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, 1982 ~ Actor, singer Cory Monteith, full name Cory Allan Michael Monteith, born in Calgary, Canada ~ Best known for portraying the role of Finn Hudson on the musical drama TV series Glee. Monteith had struggled with substance abuse since his early teens and died of an apparent accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol at age 31 ~ Monteith passed away in 2013
May 11, 1981 ~ Reggae singer Bob Marley, full name Robert Nesta Marley passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Icon of reggae. The first Jamaican artist to reach international stardom. Fused reggae, ska, rocksteady with spiritual and socially conscious lyrics, often showcasing a positive vibe including on subjects relating to personal hardship or social injustice. As a lyricist held in the highest regard, on par with artists such as Bob Dylan. Backed by the Wailers would score hits with songs such as Get Up Stand Up, I Shot The Sheriff, No Woman No Cry and Could You Be Loved ~ Marley was born in 1945May 11, 1980 ~ Rock, punk, psychobilly singer, guitarist, songwriter Taylor Hollingsworth born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ First gained attention in the early 2000s, fronting Taylor & the Puffs. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Tragic City released in 2006. Forms the duo Dead Fingers with his wife singer Kate Taylor. Also closely associated with Conor Oberst, the Dexateens, and Verbena
May 11, 1979 ~ Bluegrass, country guitarist, mandolinist, singer Lester Flatt, full name Lester Raymond Flatt, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Rose to prominence as member of bluegrass icon Bill Monroe's backing unit. Teamed up with banjoist Earl Scruggs to form the famed duo Flatt & Scruggs, one of the most important bluegrass acts in the history of country music and especially known for Foggy Mountain Breakdown, The Ballad Of Jed Clampett, Pearl Pearl Pearl, and You Are My Flower ~ Flatt was born in 1914May 11, 1978 ~ Marie-Andrée Bergeron, commonly known as pop singer Ima, born ~ Sings in French, English, Italian and Spanish. Debuted in 2002 with her eponymous Ima, spawning the singles Ton Corps Sur Mon Corps, Donne-Moi and perhaps her best known song Baila, and has recorded consistently since
May 11, 1978 ~ Symphonic metal cellist Perttu Kivilaakso born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Best known as member of Apocalyptica. First appeared on the 2000 Cult album, though he had previously performed but not recorded with the band focusing on his studies instead. Wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs including Conclusion, Farewell and Beautiful. Has also composed the opera Indigo with bandmate Eicca Toppinen, which premiered at the Finnish National Opera in 2016May 11, 1976 ~ Jacob Brian Dutton, commonly known as hip-hop, trap producer, songwriter Jake One, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Influenced by Pete Rock, Dr Dre, DJ Premier, Marley Marl. Debuted as a solo artist with the White Van Music in 2008. Has collaborated with G-Unit, Freeway, Mayer Hawthorne, Brother Ali, and MF Doom
May 11, 1976 ~ Gospel, R&B, rock & roll singer, songwriter Wynona Carr, full name Wynona Merceris Carr, passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Actively recording since the late 1940s initially to little success. Would fade into obscurity by the early 1960s only to be rediscovered in the 1990s with re-releases of old material ~ Carr was born in 1924May 11, 1975 ~ Drummer Steve Hass born in Ronkonkoma, New York, USA ~ Worked with Bernard Pretty Purdie, Christian McBride, Suzanne Vega, Miri Ben Ari, Bob Berg, Richard Bona, the Manhattan Transfer, John Scofield, Mavis Staples, Billy Childs, Bob Sheppard, Brandon Fields, Alan Pasqua, Patti Austin, Keiko Matsui, Cher, Debbie Gibson, Larry Coryell, Abe Laboriel Sr, Ravi Coltrane, Traci Lords, Randy Brecker, Vinx, Matthew Parish, Tina Shafer, Janis Siegel, Ginny Owens, and Judy Wexler
May 11, 1974 ~ Norman Howell, commonly known as R&B, reggae, dancehall, reggaeton, hip-hop singer, songwriter Notch, born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Fluent in American English, Jamaican Patois and Spanglish, mixing all three dialects in his songs, a mixture he calls Spatoinglish. Lead singer for hip hop, reggae group Born Jamericans. Has also recorded as a solo artist, notably the track Nuttin Nuh Go So, and has collaborated with the likes of Daddy Yankee, Luny Tunes, Julio Voltio, Baby Ranks, the Thievery Corporation, Sublime, Pitbull, and the RascalzMay 11, 1972 ~ Piedmont blues, country blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Alec Seward, full name Alexander T Seward, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry, Louis Hayes, Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie. As a solo artist best known for Some People Say and Creepin' Blues, the latter with notable harmonica accompaniment by Larry Johnson ~ Seward was born in 1901
May 11, 1970 ~ Saxophonist Johnny Hodges passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Alongside Benny Carter considered one of the definitive alto sax players of the big band era. Started playing with artists such as Lloyd Scott, Sidney Bechet, Luckey Roberts, Chick Webb. Joined Duke Ellington on the recommendation of Ellington's clarinetist Barney Bigard. Hodges would become one of the most prominent players in Duke's ensemble. With the exception of the period 1951 through 1955, when he led his own band, Hodges played with Ellington from 1928 to his death in 1970. Signature pieces would include Confab With Rab, Jeep's Blues and Hodge Podge. Hodges's death prompted Ellington to remark the band “would never sound the same.” ~ Hodges was born in 1907May 11, 1967 ~ Amy Trujillo, commonly known as singer A'me Lorain, born in Simi Valley, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Family Affair, which included her brother bassist Freddy Trujillo and then-husband guitarist, drummer Victor Indrizzo. Known for their single Whole Wide World, a hit on the Dance charts and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 in 1990
May 11, 1966 ~ Drummer Christoph Schneider, also known as Christoph Doom Schneider, born in Berlin, Germany ~ Initially trained on the trumpet. Switched to drums, much to his parents disliking, in his teens. Best known as drummer of Rammstein, which he co-founded with Richard Kruspe and Oliver RiedelMay 11, 1966 ~ Jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger Julian Joseph, full name Julian Raphael Nathaniel Joseph, born in London, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Jean Toussaint, Alec Dankworth, Mark Mondesir, Sharon Musgrave, Peter John King, Charnett Moffett, Wayne Batchelor, Eddie Daniels, Johnny Griffin, Jason Rebello, Reginald Veal, Matthew Barley, Guy Barker, Billy Cobham, George Coleman, Chico Freeman, Emiliana Torrini, Don Braden, Nina Hagen, Courtney Pine, and Steve Williamson
May 11, 1966 ~ Country singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Kevin Fowler born in Amarillo, Texas, USA ~ Initially a rock singer and guitarist, lead guitarist for rock, glam metal band Dangerous Toys from 1992 through 1994 and subsequently forming his own Southern rock, hard rock group Thunderfoot. By the end of the decade would switch to country, self-releasing his Beer Bait & Ammo solo debut album in 2000. It's title track would be recorded by Sammy Kershaw in 2003, gaining Fowler attention in the country music scene. Others who recorded his songs include Mark Chesnutt (Lord Loves The Drinkin' Man, and Montgomery Gentry (Long Line Of Losers). As a recording artist Fowler has recorded over half a dozen albums, including the 2019 Dos Borrachos collaborative album with Roger Creager, and has charted with songs such as Ain't Drinkin' Anymore, The Best Mistake I Ever Made, Pound Sign, and That Girl
May 11, 1966 ~ R&B singer Wilson Pickett records Land Of 1,000 Dances at Fame Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama ~ Written by Chris Kenner. Previously recorded by Kenner in 1962, and again by Cannibal & the Headhunters in 1965, the song would become most closely associated with Wilson Pickett, his 1966 single, b/w You're So Fine, peaking at No.6 Billboard Hot 100 and No.1 on the Billboard R&B charts. Backing musicians include Chips Moman, Spooner Oldham, Charlie Chalmers, Andrew Love, Wayne Jackson and Floyd Newman
May 11, 1965 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Greg Dulli born in Hamilton, Ohio, USA ~ Co-founding member, frontman for Afghan Whigs, a soul and blues-infused indie rock band most acclaimed for early 1990s albums such as Congregation and Gentlemen. Has also worked with the Twilight Singers, the Gutter Twins co-founded with Mark Lanegan, and recorded as a solo artist. Dulli also guested on the Foo Fighters eponymous 1995 The Foo Fighters debut album, playing guitar on the track X-StaticMay 11, 1965 ~ Singer Liza Minnelli makes her Broadway debut in the musical Flora The Red Menace, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, at the Alvin Theatre, New York, New York ~ Although the show was not warmly received, and would lose almost all of its $400,000 investment, it marked a number of firsts. It was the first collaboration between John Kander and Fred Ebb, who would later go on to write successes such as Cabaret and Chicago, and marked Liza Minnelli's Broadway debut at age 19. Contrary to common belief, the show was not written with Minnelli in mind, but rather for Barbra Streisand with Eydie Gormé as a second choice. Minnelli, starring in the title role, would earn a Tony Award for her performance, making her the youngest person to do so
May 11, 1962 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Robert Balzar born in Náchod, Czech Republic ~ Worked with Joe Newman, Benny Bailey, Tony Scott, Benny Golson, Wynton Marsalis, Lew Tabackin, Sinan Alimanovic, Tony Lakatos, Hal Galper, Craig Handy, John Abercrombie, and Dan Bárta
May 11, 1960 ~ Post-punk, alternative rock, dream pop, new wave singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Mark Burgess born in Manchester, UK ~ Formed 1980s outfit the Chameleons, recording three albums before disbanding. Subsequently formed short-lived band the Sun & The Moon with bandmate drummer John Lever, known for their sole eponymous The Sun & The Moon album released in 1988. Formed late 1990s unit Invincible. Formed Black Swan Lane in the 2000s. Burgess has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Zima Junction released in 1993May 11, 1958 ~ Singer Connie Francis appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time, aired on CBS ~ Performing right after Tony Martin, Connie Francis sings her hit song I'm Sorry I Made You Cry. After this smash first appearance, Francis would make some two dozen more appearances on the show including two special episodes from West Berlin and Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
May 11, 1954 ~ Composer Judith Weir born in Cambridge, UK ~ First female composer appointed Master Of The King's Music, a feat she achieved granted the position by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014. Recognized for her orchestral and chamber works, yet best known for her theatrical works and operas such as The Black Spider, A Night At The Chinese Opera, The Vanishing Bridegroom, Blond Eckbert, and Miss Fortune (Achterbahn)
May 11, 1953 ~ Singer, songwriter Dorde Balasevic born in FPR Yugoslavia, FPR Yugoslavia ~ First gained attention in the late 1970s as a member of Rani Mraz, writing Racunajte Na Nas which would become one of the band's best known and an anthem of a generation. As a solo artist has about a dozen albums to his name starting with the well-received Pub released in 1982. Known for his outspoken political views, advocate of Yugoslavian unity, openly criticising ethnic nationalism and one of the most prominent critics of Slobodan Milosevic's regime ~ Balasevic passed away in 2021May 11, 1951 ~ Pop rock bassist, singer Joe Puerta born in Lomita, California, USA ~ Founding member of Ambrosia, for whom he co-wrote the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Holdin' On To Yesterday. Touring bassist, backing singer for Chi Coltrane, Laura Branigan, and Sheena Easton. Co-founded Bruce Hornsby & the Range, with whom he scored the 1984 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit The Way It Is