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.
August 5, 1941 ~ Drummer, percussionist Airto Moreira, full name Airto Guimorvan Moreira, born in Itaiópolis, Brazil ~ Married to jazz singer Flora Purim, with whom he also collaborated. Over two dozen albums as a leader, especially acclaimed for Free, The Other Side Of This, and Samba De Flora. Member of samba jazz pioneers the Sambalanço Trio and of the Quarteto Novo before relocating to the USA. Frequently backed Miles Davis, starting on the seminal Bitches Brew jazz fusion album released in 1970. Other notable credits include Milton Nascimento (Courage), Wayne Shorter, Duke Pearson, John McLaughlin (My Goal's Beyond), Freddie Hubbard (Red Clay), Stanley Turrentine, Joe Henderson, the Weather Report, Grover Washington Jr, Randy Weston, Chick Corea (Return To Forever), Cannonball Adderley, George Benson, George Duke, Santana, Gato Barbieri (El Gato), Chaka Khan, Terumasa Hino, Paul Simon (Hearts And Bones), and Babatunde Olatunji
August 5, 1940 ~ Country songwriter, producer Bobby Braddock, full name Robert Valentine Braddock, born in Auburndale, Florida, USA ~ Got his start in music in the mid 1960s, serving as pianist in Marty Robbins' backing band. After Robbins recorded the Braddock-penned While You're Dancing, Braddock would establish himself as an in-demand songwriter with a career spanning well into the 21st century. Well known songs written or co-written by Braddock include Tammy Wynette's D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Johnny Duncan's Thinking Of A Rendezvous, and George Jones's He Stopped Loving Her Today. Others who recorded his songs include Nat Stuckey, Charlie Louvin & Melba Montgomery, Stoney Edwards, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Paycheck (Georgia In A Jug), Norma Jean (God May Forgive You (But I Won't)), Sonny Throckmorton, Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn (I'd Rather Have What We Had), John Anderson, John Conlee, Doug Stone, and Toby KeithAugust 5, 1940 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Pat Upton born in Geraldine, Alabama, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist, main songwriter for Spiral Starecase, known for songs such as Baby What I Mean, No One For Me To Turn To, and More Today Than Yesterday, the latter later also recorded by Sonny & Cher, Diana Ross, Goldfinger, Andy Williams, Lena Horne, and Patti Austin ~ Upton passed away in 2016
August 5, 1934 ~ Vernon Gosdin, commonly known as country, gospel, bluegrass, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Vern Gosdin, born in Woodland, Alabama, USA ~ Influenced by the Louvin Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys. Co-founding member of the Hillmen. Formed the sibling duo the Gosdin Brothers with Rex Gosdin, noted for the acclaimed collaborative 1967 album Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers with Gene Clark. Best known as a solo artist, about a dozen albums to his name starting in the late 1970s. Well known songs include Hangin' On which featured Emmylou Harris on harmony vocals, Till The End, If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right), I Can Tell By The Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight), Set 'Em Up Joe, Chiseled In Stone, Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time, and I'm Still Crazy. Gosdin's Is It Raining At Your House has been covered by Brad Paisley, That Just About Does It by Willie Nelson ~ Gosdin passed away in 2009
August 5, 1930 ~ Singer, actress, comedian Damita Jo DeBlanc, commonly known simply as Damita Jo, born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for the early 1960s answer songs, namely I'll Save The Last Dance For You as a reply to the Drifters' Save The Last Dance For Me and I'll Be There as a reply to Ben E King's Stand By Me. Had sung with the Five Red Caps during the 1950s. Has also worked with Ray Charles, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine and Bobby Tucker ~ DeBlanc passed away in 1998
August 5, 1915 ~ Guitarist Alfredo Gil, full name Alfredo Bojalil Gil, born in Tezutlian, Mexico ~ Founding member of Los Panchos, remaining with the band for about four decades starting in the 1940s. The band rose to fame in Latin America with their renditions of classic bolero, romantic ballads and folk songs and are considered one of the top musical trios and one the most influential Latin American artists of all time. The band joined forces with singer Eydie Gormé in the mid 1960s, resulting in a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums ~ Gil passed away in 1999August 5, 1887 ~ Pianist, singer, composer, actor Nat Ayer, full name Nathaniel Davis Ayer, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity especially in the UK throughout the late-1910s, performing and composing Edwardian musical comedy and revue. Best known for writing the West End hit musicals The Bing Boys Are Here, which spawned the hit If You Were The Only Girl In The World, and Yes Uncle ~ Ayer passed away in 1952
August 5, 1811 ~ Composer Ambroise Thomas, full name Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas, born in Metz, France ~ Best remembered for his 1866 Mignon and his 1868 Hamlet operas. His work would be neglected during most of the 20th century but in more recent decades have gained new attention and appreciation ~ Thomas passed away in 1896