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 16, 1976 ~ Christian singer, songwriter, pastor, author Ana Paula Valadão, full name Ana Paula Machado Valadão Bessa, born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil ~ Leads worship band Diante Do Trono, one of the most popular contemporairy praise bands with well over two dozen ablums since the late 1990s and record sales exceeding 15 million copies
May 16, 1975 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Tony Kakko, full name Toni Kristian Kakko, born in Kemi, Finland ~ Lead singer, primary songwriter and alongside drummer Tommy Portimo the only other constant member of power metal unit Sonata Arctica. Kakko has recorded over half a dozen albums with the band, including the acclaimed Reckoning Night album released in 2005. Kakko has also worked with the Northern Kings, and guested on albums by Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Stratovarius, Tuomas Holopainen, and Lordi
May 16, 1974 ~ Indie rock, alternative rock bassist, songwriter, author Johanna Fateman, full name Johanna Rachel Fateman, born ~ Started as a writer and producer for several zines. It was through one of her zines that she met future bandmate Kathleen Hanna, who was impressed and inspired by her writing. The two kept in touch and would later form the Troublemakers. The duo would later team up with Sadie Benning and form Le Tigre in 1998. Fateman has since also recorded as a solo artist, worked with MEN, and co-wrote and produced the Christina Aguilera song My Girls
May 16, 1974 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer, TV personality Laura Pausini born in Faenza, Italy ~ Rose to fame in 1993 with her La Solitudine debut single which reached topped 10 across Europe including No.1 spots in the Netherlands, Belgium and her native Italy. Her full-length eponymous Laura Pausini debut album followed later the same year. Has recorded consistently since. Well known songs include Strani Amore, Un'emergenza D'Amore, Tra Te E Il Mare, E Ritorno Da Te, Resta In Ascolto, Lo Canto, Invece No, Benveneto, and Limpido
May 16, 1974 ~ Indie rock, alt country, emo producer, guitarist, mandolinist, banjoist, engineer Mike Mogis, full name Michael Riley Mogis, born in North Platte, Nebraska, USA ~ Co-founded Presto Recording Studios with his brother AJ Mogis. Member of Bright Eyes, Lullaby For The Working Class, We'd Rather Be Flying, and of supergroup the Monsters Of Folk. In-demand producer, engineer, collaborator for artists such as the Faint, Rilo Kiley, Cursive, Hood Life, Jenny Lewis, Tilly & the Wall, and Elizabeth & the CatapultMay 16, 1971 ~ Singer, guitarist Rick Trevino born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Member of Los Super Seven alongside Freddy Fender, Flaco Jiménez and Ruben Ramos. As a solo artist known for songs such as Just Enough Rope (Bastante Cordon), She Can't Say I Didn't Cry, Running Out Of Reasons To Run, and I Only Get This Way With You
May 16, 1971 ~ Guitarist, bassist, keyboardist Simon Katz, full name Simon Laurence Katz, born in Nottingham, UK ~ Best known as a member of Jamiroquai from 1995 to 2000, present on the acclaimed albums Travelling Without Moving and Synkronized. Also worked with Damon Albarn's group Gorillaz, Ms Dynamite, Sia, Gemma Fox, the Mad Professor, and the Platinum Pied Pipers
May 16, 1969 ~ Anthony Banks, commonly known as producer, rapper Ant Banks, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ As a solo recording artist has released a number on albums in the mid 1990s, notably The Big Badass in 1994. As a producer, collaborative musician active since the last 1980s working with artists such as Too $hort, E-40, the Dangerous Crew, B-Legit, Snoop Dogg, NWA, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Dr Dre, Coolio, and Mack 10
May 16, 1969 ~ Country singer, guitarist Roger Miller records Me & Bobby McGee ~ Written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. Best known to rock audiences in Janis Joplin's version, recorded for inclusion on Pearl just a few death days before her death and the second posthumously released single in Billboard history to top the charts, the first being Otis Redding's (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay. Roger Miller's version was actually the original version, though. Other artists who recorded this song around the same time included Kenny Rogers on the 1969 Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town album, Gordon Lightfoot reaching No.13 on the Canadian pop singles chart in 1970, the Statler Brothers on their 1970 Bed Of Rose's album and Kristofferson himself on his 1970 Kristofferson album. The song would become mostly associated with Joplin though, giving her her sole albeit posthumously No.1 Billboard hit in 1971
May 16, 1968 ~ R&B, new jack swing singer, rapper, songwriter Ralph Tresvant born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Lead singer of new jack swing outfit New Edition, the band name being a reference to the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons, and known for hits such as Cool It Now, If It Isn't Love and I'm Still In Love With You. Debuted as a solo artist with the eponymous Ralph Tresvant in 1990. Would team up in 2008 with former Edition bandmates Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill performing under the moniker the Heads Of State
May 16, 1966 ~ R&B, pop, soul singer, songwriter Janet Jackson, full name Janet Damita Jo Jackson, born in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ The most successful Jackson sibling to pursue a career without the aid of the family's patriarch Joe Jackson. Has sold over 100 million records. Became a pop icon in the 1980s with albums such as Control and Rhythm Nation 1814. Worked extensively with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on. Known for Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as What Have You Done For Me Lately, Nasty, When I Think Of You, Let's Wait Awhile, Miss You Much, Come Back To Me, Black Cat, Love Will Never Do (Without You), That's The Way Love Goes, Any Time Any Place and All For You. Has collaborated with Herb Alpert, the Jacksons, Luther Vandross, Shaggy, Busta Rhymes, Blackstreet, Beenie Man, and Q-TipMay 16, 1965 ~ The musical The Roar Of The Greasepaint (The Smell Of The Crowd), written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, opens on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre, New York, New York ~ Hoping to match the success of their previous musical, Stop The World (I Want To Get Off), Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse wrote The Roar Of The Greasepaint (The Smell Of The Crowd). The show opened in Nottingham in August 1964 and subsequently toured the UK, but failed to reach the West End as interest was minimal. American theatre producer David Merrick, however, caught the show in Liverpool, and brought the show to America, expecting to get his investment back as costs could be kept low. After a lengthy American tour, and aided by the success of Tony Bennett's hit rendition of Who Can I Turn To, the most famous song from the show, the production would reach Broadway where it ran for some 230 performances. Merrick had made his money back before the tour was completed
May 16, 1965 ~ Bassist Krist Novoselic, full name Krist Anthony Novoselic, born in Compton, California, USA ~ Co-founding and constant member of Nirvana, regarded as the most successful and influential grunge band of the 1990s known for songs such as Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, In Bloom, All Apologies, and Heart-Shaped Box. The band would disband in 1994 following the suicide of frontman Kurt Cobain. Novoselic would form Sweet '75 in 1995 and Eyes Adrift in 2002, recording one album with each
May 16, 1964 ~ Rock, alternative rock, classical violinist, mandolinist Boyd Tinsley, full name Boyd Calvin Tinsley, born in Charlottesville, California, USA ~ Member of the Dave Matthews Band from 1992 through 2018 providing a key element especially in their early sound and notably present on the band's best known albums including Under The Table And Dreaming, Crash and Before These Crowded StreetsMay 16, 1963 ~ Nikki Anne Burnham, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Nikki Iles, born in Dunstable, UK ~ Leader and sidewoman. Married to trumpeter Richard Iles, with whom she also worked in the Emanon ensemble. Member of the Bedfordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. Has also worked with Tina May, Anthony Kerr, Duncan Hopkins, Rufus Reid, Norma Winstone, Anthony Braxton, Ingrid Laubrock, Sylvan Richardson, Martin Speake, and Stan Sulzmann
May 16, 1962 ~ Robert Crafton III, commonly known as keyboardist, rapper Bob Chilly B Crafton, born ~ Member of old-school hip-hop act Newcleus, which initially failed to make a serious dent in the charts but over time would be regarded as one of the early quintessential hip-hop acts acclaimed especially for their 1984 Jam On Revenge debut album. Well known songs include Where's The Beat, Computer Age and Jam On It ~ Crafton passed away in 2010
May 16, 1960 ~ Kevin Smith, commonly known as DJ, MC, singer, producer Lovebug Starski, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Considered a hip hop pioneer and one of the first to rap over beats. First gained attention in the late 1970s as resident DJ at the New York club Disco Fever. Smith claims to have coined the term “hip hop”, words that came to him while improvising lines performing at a private party for a friend: “I picked up the mic and just started saying ‘a hip hop, hip hop, de hibby hibby hibby hibby hop’.” As a recording artist, initially going by the moniker Little Starsky, Smith is best known for a number of late 1970s to mid-1980s singles starting with his debut single Positive Life, which was later notably sampled by MARRS in Pump Up The Volume, and subsequent releases such as Gangster Rock, You Gotta Believe, Do The Right Thing, and Amityville (The House On The Hill). Smith passed away at age 57 of a heart attack while moving speakers out of storage into his apartment, just hours after his last DJ gig ~ Smith passed away in 2018May 16, 1959 ~ Conductor Andrew Litton born in New York, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, serving as its principal conductor from 1988 through 1994, and subsequently with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, serving as its musical director from 1994 through 2006
May 16, 1958 ~ Ubaldo Rodriguez Santos, commonly known as salsa singer Lalo Rodríguez, born in Carolina, Puerto Rico ~ Over half a dozen albums to his name. Best known for his 1988 hit Ven Devórame Otra Vez. Has previously worked with Eddie Palmieri, including on the Grammy Award-winning The Sun Of Latin Music album. Has also worked with Eddie Santiago, José Alberto El Canario, and Frankie Ruiz ~ Rodríguez passed away in 2022May 16, 1956 ~ Rock, alternative rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Jim Moginie born in Sydney, Australia ~ Founding member, leading songwriter of Midnight Oil. Also worked with Silverchair, Sarah Blasko, the End Of Fashion, Neil Murray, Kasey Chambers, and Neil Finn
May 16, 1953 ~ Jean Reinhardt, commonly known as gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt passed away in Samois-sur-Seine, France ~ Icon of Gypsy jazz. Regarded as one of the most important jazz guitarists in history. Founded the Quintette du Hot Club with violinist Stéphane Grappelli. Recorded with Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter. Toured with Duke Ellington. As a composer revered for songs such as Minor Swing, Daphne, Djangology, Swing '42 and Nuages ~ Reinhardt was born in 1910
May 16, 1953 ~ Singer, bassist Richard Page born in Keokuk, Iowa, USA ~ Lead singer, bassist of Mr Mister, known for the 1980s hits Broken Wings and Kyrie. In-demand session musician and songwriter. Artists who recorded songs written or co-written by Page include Kenny Loggins, Madonna (I'll Remember), Josh Groban, Céline Dion, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Dionne Warwick, the Pointer Sisters, Meat Loaf, Patti LaBelle, Hall & Oates, Al Jarreau, and Leona Lewis. Has also released a number of solo albums, starting with Shelter Me in 1996
May 16, 1952 ~ William Henry Somers, commonly known as big band bandleader Debroy Somers, passed away in London, UK ~ Popular from the 1920s through the 1940s. Noted for conducting the first British performance of George Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue in 1925, featuring the Savoy Orpheans with Gershwin himself on the piano ~ Somers was born in 1890May 16, 1951 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Alberto Camerini born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Member of Il Pacco. Member of L'Enorme Maria. Session guitarist for the likes of Patty Pravo, Stormy Six, Fausto Leali, Eugenio Finardi. As a solo artist released his Cenerentola E Il Pane Quotidiano debut album in 1976. Best known for a number 1980s synth-pop hits, notably Rock 'n Roll Robot and Tanz Bambolina
May 16, 1951 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Claudio Baglioni born in Rome, Italy ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name since the early 1970s. First gained serious attention with the album Questo Piccolo Grande Amore released in 1972, its Questo Piccolo Grande Amore title track often named as one of the most enduring Italian pop songs of all time. Collaborated with Vangelis on the 1974 E Tu album. Especially well known for the 1980s albums Bagliono Strada Facendo and La Vita E Adesso, the latter selling over 4 million copies
May 16, 1951 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Fane Flaws, full name Fane Michael Flaws, born ~ Member of bands such as Blerta, the Spats, the Crocodiles, co-writing the 1980 New Zealand top 20 hit Tears for the latter. Contributed to the soundtracks of the 1989 animated black comedy Meet The Feebles and the 1992 comedy horror Braindead. Co-authored the 1998 children's book The Underwater Melon Man And Other Unreasonable Rhymes, which was complemented by a CD the following year and a DVD in 2011 with contributions from renowned musicians such as Chris Knox, Jenny Morris, Neil Finn, Tim Finn, and Renée Geyer ~ Flaws passed away in 2021