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 23, 1907 ~ Myron Carlton Bradshaw, commonly known as singer, pianist, drummer, bandleader, songwriter Tiny Bradshaw, born in Youngstown, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for hits such as 1950s Well Oh Well and 1951's Train Kept A-Rolling, both important to the later development of rock & roll. The latter would be covered by the Johnny Burnette Trio, the Yardbirds, Aerosmith, and Motörhead. Also known for R&B songs such as Soft and Heavy Juice. As a bandleader Bradshaw nurtured the talents of then lesser known artists such as Sil Austin, Happy Caldwell, Shad Collins, Wild Bill Davis, Talib Dawud, Gil Fuller, Gigi Gryce, Big Nick Nicholas, Russell Procope, Red Prysock, Curly Russell, Calvin Shields, Sonny Stitt, Noble Watts, and Shadow Wilson ~ Bradshaw passed away in 1958September 23, 1906 ~ Jazz trumpeter, cornetist Sterling Bose born in Florence, Alabama, USA ~ Joined Goldkette's Orchestra replacing Bix Beiderbecke in 1927, Also gigged under leaders such as Joe Haymes, Tommy Dorsey, Ray Noble, Benny Goodman, Lana Webster, Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby, Bobby Hackett, Bob Zurke, Jack Teagarden, Bud Freeman, George Brunies, Bobby Sherwood, Miff Mole, Art Hodes, Horace Heidt, and Tiny Hill. Led his own ensembles from 1948 onwards and eventually committed suicide in 1958 ~ Bose passed away in [artist-sterling-bose]
September 23, 1883 ~ Jazz trumpeter, clarinetist Wooden Joe Nicholas born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Buddy Bolden and Bunk Johnson. Noted for his loud volume and endurance. Worked with King Oliver, Raymond Burke, Louis Nelson, and founded and led the Camelia Brass Band. Nicholas has spent the entirety of his career in New Orleans, and is the uncle of clarinetist Albert Nicholas ~ Nicholas passed away in 1957
September 23, 1862 ~ Songwriter, lyricist James W Blake, full name James William Blake, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for co-writing The Sidewalks Of New York with Charles B Lawlor, music by Lawlor, lyrics by Blake. The song would be first recorded by Dan Quinn in 1895 and over the years covered by numerous artists including Vernon Dalhart, Paul Whiteman, Guy Lombardo, and Nat King Cole ~ Blake passed away in 1935
September 23, 1835 ~ Composer Vincenzo Bellini, full name Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini, passed away in Puteaux, France ~ Dubbed “the Swan of Catania”. Laid the groundwork for bel canto and hugely influential on later composers, most notably Giuseppe Verdi who praised the broad curves of his melodies. Best known for works such as Il Pirata, La Sonnambula, Anna Bolena, and perhaps his best known I Puritani ~ Bellini was born in 1801