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.
June 5, 1951 ~ Country songwriter, bassist, singer Jon Vezner born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Best known for his work with Kathy Mattea, his wife since 1988, writing or co-writing several of her songs including Where've You Been, A Few Good Things Remain, Time Passes By and Whole Lotta Holes. Has also written Then What for Clay Walker, If I Didn't Love You for Steve Wariner, and You're Gone for Diamond Rio
June 5, 1950 ~ Ronald Dyson, commonly known as singer, actor Ronnie Dyson, born in Washington DC, USA ~ As a singer best known for The More You Do It (The More I Like It Done To Me), One Man Band Plays All Alone, I Don't Wanna Cry and perhaps his biggest hit If You Let Me Make Love To You Then Why Can't I Touch You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 10 in 1970 ~ Dyson passed away in 1990
June 5, 1949 ~ Wolf Conrad Veit, commonly known as Krautrock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist Conny Veit, born in Stuttgart, Germany ~ Co-founding member of psychedelic rock outfit Gila, best known for their 1971 Free Electric Sound debut album. Briefly a member of Popol Vuh during the early 1970s, present on the albums Hosianna Mantra and Selingpreisung
June 5, 1949 ~ Bandleader, trumpeter, percussionist Jerry González born in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Played an important role in development of Latin jazz. Brother of bassist Andy González. Member of Conjuncto Libre. Co-directed the Fort Apache Band with his brother Andy. Formed the Spanish ensembles Pirated del Flamenco and Comando de la Clave. Has also worked with Tito Puente, McCoy Tyner, Jaco Pastorius, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao, Woody Shaw, Tony Williams, Larry Young, Freddie Hubbard, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Archie Shepp, Paco de Lucia, George Benson, Chico O'Farrill, the Beach Boys, Papo Vazquez, Ray Barretto, Bobby Paunetto, Chocolate Armenteros, Hilton Ruiz, Chico Freeman, Famoudou Don Moye, Jose Chombo Silva, Rashied Ali, Paquito d'Rivera, Kenny Vance, Diego el Cigala, Enrique Morente, Santi Debriano, Steve Turre, Clifford Thornton, Kip Hanrahan, Abbey Lincoln, Franco Ambrosetti, and Dave Valentin ~ González passed away in 2018
June 5, 1948 ~ Patricia Gail Dickerson, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer Gail Davies, born in Broken Row, Oklahoma, USA ~ Gained notoriety as a performer in the 1970s and 1980s. Arguably the first female producer in Country music. Served as a role model for artists such as Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Pam Tillis. Daughter of country singer Tex Dickerson. Sister of songwriter Ron Davies. Has one child with songwriter Gary Scruggs, namely BR549's co-lead singer, guitarist Chris Scruggs. As a performer known for songs such as Blue Heartache, I'll Be There If You Want Me, Boys Like You, You're A Hard Dog To Keep Under The Porch, Jagged Edge Of A Broken Heart, and Break Away. Has sessioned for artists such as Glen Campbell, Roger Miller, Hoyt Axton, Lacy J Dalton, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, the Whites, Hugh Moffatt, Rosie Flores, and Ralph StanleyJune 5, 1947 ~ Frederick Jerome Stewart, commonly known as funk, R&B guitarist, singer, songwriter Freddie Stone born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding member of quintessential funk band Sly & the Family Stone, which also included his brother Sly Stone and sisters Rose Stone and Vet Stone. Stone remained with the band through 1975 and is present on some of the band's best known including Dance To The Music, Everyday People, Hot Fun In The Summertime, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), Family Affair
June 5, 1947 ~ Avant-pop, art pop singer, violinist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Laurie Anderson, full name Laurie Phillips Anderson, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Pioneered electronic music. Married to singer, guitarist Lou Reed from 2008 until his death in 2013. Released her Big Science debut album in 1982 and has received critical acclaim since. Collaborated with artists such as Peter Gabriel, Gina Schock, Valerie Simpson, Tina Weymouth, Jean-Michel Jarre, John Cage, and Marisa Monte
June 5, 1947 ~ Rock, power pop singer, bassist, guitarist Tom Evans born in Liverpool, UK ~ Member of Badfinger, for whom he co-wrote the hit Without You. Also worked with Iveys, the Dodgers, the Calderstones, the Inbeateens, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon, notably present on the latter's acclaimed Imagine album ~ Evans passed away in 1983
June 5, 1945 ~ Country, gospel, southern gospel singer Don Reid born in Staunton, Virginia, USA ~ Lead singer of the Statler Brothers, joining the band in 1960 as replacement for original lead vocalist Joe McDorman. The band has been called “America's poets” by cult writer Kurt Vonnegut and is known for songs such as Flowers On The Wall, Ruthless, You Can't Have Your Cake And Edith Too, Do You Remember These, I'll Go To My Grave Loving You, Do You Know You Are My Sunshine, You'll Be Back Every Night In My Dreams, Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely), My Only Love and Too Much On My Heart. Reid is also known as an author, with about half a dozen books to his name
June 5, 1943 ~ Bassist Michael Davis born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as member of MC5, joining the band in 1964 as replacement for original bassist Pat Burrows. Appears on the band's original three albums, including their acclaimed and hugely influential Kick Out The Jams debut album. Member of Destroy All Monsters, for whom he wrote underground punk classics Meet The Creeper, Rocking The Cradle, and Fast City. Davis also worked with Blood Orange, and the Luminarios, and served as producer for Mother's Anger and Dollhouse ~ Davis passed away in 2012June 5, 1941 ~ Erasmo Esteves, commonly known as singer, songwriter Erasmo Carlos, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Emerged from the early 1960s Brazilian teen idol scene to become a renowned MPB singer popular throughout the 1970s and beyond, known for his moody and introspective work. Known for songs such as Gatinha Manhosa, Festa De Arrombo, Coquiero Verde and De Noito Na Cama ~ Esteves passed away in 2022
June 5, 1941 ~ Werner Böhm, commonly known as schlager singer Gottlieb Wendehals, born in Thom, Poland ~ Active since the late 1950s under his birth name serving as jazz pianist, notably in the ensemble the Cabinet Jazzmen. Best known for his 1980s alter ego Wendehals, a bespectacled bow-tie-wearing schlager singer. His Polonäse Blankenese would spent nine weeks atop the German singles charts ~ Böhm passed away in 2020June 5, 1932 ~ Peter A Ceragioli, commonly known as jazz pianist, acccordionist Pete Jolly, born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Worked with Howard Roberts, Shorty Rogers, Jan Lundgren, Buddy DeFranco, Art Pepper, Red Norvo, Ray Conniff, Herb Alpert, Ralph Peña, Chuck Berghofer, Larry Bunker, Milt Holland, Elmer Bernstein, Kenny Burrell, Buddy Collette, Joni James, JJ Johnson, Quincy Jones, Johnny Mandel, Gerry Mulligan, Jack Nitzsche, and Tom Waits ~ Ceragioli passed away in 2004
June 5, 1925 ~ Actor, singer Bill Hayes, full name William Foster Hayes III, born in Harvey, Illinois, USA ~ To pop audiences known for the single The Ballad Of Davy Crockett which topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1955, and sold over two million copies. Hayes would also star in a Broadway production of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II penned musical Me & Juliet, and score several minor hits including The Berry Tree, High Noon, and Wringle Wrangle. Hayes would eventually become best known as an actor, known particularly for his role of Doug Williams in the soap opera Days Of Our Lives ~ Hayes passed away in 2024
June 5, 1914 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor Stan Jones, full name Stanley Davis Jones, born in Douglas, Arizona, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for penning and first recording Ghost Riders In The Sky, covered by over 50 artists including the Outlaws, Bing Crosby, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, Gene Autry, the Sons Of The Pioneers, Elvis Presley and Dick Dale ~ Jones passed away in 1963