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 20, 1937 ~ Baroque pop, sunshine pop, jazz singer, pianist, arranger, songwriter Margo Guryan born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as a songwiter. Penned Sunday Morning, a Billboard Hot 100 top 30 hit for Spanky & Our Gang in 1968. The song would also be recorded by the Baja Marimba Band, Oliver, Richard Groove Holmes, Sue Raney, by Guryan herself on her 1969 Take A Picture album, and by others. Songs written or co-written by Guryan have also been recorded by Chris Connor (Lonely Woman), Freda Payne, Nancy Harrow, Harry Belafonte (On My Way To Saturday), Alice Babs, Jackie DeShannon (Think Of Rain), Carmen McRae, and Julie London (Come To Me Slowly). Married to trombonist, pianist Bob Brookmeyer for a number of years ~ Guryan passed away in 2021September 20, 1937 ~ Eva Monica Nilsson, commonly known as vocal jazz singer, actress Monica Zetterlund, born in Hagfors, Sweden ~ Best known collaborating with Bill Evans on the acclaimed 1964 album Waltz For Debby. Known in Sweden as a fine interpreter of Evert Taube, Olle Adolphson, Povel Ramel. Known internationally for her collaborations with Louis Armstrong, Stan Getz, Steve Kuhn, and Quincy Jones ~ Nilsson passed away in 2005
September 20, 1931 ~ Actress, opera singer Yam Bing-yee born in Nanhai County, China ~ First performed as a singer in her early teens. Would go on to star in over an estimated 150 films, often playing co-lead roles in Cantonese opera films. Has also starred in stage productions, including notably the Hong Kong premiere of The Flower Princess with the Sin Fung Ming Opera Company in 1957 ~ Bing-yee passed away in 2022
September 20, 1930 ~ Edwin Joseph Bocage, commonly known as pianist, singer Eddie Bo, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ New Orleans R&B veteran schooled in jazz, known for his blues, soul and funk recordings. Has released more records than anyone else in New Orleans, not counting Fats Domino. Member of the Hoodoo Kings. Formed the the Spider Bocage Orchestra, known for backing artists such as Big Joe Turner, Earl King, Guitar Slim, Johnny Adams, Lloyd Price, Ruth Brown, Smiley Lewis, and the Platters. Debuted as a recording artist in 1955 with the single Baby. Bocage's 1956 single I'm Wise was later covered by Little Richard as Slippin' & Slidin'. His 1957 My Dearest Darling would become a national hit Etta James. Also worked as a producer for Irma Thomas, Chris Kenner, Art Neville, Chuck Carbo, Mary Jane Hooper, Robert Parker, and the Explosions. Bocage never broke through nationally, safe for his 1969 single Hook & Sling (Parts 1 & 2) reaching No.73 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was held in the highest regard in Louisiana ~ Bocage passed away in 2009September 20, 1929 ~ Jazz saxophonist Joe Temperley born in Cowdenbeath, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Tommy Sampson, Humphrey Lyttelton, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Joe Henderson, Duke Pearson, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Clark Terry, Brian Lemon, Jimmy Knepper, Jimmy Deuchar, Dave McKenna, Kenny Davern, Harry Allen, Benny Carter, Aaron Diehl, Odonel Levy, and Wynton Marsalis ~ Temperley passed away in 2016
September 20, 1928 ~ Elvira Redd, commonly known as jazz, bebop, hard bop, post bop saxophonist, singer Vi Redd, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Daughter of drummer Alton Redd. Worked with Count Basie, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Linda Hopkins, Marian McPartland, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Perkins, Jennell Hawkins, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ben Tucker, and Dave Bailey ~ Redd passed away in 2022
September 20, 1927 ~ John Phillip Dankworth, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer Johnny Dankworth, born in Woodford, UK ~ Worked with Jimmy Deuchar, Eddie Harvey, Don Rendell, Bill Le Sage, Eric Dawson, Tony Kinsey, Frank Holder, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Lucky Thompson, Tony Coe, Mike Gibbs, Peter King, Dudley Moore, George Tyndale, Daryl Runswick, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, John McLaughlin, Tubby Hayes, Dick Morrisey, Dizzy Gillespie, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, George Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock, Hank Jones, Tadd Dameron, Slam Stewart, Oscar Peterson, Alec Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Jimmy Witherspoon, the London Symphony Orchestra, Al Hirt, and Jacquie Dankworth ~ Dankworth passed away in 2010
September 20, 1927 ~ Keith Moore Mitchell, commonly known as bassist Red Mitchell, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Started on piano, switching to bass while a member of the Army Band stationed in Germany. Has recorded prolifically as a leader or co-leader since the mid 1950s. Especially acclaimed for Presenting Red Mitchell, One Long String, and Chocolate Cadillac. A highly versatile and valued sideman, Mitchell has appeared on albums by Hampton Hawes, Red Callender (Red Callender Speaks Low), Lennie Niehaus, Stan Getz (West Coast Jazz), Barney Kessel (Kessel Plays Standards), Jon Eardley (From Hollywood To New York), Herbie Harper, Bobby Troup, Bill Perkins, Stuff Smith (Violins No End), Russ Freeman, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Billie Holiday, Frances Faye, André Previn (Pal Joey), Jim Hall (Jazz Guitar), Chet Baker, Henry Mancini (The Music From Peter Gunn), Ella Fitzgerald, Zoot Sims (Choice), Mose Allison, and Joe Sample. In the late 1960s, Mitchell relocated to Sweden where he continued to perform and record. Mitchell's brother Whitey Mitchell is also a professional jazz bassist ~ Mitchell passed away in 1992
September 20, 1925 ~ Doo-wop singer Bobby Nunn, full name Ulysses B Nunn, born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Robins, known for first recording Riot In Cell Block No.9. Member of the Coasters, known for Young Blood. Member of the Dukes, known for the late 1950s singles Looking For You and I Love You ~ Nunn passed away in 1986
September 20, 1924 ~ Helen Greco, commonly known as traditional pop singer, actress Helen Grayco, born in Tacoma, Washington, USA ~ Best known for her appearances on the The Spike Jones Show in the 1950s and 1960s alongside her husband bandleader Spike Jones. Prior to teaming up with Jones Grayco sang with Bing Crosby, Chuck Cabot, Red Nichols. Has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing the album After Midnight in 1957 and The Lady In Red the following year. Grayco was married to Jones from 1949 until his death in 1965, the couple have three children ~ Greco passed away in 2022
September 20, 1924 ~ Singer Jackie Paris born in Nutley, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known for a number of 1940s and 1950s recordings, most notably Skylark and Round Midnight. Declined an offer to join Duke Ellington. Did collaborate with artists such as Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Bobby Scott, Charlie Shavers, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd, Eddie Costa, Gigi Gryce, Hank Jones, Joe Wilder, Johnny Mandel, Lee Konitz, Max Roach, Neal Hefti, Oscar Pettiford, Ralph Burns, Terry Gibbs, Tony Scott, and Wynton Kelly ~ Paris passed away in 2004
September 20, 1921 ~ Foreststorn Hamilton, commonly known as jazz drummer Chico Hamilton, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Recorded prolifically as a leader since the mid 1950s, especially acclaimed for Gong's East, The Chico Hamilton Special, and Man From Two Worlds. Over the course of his career Hamilton has recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Eric Dolphy, Tony Bennett (I Wanna Be Around), Yank Lawson, Slim Gaillard, Gábor Szabó, Arnie Lawrence, Joe Houston (Rockin 'n Boppin), Chet Baker, Wardell Gray, and Roots Radics ~ Hamilton passed away in 2013
September 20, 1913 ~ Jazz guitarist John Collins, full name John Elbert Collins, born in Montgomery, Alabama, USA ~ Known for his restrained rhythm guitar playing, perfectly suited to the style of his musical teammates. Best known as longtime associate of Nat King Cole, backing Cole as a member of the Nat King Cole Trio from 1951 until Cole's death in 1965. Present on several of Cole's biggest hits including Pretend, Answer Me My Love, Smile, Darling Je Vous Aimer Beaucoup, A Blossom Fell, Send For Me, Looking Back, Ramblin' Rose, and Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer. Collins started his professional music career in the mid 1930s, backing his pianist and bandleader mother Georgia Gorham, before moving on to accompany artists such as Art Tatum, Roy Eldridge, Billie Holiday, Fletcher Henderson, and Benny Carter. Following a stint in the Army in the 1940s, Collins resumed his career working with the likes of Slam Stewart, Erroll Garner, and again Art Tatum. Following Cole's death in 1965, Collins has worked with Bobby Troup, Carmen McRae, Snooky Young, and Ray Brown. Collins recorded one album as a leader, The Incredible John Collins released in 1984, featuring backing from bassist Jimmy Woode and drummer Alvin Queen. In 1993, Collins was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame ~ Collins passed away in 2001
September 20, 1911 ~ Bandleader, arranger, composer Frank Devol born in Moundsville, West Virginia, USA ~ Began composing music at age 12. Played violin in his father's orchestra. Worked as arranger for Horace Heidt. Toured with Alvino Rey orchestra. Went on to arrange for a host of artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Dinah Shore, Doris Day, Vic Damone, and Jaye P Morgan. Arranged string and piano for Nat King Cole's Nature Boy. Composed numerous film scores. Nominated for Academy Awards four times from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, for Pillow Talk, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, Cat Ballou and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. Devol has also worked extensively for a number of TV shows ~ DeVol passed away in 1999
September 20, 1895 ~ Pianist, singer, bandleader, A&R executive, songwriter Bob Miller born in Ansonia, Connecticut, USA ~ Orphaned at a young age, Miller has claimed he ran away in his early teens to New Orleans to pursue a career in music, eventually ending up in Memphis before the 1920s where he would gain regional recognition, serving as bandleader on the Idlewild steamship and local radio. After relocating to New York in the late 1920s, Miller began writing country songs under a variety of aliases, later also working as an A&R executive and a music publisher for both his own songs and for other artists. Miller has claimed to have written some 7,000 songs over the course of his career. Well known songs include Rockin' Alone (In An Old Rockin' Chair) (Tex Owens, Ferlin Husky, the Everly Brothers), Chime Bells (Britt & Ford, Rex Allen, Slim Whitman), and Driftwood On The River (Elton Britt, Ernest Tubb, Ray Price, Don Gibson). Others who recorded his songs include Cliff Carlisle, Odis Elder, Ray Whitley, Roy Acuff, Curley Williams, Pat Boone (There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere), and Wynn Stewart ~ Miller passed away in 1955September 20, 1895 ~ Songwriter, pianist Harry Brooks born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Noted songwriter, oft in collaboration with lyricist Andy Razaff, most active from the 1920s through the early 1950s. Best known for scoring Broadway shows such as Connie's Hot Chocolates and jazz standards such as Ain't Misbehaving ~ Brooks passed away in 1970
September 20, 1895 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Paul Howard born in Steubensville, Ohio, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Active from the 1910s onwards. Played with Wood Wilson, Satchel McVea, Harry Southard, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Sonny Clay, George Orendorff, Lionel Hampton, Lawrence Brown, Charlie Lawrence, Ed Garland, Freddie Washington, Eddie Barefield, and Charlie Echols ~ Howard passed away in 1980
September 20, 1869 ~ George Edward Wade, commonly known as music hall comedian, singer, actor George Robey, born in London, UK ~ One of the most popular music hall performers of the late 19th and early 20th century. Perhaps best known for starring in the 1916 revue The Bing Boys Are Here, notably duetting with Violet Loraine on the song If You Were The Only Girl (In The World) ~ Wade passed away in 1954