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 13, 2026 ~ Blues, soul singer, guitarist, songwriter Clarence Carter, full name Clarence George Carter, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Probably best known for his 1970 rendition of Patches, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic and earned Carter a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song. Over the course of his career, Carter has recorded well over a dozen albums, enjoying popularity especially through the early 1970s. Well known songs include Slip Away, Snatching It Back, Doin' Our Thing, and I Can't Leave Your Love Alone, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B. Carter was married to singer Candi Staton from 1970 through 1973 ~ Carter was born in 1936
May 13, 2024 ~ Gypsy jazz, jazz fusion, world music guitarist Christian Escoudé passed away in Charente, France ~ Taught the guitar by his father, Escoudé would play professionally by his mid-teens, drawing from be-bop and gypsy jazz. Regarded a virtuoso, Escoudé has recorded prolifically since the mid 1970s and is especially acclaimed for Gitane, a 1979 collaborative album with Charlie Haden, and Cookin' In Hell's Kitchen released in 1995. Closely associated with Aimé Barelli, Michel Graillier, and John McLaughlin, touring with the latter in the early 1980s. An in-demand sideman and collaborator, Escoudé has also appeared on albums by André Ceccarelli, John Lewis (Midnight In Paris), Martial Solal, Michel Portal (L'Ombre Rouge), René Urtreger, Louis Chédid, Jean-Marc Jafet, and Florin Niculescu ~ Escoudé was born in 1947
May 13, 2022 ~ Raqhid Jevon Render, commonly known as hip-hop, trap rapper, songwriter Lil' Keed, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Best known for his 2018 single Nameless. Has collaborated with Lil' Uzi Vert, Zaytoven, OT Genasis, Young Thug, Lil' Yachty, Lil Gotit, and Nasty C ~ Render was born in 1998
May 13, 2022 ~ Mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza, full name Teresa Berganza Vargas, passed away in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain ~ Admired for her technical virtuosity and beguiling stage presence. Key singer in Gioachino Rossini renaissance, noted for roles in Cinderella, The Italian Girl In Algiers, and notably as Rosina in The Barber Of Seville, the latter a signature role for Berganza. Has worked with renowned companies such as La Scala, the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera, and the Opera Bastille ~ Berganza was born in 1933May 13, 2021 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger Norman Simmons passed away in Mesa, Arizona, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Known among others for his arrangement of Ramsey Lewis's 1966 hit Wade In The Water. Has worked with artists such as Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, Joe Williams, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Griffin, Red Holloway, Etta Jones, Betty Carter, Dakota Staton, and Clifford Jordan ~ Simmons was born in 1929
May 13, 2019 ~ Doris Mary Ann Kapelhoff, commonly known as singer, actress Doris Day, passed away in Carmel Valley, California, USA ~ One of the biggest film stars of the 1960s. Active as a singer since the late 1930s. Recorded an estimate 650 songs. Known for recordings such as Sentimental Journey, My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time, You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart), I Got The Sun In The Morning, It's Magic, Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be). Has worked with artists such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby, and Les Brown ~ Kappelhoff was born in 1922
May 13, 2018 ~ Composer, guitarist Glenn Branca passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ To pop, rock audiences best known for founding the Theoretical Girls with conceptual artist Jeff Lohn. The band played less than two dozen sets, were never signed by a record company and released just one single, US Millie b/w You Got Me, but was nevertheless considered an early leading no wave group mixing modern classical music with punk rock ~ Branca was born in 1948May 13, 2018 ~ Jazz drummer John von Ohlen passed away in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Led several ensembles, both big and small, including the Blue Wisp Big Band. Also worked with Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Billy Maxted, and Steve Allee ~ Von Ohlen was born in 1941
May 13, 2017 ~ Singer Salvador Sobral wins the 62nd edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Kyiv, Ukraine ~ Representing Portugal, Salvador Sobral wins with the song Amar Pelos Dois written by his sister Luisa Sobral. Runner-ups would be Bulgaria's Kristian Kostov with Beautiful Mess in second place, and Moldova's the SunStroke Project with Hey Mamma in third
May 13, 2016 ~ Singer Jimmy Powell passed away in Bilsworth, UK ~ Best known as lead singer of the Five Dimensions, which briefly included a then-unknown Rod Stewart. The band's initial line-up also featured guitarists Gary Leport and Peter Mariosa, drummer Brian Kattenhorn and bassist Louis Cennamo. Also worked with Millie Small, PJ Proby, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Clem Cattini, the Rockin' Berries, BJ Wilson, and Puzzle ~ Powell was born in 1942May 13, 2015 ~ Singer Nick Fradiani wins the 14th season of American Idol, aired on Fox ~ Nick Fradiani wins the 14th season of the talent show, beating singer Clark Beckham. Following his success on the show, Fradiani released his Hurricane debut album the following year. The album would fail to reach the top half of the Billboard Hot 200, its lead single Beautiful Life stalled at No.93 Billboard Hot 100. Prior to his solo success on American Idol, Fradiani was the lead singer of pop rock band Beach Avenue, with whom he enjoyed regional success in the Milford, Connecticut, area
May 13, 2012 ~ Donald Dunn, commonly known as bassist Donald Duck Dunn, passed away in Tokyo, Japan ~ Member of the Mar-keys, known for their 1961 Last Night hit single. Would go on to become a member of noted Stax/Volt house band Booker T & the MG's, appearing on hundreds of fondly remembered tracks by Otis Redding (Respect), Rufus Thomas, William Bell, Sam & Dave (Hold On I'm Coming), Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Albert King (Born Under A Bad Sign), Johnnie Taylor, and Bill Withers. After his tenure with Stax/Volt Dunn has worked with Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Stevie Nicks (Stop Draggin' My Heart Around), Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, and the Blues Brothers ~ Dunn was born in 1941May 13, 2012 ~ Heavy metal, black metal singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Trond Brathem passed away in Hønesfoss, Norway ~ Primarily known as co-founding member, lead singer, guitarist of black metal group Urgehall, with whom he recorded seven albums. Closely associated with Lars Fredrik Frøislie, his regular collaborator in an array of side projects and bands. Well known credits include Kvist, Beastcraft, In Lingua Mortua, Angst Skvadron, and Endezzma ~ Bråthen was born in 1977
May 13, 2011 ~ Cellist Bernard Greenhouse passed away in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, USA ~ Co-founded the Beaux Arts Trio with violinist Daniel Guilet and pianist Menahem Pressler in the mid 1950s. Acknowledged for its precise playing, the trio's repertoire includes the standard piano works ranging from Maurice Ravel and Gabriel Fauré to Ludwig van Beethoven. Greenhouse remained with the trio through 1987 to be succeeded by Peter Wiley ~ Greenhouse was born in 1916
May 13, 2000 ~ Pop-rock duo the Olsen Brothers win the 45th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Representing Denmark, the Olsen Brothers win with the song Fly On The Wings Of Love written by Jørgen Olsen. Runner-ups would be Russia's Alsou with Solo in second place, and Latvia's Brainstorm with My Star in thirdMay 13, 1999 ~ Jazz drummer Motohiko Hino passed away ~ Brother of Terumasa Hino. Motohiko has played professionally since age 17. Has worked with artists such as Jon Faddis, Billy Harper, Joanne Brackeen, Joe Henderson, Takehiro Honda, Nobuyochi Ino, Karen Mantler, Hugh Masekela, John Scofield, Jean-Luc Ponty, Sonny Rollins, and Shungo Sawada ~ Hino was born in 1946
May 13, 1996 ~ Tate Sequoya Farris, commonly known as singer, rapper, producer Yung Baby Tate, born in Decatur, Georgia, USA ~ Daughter of singer, producer David Ryan Harris and soul singer Dionne Farriss. Released her Girls debut album in 2019. Hass collaborated with Flwr Chyld, Miracle Whip, Ashnikko (Stupid), and La Lana
May 13, 1995 ~ Pop group the Secret Garden wins the 40th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Dublin, Ireland ~ Representing Norway, pop group the Secret Garden win with the song Nocturne written by Rolf Løvland and Petter Skavlan. Runner-ups would be Spain's Anabel Conde with Vuelve Conmigo in second place, and Sweden's Jan Johansen with Se På Mej in third
May 13, 1988 ~ Chesney Henry Baker Jr, commonly known as cool jazz, bebop trumpeter, singer Chet Baker, passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Dubbed “the Prince of Cool” known for his innovations to the genre. As a composer known for songs such as Chetty's Lullaby, So Che Ti Perdero (I Know I Will Lose You), The Route, Skiddaddklin, New Morning Blues, Dessert, Blue Gilles and We Know It's Love. Has worked with Gerry Mulligan, Russ Freeman, Bob Whitlock, Carson Smith, Shelly Manne, Elvis Costello (Shipbuilding), Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Jack Sheldon, Dick Twardzik, and Kirk Lightsey ~ Baker was born in 1929
May 13, 1988 ~ Folk rock, indie rock bassist Wylie Gelber born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of post-punk band Simon Dawes. Following the band's disbandement following the departure of Blake Mills in 2007 the remaining members would form indie folk rock outfit Dawes, drawing equally from the Band and Crosby Stills & Nash. Gelber has recorded over half a dozen albums with the band, including the critically acclaimed All Your Favorite Bands album released in 2015. The band is perhaps known for songs such as Things Happen, When The Tequila Runs Out, and Who Do You Think You're Talking To. Gelber also runs Gelber & Sons, a Los Angeles-based guitar building company
May 13, 1987 ~ Salsa, boogaloo, bomba, plena singer, songwriter Ismael Rivera passed away in Santurce, Puerto Rico ~ Lead singer of the Orquesta Panamericana in the early 1950s, present on hits such as El Charlatan, Ya Yo Se and La Saxon De Abuela. Joined the Cortijo Combo as lead singer in 1954, known for songs such as El Bombon De Elena, Oriza and El Yayo. As a solo artist best known for the 1974 hit Las Cara Linda (De Mi Gente Negra). Rivera recorded and performed well into the 1970s, one of his last performances opening for Bob Marley in Paris in 1978 ~ Rivera was born in 1931
May 13, 1987 ~ Hard rock, glam metal outfit Mötley Crüe release Girls Girls Girls, lifted off the album of the same name ~ The song is a tribute to strip clubs, seven of which are mentioned by name in the song. Issued as the lead single off the album of the same name, it would reach No.12 Billboard Hot 100, making it their highest-charting single up to this point. Bassist Nikki Sixx, who co-wrote the song with guitarist Mick Mars and drummer Tommy Lee, would later explain in a Rolling Stone interview how the song reflected the band's lifestyle at the time: “It's what we were doing. We were riding motorcycles and hanging out in strip clubs. We were off the road. We were young guys having fun, man”
May 13, 1986 ~ Singer, songwriter, violinist, pianist Alexander Rybak born in Minsk, Belarus ~ Early on in his career enjoyed popularity in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe as a teen idol. Has represented his native Norway twice at the Eurovision Songfestival, winning in 2009 with Fairytale and reaching 15th place in 2018 with That's How You Write A Song. After two successful pop albums, his Fairytales debut album and its No Boundaries follow-up, Rybak switched to children's music, classical and classical crossover
May 13, 1981 ~ Kevin Woods, commonly known as rapper Chevy Woods, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his association with Wiz Khalifa. As a solo artist known for the songs 30 Deep (2014) and All Said And Done (2015). Collaborated with Taylor Gang, Boaz, Juicy J, French Montana, Mac Miller, Big Sean, Cardo, Key Wane, Sonny Digital, Soulja Boy, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Mob, BoB, Joey Badass, Ty Dolla $ign, Pro-Era, Trinidad James, and 808 MafiaMay 13, 1979 ~ Bassist Mickey Madden born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Member of Kara's Flowers. Founding member, bassist of Maroon 5 known for hits such as This Love, Makes Me Wonder, Moves Like Jagger featuring Christina Aguilera, One More Night, Animals, Sugar, Don't Wanna Know featuring Kendrick Lamar, Girls Like You featuring Cardi B and Memories, all of which reached top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100