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 12, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, singer, songwriter Steve Winwood, full name Stephen Lawrence Winwood, born in Handsworth, UK ~ Rose to fame in his mid-teens as a member of the Spencer Davis Group, scoring hits with Keep On Running, Somebody Help Me, Gimme Some Lovin', and I'm A Man. Formed Traffic in 1967, with Jim Capaldi and Winwood writing the majority of the band's material including songs such as Paper Sun and The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys. Formed short-lived supergroup Blind Faith with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Steve Winwood released in 1977, and especially successful from the mid to late 1980s, songs such as Higher Love, The Finer Things, Valerie, Roll With It, and Don't You Know What The Night Can Do all reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Over the years, notable guest credits include playing the organ on Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Chile as well as appearances on albums by Joe Cocker, Howlin' Wolf, Lou Reed (Berlin), Toots & the Maytals, George Harrison, Billy Joel, Phil Collins (But Seriously), Soulsister, Paul Weller (Stanley Road), Miranda Lambert, and Gov't Mule
May 12, 1945 ~ Keyboardist Ian McLagan, full name Ian Patrick McLagan, born in Hounslow, UK ~ Member of the Small Faces, for whom he wrote Up The Wooden Hills To Bedforshire and Long Agos And Worlds Apart, and its successor the Faces. In-demand session and touring keyboardist, perhaps most notably for the Rolling Stones including playing electric piano on the Billboard Hot 100 charttopper Miss You of their 1978 Some Girls album. Close friend of Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, regularly serving in Wood's side projects including the New Barbarians. McLagan has also worked with artists such as Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Izzy Stradlin, John Hiatt, Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, and the Georgia Satellites ~ McLagan passed away in 2014
May 12, 1944 ~ Conductor, singer Brian Kay, full name Brian Christopher Kay, born ~ Bass singer in the King's Singers from 1968 through 1982. Choral conductor closely associated with the Huddersfield Choral Society and the Really Big Chorus. Voice of Papageno in the 1984 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart-biopic Amadeus. Voice of the “lowest-voiced frog” in Paul McCartney's We All Stand TogetherMay 12, 1944 ~ R&B, soul singer James Purify, full name James Lee Purify, born in Pensacola, Florida, USA ~ Half of James & Bobby Purify, the other half being Robert Lee Dickey, known for the 1966 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit I'm Your Puppet and 1967's Let Love Come Between Us ~ Purify passed away in 2021
May 12, 1942 ~ Singer, songwriter Ian Dury, full name Ian Robins Dury, born in Harrow, UK ~ Emerged among wave of punk, punk-pop, early new wave though none of the era's idioms fitted him. Known for his wordplay and lyrical prowess including complex rhyming akin to rap. Debuted in 1977 with the New Boots & Panties album. Known for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, the Gene Vincent-tribute Sweet Gene Vincent and perhaps his best known Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick ~ Dury passed away in 2000May 12, 1942 ~ Singer, songwriter Michel Fugain born in Grenoble, France ~ Actively recording since the late 1960s. Best known for his 1967 song Je N'Aurai Pas Le Temps. It would be notably covered by John Rowles the following year as If I Only Had Time, reaching top 10 across Europe
May 12, 1941 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion drummer Trevor Tomkins, full name Trevor Ramsey Tomkins, born in London, UK ~ Backed Don Rendell for most of the 1960s and early 1970s. Would go on to work with Nucleus, David Becker, Henry Lowther, Gilgamesh (Another Fine Tune You've Got Me Into), and Alan Gowen ~ Tomkins passed away in 2022
May 12, 1940 ~ Maj Lillemor Lindfors, commonly known as singer, comedian Lill Lindfors, born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Actively performing since the 1960s. Best known for her one-woman shows mixing music and comedy. One of the first Swedes to sing samba. Internationally known for reaching 2nd place in the 1966 Eurovision Songfestival with Nygammal Vals
May 12, 1940 ~ Songwriter Norman Whitfield, full name Norman Jesse Whitfield, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Renowned songwriter, producer, usually in partnership with Barrett Strong. Especially associated with the Temptations, producing eight of their albums from the mid 1960s through the early 1970s and co-writing some of their best known including Psychedelic Shack, Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) and Papa Was A Rollin' Stone. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Whitfield include the Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye (I Heard It Through The Grapevine), Gladys Knight, Edwin Starr (War), the Undisputed Truth (Smiling Faces Sometimes), Yvonne Fair, Willie Hutch, and Rose Royce (Car Wash) ~ Whitfield passed away in 2008
May 12, 1938 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Jimmy Hastings, full name James Brian Gordon Hastings, born in Aberdeen, UK ~ Prominent figure in the Canterbury scene, most closely associated with Caravan with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed In The Land Of Grey And Pink and For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night. Hastings has also notably appeared on albums by Soft Machine, Trapeze (You Are The Music (We're Just The Band)), Murray Head, Bryan Ferry, Chris Squire (Fish Out Of Water), Hatfield & the North, and National Health. To younger audiences perhaps best known for guesting on the 2001 Radiohead album Amnesiac along with other members of Humphrey Lyttelton's eight-piece jazz band ~ Hastings passed away in 2024
May 12, 1936 ~ Guitar builder Gilberto Grácio born in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Third generation luthier. Since his sons have no desire to continue the tradition he is the last of the Grácio luthiers, the family considered one of the most important traditional guitar makers in Europe. Towards the end of his life he still worked in his Lisbon workshop yet devoted most of his time teaching two students who kept making guitars according to his family's tradition. Musicians who played his guitars include Carlos Paredes, António Chainho, Fernando Alvim and Jimmy Page ~ Grácio passed away in 2021
May 12, 1936 ~ Saxophonist Klaus Doldinger, full name Klaus Erich Dieter Doldinger, born in Berlin, Germany ~ Best known as founder, frontman, constant member of long-running outfit Passport, active since the early 1970s. Especially in its early days, the jazz-fusion outfit was critically regarded as “the European the Weather Report” for its influence. Doldinger is also well known for numerous film scores, perhaps most notably for the 1981 cult film Das Boot. Its characteric lead melody would later be used by rave group U96 for their 1991 Das Boot debut single ~ Doldinger passed away in 2025
May 12, 1935 ~ Jazz double bassist Gary Peacock born in Burley, Idaho, USA ~ Active since the early 1950s. Closely associated with Laurindo Almeida, Albert Ayler, Paul Bley, and specifically Keith Jarrett, recording over two dozen albums with the latter starting in the early 1980s. As a leader best known for his 1977 Tales Of Another album. Has also appeared on albums by Terry Gibbs, Wes Montgomery (The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery), Bud Shank, Don Ellis, Ravi Shankar, Tony Williams, Helen Merrill, Chick Corea (Live In Montreux), Leon Redbone, Michel Petrucciani, and John Surman ~ Peacock passed away in 2020May 12, 1935 ~ Rock, jazz, folk keyboardist, organist, bassist, guitarist, banjoist, tubist, trombonist, hornist Steve Knight, full name Stephen Sanders Knight, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as member of Mountain from 1960 through 1972, present for their 1969 the Woodstock Music and Art Fair performance. Knight appeared on the band's first three albums, Climbing, Nantucket Sleighride and Flowers Of Evil. The band is best known for their 1970 Mississippi Queen single, considered a rock classic to this day. Previously Knight has played with the Feenjon Group, the Peacemakers, Devil's Anvil, and the short-lived late 1960s psychedelic folk outfit Wings ~ Knight passed away in 2013
May 12, 1931 ~ Violinist, conductor, composer Eugène Ysaÿe, full name Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe, passed away in Brussels, Belgium ~ Dubbed “the King of the Violin” for his virtuosity. Principal violinist with the Benjamin-Bilse Beer Hall Orchestra, which would later develop into the Berlin Philharmonic. Held in the highest regard by the likes of Joseph Joachim, Franz Liszt, Clara Schumann, Anton Rubinstein, Pablo Casals. Had works written especially for him by composers such as Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saëns, Ernest Chausson, and César Franck. The latter would write Violin Sonata In A as a wedding present for Ysaÿe and his wife in 1886, a composition Ysaÿe would regularly perform for the rest of his life. Close friend Debussy dedicated his only string quartet, String Quartet In G-Minor, to Ysaÿe ~ Ysaÿe was born in 1858
May 12, 1928 ~ Pianist, songwriter, producer Burt Bacharach, full name Burt Freeman Bacharach, born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Considered one of the finest 20th century composers, Bacharach penned hundreds of songs from the late 1950s through the 1980s, often in partnership with lyricist Hal David. Had his songs recorded by over an estimated 1,000 artists including Marty Robbins, Perry Como (Magic Moments), Etta James, Gene Pitney (24 Hours From Tulsa), Dionne Warwick (Don't Make Me Over), the Drifters, Brook Benton, Jackie DeShannon (What The World Needs Now Is Love), the Jazz Crusaders, the Carpenters ((They Long To Be) Close To You)), Tom Jones (What's New Pussycat), Herb Alpert (This Guy's In Love With You), Dusty Springfield, BJ Thomas (Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head), and Christopher Cross ~ Bacharach passed away in 2023May 12, 1928 ~ Songwriter, arranger, producer, saxophonist Henry Cosby born in Royal Oaks, Michigan, USA ~ Key collaborator of Stevie Wonder during the 1960s. Co-wrote, co-produced several hits for Wonder (Fingertips (Pt.2), My Cherie Amour, I Was Made To Love Her), Edwin Starr, the Supremes (Love Child), Brenda Holloway, the Miracles (The Tears Of A Clown), Marvin Gaye, and other Motown artists ~ Cosby passed away in 2002
May 12, 1927 ~ Barbara Jean Spillman, commonly known as folk, blues, jazz singer, guitarist, political activist Barbara Dane, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Praised for her rich voice, known for her political activism. Described as “Bessie Smith in stereo” by noted jazz critic Leonard Feather, and as “one of the true unsung heroes of American music” by the Boston Globe. Early on in her career, Dane turned down an offer to tour with Alvino Rey's band, favoring singing at factory gates and in union halls. Starting with the highly acclaimed Trouble In Mind in 1957, Dane has recorded over a dozen albums as a singer, including collaborations with Benny Carter, Lightnin' Hopkins, and the Chamber Brothers. Dane has also co-founded Paredon Records in the early 1970s, a label known for recordings by artists from across the globe adressing racial justice, feminism and anti-imperialism. Dane would later comment on the need for the label: “I saw that whenever the movement in a particular country was strong, there was an emerging music to go with it. It struck me that this stuff needed to be heard in the voices of the people who wrote the songs” ~ Dane passed away in 2024
May 12, 1922 ~ Jazz, swing, bop pianist, organist Gerald Wiggins, full name Gerald Foster Wiggins Sr, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Flexible pianist with over a dozen albums to his name as leader or co-leader, often working with a trio including bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Paul Humphrey. Especially noted for his 1953 Gerald Wiggins Trio album. As a sideman, Wiggins has appeared on albums by Zoot Sims (Zoot Sims In Paris), Milt Jackson, Joe Morello, Red Callender (Swingin' Suite), Buddy Collette (Man Of Many Parts), Frances Faye, Jack Millman (Shades Of Things To Come), Ray Bryant, Victor Feldman (Suite Sixteen), Curtis Counce, Billy Eckstine, Benny Carter (Aspects), Eric Dolphy, Lou Rawls, Mel Brown (Chicken Fat), Harry Sweets Edison, and Linda Hopkins ~ Wiggins passed away in 2008May 12, 1921 ~ Guitarist, fiddler, singer Joe Maphis born in Suffolk, Virginia, USA ~ One of country's flashiest guitarists from the 1950s and 1960s. Best known for Dim Lights Thick Smoke And Loud Loud Music. As a backing guitarist, Maphis has worked with Merle Travis, Johnny Bond, Johnny Burnette, Doyle Holly, the Collins Kids, Wanda Jackson, Rose Maddox, and Ricky Nelson ~ Maphis passed away in 1986
May 12, 1920 ~ Billie Moore, commonly known as Western swing, country mandolinist Tiny Moore, born in Port Arthur, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his work with Bob Wills during the 1940s and early 1950s, earning a reputation as one of the all-time prime mandolin players. Notably present on classic Wills tracks such as Three Guitar Rag and Bubbles In My Beer. Tired of touring, Moore would mostly retire from music by the early 1950s, keeping himself occupied running a bar, and hosting a children's TV show on a local station. Later he would serve in Merle Haggard's backing unit the Strangers for a little over a decade, and record two acclaimed albums of his own, 1972's Tiny Moore Music and 1979's Back To Back with fellow mandolin virtuoso Jethro Burns. Although best known as a mandolin player, Moore also mastered fiddle, banjo, and drums. Moore would be posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1999 for his work with Wills's group the Texas Playboys ~ Moore passed away in 1987May 12, 1910 ~ Arranger, composer, pianist Gordon Jenkins, full name Gordon Hill Jenkins, born in Webster Groves, Missouri, USA ~ Worked with the Andrews Sisters, Johnny Cash, the Weavers, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Harry Nilsson, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Isham Jones, Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Andre Kostelanetz, Lennie Hayton, Dick Haymes, Charles Lavere, and Patty Andrews ~ Jenkins passed away in 1984
May 12, 1901 ~ Conductor, violinist, composer Hyam Greenbaum born in Brighton, UK ~ Founded and conducted the BBC Television Orchestra, playing on the inaugural broadcast in August 1936 making him the world's first conductor of any TV orchestra. The orchestra was disbanded in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II as the TV service was suspended, yet Greenbaum would continue to conduct for BBC radio with other orchestras ~ Greenbaum passed away in 1942
May 12, 1845 ~ Organist, pianist, composer Gabriel Fauré, full name Gabriel Urbain Fauré, born in Pamiers, France ~ Considered of the foremost French composers of his generation. Served as the bridge between the Romantic era and modernism of the 20th century. Known for works such as Pavane, Sicilienne, Après Un Rêve, and Clair De Lune ~ Fauré passed away in 1924