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 15, 1944 ~ Pop rock guitarist, singer Ian Amey also known as Tich, full name Ian Frederick Stephen Amey, born in Salisbury, UK ~ Co-founding member of Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich. With their zany stage act and lurid dress sense, the band enjoyed popularity especially in Australia, New Zealand, and their native UK during the 1960s, yet unlike many of their contemporaries they failed to achieve much chart success in America. The band scored close to a dozen top 20 UK hits through 1968 drawing from freakbeat, mod, and pop. Well-known songs include Bend It, Save Me, Zabadak, and perhaps their best known the million-seller The Legend Of Xanadu, the latter their sole UK No.1 hit. Hold Tight, originally a 1967 UK No.4 hit, would later be used in the Quentin Tarantino film Death Proof released in 2007 ~ Amey passed away in 2024
May 15, 1943 ~ Pop, R&B producer, songwriter Freddie Perren, full name Frederick James Perren, born in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of revered Motown production, songwriting team the Corporation. Moved from Motown soul to disco in the 1970s. Co-wrote and produced songs such as Boogie Fever for the Sylvers, I Will Survive for Gloria Gaynor, and Shake Your Groove Thing for Peaches & Herb. Also worked with artists such as the Jackson 5, the Miracles, Tavares, and New Edition ~ Perren passed away in 2004May 15, 1940 ~ Singer Jackie Shane born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Contributor to the Toronto sound. Best known for her 1962 recording Any Other Way. Faded out of spotlight in the early 1970s. Turned down an offer to join Sly & the Family Stone. Long labeled a drag queen and ambiguous about her own identity Shane came out as a transgender woman in a 2017 interview ~ Shane passed away in 2019
May 15, 1940 ~ Guitarist, arranger, composer Oscar Castro Neves, full name Carlos Oscar de Castro Nves, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Toured with Stan Getz and with Sérgio Mendes. Member of the Paul Winter Consort. Also worked with Billy Eckstine, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, João Gilberto, Eliane Elias, Lee Ritenour, Airto Moreira, Toots Thielemans, John Klemmer, Carol Weisman, Diane Schuur, Luiz Bonfá, João Donato, Manfredo Fest, Al Jarreau, Joe Pass, Ella Fitzgerald, the Manhattan Transfer, David Benoit, Terence Blanchard, Rosemary Clooney, Don Grusin, and Gerald Wilson
May 15, 1938 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Larry Johnson, full name Larry Alonzo Johnson, born in Wrightsville, Georgia, USA ~ Worked with Big Joe Williams, Alec Seward, Reverend Gary Davis. Debuted as a solo artist in 1962 with the eponymous Larry Johnson album. Recorded a number of low-key albums throughout the 1980s before finding acclaim and becoming an in-demand concert performer in the 1990s, especially in Europe, with albums such as Railroad Man and Blues For Harlem ~ Johnson passed away in 2016
May 15, 1937 ~ Jazz singer Karin Krog born in Oslo, Norway ~ Active since the mid 1950s. Started with Kjell Karlsen. Continued on to work with musicians such as Vigleik Storaas, Jacob Young, Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen, Jan Garbarek, Dexter Gordon, Kenny Drew, Don Ellis, Steve Kuhn, Archie Shepp, Paul Bley, John Surman, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Red Mitchell, Bengt Hallberg, and Tore Johansen
May 15, 1937 ~ Singer, guitarist Trini López, full name Trinidad López III, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Discovered by Frank Sinatra, who would become a life-long friend. Best known for songs such as The Lemon Tree, I'm Comin' Home Cindy, Sally Was A Good Old Girl and perhaps his best known If I Had A Hammer, the latter topping the charts in some 35 countries in 1963 ~ López passed away in 2020
May 15, 1928 ~ Walter Gold, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer, label executive Wally Gold born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Founding member of the Four Esquires, known for the late 1950s hits Love Me Forever and Hideaway. Co-wrote Elvis Presley's It's Now Or Never and Good Luck Charm. Others who recorded his songs include Gene Vincent, Lesley Gore (It's My Party), Duane Eddy, Gene Pitney, and Nat King Cole. Produced Barbra Streisand's 1969 What About Today album. Discovered and produced Kansas ~ Gold passed away in 1998
May 15, 1922 ~ Jazz, classical hornist James Buffington, full name James Lawrence Buffington, born in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, USA ~ One of the few French horn players in jazz. Has recorded occasionally as a leader but best known as an in-demand sideman active since the 1950s. Well-known for his association with Miles Davis, notably present on the albums Miles Ahead and Sketches Of Spain, and with Gil Evans. Has also appeared on albums by the likes of Chet Baker, Coleman Hawkins, Manny Albam (The Drum Suite), Art Farmer, John Coltrane (Africa/Brass), Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Smith, Stan Getz, Stanley Turrentine (Look Of Love), Moondog, Freddie Hubbard, Houston Person, George Benson (White Rabbit), Hank Crawford, Janis Ian (Between The Lines), Sister Sledge, Meco, Joe Farrell, and Wes Montgomery ~ Buffington passed away in 1981
May 15, 1918 ~ Singer, guitarist Eddy Arnold, full name Richard Edward Arnold, born in Henderson, Tennessee, USA ~ Nashville sound innovator. Sold over 85 million records. Scored 147 singles on Billboard's country charts. Known for songs such as To My Sorrow, Cuddle Buggin' Baby, I Wanna Play House With You, I Really Don't Want To Know, The Cattle Call, A Little Heartache, What's He Doing In My World, Make The World Go Away, and Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye ~ Arnold passed away in 2008May 15, 1912 ~ Composer, music critic, author Arthur Berger, full name Arthur Victor Berger, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founded the academic music journal Perspectives Of New Music, a journal focusing on music theory and analysis. As a composer influenced by Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern. Best known for neoclassical works such as Serenade Concertante and Three Pieces For Strings ~ Berger passed away in 2003
May 15, 1901 ~ Jazz clarinetist, bandleader Edmond Hall born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman Best known for his 1941 recording Profoundly Blue, considered a jazz classic. Worked with Billie Holiday, Sid Catlett, Ida Cox, Wild Bill Davison, Roy Eldridge, Bud Freeman, Hot Lips Page, Zutty Singleton, Art Tatum, Jack Teagarden, Big Joe Turner, Teddy Wilson, Louis Armstrong, Baby Dodds, and Eddie Condon ~ Hall passed away in 1967
May 15, 1870 ~ Ragtime era singer, comedian Eddie Morton, full name Edward Farren Morton, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked for the Philadelphia PD before pursuing a full-time career as a performer, earning him the nickname “the Singing Cop”. Known for songs such as That's Gratitude, Just A Friend Of The Family, You Ain't Talking To Me and Oceana Roll ~ Morton passed away in 1938