Buddy Bregman (Swinging Kicks), Mel Tormé, Billie Holiday, Ray Brown (Bass Hit), Phineas Newborn Jr, Coleman Hawkins, and Oscar Pettiford ~ Stoller passed away in 1992
October 7, 1917 ~ Eleanor Geisman, commonly known as actress, dancer, singer June Allyson, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Active since the mid 1930s as a dancer in short subject films and on Broadway. Would rise to fame after being signed by MGM, breaking through with her role in the 1944 musical film Two Girls And A Sailor. Cast as the archetypical girl next door she would solidify her stardom status through half a dozen films paired with actor Van Johnson. Awarded a Golden Globe Award for her leading role in the 1951 comedy film Too Young To Kiss, portraying the role of pianist Cynthia Potter ~ Geisman passed away in 2006
October 7, 1911 ~ Drummer Jo Jones, full name Jonathan David Samuel Jones born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Hugely influential on Buddy Rich, Kenny Clarke, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Louie Bellson. Leader and sideman. Worked with Walter Page, Lloyd Hunter, Count Basie, Freddie Green, Gene Ammons, Art Blakey, Bob Brookmeyer, Ray Bryant, Milt Buckner, Blossom Dearie, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Cass Harrison, Woody Herman, Illinois Jacquet, Budd Johnson, Thad Jones, Charles Mingus, Oscar Peterson, Paul Quinichette, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Dicky Wells, and Lester Young ~ Jones passed away in 1985
October 7, 1911 ~ Singer, trumpeter, bandleader, actor Vaughn Monroe, full name Vaughn Milton Monroe, born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Popular 1940s, 1950s bandleader. At one time or another employed then-unknown sidemen such as Bucky Pizzarelli, Red Nichols, Ray Conniff and Don Costa. Best known for his signature tune Racing With The Moon, which would eventually sell over a million copies. Other well known recordings include In The Still Of The Night, There I've Said It Again, Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow, Ballerina, Someday You'll Want Me To, Sound Off and In The Middle Of The House ~ Monroe passed away in 1973October 7, 1901 ~ Ralph Reichenthal, commonly known as composer Ralph Rainger, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Moanin' Low (Libby Holman, Leo Reisman, Lena Horne), Havin' Myself A Time (Kay Kyser, Billie Holiday), Easy Living (Teddy Wilson, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington), June In January (Richard Himber, Guy Lombardo, Julie London), A Guy What Makes His Time (Mae West), Blue Hawaii (Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley), Thanks For The Memory (Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Benny Goodman), and You're A Sweet Little Heartache (Henry King, Artie Shaw, Red Norvo) ~ Reichental passed away in 1942
October 7, 1870 ~ David Harrison Macon, commonly known as old-time singer, banjoist, comedian, songwriter Uncle Dave Macon, born in Smartt Station, Tennessee, USA ~ Dubbed “the Dixie Dewdrop” and with his polished stage presence and personality one of the most enduring figures of early country music. Considered the bridge between 19th century folk and vaudeville and early 20th-century phonograph and radio-based music. Known for songs such as A Soldier's Joy, The Bully Of The Town, The Arkansas Traveler and Sail Away Ladies ~ Macon passed away in 1952