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 26, 1947 ~ Dennis Leigh, commonly known as singer, keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist John Foxx, born in Chorley, UK ~ Founding member, original frontman of Ultravox, remaining with the band from 1976 through 1979. Present on 1977's Ultravox, 1977's Ha Ha Ha and 1978's Systems Of Romance
September 26, 1947 ~ Singer Lynn Anderson, full name Lynn Rene Anderson, born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA ~ Daughter of songwriters Casey Anderon and Liz Anderson. Best known for her 1970 hit Rose Garden. First female country artist to, in 1974, sell out Madison Square Garden. Also known for songs such as If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away), Promises Promises, Cry, Listen To A Country Song, and What A Man My Man Is ~ Anderson passed away in 2015
September 26, 1945 ~ Singer Bryan Ferry born in Washington, UK ~ Suave gentleman art-rock, pop rock singer. Best known as co-founder and frontman of Roxy Music, known for hits such as Virginia Plain, Street Life, Love Is The Drug, Dance Away, Angel Eyes, Over You, the John Lennon-cover Jealous Guy, Avalon and More Than This. Started a parallel solo career in 1973, debuting with the album These Foolish Things, while still a bandmember, drawing from showtunes, jazz, folk, pop and rock. Ferry would disband the band after their best-selling album, 1982's Avalon, to focus on his solo career scoring hits such as Slave To Love and Don't Stop The Dance. The band would reconvene from time to time
September 26, 1945 ~ Bossa nova, tropicália, pop singer Gal Costa, full name Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos, born in Salvador, Brazil ~ Duetted with Maria Bethânia on Sol Negra of the latter's 1965 debut album. Released Domingo, a collaborative album with Caetano Veloso, in 1967. Would score her first major hit with the Veloso-penned Baby the next year. The single would be included on her eponymous 1969 Gal Costa album, considered a classic in the tropicália genre. Has been recording steadily to critical acclaim and commercial succes since ~ Costa passed away in 2022September 26, 1941 ~ Country, countrypolitan, rockabilly singer, guitarist, songwriter David Frizzell born in El Dorado, Arkansas, USA ~ Younger brother of iconic honky-tonker Lefty Frizzell. Active since the late 1950s, achieving his biggesst successes in the 1980s. Known for songs such as the Shelly West-duet You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma, I'm Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home, Lost My Baby Blues, and Where Are You Spending Your Nights These Days
September 26, 1940 ~ Traditional jazz banjoist, bandleader Eddy Davis, full name Eddy Ray Davis, born in Lafayette, Indiana, USA ~ Best known for his association with filmmaker, comedian, clarinetist Woody Allen, who played in Davis's the New Orleans Jazz Band starting in the 1960s. Davis has also appeared in several of Allen's movies. Admired by peers, Davis appears on dozens of albums starting in the late 1950s, including recordings by Leon Redbone, Turk Murphy, Doc Cheatham, and Frank Vignola ~ Davis passed away in 2020September 26, 1940 ~ Jazz fusion, jazz, funk alto saxophonist Gary Bartz born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Eric Dolphy, McCoy Tyner, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Art Blakey, Expansions, Sphere, Miles Davis, Charles Tolliver, Pharoah Sanders, Reggie Workman, Woody Shaw, Charlie Mariano, Syreeta Wright, Wade Marcus, Gene Ammons, Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Norman Connors, Antonio Hart, Jackie McLean, Rare Silk, Wallace Roney, and Malachi Thompson
September 26, 1939 ~ Folk guitarist, singer Mick Softley born in South Woodford, UK ~ Softly recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Songs For Swingin' Survivors released in 1965, and has earned a devoted cult following including among fellow musicians. Played the trombone in school, before discovering the music of blues guitarist Big Bill Broonzy which prompted him to switch to guitar. Spent the late 1950s and early 1960s busking and playing the clubs in Paris, France, sharing stages with the likes of Clive Palmer, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and Wizz Jones before returning to his native UK to become a figurehead in British folk. Reportedly taught cross-picking guitar techniques to Donovan, who would later record Softley's Goldwatch Blues and The War Drags On and cite Softley as a major influence. Softley continued to record and perform well into the 2000s, rejecting stardom and often performing for free, preferring to watch people enjoy his music rather than make money. Well known songs include Walk Walk Talk Talk, I Love You Baby, Can You Hear Me Now, Ragtime Mama, as well as renditions of Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit and Woody Guthrie's The Plains Of The Buffalo ~ Softley passed away in 2017
September 26, 1937 ~ Singer Bessie Smith passed away in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA ~ Most popular female blues singer of the 1920 and 1930s, dubbed “the Empress of Blues”. Known for recordings such as Downhearted Blues, Gulf Coast Blues and Cake Walking Babies (From Home). Worked with Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Fletcher Henderson, James P Johnson, and the Dorsey Brothers ~ Smith was born in 1894
September 26, 1934 ~ Jazz, blues, blues-rock, post bop, jazz fusion saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist Dick Heckstall-Smith, full name Richard Malden Heckstall-Smith, born in Ludlow, UK ~ Influenced by Sidney Bechet, Lester Young, Wardell Gray. Important figure in 1960s and 1970s English blues, blues-rock circles. In-demand collaborator, closely associated with acts such as Blues Incorporated (R&B From The Marquee), the Graham Bond Organisation, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers (Bare Wires), Colosseum. Has also worked with Battered Ornaments, Manchild, Sweet Pain, Big Chief, the Famous Bluesblasters, Mainsqueeze, John Ethridge, and Jack Bruce ~ Heckstall-Smith passed away in 2004September 26, 1931 ~ Bassist, singer George Chambers born in Flora, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of psychedelic soul band the Chamber Brothers, known for incorporating elements of traditional gospel and blues, psychedelica and rock into soul. The band, which also includes his siblings guitarist Joe Chambers and harmonica player Lester Chambers, has recorded half a dozen albums and is best known for their 1968 eleven-minute single Time Has Come Today, which reached No.11 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Chambers passed away in 2019
September 26, 1930 ~ Alice Hoffeiner, commonly known as classical violinist Alice Harnoncourt, born in Vienna, Austria ~ Married to Nikolaus Harnoncourt with whom she co-founded the Concentus Musicus Wien, pioneering the period-instrument performance movement. The couple would have four children, including mezzo-soprano singer Elisabeth von Magnus ~ Hoffeiner passed away in 2022
September 26, 1926 ~ Nancy Gayle Peck, commonly known as jazz, torch singer, actress Julie London, born in Santa Rosa, California, USA ~ As a singer, noted for her husky contralto voice. Best known for her multi-million-seller signature song Cry Me A River, lifted off her 1955 Julie Is Her Name debut album. Though London would rarely reach the charts since, she continued to record through the late 1960s, her repertoire consisting mostly of covers of traditional pop and jazz standards. Parallel to and beyond her recording career, London enjoyed popularity as an actress, perhaps most notably in the medical drama TV series Emergency, which ran for well over a 100 episodes from 1972 through 1977 and spawned half a dozen additional TV films. The show was produced by London's ex-husband Jack Webb and also featured her husband pianist, songwriter, actor Bobby Troup, who had written the oft-covered Nat King Cole hit (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 ~ Peck passed away in 2000
September 26, 1925 ~ Martin David Robinson, commonly known as country singer Marty Robbins, born in Glendale, Arizona, USA ~ Popular country singer with some 50 albums to his name over a four decade career. Especially acclaimed for his 1959 Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs, considered one of the first if not the first concept album in country. Known for songs such as A White Sport Coat, El Paso, Big Iron, Don't Worry, and Devil Woman. Robbins held strong conservative views, with some of his songs, such as Ain't I Right and My Own Native Land, rejected by Columbia Records as too political. Robbins campaigned for Barry Goldwater in the 1964 USA presidential election ~ Robinson passed away in 1982
September 26, 1925 ~ Othella Strozier, commonly known as jazz singer, dancer Othella Dallas, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Had blues artist WC Handy as her baby sitter. As a dancer discovered by Katherine Dunham who brought her to her New York dance company. As a singer has worked with Sidney Bechet and Nat King Cole. Relocated to Switzerland in the 1960s, opening a dance school in Zurich teaching the Dunham technique. Would also continue to work as a singer until a year before her death ~ Strozier passed away in 2020
September 26, 1922 ~ Label executive Jim Foglesong born in Lundale, West Virginia, USA ~ Active from the 1950s through the 1990s working for major labels and their subsidiaries such as Columbia Records, ABC Records, Dot Records and MCA Records. Known as one of the gentlest, kindest people in the music business. Signed and helped advance the careers of artists such as Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams, Garth Brooks, Donna Fargo, Reba McEntire, the Oak Ridge Boys, Con Hunley, George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Sawyer Brown, Suzy Bogguss, and Kevin Morris ~ Foglesong passed away in 2013
September 26, 1915 ~ Jazz guitarist, singer Tony Romano born in Madera, California, USA ~ In-demand backing musician on radio programs and in Hollywood films from the 1930s through the 1950s. Perhaps best known for his association with Bob Hope and Frances Langford on USO tours in World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars. Has also served as arranger for Johnny Mercer and Bing Crosby. As a solo artist known for Stars Fell On Alabama, a hit for Romano in 1956 ~ Romano passed away in 2005
September 26, 1912 ~ Guitarist, arranger, songwriter René Hall, full name René Joseph Hall born in Morgan City, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his 1958 recording Twitchy. In-demand session musician and arranger for the likes Earl Hines, Plas Johnson, Earl Palmer, Otis Blackwell, Babette Bain, Johnny Burnette, Ernie Fields, Larry Williams, Ike & Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, and Bobby Womack. Arranged some of Sam Cooke's best known including A Change Is Gonna Come ~ Hall passed away in 1988September 26, 1907 ~ George Clinton Fisher Jr, commonly known as bassist, singer, songwriter Shug Fisher, born in Tabler, Oklahoma, USA ~ Actor with numerous appearances in Western films and TV shows including Gunsmoke and The Beverly Hillbillies. Best known for his association with Roy Rogers appearing alongside Rogers as a member of the Sons Of The Pioneers ~ Fisher passed away in 1984
September 26, 1901 ~ Wilfred Theodore Weems, commonly known as jazz, big band bandleader, violinist, trombonist Ted Weems, born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Weems start in music came when he won a violin, although he had hped to win a pony, and started taking music lessons. In high school, Weems joined the high school band and became its director. In college, Weems and his brother Art Weems organized a small dance band, the All American Band, which would soon play semi-professionally in restaurants and performed at the inaugural ball of President Warren G Harding in 1921. Weems dropped his plan to become a civil engineer and opted to pursue a career in music instead. By 1923, Weems was recording with his big band for the RCA-Victor label. The following year, Weems scored his first hit with Somebody Stole My Gal, which sold a million copies. Weems remained popular through the late 1940s, scoring hits such as Piccolo Pete, The Man From The South, Peg O' My Heart, Mickey, and Heartaches. Weems is also noted for being the first to record My Baby Just Cares For Me in 1930, which became a standard recorded by numerous artists including most notably Nina Simone in 1959. Weems had a nose for young talent and has employed several musicians early on in their career who would later rise to prominence in their own right including whistler, singer Elmo Tanner, saxophonist and singer Red Ingle, arranger Joe Haymes who created the band's unique jazz-novelty style, and perhaps most notably Perry Como who got his first national exposure with Weems in 1936. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now recorded in 1939 featuring Perry Como as lead vocalist would become a hit on its re-release in 1947. Weems popularity faded by the late 1940s, after which he worked as a disc jockey in Memphis, Tennessee, later accepted a management position with the Holiday Inn hotel chain, and operated a talent agency, while on occassion still performing with a band until his death at age 61. Weems was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 1960. Weems' son Ted Weems Jr later led a revival band, sporadically performing in the 1960s and 1970s ~ Wemyes passed away in 1963
September 26, 1898 ~ Composer, songwriter George Gershwin born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Noted composer and pianist who spanned popular and classical. Best known for works such as Rhapsody In Blue, the opera Porgy & Bess, and standards such as I Got Rhythm, Swanee, and Embraceable You. There are reportedly over 25,000 recordings of the Gershwin-penned Summertime, the first to hit the pop charts being Billie Holiday in 1936. Other artists who have charted with this classic include Sam Cooke, Al Martino, Ricky Nelson and Janis Joplin's band Big Brother & the Holding Company ~ Gershwin passed away in 1937
September 26, 1894 ~ Leonore Vonderlieth, commonly known as singer Vaughn De Leath, born in Mount Pelaski, Illinois, USA ~ Popular radio performer during the 1920s. One of the very first to record Are You Lonesome Tonight in 1927, a song popularized by Elvis Presley decades later. Other well known songs include Oliver Twist and Ukelele Lady ~ Vonderlieth passed away in 1943
September 26, 1889 ~ Singer, songwriter Frank Crumit born in Jackson, Ohio, USA ~ Vaudeville, radio performer. Made his stage debut at age 5 in a minstrel show. Appeared in the 1918 Broadway musical Betty Be Good. As a solo artist and songwriter especially popular during the 1920 and early 1930s scoring hits with Frankie & Johnny, A Gay Caballero, The Prune Song, There's No One With Endurance Like The Man Who Sells Insurance and I Learned About Women From Her. Married to singer, musical actress Julia Sanderson in 1928, with whom he would also work as a radio team lovingly dubbed “the Singing Sweethearts of the Air” ~ Crumit passed away in 1943
September 26, 1877 ~ Pianist, conductor Alfred Cortot, full name Alfred Denis Cortot, born in Nyon, Switzerland ~ One of the most renowned classical musicians of the 20th century. As a pianist revered for his insight into Romantic works including Frédéric Chopin, César Franck, and Camille Saint-Saëns, and for his association with cellist Pablo Casals and violinist Jacques Thibaud with whom he established the model for the classical piano trio. As a conductor, best known for bringing the music of Richard Wagner to French audiences, overcoming the initial resistance to Wagner. Cortot's legacy would be tainted for his role in World War 2, having worked with the rump state Vichy regime, although he had defended the rights of Jewish musicians and had helped several Jews survive the War ~ Cortot passed away in 1962