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 11, 2025 ~ Jonathan Edwards, commonly known as R&B, soul, pop singer John Edwards, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Landed his first record deal in the late 1960s when Curtis Mayfield introduced him to producer Jo Armstead, who would produce If I Don't Lose My Head. Over the next few years, Edwards would gain regional popularity and score some modest hits, notably Stop This Merry Go Round, Messing Up A Good Thing, and Careful Man, the latter his biggest hit as a solo artist, peaking at No.8 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1974. It was, however, when Edwards replaced Philippé Wynne as lead singer of the Spinners in 1977, that he would reach his greatest successes. Edwards remained with the band for over two decades, and is present on Working My Way Back To You, the group's biggest hit peaking inside the top 10 in the Netherlands, UK, and America, reaching No.2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and the group's 1980 Sam Cooke cover Cupid, which reached No.4 Billboard Hot 100. Edwards retired from music, departing the Spinners, in 2000, after suffering a debilitating stroke ~ Edwards was born in 1944
May 11, 2023 ~ Classical cornetist, trumpeter Marcel Lagorce, full name Antoine Marcel Lagorce, passed away in Limoges, France ~ Trumpet soloist with the Symphony Radio Orchestra from 1957 through 1967, and with the Orchestre De Paris from 1967 through 1993. Member of brass quintet Ars Nova, which also included hornist Georges Barboteu, trumpeter Bernard Jeannoutot, trombonist Camille Verdier, and tubist Elie Raynaud. Taught at Conservatoire de Paris, Paris from 1976 through 1988 ~ Lagorce was born in 1932
May 11, 2022 ~ Classical concert pianist Alexander Toradze, full name Alexander Davidovich Toradze, passed away in South Bend, Indiana, USA ~ Best known for his classical Russian repertoire. Has worked with renowned orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Marlinsky Theatre Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Toradze was born in 1952
May 11, 2022 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal singer Trevor Strnad passed away ~ Until his death shortly after his 41st birthday, Strnad served as lead singer for extreme metal outfit the Black Dahlia Murder recording over a dozen albums with the band including the acclaimed Ritual released in 2011. The band was named for the unsolved 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, often referred to as the Black Dahlia. Although no official cause of death had been given for Strnad, the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was provided at the end of the band's statement. Brian Eschbach, the only other constant member since the band's inception in 2001, would take over Strnad's duties as lead vocalist ~ Strnad was born in 1981
May 11, 2022 ~ Classical, contemporary classical, baroque flutist William Bennett, full name Wiliam Ingham Brooker Bennett, passed away in London, UK ~ Worked with George Malcolm, Osian Ellis, Yehudi Menuhin, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sadler's Wells Opera, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Melos Ensemble, George Malcolm, Clifford Benson, Osian Ellis, the English Chamber Orchestra, Jimi Hendrix, and Wynton Marsalis ~ Bennett was born in 1936
May 11, 2020 ~ John David Martin, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Moon Martin, passed away in Encino, California, USA ~ Recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Shots From A Cold Nightmare released in 1978. Scored a number of modest solo hits, notably Rolene, No Chance, and X-Ray Vision. Best known however for penning Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor Doctor), a hit for Robert Palmer, and Cadillac Walk, made famous by Willy DeVille ~ Moon was born in 1945May 11, 2019 ~ Clarinetist Sol Yaged passed away in Coconut Creek, Florida, USA ~ Influenced by Benny Goodman. Offered a chair with the Buffalo Philharmonic, but embraced jazz instead. In-demand sideman through the 1940s and early 1950s, working with the likes of Phil Napoleon, Coleman Hawkins, Red Allen, and Jack Teagarden. Led his own ensembles from the mid 1950s onward, a fixture on the New York jazz scene through the late 1990s ~ Yaged was born in 1922
May 11, 2018 ~ Jazz pianist Mikhail Alperin passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Best known as member of the Moscow Art Trio. Also worked with Arkady Shilkloper, John Surman, Terje Gewelt, Jon Christensen, Tore Brunborg, and Anja Lechner ~ Alperin was born in 1956
May 11, 2016 ~ Jazz saxophonist Joe Temperley passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Tommy Sampson, Humphrey Lyttelton, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Joe Henderson, Duke Pearson, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Clark Terry, Brian Lemon, Jimmy Knepper, Jimmy Deuchar, Dave McKenna, Kenny Davern, Harry Allen, Benny Carter, Aaron Diehl, Odonel Levy, and Wynton Marsalis ~ Temperley was born in 1929
May 11, 2016 ~ Drummer, actor Peter Behrens passed away in Wilhelmshaven, Germany ~ Formed the band Trio, known best for the hit Da Da Da of their eponymous 1982 Trio debut album. The single would reach top 10 across Europe and sell over 13 million copies. Following the band's disbandement in 1986 Behrens would work as a social worker, record as a solo artist to moderate succes, and by the late 1980s venture into acting ~ Behrens was born in 1947
May 11, 2014 ~ Bassist Ed Gagliardi, full name Edward John Gagliardi, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Original bass player for Foreigner, present on the albums Foreigner and Double Vision, fired in 1979. Co-founded the band Spys in 1981 with former Foreigner-keyboardist Al Greenwood. Spys released just two albums, Spys and Behind Enemy Lines, but would be widely acclaimed for setting the tone for many 80s synth-rock bands. Gagliardi, who was right-handed, played the bass left-handed out of admiration for Paul McCartney ~ Gagliardi was born in 1952
May 11, 2011 ~ Eugene Edward Young, commonly known as trumpeter Snooky Young, passed away in Newport Beach, California, USA ~ Worked with Count Basie, Gerald Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Doc Severinsen, the Tonight Show Band, the Band, Norris Turney, Booty Wood, Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Marshal Royal, Ross Tompkins, Freddie Green, Ray Brown, Louie Bellson, Ray Charles, Milt Jackson, Sam Jones, Mark Murphy, Oliver Nelson, Charles Mingus, Quincy Jones, Ray Bryant, Herbie Mann, Chico O'Farrill, JJ Johnson, Lalo Schifrin, Maria Muldaur, Gene Ammons, BB King, Tracy Chapman, and Gerald Wilson ~ Young was born in 1919
May 11, 2008 ~ Joyce Reba Luttrell, commonly known as country, southern gospel singer, songwriter Dottie Rambo, passed away in Mount Vernon, Missouri, USA ~ Member of Singing Rambos, alongside husband Buck Rambo and daughter Reba Rambo. Best known as a songwriter with reportedly over 2,500 songs to her name. Artists who recorded Rambo's songs include Solomon Burke, Johnny Cash, Carol Channing, Barbara Fairchild, Larry Gatlin, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Jerry Lee Lewis, Barbara Mandrell, Bill Monroe, the Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jeannie C Riley, Connie Smith, Hank Snow, Mel Tillis, Rhonda Vincent, Porter Wagoner, and Dottie West ~ Rambo was born in 1934
May 11, 2006 ~ Yosef Banai, commonly known as singer, actor, dramatist Yossi Banai, passed away in Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Best known as an actor, working with most of the active theater companies in Israel and particalurly associated with playwright Nisim Aloni, starring in numerous of the latter's plays. As a singer known for his smoky voice, and as a fine interpreter of usually translated works of Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens. Banai's son is Yuval Banai, lead singer of influential pop rock band Mashina ~ Banai was born in 1932May 11, 2005 ~ Singer Darron Stankey, full name Darron Ronald Stankey, passed away ~ Member of harmony vocal group the Innocents, known for a number of late 1950s, early 1960s hits including Honest I Do and Gee Whiz. The group would be paired with singer Kathy Young, providing backing vocals to Young's A Thousand Stars which reached the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 ~ Stankey was born in 1942
May 11, 2004 ~ Producer, songwriter, singer John Whitehead passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Member of 1960s group the Epsilons, discovered by Otis Redding. Half of the production, songwriter McFadden & Whitehead, the other half being Gene McFadden. Best known for their 1979 disco hit Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now. As behind the scenes figures the pair wrote and produced some of the most enduring 1970s, 1980s R&B, soul songs for artists such as Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (Wake Up Everybody (Part 1)), Gladys Knight, the Jackson 5, the O'Jays (Back Stabbers), James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendergrass (The More I Get The More I Want), Lou Rawls, Archie Bell & the Drells (Let's Groove), and the Intruders. Whitehead was shot and killed at age 55 in an apparent case of mistaken identity, the case still unresolved ~ Whitehead was born in 1948
May 11, 2003 ~ Bassist, guitarist, singer Noel Redding, full name David Noel Redding, passed away in Clonakitty, Ireland ~ Rose to fame as member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, accompanying Jimi Hendrix on the albums Are You Experienced, Axis (Bold As Love) and Electric Ladyland. Co-founded Fat Mattress with Neil Landon, leaving after the 1969 eponymous Fat Mattress debut album. Reddign would go on to work with the Road, Noel Redding Band, Randy California, Cork, Mountain, and the British Invasion All-Stars ~ Redding was born in 1945
May 11, 1999 ~ Singer Will Smith releases Wild Wild West featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, recorded for the soundtrack of the film of the same name ~ Recorded for the film Wild Wild West in which Will Smith also starred, Wild Wild West heavily draws from both Stevie Wonder's I Wish and Kool Moe Dee's 1987 track Wild Wild West. While the film would be poorly received, Smith later stating it was the worst film he's ever done, the single was issued some six months ahead of the film's premiere and would be a massive global hit. It reached top 10 in well over a dozen countries including No.1 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart, and earned a Grammy Award nomination. Both Wonder and Kool Moe Dee helped with the track, Stevie Wonder appears in the music video and Kool Moe Dee guested on the recording, eliminating the need to sample his 1987 track. R&B group Dru Hill, which included Sisqó, are also present on the track, providing vocals for the chorusMay 11, 1995 ~ Bandleader, trombonist, pianist Ernie Fields, full name Ernest Lawrence Fields, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Father of saxophonist Ernie Fields Jr. Best known as bandleader of the house band at Rendezvous Records from the late 1950s until the company folded in 1963 working with sidemen such as Ernie Freeman, Plas Johnson and Earl Palmer ~ Fields was born in 1904
May 11, 1994 ~ R&B singer, guitarist, songwriter Danny Overbea passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his 1950s recordings Train Train Train and Forty Cups Of Coffee. Popular club performer, noted for his guitar skills, playing behind his back, and with his teeth, many such moves emulating T-Bone Walker ~ Overbea was born in 1926
May 11, 1994 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Any Time Any Place, lifted off her Janet album ~ Written and produced by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Any Time Any Place tells of a couple wanting to display affection in public situations, any time, any place. The sultry ballad would generally be regarded as a highlight of the album, with Record Mirror calling the song a “dreamy, sweet warbler” and Billboard especially praising the R Kelly remix which “prunes the seven-plus minute album version to an accessible length, shining a flattering light on Jackson's writhing vocal and the song's oh-so-sexy lyrical content”. Any Time Any Place would reach No.2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and topped the Billboard R&B chart, making it her eleventh No.1 on the tally
May 11, 1989 ~ Geoffrey Royce Rojas, commonly known as Latin pop, bachata, R&B singer, songwriter Prince Royce, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Released his eponymous Prince Royce debut album in 2010, which spawned the hit singles Stand By Me and Corazon Sin Cara. Has recorded to critical acclaim and warm reception in the Latin community since. Well known songs include Las Cosas Pequenas, Darte Un Beso, and Déjà Vu feat Shakira. Has also collaborated with Daddy Yankee, Thalia, Michel Teló, Pitbull, Sean Paul, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Snoop DoggMay 11, 1984 ~ Pianist Gerald Clayton born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Co-leads the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Has alo worked with Roy Hargrove, Diana Krall, Ben Wendel, Dianne Reeves, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ambrose Akinmusire, Dayna Stephens, Kendrick Scott, Avishai Cohen, and Gretchen Parlato
May 11, 1983 ~ Holly Rachel Vukadinovic, commonly known as actress, singer, model Holly Valance, born in Fitzroy, Australia ~ Actress known for roles in TV series such as Neighbours and films such DOA Dead Or Alive and Pledge This. Debuted as a singer with the Footprints album in 2002, spawing the UK hits Kiss Kiss, Down Boy and Naughty Girl
May 11, 1983 ~ Pop, R&B, hip-hop singer, rapper, songwriter John West born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Carole King, Jill Scott, and by Lenny Kravitz. Debuted in 2011 with the eponymous John West EP. Known for songs such as Lovely, Loved You Tonight, and Already There. Has worked with Christian Rich, Pusha T, Big Sean, Brian Kennedy, the Smeezingtons, Kevin Rudolf, and the Stereotypes