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.
December 5, 2023 ~ Brian Frederick Arthur Hines, commonly known as pop rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist Denny Laine passed away in Naples, Florida, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Moody Blues, present on the band's 1965 The Magnificent Moodies debut album. Sang lead on the band's first hit, Go Now, which would top the charts in their native UK in 1965 and reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Laine would depart the band in 1966 and be replaced by Justin Hayward. Perhaps best known for his association with Paul McCartney, serving as member of McCartney's backing unit Wings from 1971 through 1981. Also co-wrote Mull Of Kintyre with McCartney. Laine has recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist, noted for his 1976 Holly Days sophomore album, and worked with the Electric String Band, Balls, Ginger Baker, Colin Blunstone, and Carmine Appice ~ Hines was born in 1944
December 5, 2022 ~ James Frank Stewart, commonly known as label executive, producer Jim Stewart, passed away ~ Co-founded the Stax/Volt label with his sister Estelle Axton in 1957. The company would be one of the defining forces in 1960s, 1970s R&B and soul with a roster of artists that included Rufus Thomas, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Don Covay, Johnnie Taylor, the Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T & the MG's. The latter was initially formed as the label's in-house studio band, yet are also specifically remembered for several recordings in their own right, some of which including the instrumental Green Onions are regarded as among the funkiest grooves of the era ~ Stewart was born in 1930December 5, 2022 ~ Modernist composer, pianist John Beckwith passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Wrote over 160 compositions for orchestral, chamber and choral genres. Also known for arranging traditional Canadian folk songs, expecially the songbooks Four Love Songs and Five Songs. Authored well over a dozen books on several musical topics, the last published just three months before his death ~ Beckwith was born in 1927
December 5, 2021 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Bill Staines, full name William Russell Staines, passed away in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, USA ~ Over 20 albums to his name since the 1960s. Has toured excessively, playing up to 200 dates per year. Known for songs such as The Boats They Come And The Boats They Go, A Place In The Choir, The Roseville Fair, Flowers In The Snow, Sueño, and Spirit Song. Has his songs recorded by Nanci Griffith, the Highwaymen, Glenn Yarbrough, Grandpa Jones, the Clydesiders, Foster & Allen, Debby McClatchy, Wendy Grossman, Sheila Noonan, Liam Clancy, and Jerry Jeff Walker ~ Staines was born in 1947
December 5, 2021 ~ John Errington, commonly known as rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist John Miles, passed away in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK ~ Member of local band the Influence, which also included future Roxy Music-drummer Paul Thompson and future Geordie guitarist Vic Malcolm. Active as a solo artist since the eary 1970s, best known for Highfly, Slowdown and Music, the latter a UK top 10 hit in 1975 and a radio staple since. Would go on to back artists such as Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, and Stevie Wonder ~ Errington was born in 1949December 5, 2019 ~ Jerry Naylor Jackson, commonly known as country, rock & roll singer, guitarist Jerry Naylor, passed away in McMinnville, Oregon, USA ~ Lead singer of post- Buddy Holly rock & roll band the Crickets from 1961 through 1964, present on the 1961 UK top 10 hit Don't Ever Change. As a solo artist best known for his 1974 Billboard Country top 40 hit Is This All There Is To A Honky Tonk ~ Jackson was born in 1939
December 5, 2019 ~ Church organist, choir director, radio host Leon Cole passed away ~ Father of jazz singer Holly Cole. Composed orchestral works and documentary film scores. Best known as host of classical music radio show RSVP from 1985 through 1995, aired on Canadian station CBC Stereo ~ Cole was born in 1939
December 5, 2019 ~ Pop singer, pianist, songwriter Marie Fredriksson, full name Gun-Marie Fredriksson, passed away in Djursholm, Sweden ~ Formed Roxette with Per Gessle, known for a string of late 1980s, early 1990s hits including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits The Look, Listen To Your Heart, Dangerous, It Must Have Been Love, Joyride, and Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave). Previously sang with bands such as Strul and with the short-lived MaMas Barn. Has also recorded a number of solo albums, starting with Het Vind released in 1984 ~ Fredriksson was born in 1958
December 5, 2017 ~ Jean Philippe Leo Smet, commonly known as rock & roll, rock singer Johnny Hallyday, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Credited with having brought rock & roll to France, earning him the nickname “the French Elvis Presley.” Reportedly once had the Jimi Hendrix Experience open for him. Well over two dozen albums to his name starting in the 1950s. Known for songs such as Tous Ensemble, Marie and Mon Plus Beau Noel ~ Smet was born in 1943
December 5, 2016 ~ Tyruss Gerald Himes, commonly known as rapper Big Syke, passed away in Hawthorne, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with hip-hop groups Thug Life and Outlawz. Also known under the moniker Mussolini. Present on Tupac Shakur's Picture Me Rollin', All Eyez On Me and Check Out Time of Shakur's 1996 All Eyez On Me album. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the likes of DJ Ripley, C-Bo, Nate Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Knight Owl, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Young Noble ~ Himes was born in 1968
December 5, 2011 ~ Singer Taylor Swift releases Ours, lifted off her Speak Now album ~ Lyrically, the song tells of a girl assuring her lover she loves him for him despite others disapproving of their relationship. In contrast to recent “shine and polish” singles, Ours is noted for its understated production. The single would receive mostly positive reviews, Rolling Stone even critically comparing the song to the Replacements, while NME dismissed the lyrics as “mawkish” and the production as “sickly sweet”. The original 2011 release would reach No.13 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, top the Country charts in Canada as well as in America, and would be nominated for a ACA Award for Female Single of the Year. In 2023, Taylor Swift released a re-recorded version
December 5, 2007 ~ Composer Karlheinz Stockhausen passed away in Kürten, Germany ~ Widely regarded as one of the most important, and controversial, composers of the 20th century. Although much of Stockhausen's extensive catalogue is too experimental for mainstream audiences, Stockhausen has been acknowledged as a pioneer of electronic music and controlled chance, earning him critical acclaim and his influence extending to a wide range of artists including Louis Andriessen, Miles Davis, Cecil Taylor, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Yusef Lateef, Anthony Braxton, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd's Richard Wright and Roger Waters, the Jefferson Airplane, Can, Holger Czukay, Kraftwerk, and Björk ~ Stockhausen was born in 1928
December 5, 2005 ~ Reggae, dancehall singer, DJ Sean Paul releases Temperature, lifted off his The Trinity album ~ Widely regarded as Sean Paul's signature song, Temperature would be his second Billboard Hot 100 charttopper as a solo artist, after Get Busy, and his third overall having been notably featured on the 2003 hit Baby Boy by Beyoncé. The music video for Temperature shows Paul dancing in various settings, going through the seasons to mark the changing temperatures, starting in autumn with falling leaves, in the winter's snow, in spring's rain to finally center on summer with the singer squirting sunscreen, an obvious sexual innuendo, in a tanning salonDecember 5, 2002 ~ Jazz double bassist Arvell Shaw passed away in Roosevelt, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with Louis Armstrong, intermittently working with Armstrong from the mid 1940s through the mid 1950s, including for the acclaimed 1956 High Society musical comedy film. Other associations include Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins (Lover Man), Herb Hall, Dorothy Donegan (The Many Faces Of Dorothy Donegan), and Rahsaan Roland Kirk ~ Shaw was born in 1923
December 5, 2002 ~ Jazz, hard bop saxophonist Bob Berg, full name Robert Berg, passed away in Amagansett, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with Horace Silver and Cedar Walton in the 1970s, and Miles Davis for most of the 1980s. Recorded about a dozen albums as a leader, notably New Birth released in 1978. An in-demand sideman, valued for his expressive style, Berg has guested on albums by Idris Muhammad (House Of The Rising Sun), Tom Harrell, Sam Jones (Something In Common), Kenny Drew, Billy Higgins (Soweto), the Players Association (We Got The Groove), Mike Wofford, Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker (Live At Sweet Basil), Doug Munro, Chroma, Barbara Dennerlein, Joe Chambers (Phantom Of The City), Chick Corea, Marc Copland (Stompin' With Savoy), and Larry Coryell ~ Berg was born in 1951
December 5, 1999 ~ Oscar James Gibson, commonly known as R&B singer Bobby Marchan, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Toured with Huey Piano Smith's unit the Clowns, sometimes taking over as lead singer and bandleader in place of Smith. Also recorded with Smith, including on The Rocking Pneumonia & The Boogie-Woogie Flu, Don't You Just Know It and Sea Cruise. As a solo artist Marchan is best known for 1960's There's Something On Your Mind and 1965's Get Down With It. The latter would be covered by Little Richard and reworked by glam rockers Slade to Get Down & Get With It, their first UK top 20 hit ~ Gibson was born in 1930
December 5, 1998 ~ Indie pop, bedroom pop singer Conan Gray, full name Conan Lee Gray, born in Lemon Grove, California, USA ~ Cites Taylor Swift as his biggest inspiration. Other influences include Lorde, the Dixie Chicks and Adele. First gained attention as a teenager through his vlogs and Youtube uploads of original songs, leading to a record deal in 2018. Released his full-length Kid Krow debut album in 2020, which reached top 10 on the Billboard Hot 200 in its first week
December 5, 1997 ~ Eugen Ciceu, commonly known as jazz pianist Eugen Cicero, passed away in Zurich, Switzerland ~ Gave his first performance at age 6 with the the Cluj Symphony Orchestra. Known for introducing swing harmonies into baroque, classical, romantic compositions. Enjoyed popularity since the early 1960s especially in Germany, his adopted homeland, working with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. Recorded prolifically since the mid 1960s. Brother of jazz drummer Adrian Cicero. Father of jazz singer Roger Cicero ~ Ciceu was born in 1940December 5, 1997 ~ Songwriter Henry Tobias, full name Henry Hyman Tobias, passed away ~ Brother of songwriters Charles Tobias and Harry Tobias, both regular collaborators. Probably best known for co-writing Miss You first recorded by Rudy Vallée in 1929 and covered by numerous artists including Bing Crosby, Bill Haley, and Dinah Washington. Other songs co-written by Tobias include Cooking Breakfast For The One I Love recorded by Fanny Brice, If I Had My Life To Live Over recorded by Larry Vincent, I Remember Mama recorded by the Andrews Sisters, and If I Knew Then What I Know recorded by the Ray Conniff Singers ~ Tobias was born in 1905
December 5, 1996 ~ Country singer, guitarist, yodeller, songwriter Wilf Carter, full name Wilfred Arthur Charles Carter, nicknamed Montana Slim, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA ~ Regarded as the father of Canadian country music. Inspired future country musician with a simple, honest sound. Active since the early 1930s. Injured his back in a 1940 car crash and would be unable to perform for much of the decade, but would continue to record periodically ~ Carter was born in 1904
December 5, 1993 ~ Rock guitarist, bassist Doug Hopkins, full name Douglas Owen Hopkins, passed away in Tempe, Arizona, USA ~ Co-founded Gin Blossoms, present on the band's first two albums. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Hey Jealousy, Found Out About You, Hold Me Down, and Lost Horizons. Also co-founded the Chimeras, remaining only shortly with the band, departing after a poor live performance. Suffering from mental health issues and depression and struggling with alcoholism Hopkins committed suicide at age 32 ~ Hopkins was born in 1961
December 5, 1990 ~ Trumpeter, flugelhornist Bill Hardman, full name William Franklin Hardman Jr, passed away in Paris, France ~ Never a household name, yet an influential crackling hard bop player nevertheless, known for his blazing technique, crisp articulations, and no-frills sound. Over half a dozen albums as a leader since the mid 1950s, acclaimed especially for Politely, one of his latter-day albums released in 1981. Sideman on albums by Jackie McLean, Mal Waldron (Wheelin'), Hank Mobley, Art Blakey (A Night In Tunisia), Tiny Bradshaw, Lou Donaldson, Dave Bailey (Two Feet In The Gutter), Charles Mingus (Tijuana Moods), Benny Golson, Howard McGhee, Reuben Wilson (The Sweet Life), Curtis Fuller, Charles Earland, and Junior Cook (Good Cookin') ~ Hardman was born in 1933December 5, 1989 ~ Rico Pleasant, commonly known as rapper Reek Da Villian, born in Roosevelt, New York, USA ~ Protegé of Busta Rhymes, landing his first break appearing on Rhymes' 2007 promo single Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water On 'Em (Remix)) alongside Lil Wayne, Nas, Big Daddy Kane. Shortly thereafter joined rap collective Flipmode Squad
December 5, 1987 ~ Lois LaVerne Williamson, commonly known as country singer Molly O'Day, passed away in Huntington, West Virginia, USA ~ After some limited success in local dances and radio bands, notably with Johnnie Bailes first gained serious attention in 1940 teaming up with Lynn Davis & his Forty Niners, marrying Lynn Davis within a few months. In 1945 the band would be renamed to the Cumberland Mountain boys to be quickly discovered by renowned music publisher Fred Rose. Successes such as Six More Miles, The Tramp On The Street and Singing Waterfall quickly followed. Recorded and toured throughout the 1960s, retiring from the stage by the 1960s to focus on singing in churches and do evangelistic work despite attempts by among others Ralph Stanley to lure her back to the stage ~ Williamson was born in 1923December 5, 1986 ~ Colin Benders, commonly known as singer, bandleader, songwriter Kyteman, born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Worked with Relax, Krezip, Voicst, Wouter Hamel, and C-Mon & Kypski. Best known for the album The Hermit Sessions and for leading the Kyteman Orchestra