by Britt Ryan | Sep 25, 2020 | Today in Music History
“Samuel Carthorne Rivers Jr. creates scenes, has done everywhere he’s parked himself during a 50-year-plus career in music devoted to embracing the unknown.” That’s how a DownBeat writer described Sam Rivers (1923-2011), the jazz innovator born in El Reno, Oklahoma,...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 24, 2020 | Today in Music History
Count Theodore “Fats” Navarro among the gone too soon. Considered one of the great jazz trumpeters, he was born in Key West, Florida, on this day in 1923. He was just 26 when he died of tuberculosis and heroin addiction in New York City on July 6, 1950, less than a...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 23, 2020 | Today in Music History
Coltrane. Springsteen. Charles. Here’s a musical selection a piece from three artists who bopped into existence on This Day in Music History. Jazz sax superstar John William Coltrane (1926-1967) was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, on this day in 1926. Here are a few...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 22, 2020 | Today in Music History
Not everyone will remember jazz-soul singer and Chess Records recording artist Marlena Shaw, born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on this day in 1942. But you may have heard her best-known recording (silky smooth “California Soul”) in ads for Dockers, KFC and Dodge Ram. Here...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 21, 2020 | Today in Music History
“Hallelujah” isn’t just the most well-known song written by the legendary Leonard Cohen; it has reportedly become one of the most oft-performed songs in American musical history. Born near Montreal on this day in 1934, he did even begin his music career until age 33...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 20, 2020 | Today in Music History
Musical innovator Steve Coleman, born in Chicago on this day in 1956, is one of the few jazz saxophonists with a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” on their resumé. The MacArthur people describe him as “an alto saxophonist and composer whose technical virtuosity and...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 19, 2020 | Today in Music History
No medley of Righteous Brothers hits would be complete without “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin.” Speaking of Righteous Brothers medleys, Bill Medley — one half of the popular blue-eyed soul duo with Bobby Hatfield — was born in Santa Ana, California, on this day...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 18, 2020 | Today in Music History
“The Jimi Hendrix Experience is over. The acid rock musician died today in a London hospital, apparently from an overdose of drugs.” That’s ABC news anchor Frank Reynolds on this day in 1970 reporting the tragic death of James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix. He began his...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 17, 2020 | Today in Music History
And on Hammond B-3 organ, please welcome Brother Jack McDuff! Born Eugene McDuffy in Champaign, Illinois, on this day in 1926, the jazz organist/bandleader was known as one of the swingingest organ players of his time and the man who gave a young George Benson his...
by Britt Ryan | Sep 16, 2020 | Today in Music History
Happy birthday to the Beale Street Blues Boy. Born Riley B. King on a Mississippi cotton plantation on this day in 1925, the legendary guitarist picked up the nickname Beale Street Blues Boy, later shortened to Blues Boy, and finally to B.B., when he moved to Memphis...
