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.
May 10, 1950 ~ Keith Blake, commonly known as roots reggae singer Prince Alla, born in St Elizabeth, Jamaica ~ Active since the 1960s. Member of shortlived late 1960s band the Leaders alongside Milton Henry and Roy Palmer. As a solo artist known for early 1970s songs such as Woo Oh Oh and Born A Fighter, and especially known for a string of mid 1970s records now regarded as roots classics including Sun Is Shining, Bucket Bottom, and Lot's Wife and ToneMay 10, 1949 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Nolan Porter, full name Nolan Frederick Porter, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Married to Candy Zappa, sister of Frank Zappa. Recorded two albums in the early 1970s, initially to little success but in time appreciated by British Northern soul aficionados. Best known for songs such as Keep On Keeping On and If I Could Only Be Sure, the latter notably covered by father of Britpop Paul Weller on his 2004 Studio 150 album ~ Porter passed away in 2021
May 10, 1948 ~ Classical violinist Ani Kavafian born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ Sister of violinist Ida Kavafian, with whom she regularly collaborated. Closely associated with the Chamber Music Society Of Lincoln Center. Has also worked with the New York Philharmonic, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. Professor at Yale University since 2006. In-demand visiting professor around the country
May 10, 1947 ~ Leroy Brand, commonly known as jazz trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for backing Sun Ra. Has also worked with artists such as Arthur Blythe, Billy Bang, Dennis González, Charles Brackeen, Chico Freeman, Malachi Favors, Charles Moffett, Carlos Ward, and Alex Blake
May 10, 1947 ~ John Arden Ferguson, commonly known as rock, pop rock, soft rock singer, keyboardist, percussionist Jay Ferguson, born in Burbank, California, USA ~ Lead singer of 1960s, 1970s outfit Spirit, present on the band's 1968 I Got A Line On You Billboard Hot 100 top 30 hit. After departing the band in 1971 Ferguson co-founded Jo Jo Gunne, best known for the single Run Run Run taken of the band's eponymous Jo Jo Gunne debut album. Ferguson has also recorded as a solo artist. Later on in his career has composed for film and TV, notably writing the theme to the NBC TV series The Office
May 10, 1946 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer Dave Mason, full name David Thomas Mason, born in Worcester, UK ~ Rose to fame as member of rock outfit Traffic, present on the albums Mr Fantasy and its follow-up Traffic. Also notably played with Jimi Hendrix, including 12-string acoustic guitar on the Bob Dylan-cover All Along The Watchtower and backing vocals on Crosstown Traffic. Present on the Rolling Stones album Beggars' Banquet. Present on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album. Other collaborations include Cass Elliott, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, David Crosby, Fleetwood Mac, Leon Russell, and Deep Feeling. As a solo artist known for the moderate 1970 Only You Know And I Know hit, the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit We Just Disagree, and the Michael Jackson-duet Save Me of his 1980 Old Crest On A New Wave album ~ Mason passed away in 2026
May 10, 1946 ~ Donovan Phillips Leitch, mononymously known as folk, folk pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Donovan, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Draws from folk, jazz, pop, rock. Somewhat unjustly characterized as England's answer to Bob Dylan. Known for songs such as Catch The Wind, Colours, Universal Soldier, Sunshine Superman, Mellow Yellow and Jennifer Juniper
May 10, 1946 ~ Singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Graham Gouldman, full name Graham Keith Gouldman, born in Broughton, UK ~ In-demand songwriter, writing or co-writing songs such as For Your Love (the Yardbirds), Bus Stop (the Hollies), and No Milk Today (Herman's Hermits). Sole constant member of art rock band 10cc, known for songs such as Rubber Bullets, The Wall Street Shuffle, I'm Not In Love, Good Mornihng Judge, and perhaps their best known Dreadlock Holiday. Formed Wax with singer Andrew Gold. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with The Graham Gouldman Thing released in 1968
May 10, 1945 ~ Rock critic, author, songwriter Richard Meltzer born in New York, New York, USA ~ Credited by some with inventing “rock criticism” but certainly one of the first rock historians. Authored The Aesthetics Of Rock, which evolved out of his studies in philosophy. Would go on to write as a rock critic for magazines such as Rolling Stone, the Village Voice, and Creem. Regular songwriter and promoter for Soft White Belly and its successor the Blue Öyster Cult, for whom he co-wrote numerous songs including Burnin' For You of their Fire Of Unknown Origin
May 10, 1944 ~ John Richard Lomax, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Jackie Lomax, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Member of several bands including Dee & the Dynamites, the Undertakers, Heavy Jelly, and Badger. Best known for his association with George Harrison, who produced several of Lomax's late 1960s recordings notably Sour Milk Sea and the subsequent Is This What You Want debut album released in 1969. Despite warm critical reception and backing from Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and an all-star session cast including Larry Knechtel, Nicky Hopkins and Hal Blaine, both the single and album would fail to chart on either side of the Atlantic ~ Lomax passed away in 2013
May 10, 1942 ~ Post-minimalist composer Ingram Marshall, full name Ingram Douglass Marshall, born in Mount Vernon, New York, USA ~ Though Marshall himself described his music as expressivist counted among post-minimalist composers. Influenced by 1960s minimalist composers such as Steve Reich, Terry Riley and John Adams, as well as world music, portraying a fondness for the gamelan. Composed chamber music, orchestral and choral works. Well known compositions include Fragility Cycles and Voce Resonae, the latter written for the Kronos Quartet ~ Marshall passed away in 2022
May 10, 1940 ~ Blues singer Tampa Red records It Hurts Me Too and Don't You Lie To Me in Chicago, Illinois ~ Both songs penned and first recorded by Tampa Red. Both would become blues classics covered numerous times. Don't You Lie To Me would be covered by Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Albert King, BB King, Gary Moore, and by Supertramp. It Hurts Me Too would be covered by Sticks McGhee, Big Bill Broonzy, Elmore James adding lyrics and becoming the best known version, and by Junior Wells
May 10, 1939 ~ Talvin Wayne Cochran, commonly known as soul singer Wayne Cochran, born in Thomaston, Georgia, USA ~ Having befriended Otis Redding Cochran played bass guitar on Redding's early recording of Shout Bamalama and its B-side Fat Girl. Cochran was dubbed the “White Knight of Soul” and is perhaps best known for the 1961 hit Last Kiss ~ Cochran passed away in 2017
May 10, 1938 ~ R&B, soul singer Henry Fambrough, full name Henry Lee Fambrough, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Last surviving original member of the Spinners, at times known as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners to avoid confusion with other groups. The group had been recording since the early 1960s, and enjoyed popularity especially during the 1970s. Well known songs include It's A Shame, I'll Be Around, Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, Ghetto Child, the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Then Came You with Dionne Warwick, The Rubberband Man, and Working My Way Back To You. The band would be inducted in the 2023 class of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, acknowledging them as “one of the most beloved R&B vocal groups in the world, (who) came to define the Philadelphia sound despite their Motor City origins.” ~ Fambrough passed away in 2024
May 10, 1937 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Mike Melvoin born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA ~ Closely associated with Bill Henderson, Herb Ellis, Plas Johnson. Has worked on about half a dozen of Lalo Schifrin's soundtracks, including Music From Music Impossible and Bullit. Also present on albums by Nancy Wilson, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Oliver Nelson, Mason Williams, Peggy Lee, the Ventures, Cal Tjader, the Partridge Family, Tavares (Check It Out), Quincy Jones, Edwin Starr (Hell Up In Harlem), Tom Waits (The Heart Of Saturday Night), Thelma Houston, Ahmad Jamal, Natalie Cole, and Michael Bublé ~ Melvoin passed away in 2012
May 10, 1935 ~ Vibraphonist, percussionist Julius Wechter born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as member of Herb Alpert's backing unit the Tijuana Brass and leader of its spin-off group the Baja Marimba Band. Wrote Alpert's Spanish Flea, covered by numerous artists including Floyd Cramer, Toots Thielemans, Cyril Stapleton, Liberace, and Xavier Cugat. In-demand session musician for the likes of the Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Phil Spector and perhaps most notably the Beach Boys, noted for his climactic timpana on Do You Wanna Dance and distinctive vibraphone on Let's Go Away For Awhile ~ Wechter passed away in 1999
May 10, 1935 ~ Lawrence Eugene Williams, commonly known as R&B, rock & roll singer, pianist Larry Williams, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his tenure with Specialty Records during the late 1950s, recording several mostly self-penned classics including Bony Moronie, Short Fat Fannie, Slow Down, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Bad Boy, and She Said Yeah. Artists who have covered his songs include the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and John Lennon ~ Williams passed away in 1980
May 10, 1934 ~ Jazz drummer Joe Nay born in Berlin, Germany ~ Studied guitar at the Berlin Conservatory, Berlin, Germany. Best known as a drummer though, active since the early 1960s. Formed the house band at the noted Berlin jazz club the Blue Note, where he accompanied visiting American jazz musicians such as Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Byas, Dexter Gordon, and Johnny Griffin. Nay was also closely associated with Michael Naura, the Northern Lights, and Message. Regarded as one of Germany's prime jazz drummers, Nay has also appeared on albums by Jan Huydts, Carmell Jones, Tete Montoliu (Body & Soul), Dusko Gojkovic, Kristian Schultze, Volker Kriegel, Barbara Dennerlein (Bebab), Dick Heckstall-Smith, and Wilton Gaynair (Alpharian). Nay passed away at age 55 following a traffic accident. Nay's son is Sebastian Nay, who is also a professional jazz drummer ~ Nay passed away in 1990May 10, 1929 ~ Jazz drummer Mel Lewis born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Active since the 1950s. Well known for co-leading the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra with Thad Jones. In-demand sideman, worked with Stan Kenton, Herbie Mann, Pepper Adams, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Sonny Stitt, Bob Brookmeyer, Benny Carter, Kenny Burrell, Manny Albam, Eric Dolphy, and Jimmy Knepper ~ Lewis passed away in 1990
May 10, 1919 ~ Conductor, pianist Peter Maag, full name Ernst Peter Johannes Maag, born in St Gallen, Switzerland ~ Principal conductor with the Dusseldorf Opera from 1952 through 1955. Would go on to work with orchestras such as the Bonn City Theater, the Royal Opera House, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Volksoper, the Metropolitan Opera, the RAI Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande ~ Maag passed away in 2001May 10, 1914 ~ Thomas Thomas, commonly known as operatic tenor Richard Lewis, born in Manchester, UK ~ Well known for his leading tenor roles in several late 1950s, early 1960s recordings of WS Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan comic operas. Has also recorded works composed by George Frideric Handel, Claudio Monteverdi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, and Edward Elgar ~ Thomas passed away in 1990
May 10, 1909 ~ Maybelle Addington, commonly known as guitarist, auto-harpist, singer Mother Maybelle Carter, born in Nickelsville, Virginia, USA ~ Member of the Carter Family, one of the most beloved and influential family outfits in country music. Helped establish the guitar as a lead instrument in country music. Member of the Carter Sisters. Married to manager Ezra Carter, with whom she had three daughters Helen Carter, Anita Carter and June Carter ~ Carter passed away in 1978May 10, 1905 ~ Rebetiko singer, bouzouki player, songwriter Markós Vamvakaris born in Ano Syros, Greece ~ Dubbed “the Patriarch of Rebetko” for his significance to the genre. Closely associated with Yiorgos Batis, Anestis Delias, and Stratos Pagioumtzis. Known for songs such as Frankosyriani, Alaniaris, Ta Matia Sou T'Arapika, Psilia Tin Htizis, and Sklirokardhi ~ Vamvakaris passed away in 1972
May 10, 1894 ~ Composer, conductor Dimitri Tiomkin, full name Dmitri Zinovievich Tiomkin, born in Kremenchuk, Russian Empire ~ Classically trained in St Petersburg, Tiomkin moved to Berlin and subsequently to the USA after the Russian Revolution, establishing himself as an in-demand film composer. Enjoyed a particular productive spell during the 1950s, at one time ranked as the highest paid film composer and writing close to one score per month, and receiving Academy Awards for Best Original Score for the Westerns High Noon, The High And Mighty, and The Old Man And The Sea ~ Tiomkin passed away in 1979
May 10, 1888 ~ Composer, conductor, songwriter Max Steiner, full name Maximilian Raoul Steiner, born in Vienna, Austria ~ Referred to as “the Father of Film music”, being one of the first to write extensively for film having composed over 300 film scores. Won Academy Awards for the scores of 1935's The Informer, 1942's Now Voyager and 1944's Since You Went Away. Other well known soundtracks written or co-written by Steiner include King Kong and Casablanca ~ Steiner passed away in 1971