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, 1985 ~ William Swan, commonly known as post-hardcore, experimental rock guitarist, singer Will Swan, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Cites artists as diverse as the Mars Volta, the Temptations, the Deftones, and Earth Wind & Fire as influences. Co-founding member, lead guitarist for post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Jackpot Juicer released in 2022. Has also served in metal outfit the Secret Band, progressive rock unit Royal Coda, and in math rock group Sianvar. Swan also founded and owns the label Blue Swan RecordsDecember 5, 1982 ~ Singer Keri Hilson, full name Keri Lynn Hilson, born in Decatur, Georgia, USA ~ Wrote for Britney Spears, the Pussycat Dolls, Mary J Blige. As a singer first gained attention appearing on Timbaland's 2007 hit The Way I Are. Released her In A Perfect World solo debut album in 2009, spawning the hits Knock You Down, Turnin' Me On and I Like
December 5, 1981 ~ In its 12th week on the charts, If I Needed You by Emmylou Harris, Harris duetting with Don Williams, peaks at No.3 Billboard Country ~ Emmylou Harris issued the track as the lead single off her Cimarron album, performing the cover as a duet with Don Williams. The song had first been recorded some nine years earlier by Townes Van Zandt, who reportedly wrote the song about his wife Anne Mittendorf Eggers. Several others would also cover the song, Doc Watson included a version on his 1973 Then And Now album. Succeeding Harris's hit, it would also be recorded by the Dead Ringer Band, Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, Kasey Chambers, and Mumford & Sons. The original Van Zandt song is also said to have inspired David Allan Coe's Would You Lay With me (In A Field Of Stone)
December 5, 1980 ~ Synthwave, post-hardcore, alternative rock bassist Dan Haigh born in Grimsby, UK ~ Co-founding member of post-hardcore unit Fightstar, known best for their critically acclaimed Grand Unification debut album released in 2006. Co-founded synthwave band Gunship with bandmate Alex Westaway, the band's music has been described as influenced by the soundtracks of 80s films, TV shows, video games and cartoons. Haigh has also notably contributed to a number of soundtracksDecember 5, 1980 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Dawn Landes born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Debuted with the Dawn's Music and has recorded steadily since. Known for songs such as The Kissing Song, You Alone, Straight Lines, Drive, Toy Piano, Twilight, All Dressed In White and Home. Member of all-girl trio Bandana Splits alongside Annie Nero and Lauren Balthrop, known for their 2011 Mr Sam Presents album
December 5, 1977 ~ Ronald Theodore Kirk, commonly known as saxophonist, flutist Rahsaan Roland Kirk, passed away in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Revered jazz, soul jazz, hard bop saxophonist, known for his vitality, improvisational skills and showmanship. Influenced by R&B, pop, jazz, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and classical music such as Camille Saint-Saëns, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Antonín Dvorák. Kirk has occasionally worked as a sideman, including on albums by Quincy Jones, Roy Haynes, and Charles Mingus ~ Kirk was born in 1935December 5, 1977 ~ Pop punk, punk rock, emo drummer, label executive, A&R scout Rob Hitt born ~ Co-founding and constant member of pop punk band Midtown, best known for their 1999 Save The World Lose The Girl debut album. Following the band's disbandement in 2005, Hitt would co-found I Surrender Records with Ted DiBiase. The label's roster includes acts such as I Am The Avalanche, Four Year Strong, Valencia and Dragonette
December 5, 1974 ~ Courtney Smith, commonly known as rapper C-Note, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Member of the Botany Boyz. Member of the loose hip-hop collective Screwed Up Click led by DJ Screw. As a solo artist debuted in 1999 with the album Third Coast Born, receiving acclaim in underground hip-hop circles
December 5, 1974 ~ Eric San, commonly known as hip hop, trip hop, electronica DJ, turntablist Kid Koala, born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Active since the mid 1990s. Released his full-length Carpal Tunnel Syndrome solo debut album in 2000. Has recorded with Bullfrog, Deltron 3030, Lovage, and Martin Tétrault. Has toured or collaborated with artists as diverse as Radiohead, the Beastie Boys, Arcade Fire, A Tribe Called Quest and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. San has also composed for several short films and TV
December 5, 1972 ~ McKinley Howard Dorham, commonly known as bop, hard bop trumpeter Kenny Dorham, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for his understated, subtle approach, specifically on ballads. Wrote the jazz standard Blue Bossa, first recorded by Joe Henderson in 1964 and since covered by well over a hundred artists. Dorham has recorded well over a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, specifically acclaimed for Afro-Cuban, Quiet Kenny, and Whistle Stop. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Art Blakey, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie (In Paris), Thelonious Monk (Genius Of Modern Music Vol.1), Sonny Rollins, Joe Gordon (Introducing Joe Gordon), Hank Mobley, Max Roach (Max Roach Plus Four), Gil Melle, Louis Prima (The Wildest), Oscar Pettiford (Deep Passion), John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard (Goin' Up), Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill (Point Of Departure), Dexter Gordon, and Toshiko Akiyoshi ~ Dorham was born in 1924
December 5, 1970 ~ Michel'le Denise Toussaint, mononymously known as R&B singer Michel'le, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Scored the Billboard R&B top 10 hits No More Lies, Nicety and Something In My Heart, all taken of her eponymous 1989 Michel'le debut album. Featured vocalist on Dogg Pound's best known single, 1995's Let's Play House. Romantically involved with Dr Dre, with whom she has a child. Married Death Row Records founder Suge Knight in 1999, filing for divorce six years laterDecember 5, 1970 ~ Indie rock, lo-fi singer, guitarist, producer Rick White born in Moncton, Canada ~ Member of Eric's Trip, Perplexus and perhaps most notably of the Unintended. Has also worked with the Sadies, Orange Glass, Joel Plaskett, One Hundred Dollars, Dog Day, HotKid and Julie Doiron
December 5, 1967 ~ Gary Allan Herzberg, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Gary Allan born in La Mirada, California, USA ~ Debuted with the album Used Heart For Sale in 1996. Known for songs such as Her Man, It Would Be You, Right Where I Need To Be, Man To Man, Tough Little Boys, Nothing On But The Radio, The Best I Ever Had, Life Ain't Always Beautiful, Watching Airplanes, Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain), all of which reached Billboard Country top 10December 5, 1966 ~ Chanson singer, actress Patricia Kaas born in Forbach, France ~ Mixes pop, cabaret, jazz, chanson. Debuted in 1988 with the Mademoiselle Chante and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial success since. Has sold over 17 million albums. Represented France in the 2009 Eurovision Songfestival contest, reaching 8th place with the song Et S'Il Fallait Le Fair
December 5, 1965 ~ Ian Fleming Smith, commonly known as reggae, dancehall singer Wayne Smith, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known for his 1985 hit single Under Mi Sleng Teng, generally regarded as the beginning of ragga. Its rhythm is based on a riff from Eddie Cochran's Somethin' Else, its lyrics inspired by Barrington Levy's Under Mi Sensi. Smith is also know for songs such as Come Along and Ain't No Meaning In Saying Goodbye. ~ Smith passed away in 2014
December 5, 1964 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, Ringo by Lorne Greene hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair, Ringo tells of the narrator finding a man named Ringo wounded and lying face down in the dessert. The narrator extracts the bullet and saves his life, nursing Ringo until he is out of danger. Lorne Greene has said the song is about the noted 1800s outlaw Johnny Ringo, though the account in the song differ's from Ringo's life. The song's spoken-word format, its only sung lyrics by a male choir, is most likely inspired by Big Bad John, a Billboard Hot 100 charttopper for Jimmy Dean some three years earlier. The B-side of Ringo featured an alternate version of Bonanza, theme song to the popular western TV show of the same name starring Greene, with lyrics never used on the showDecember 5, 1963 ~ Alternative rock, heavy metal drummer, keyboardist, bassist, singer Kerry Brown, full name Kerry Paul Brown, born in Pasadena, California, USA ~ Drummer for alternative rock outfit Catherine during the 1990s. Has worked with the Smashing Pumpkins on several occasions, starting on the 1994 Pisces Iscariot album, drumming on Blew Away and producing the tracks Starla and Plume. At the time Brown was married to the band's bassist D'Arcy Wretzky. Brown has also produced the music soundtracks for several major Hollywood films including Blow and PS I Love You, served as producer, engineer or mixer for artists including Courtney Love, Greg Dulli, Cheap Trick, Sky Saxon, Miley Cyrus, and Ziggy Marley, and was a member of Spirits In The Sky alongside Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro
December 5, 1962 ~ Kevin Graham Ogilvie, commonly known as keyboardist, guitarist, singer Nivek Ogre, born in Calgary, Canada ~ Musician, actor best known as founding member of electronic band ohGr, and as co-founding member of industrial band Skinny Puppy. Has acted in several movies, mostly low-budget horror films
December 5, 1960 ~ Jazz bassist, producer Brian Bromberg born in Tucson, Arizona, USA ~ Jazz, smooth jazz bassist and in-demand producer. First gained attention at age 19, backing saxophonist Stan Getz. Debuted as a solo artist, initially focusing on smoooth jazz, in 1986 with the smooth jazz album New Day. Also worked with Freddie Hubbard, Ernie Watts, Rick Braun, Joe Sample, Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, Randy Waldman, his brother David Bromberg, and Vinnie Colaiuta
December 5, 1960 ~ Bassist Les Nemes, full name Leslie Alexander Nemes, born in Croydon, UK ~ Best known as bassist of Haircut 100, which he co-founded with guitarist, singer Nick Heyward, known for songs such as Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), Love Plus One, Nobody's Fool, Fantastic Day, After the band's dissolution Nemes would go on to session and tour with Hugh Masekela, Chris Rea, Friends Again, China Crisis, and Rick Astley
December 5, 1960 ~ Contemporary classical composer Osvaldo Golijov, full name Osvaldo Noé Goliojov, born in La Plata, Argentina ~ Composed vocal and orchestral works, as well as film soundtracks. Closely associated with soprano singer Dawn Upshaw who regularly premiered his compositions. Influenced by chamber music, klezmer music and nuevo tango. Known for compositions such as La Pasion Segun San Marcos written to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, Sidereus, Three Songs For Soprano And Orchestra and the opera Ainadamar
December 5, 1959 ~ Drummer, producer, arranger Robbie France born in Sheffield, UK ~ While living in Australia formed the jazz fusion group Carnival, which opened for John McLaughlin. Also worked with the Easybeats lead singer Stevie Wright, Marty Rhone, and Tim Gaze. After returning to his native England joined heavy metal outfit Diamond Head in 1983, appearing on the band's Canterbury album as well as on the hit single Making Music. Toured with UFO, replacing Andy Parker. Has subsequently also worked with Wishbone Ash, Simon Ellis, Skunk Anansie notably present on the band's Sunburnt & Paranoid debut album and co-writing the hit Weak, and Alphaville ~ France passed away in 2012
December 5, 1956 ~ Jazz guitarist Randy Johnston, full name Randy Barksdale Johnston, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Inspired to take up the guitar after watching the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. Influenced by Kenny Burrell and Grant Green. Well over half a dozen albums to his name as a leader, starting with Walk On released in 1991. Frequent collaborator of Houston Person, including on the acclaimed albums The Party and Why Not. Other notable associations include Della Griffin, Etta Jones, Jack McDuff (Another Real Good'un), Larry O'Neill (You Got Me Runnin'), Eddie Marshall, Joel Chassan, Sheila Landis, Eddie Landsberg, Irene Reid, Chris Buzzelli (I Can Pick My Friends), and David Mackenzie
December 5, 1955 ~ Blues harpist, guitarist, singer Jimmy Reed records Ain't That Lovin' You Baby ~ Written by Jimmy Reed. Backing musicians include Eddie Taylor and Vernel Fournier. Released early 1956 as a single, paired with Baby Don't Say That No More on the flip side. Reed's original would be covered by numerous artists including the Newbeats, Link Wray, Dale Hawkins, the Everly Brothers, Etta James, and Eric ClaptonDecember 5, 1950 ~ Jazz bassist, guitarist Sveinung Hovensjø born in Lillehammer, Norway ~ One of the most in-demand jazz session musicians in Norway. Active since the late 1960s. Especially known for his mid to late 1970s collaborations with guitarist Terje Rypdal. Has notably worked with Bruno, Geir Wentzel, Christian Reim, Jan Garbarek, Susanne Fuhr, the Trio de Janeiro, Son Mu, Tamma, Moose Loose, Talisman, Claudio Latini, Celio de Carvalho, and Miki N'Doye