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.
March 5, 2025 ~ Charles E Chambers III, commonly known as house, rave, ghetto house DJ, producer DJ Funk, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity from the late 1980s onward on the Midwest underground rave scene, especially in the Chicago-Detroit area. Coined and along with Traxman, DJ Assault, and DJ Deeon pioneered ghetto house, a sound that mixed sped-up house and Miami bass with overtly sexual call and response chants taken from hip-hop. Best known for his 1999 Booty House Anthems album, which would go on to sell over a million copies. The album, the first in a three-part series, included club anthems such as Pump It, Work It, and Work Dat Body. As a significant influence on the French duo, Chambers is referenced in the Daft Punk track Teachers off their 1997 Homework debut album. In 2012, Chambers told Crack: “I'm not trying to be a super-producer, but what I do is just make stuff that's relevant to my life. I like to be at the show playing music that I'd actually like to be dancing to myself, the shit that's gonna make me happy” ~ Chambers was born in 1971March 5, 2025 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter, film composer Edesio Alejandro, full name Edesio Alejandro Rodríguez Salvá, passed away in Alcalá de Henares, Spain ~ Initially studied classical composition, guitar and piano, with further studies in orchestral conducting and electronic composition, Alejandro would go on to become regarded as one of Cuba's most innovative composers blending traditional Cuban music such as conga, rumba and son with modern influences including funk, rap, and hip-hop. Alejandro often utilized keyboards and electronic programming, earning him critical comparisons to Jean-Michel Jarre, and has composed and performed over 50 soundtracks, often working on films by renowned director Fernando Pérez. Well known works include the 1987 rock opera Violente, which is considered the first rock opera in Latin America, and the soundtracks to the Cuban films El Desayuno Más Caro Del Mundo, Clandestinos, Madagascar, and Suite Habana ~ Rodríguez was born in 1958
March 5, 2025 ~ R&B singer Randy Brown passed away ~ Although never a household name, Brown was held in the highest regards by quiet storm aficionados as one of the smoothest, sultriest singers of the 1970s and 1980s. Brown had started as a singer in his church and local doo-wop outfits, most notably with Memphis based outfit the Newcomers including on the modest early 1970s hit Pin The Tail On The Donkey. As a solo artist, Brown would record about half a dozen albums starting with 1978's Welcome To My Room which included two of his best known, I'm Always In The Mood and I Wanna Make Love To You. Other well known songs include I'd Rather Hurt Myself and We Ought To Be Doin' It, the latter his highest charting hit peaking at No.16 Billboard R&B in 1981. Brown's rich tenor and heartfelt delivery made him a favorite among R&B audiences, enjoying popularity especially in Europe where he often performed in multi-artist shows ~ Brown was born in 1952March 5, 2023 ~ Blues rock, boogie rock, southern rock guitarist Gary Rossington, full name Gary Robert Rossington, passed away in Milton, Georgia, USA ~ Last surviving original member of quintessential southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Especially noted for his lead guitar work on Tuesday's Gone and slide guitar on Free Bird. Also co-founded the Rossington-Collins Band with bandmate guitarist Allen Collins ~ Rossington was born in 1951
March 5, 2023 ~ Conductor Kenneth Montgomery passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Conductor and music director for renowned companies including the Sadler's Wells Opera, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, the Opera Northern Ireland, and the Ulster Opera. Outside of the UK best known for his association with the Netherlands Radio Symphony, serving as its principal conductor from 1985 through 1989, and as director of opera studies at the Royal Conservatory the Hague since 1991 ~ Montgomery was born in 1943March 5, 2022 ~ Renán Patricio Sánchez Gajardo, commonly known as pop, pop rock singer, balladeer Patricio Renán, passed away in Santiago, Chile ~ Emerged in the mid 1960s, soon recognized as on one of the Nueva Ola stars. Has recorded close to a dozen albums over the course of his career. Best known for songs such as Por Amor, Son Recuerdos and Soy Culpable ~ Sánchez was born in 1945
March 5, 2021 ~ Michael Stanley Gee, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Michael Stanley, passed away ~ Enjoyed regional popularity during the 1970s and 1980s with his brand of heartland rock. Nationally best known for the single He Can't Love You, which reached the Billboard top 40 in 1980 ~ Gee was born in 1948
March 5, 2019 ~ Composer Doru Popovici, full name Ionel Doru Popovici, passed away in Bucharest, Romania ~ Revered contemporary classical composer known for three distinct phases in his career; pot-impressionism, dodecaphonic and post-byzantine. Known for works such as Wires Quartet, Prometheus, Homage To Tuculescu, The Byzantine Hymns and The Wedding ~ Popovici was born in 1932
March 5, 2017 ~ Operatic bass singer Kurt Moll passed away in Cologne, Germany ~ Acclaimed for his restrained basso profondo voice. Closely associated with the Cologne Opera. Has also worked with the Mainz Opera, the Wuppertal Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, and the San Francisco Opera ~ Moll was born in 1938
March 5, 2016 ~ Conductor, cellist Nikolaus Harnoncourt, full name Johann Nikolaus Harnoncourt, passed away in St Georgen Im Attergau, Austria ~ Founded the Concentus Musicus Wien. Also worked with the Vienna Symphony, La Scala, Gustav Leonhardt, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Married to violinist Alice Harnoncourt ~ Harnoncourt was born in 1929
March 5, 2015 ~ Folk guitarist, singer Jim McCann passed away in Dublin, Ireland ~ Active since the mid 1960s. Member of the Ludlow Trio, known for their 1966 hit The Sea Around Us. After the band disbanded the following year McCann would mostly work as a solo performer, yet is best known to the general public for his stint with the Dubliners remaining with the band from 1974 through 1979 ~ McCann was born in 1944March 5, 2005 ~ Conductor, violinist Sergiu Comissiona passed away in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Founded the Ramat Gan Orchestra. Also worked with the Haifa Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the New York City Opera ~ Comissiona was born in 1928
March 5, 2004 ~ Julio Collazo, commonly known as percussionist Julito Collazo, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Katherine Dunham, Chano Pozo, Mongo Santamaria, Armando Peraza, Francisco Aguabella, Carlos Vidal Bolado, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Silvestre Mendez, Dizzy Gillespie, and Machito ~ Collazo was born ca.1925
March 5, 2004 ~ Pop, jazz singer Priscilla Paris passed away in Paris, France ~ One third of sibling outfit the Paris Sisters, alongside her older sisters Albeth Paris and Sherrell Paris. Sang lead on I Love How You Love Me. Also recorded a number of solo records, starting with Priscilla Sings Herself released in 1967 ~ Paris was born in 1945March 5, 2000 ~ Country singer, songwriter Gabby Barrett born in Munhall, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Reached third place in the 16th season of American Idol, aired on ABC in 2018. Best known for her single I Hope, which reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 and topped Billboard's country chart in 2019. Released her full-length debut album, Goldmine, in 2020
March 5, 1997 ~ Ralph Basso Jr, commonly known as jazz, R&B talent scout, A&R executive, producer, songwriter Ralph Bass, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Considered a pioneer in bring African-American music into the mainstream. Worked for labels such as Black & White Records, Savoy Records, King Records, Federal Records and Chess Records. Incremental in the careers of Lena Horne, Roosevelt Sykes, Jack McVea, T-Bone Walker, Johnny Otis, Clara Ward, the Platters, the Dominoes, Etta James, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Sam Cooke, James Brown, and Earl Bostic ~ Basso was born in 1911March 5, 1996 ~ Herbert Hall, commonly known as jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Herb Hall, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Son of clarinetist Edward Hall. Brother of bandleader, clarinetist Edmond Hall. Herbert Worked with the Niles Jazz Band, Kid Augustin Victor, Sidney Desvigne, Don Albert, Herman Autrey, Doc Cheatham, Sammy Price, Wild Bill Davison, Benny Morton, Sonny Drootin, Eddie Gibbs, Buzzy Drootin, and Don Ewell ~ Hall was born in 1907
March 5, 1995 ~ Victor Anthony Stanshall, commonly known as inger, trumpeter, trombonist, guitarist, mandoliinist, banjoist, keyboardist, flutist, perucssionist, songwriter Vivian Stanshall, passed away in London, UK ~ Member of the Bonzo Dog Band. Released his Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead solo debut album in 1974. Has had artists such as Eric Clapton, Keith Moon and John Entwistle guest on his solo recordings. Has also collaborated with Grimms, Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells), Jim Capaldi, Ronnie Wood, Graham Bond, and Robert Calvert ~ Stanshall was born in 1943March 5, 1994 ~ Jazz tenor saxophonist Joe Daley passed away ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Hal Russell, Russell Thorne, Richard Corpolongo, Bobby Lewis, Bobby Roberts, Hal Russell, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Paul Wertico, and Rusty Jones ~ Daley was born in 1918
March 5, 1994 ~ Faye Leighton Jepson, commonly known as swing bandleader, singer Leighton Noble, passed away ~ Enjoyed popularity during the Swing era. Sang with the orchestras of Hal Grayson, George Hamilton, Everett Hoagland, George Olsen and perhaps most notably Orville Knapp in the mid 1930s, eventually forming his own orchestra in 1937 ~ Jepson was born in 1912
March 5, 1990 ~ Robert Frederickson, commonly known as singer Bob Regan, born in Rolia, Canada ~ Formed the country duo the Canadian Sweethearts along with his wife Lucille Starr, known for mid 1960s recordings such as Stand Upon The Mountain, Lookin' Back To See and Don't Knock On My Door ~ Frederickson was born in 1931
March 5, 1983 ~ Jazz trumpeter Bob Shoffner passed away ~ Worked with Charlie Creath, Tommy Parker, John H Wickliffe, Everett Robbins, Mae Brady, Honore Dutrey, King Oliver, Dave Peyton, Lottie Hightower, Lovie Austin, Jimmy O'Bryant, Ida Cox, Luis Russell, Charles Elgar, Erskine Tate, Jerome Carrington, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Frankie Jaxon, Fess Williams, Fletcher Henderson, Hot Lips Page, Richard M Jones, and Franz Jackson ~ Shoffner was born in 1900March 5, 1983 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey I Still Do) by Don Williams hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Written by Bob McDill, a regular collaborator who had previously penned several songs for Don Williams including Amanda, It Must Be Love, and I Want You Back Again, the song has the narrator singing to a former lover who, apparently, had left him to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. In his usual gentle and understated manner, Williams only wishes her the best with barely a hint of heartbreak. Should things not work out in Hollywood, she is welcome to come back to him. The song includes a reference to actor Burt Reynolds: “Oh, and if you see Burt Reynolds would you shake his hand for me. And tell ol' Burt I've seen all his movies. Well, I hope you make the big time, I hope your dreams come true. But if Hollywood don't need you, honey, I still do”
March 5, 1982 ~ Singer, fiddler, songwriter Amanda Shires born in Lubbock, Texas, USA ~ Formed Highwomen, teaming up with Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and Natalie Hemby. Also worked with Thrift Store Cowboys, Jason Isbell, Rod Picott, Devotchka, Chris Isaak, Todd Snider, Justin Townes Earle, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, John Prine, Neal Casal, Shovels & Rope, Cory Branan, American Aquarium, Tommy Emmanuel, and Blackberry Smoke
March 5, 1982 ~ Actor, comedian, singer John Belushi, full name John Adams Belushi, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Actor and comedian emerged from the satirical Saturday Night Live TV show. Best known as half of the Blues Brothers, portraying the role of Joliet Jake Blues in The Blues Brothers film released in 1980 ~ Belushi was born in 1949