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 17, 2023 ~ Alasdair Mackie Ward, commonly known as rock & roll, punk rock singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist Algy Ward, passed away in Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK ~ Best known for founding Tank, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1982 Filth Hounds Of Hades debut album, produced by Motörhead guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke, considered a landmark album in British heavy metal. Previously Ward had played with Australian rock outfit the Saints from 1977 through 1980, present on the albums I'm Stranded, Eternally Yours, and Prehistoric Sounds. Ward was also briefly a member of the Damned, appearing on the 1979 Machine Gun Etiquette comeback album before being fired due to animosity with the band's drummer Rat Scabies ~ Ward was born in 1959
May 17, 2022 ~ Bassist Rick Price, full name Richard Gordon Price, passed away in Bristol, UK ~ Member of a number of Birmingham-based bands starting with Sight & Sound, and subsequently with the Move from 1969 through 1971 and perhaps most notably Wizzard from 1972 through 1975 scoring the UK No.1 hits See My Baby Jive and Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad). Briefly played with the Electric Light Orchestra, though his bass parts would not make it to the band's 1971 eponymous Electric Light Orchestra debut album. Married to singer Dianne Lee of the 1970s duo Peters & Lee ~ Price was born in 1944
May 17, 2022 ~ Evángelos Odysseás Papathanassiou, commonly known as pianist, keyboardist, composer Vangelis, passed away in Paris, France ~ Member of Aphrodite's Child, acclaimed for their 1972 666 album which is considered a landmark album in progressive, psychedelic rock. Formed the duo Jon & Vangelis with Yes lead singer Jon Anderson. Acclaimed film composer, noted for the soundtracks to Blade Runner, 1492 (Conquest Of Paradise) and Chariots Of Fire. The latter, released in 1981, would earn Papathanassiou an Academy Award for Best Original Score ~ Papathanassiou was born in 1943May 17, 2021 ~ Singer Neal Ford passed away ~ Fronted Neal Ford & the Fanatics, known for a handful of mid- to late 1960s singles and a sole eponymous album, regarded by aficionados as early key recordings in the pyschedelic rock era. Well known songs include I Can''t Go On, Good Men and Woman ~ Ford was born in 1948
May 17, 2020 ~ Singer, songwriter Just Sam wins American Idol ~ Leaving fellow finalist Arthur Gunn in second place, singer, songwriter Just Sam wins the 18th season of the talent show American Idol aired on ABC. Her success on the show would land a record deal with Hollywood Records, which released her Rise Up performance from the show before the singer left the label. She has since independently released a handful of singles
May 17, 2020 ~ Judge Kenneth Peterson, commonly known as guitarist, keyboardist, singer Lucky Peterson, passed away in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Comtemporary blues singer, drawing from soul, R&B, gospel, rock & roll and other idioms. Has backed artists such as Etta James, Bobby Blue Bland, Little Milton. Best known for a number of well-received late 1980s, 1990s albums, notably Lucky Strikes, I'm Ready and Beyond Cool ~ Peterson was born in 1964
May 17, 2016 ~ Singer, songwriter Guy Clark passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Singer, songwriter with over 20 albums to his name. Helped define Americana. Highly admired by peers. Known for songs such as LA Freeway, Waiting For A Train, and Homegrown Tomatoes. Had his songs recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Bobby Bare, Ricky Skaggs (Heartbroke), John Conlee, Asleep At The Wheel, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and by Willie Nelson. ~ Clark was born in 1941
May 17, 2015 ~ Singer Taylor Swift releases Bad Blood featuring Kendrick Lamar, lifted off her 1989 album ~ Some critics interpreted Bad Blood to be about a lost love. However, Taylor Swift revealed to Rolling Stone the song was about a fellow female artist whom she had thought of as a friend, yet who “sabotaged Swift's tour” by hiring a bunch of people out from under her. Although the song is believed to be about Katy Perry, Swift never named the fellow female singer: “There's a reason there are not any overt call-outs in that song. My intent was not to create some gossip-fest. I wanted people to apply it to a situation where they felt betrayed in their own lives.” Critical reception was mixed, as some dismissed the song, while others were more positive of the hip-hop tinged pop song. In general, the remix featuring Kendrick Lamar issued as a single was considered a better version. Bad Blood reached top 10 in about a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and on the American Billboard Hot 100
May 17, 2013 ~ Singer, songwriter Alan O'Day, full name Alan Earle O'Day, passed away in Westwood, California, USA ~ As a singer, songwriter best known for his 1977 million-seller Undercover Angel. Staff songwriter at Warner Brothers Music. Artists who recorded his songs include Three Dog Night, Bobby Sherman, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Dusty Springfield, Captain & Tennille, Cher, the Righteous Brothers (Rock & Roll Heaven), Helen Reddy (Angie Baby), and Anne Murray. Moved from pop to television in the 1980s, collaborating with singer, songwriter Janis Liebhart, writing over one hundred songs for the children's show Muppet Babies as well as work on other children's programs ~ O'Day was born in 1940May 17, 2013 ~ Composer, pianist Harold Shapero, full name Harold Samuel Shapiro, passed away in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA ~ Initially played jazz, notably with the swing ensemble the Hal Kenny Orchestra, but would later gravitate towards contemporary classical. Well known compositions include Nine-Minute Overture, Symphony For Classical Orchestra, Serenade In D, and Credo ~ Shapero was born in 1920
May 17, 2012 ~ LaDonna Adrian Gaines, commonly known as singer Donna Summer, passed away in Naples, Florida, USA ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Disco”, known for a string of hits, often produced by Giorgio Moroder, including Love To Love You Baby, Last Dance, I Feel Love, MacArthur Park, Heaven Knows, Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, Dim All The Lights, and with Barbra Streisand, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), and On The Radio ~ Gaines was born in 1948May 17, 2008 ~ Pop rock saxophonist, percussionist, singer Margo Davidson, full name Margo Isabella Davidson, passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Co-founding member of the Parachute Club, with whom she recorded during the 1980s. The band is best known for the singles Rise Up, At The Feet Of The Moon, and Love Is Fire, all of which reached top 40 in their native Canada. The latter, lifted off the band's fourth and final album Small Victories featured John Oates of Hall & Oates as guest singer. Near the band's disbandement around the end of the century, Davidson was briefly a member of Toronto-based band Bratty & the Babysitters, yet she would retire from music altogether soon thereafter to work as an advocate for the homeless ~ Davidson was born in 1957
May 17, 2002 ~ Johnny Lamont Merrett, commonly known as Blues, soul singer, guitarist, songwriter Little Johnny Taylor, passed away in Conway, Arkansas, USA ~ Member of gospel outfit the Mighty Clouds Of Joy. As a solo artist known for a number of 1950s, 1960s recordings, notably You'll Need Another Favor and Part Time Love, the latter topping the R&B charts in 1963 ~ Merrett was born in 1943
May 17, 2002 ~ Songwriter Sharon Sheeley, full name Sharon Kathleen Sheeley, passed away in Sherman Oaks, California, USA ~ At age 18 became the youngest female songwriter to score a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit when Ricky Nelson took her Poor Little Fool to the top of the charts. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Sheeley include Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran (Somethin' Else), Glen Campbell, Brenda Lee (Dum Dum), Irma Thomas (Breakaway), the Fleetwoods, the Kalin Twins, Helen Shapiro, the Searchers, and the Ronettes. Was unoficially engaged to Cochran. Sheeley survived the same car accident that killed Cochran and injured Gene Vincent while touring the UK ~ Sheeley was born in 1940
May 17, 2001 ~ Aaron Fredrick Mitchell Jr, commonly known as pop, R&B singer, songwriter AJ Mitchell, born in Belleville, Illinois, USA ~ Gained a following in the mid-2010s after posting videos of himself singing and performing covers on Youtube and Instagram. His original single Used To Be, written at age 13, would receive over a 100 millions streams. Well known for songs such as All My Friends, Slow Dance featuring Ava Max, and Stop. Released his official full-length Skyview debut album in 2021May 17, 2001 ~ James Paul Koncek, commonly known as roots rock singer Top Jimmy, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Frontman of Top Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs, best known as the Blue Mondays band at Cathay de Grande nightclub, Hollywood during the early 1980s. The band would be regularly joined on-stage by the likes of Tom Waits, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, Bonnie Bramlett, and Percy Mayfield. The band would be saluted in the Van Halen-song Top Jimmy on the 1984 album ~ Koncek was born ca.1955
May 17, 1998 ~ Raqhid Jevon Render, commonly known as hip-hop, trap rapper, songwriter Lil' Keed, born in Atlanta, Georgia, 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 passed away in 2022May 17, 1998 ~ Operatic soprano Nina Dorliak passed away in Moscow, Russia ~ Married to pianist Sviatoslav Richter, with whom she worked from the early 1940s until his death in 1997 performing works by Robert Schumann, Sergei Prokofiev, Modest Mussorgsky, and Johann Sebastian Bach. Has also worked with pianists such as Konstantin Igumnov, Alexander Goldenweiser, Maria Yudina, and Maria Grinberg. Voice teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, as was her mother Xenia Dorliak ~ Dorliak was born in 1908
May 17, 1997 ~ The 28th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. Mostly sunny and warm, this year's edition would draw a crowd of in total 49, 200 visitors. Included on today's, Saturday the 17th's bill would be Republica, Marilyn Manson, Korn, DJ John, Cooler Than Jesus, Johan, Death In Vegas, the Roots, and DJ Dab
May 17, 1996 ~ John Watson Jr, commonly known as blues, soul, funk singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Guitar Watson, passed away in Yokohama, Japan ~ Active since the mid 1950s working with artists such as the Shields, Larry Williams, Little Richard, Don & Dewey, and Johnny Otis. Best known for a string of funky 1970s hits such as Ain't That A Bitch, Superman Lover and his biggest hit A Real Mother For Ya, the latter reaching top 10 on the American R&B charts in 1977 and in retrospect considered one of grooviest dancefloor fillers of the day. His music would later be sampled by various hip-hop and rap artists including Redman, Ice Cube, Eazy E, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Jay-Z, and Mary J Blige. Watson died of a heart attack, suffered on stage, at age 61 while on tour in Japan ~ Watson was born in 1935May 17, 1996 ~ Producer, songwriter, keyboardist Kevin Gilbert, full name Kevin Matthew Gilbert, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Also known under the moniker Matthew Delgado. Best known for his solo work in various progressive rock projects, as member of the short-lived Toy Matinee and for collaborating with Sheryl Crow on her acclaimed Tuesday Night Music Club debut album ~ Gilbert was born in 1966
May 17, 1993 ~ Country singer Alan Jackson releases Chattahoochee, lifted off his A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love) album ~ Named for the river Chattahoochee that flows from Georgia and forms part of the borders the state shares with Alabama and Florida, the song tells of growing up in a small town, looking back on the innocence of adolescence with bemusement and fondness. Alan Jackson would later comment on the success of the song: “Jim McBride and I were trying to write an up-tempo song and Jim came in with the line ‘way down yonder on the Chattahoochee’. It kind of went from there. It's a song about having fun, growing up, and coming of age in a small town, which really applies to anyone across the country, not just by the Chattahoochee. We never thought it would be as big as it's become.” Chattahoochee would reach No.1 Billboard Country and earned the singer CMA awards for Single of the Year and Song of the YearMay 17, 1990 ~ Free jazz saxophonist Frank Wright passed away in Wuppertal, Germany ~ Wright got his start in music playing the bass guitar, backing the likes of Rosco Gordon, Bobby Blue Bland, and BB King, before inspired by Albert Ayler switching to the saxophone. Throughout his career, Wright never became a household name yet with his frantic style, taking an explosive approach to the saxophone rooted in the gutsy emotions of R&B and the blues wailers from his Southern roots, Wright has been acknowledged as a key player in the development of free jazz. Wright was held in high esteem especially in Europe where with only brief intermissions he has lived since the late 1960s. Over the course of his career, Wright has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, notably the 1967 masterpiece Your Prayer, and has appeared on albums by Noah Howard, Hans Dulfer (El Saxofon), Hannibal Lokumbe, Peter Brötzmann, and Cecil Taylor (Olu Iwa). Close friend and regular collaborator Peter Brötzmann has been quoted as saying: “Wright was a wild man, in a good sense, made music and lived life in his own way. He was one of the first black Americans we got to know really well, and we all learned a lot from that.” Saxophonist John Coltrane dubbed the younger Wright “Little brother”, while others have referred to Wright as “Reverend Frank Wright” for the spirituality of his playing ~ Wright was born in 1935
May 17, 1986 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Why Can't This Be Love by Van Halen peaks at No.3 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Issued as the lead single off 5150, the band's seventh studio album and the their first to reach No.1 Billboard Hot 200, would be the first release featuring their new lead singer Sammy Hagar, who took over for co-founding member David Lee Roth. Other than featuring a new lead singer, the album marked a shift in style as they put more emphasis on keyboards, offering a more melodic hit-worthy direction, while still maintaining their signature guitar licks. Why Can't This Be Love would reach No.3 Billboard Hot 100, making it their second American top 10 hit and their second-highest charting of their career, after the No.1 hit Jump in 1983. The band would score one more American top 10 hit, which also featured Hagar, when When It's Love, lifted off their 1988 OU812 album, peaked at No.5 Billboard Hot 100. Hagar would record five studio albums with the band through the mid 1990s, and briefly rejoined in the early 2000sMay 17, 1984 ~ Country singer George Strait releases Let's Fall To Pieces Together, lifted off his Right Or Wrong album ~ Written by Dickey Lee, Tommy Rocco and Johnny Russell, Let's Fall To Pieces Together is a classic country heartbreaker with its over the top drama. The song tells of a man who has lost the love of his life, and as he seeks out a song on the jukebox he meets a woman who obviously is in the same situation. The answer is simple, let's fall to pieces together. George Strait had scored two Billboard Country No.1 hits off his sophomore album, yet his third studio album elevated him to stardom. All three singles off the album, You Look So Good In Love, the title track Right Or Wrong, and its third and final single Let's Fall To Pieces Together all reached the top spot
May 17, 1984 ~ Folk rock, indie folk singer, songwriter Mike Rosenberg, full name Michael David Rosenberg, born in Brighton, UK ~ Lead singer, frontman of Passenger, keeping the moniker for his solo work after the band disbanded in 2009. Best known for the 2012 single Let Her Go which reached top 10 in well over a dozen countries including the UK, America and the Netherlands