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.
September 11, 1948 ~ Singer, songwriter Dennis Tufano, full name Dennis Stanley Joseph Tufano, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Original lead singer of the Buckinghams, known for a string of mid to late 1960s singles including Don't You Care, Mercy Mercy Mercy, Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song) and perhaps their best known Kind Of A Drag. The latter would top the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967
September 11, 1948 ~ Iain David McGeachy, commonly known as guitarist, songwriter John Martyn born in London, UK ~ Important in development of British folk. Drew from rock and jazz. Acclaimed for albums such as 1973's Solid Air and 1977's One World. Collaborated with artists as diverse as drummer Phil Collins, jazz bassist Danny Thompson, and reggae producer Lee Scratch Perry. ~ Martyn passed away in 2009
September 11, 1947 ~ Gerald Conway, commonly known as rock, progressive rock, folk rock drummer Gerry Conway, born in King's Lynn, UK ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Cat Stevens during the 1970s, backing Stevens on a little over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Tea For The Tillerman and Teaser & The Firecat, and as longtime member of Pentangle, which also included his wife singer Jacqui McShee. An in-demand sideman and collaborator, Conway has also appeared on albums by Eclection, Fairport Convention (What We Did On Our Holidays), Matthews Southern Comfort, Steeleye Span, Andy Roberts (Urban Cowboy), Keith Christmas, Sandy Denny, Shelagh McDonald, Mike McGear (McGear), Ralph McTell (Easy), Jethro Tull, Joan Armatrading, Richard Thompson, and John Martyn (No Little Boy) ~ Conway passed away in 2024
September 11, 1946 ~ Pop singer, actress Julie Covington born in London, UK ~ Best known for recording the original version of Don't Cry For Me Argentina, which reached No.1 in her native UK in 1977. Subsequently Covington was offered the leading role in the stage production of Evita, yet she declined and Elaine Page would be cast. Covington has recorded about half a dozen albums and was involved in about a dozen cast recordings and soundtracks including Jeff Wayne's War Of The WorldsSeptember 11, 1945 ~ Folk, new acoustic, Americana guitarist, singer Leo Kottke born in Athens, Georgia, USA ~ Along with John Fahey and Robbie Basho one of the most influential acoustic guitarists to emerge from the 1960s, earning a devoted cult following with his unique fingerpicking style. Has recorded over two dozen albums drawing from blues, jazz, and folk, especially acclaimed for the albums 6 And 12 String Guitar, My Feet Are Smiling, and Time Step
September 11, 1940 ~ Drummer Bernie Dwyer born in Manchester, UK ~ Co-founding member of Freddie & the Dreamers, known for hits such as If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, I'm Telling You Now, You Were Made For Me and I Understand. The band would be grouped as part of the Merseybeat sound, generally associated with Liverpool, yet came from Manchester ~ Dwyer passed away in 2002September 11, 1935 ~ Classical, relgious composer Arvo Pärt born in Paide, Estonia ~ Renowned composer known best for compositions such as Fratres, Spiegel Im Spiegel and Fur Alina
September 11, 1932 ~ Jazz trumpeter Ian Hamer, full name Ian Wilfred Hamer, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Closely associated with Tubby Hayes. Co-led the Six Sounds with pianist Harry South from 1963 onwards. The sextet would eventually evolve into his own band, the Ian Hamer Sextet, and at times include sidemen such as Dick Morrisey, Kenny Naper, Alan Skidmore, and Daryl Runswick, and Alan Branscombe. To pop rock audiences perhaps best known for guesting on the Beatles track Got To Get You Into My Life of the 1966 Revolver album. Hamer has also appeared on recordings by Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand ~ Hamer passed away in 2006
September 11, 1925 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Alan Bergman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Married to Marilyn Bergman since 1958. Together the Bergmans wrote lyrics to some of the best known songs of American pop, stage, film and musicals, including Dean Martin's Sleep Warm, Frank Sinatra's Nice And Easy, Ray Charles's In The Heat Of The Night, and Noel Harrison's The Windmills Of Your Mind as featured in The Thomas Crown Affair, the latter earning the pair an Academy Award for Best Song ~ Bergman passed away in 2025September 11, 1919 ~ John A Morrison, commonly known as jazz bassist Peck Morrison, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Classically trained. Besides bass, his primary instrument, Morrison also played trumpet and percussion. Regarded as a valuable accompanist, Morrison has appeared on albums by King Pleasure, Thad Jones (The Magnificent Thad Jones Vol.3), Gerry Mulligan, Randy Weston, Betty Carter, Lou Donaldson (Blues Walk), Babs Gonzales, Dave Bailey, Charlie Rouse (Unsung Hero), Johnny Coles, Red Garland, Willis Jackson, Betty Carter (I Can't Help It), Eric Dolphy (Candid Dolphy), Etta Jones, JJ Johnson, Gildo Mahones, Eddie Jefferson (The Jazz Singer), Shirley Scott, and Charles McPherson ~ Morrison passed away in 1988
September 11, 1918 ~ Stax co-founder Estelle Axton born in Middleton, Tennessee, USA ~ Founded Satellite Records with her brother Jim Stewart, to record local country and rockabilly artists. Changed its name to Stax after it was discovered another label already used the name. Axton worked with artists such as Rufus Thomas, Otis Redding, Booker T & the MG's, and Isaac Hayes ~ Axton passed away in 2004
September 11, 1899 ~ James Houston Davis, commonly known as singer, songwriter Jimmie Davis, born in Jackson Parish, Louisiana, USA ~ Served two nonconsecutive terms as governor of Louisiana. As a singer known for songs such as Is It Too Late Now, There's A Chill On The Hill Tonight, There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder, Grievin' My Heart Out For You, Bang Bang and perhaps his best known You Are My Sunshine ~ Davis passed away in 2000
September 11, 1896 ~ Benjamin Baruch Ambrose, commonly known as violinist, bandleader Bert Ambrose, born in Warsaw, Russian Empire ~ Considered one of England's finest bandleaders, especially popular from the 1920s through the rise of rock & roll and perhaps best remembered for discovering singer Vera Lynn. Others who have passed through the ranks of Ambrose's orchestras include singers such as Sam Browne, Elsie Carlisle, Denny Dennis, Max Bacon, Evelyn Dall, and Anne Shelton, as well as instrumentalists such as Sylvester Ahola, Ted Heath, Joe Crossman, Joe Jeannette, Bert Read, Joe Brannelly, Dick Escott, and Max Goldberg. With the emergence of rock & roll and the public's shifting preferences, Ambrose was forced to downsize his orchestra and play smaller clubs, playing his last major UK tour in 1956, yet Ambrose ventured out into management including notably representing and working with Kathy Kirby, and Ambrose's recordings would remain popular with radio audiences well into the 21st century ~ Ambrose passed away in 1971September 11, 1895 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Harry Tobias born in New York, New York, USA ~ Brother of songwriters Charles Tobias and Henry Tobias, with whom he regularly collaborated. In-demand lyricist for Hollywood movies from the late 1920s through the 1940s, also co-writing numerous jazz standards. Co-wrote Sweet And Lovely, first recorded by Gus Arnheim in 1931 and covered by well over 350 artists including Sam Lanin, Joe Liggins, Patti Page, Faron Young, and Ella Fitzgerald. Other songs co-written by Tobias include Miss You (Rudy Vallée, Harry Sosnik, Bill Haley), It's A Lonesome Old Town (Since You're Not Around) (Ben Bernie, the Modernaires, Kay Starr), No Regrets (Henry King, Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday), and Sal Along Silv'ry Moon (Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Slim Whitman) ~ Tobias passed away in 1994
September 11, 1894 ~ Beatrice C Palmer, commonly known as singer, dancer Bee Palmer, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Sometimes credited as the inventor of the “shimmy” dance. Toured with artists such as Emmett Hardy, Leon Roppolo, Santo Pecora, and her husband Al Siegel. Reportedly co-wrote the Gene Austin pop standard Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone, later also recorded by Mose Allison, Sammy Davis Jr, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, Bill Haley, Helen Humes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Leon Redbone, Rita Reys, Piano Red, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday ~ Palmer passed away in 1967September 11, 1876 ~ Danzónzan pianist, bandleader, composer Antonio María Romeu, full name Antonio María Romeu Marrero, born in Jibacoa, Cuba ~ Worked with the Orquesta Cervantes, the Orquesta Romeu, Fernando Collazo, and Barbarito Diez ~ Romeu passed away in 1955
September 11, 1733 ~ Baroque composer, organist, harpsichordist François Couperin passed away in Paris, France ~ Dubbed “Couperin the Great” to distinguish him from his father organist Charles Couperin and uncle keyboard virtuoso and composer Louis Couperin. Influenced by Arcangelo Corelli. Admired by Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Maurice Ravel. Best known for a number of volumes for harpsichord music published between 1713 and 1730 and for his the Concerts Royaux ~ Couperin was born in 1668
September 11, 1711 ~ Composer, organist William Boyce born in London, UK ~ Largely forgotten after his death Boyce would nevertheless draw great admiration during his life, admired by the likes of George Frideric Handel, Thomas Arne, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Johann Christian Bach, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Like Ludwig van Beethoven later on, Boyce became deaf yet continued to compose. Perhaps best remembered for his Symphony No.1 In B-Flat, its Allegro being the first piece of music played during the procession of the bride and bridegroom at the conclusion of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 ~ Boyce passed away in 1779