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, 1948 ~ Folk, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Dick Gaughan, full name Richard Peter Gaughan, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Regarded as one of Scotland's leading singers. Well known for Both Sides The Tweed and Song For Ireland, both notably covered by Mary Black. Over a dozen albums to his name, especially acclaimed for his 1981 Handful Of Earth album. Worked with the Boys Of The Lough, appearing on their 1973 eponymous The Boys Of The Lough album. Other notable collaborations include Five Hand Reel, Andy Irvine, Ken Hyder, and Clan Alba
May 17, 1946 ~ Drummer, vibraphonist, keyboardist Christian Burchard born in Munich, Germany ~ Co-founded Embryo in 1969, once described as “the most eclectic of krautrock bands.” The band has released over 40 albums in ever-changing line-ups with an estimated over 400 musicians at one time or another in its line-up ~ Burchard passed away in 2018May 17, 1946 ~ Samuel Fuller, commonly known as bassist Sam Fuller, born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Member of psychedelic pop group the Rainy Daze known best for their 1967 modest hit That Acapulco Gold and sole album of the same name. The single would make it to the high 70s on the Billboard Hot 100 but was pulled once it was realized it was a pro-marijuana song ~ Fuller passed away in 2008
May 17, 1946 ~ Singer, drummer Udo Lindenberg born in Gronau, Germany ~ Founded Free Orbit. Drummed for jazz saxophonist Klaus Doldinger, including in early 1970s unit Passport. Member of jazz rock group Emergency. Played drums for the theme song to the popular crime TV show Tatort. Well over three dozen albums as a solo artist starting with Lindenberg released in 1971. Would establish himself as a pioneering German singer, filling the gap between internationally oriented Krautrock and mainstream pop and schlager music. Paved the way for later artists such as Stefan Waggershausen and Marius Müller-Westernhagen. Well-known songs include Sonderzug Nach Pankow, Wunder Geschehen, Wenn Du Durchhängst, Ein Herz Kann Man Nicht Reparieren, and Cello
May 17, 1944 ~ James Ridout Winchester Jr, commonly nown as singer, songwriter Jesse Winchester born in Bossier, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for songs such as Yankee Lady, Isn't That So, Sassy and Say What. As a songwriter, Winchester had his songs recorded by Patti Page, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Jerry Garcia, Anne Murray, Reba McEntire, the Everly Brothers, Lyle Lovett, and Emmylou Harris ~ Winchester passed away in 2014
May 17, 1942 ~ Henry St Clair Fredericks, commonly known as guitarist, singer and songwriter Taj Mahal, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Multi-instrumentalist. Songwriter. Film composer. Often incorporates elements of world music into his works. Played with Ry Cooder, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Muddy Waters
May 17, 1941 ~ Guitarist, trombonist, singer Malcolm Hale born in Butte, Montana, USA ~ Lead guitarist of sunshine pop outfit Spanky & Our Gang, best known for their 1967 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Sunday Will Never Be The Same. Subsequent hits would include Making Every Minute Count and Lazy Day. The band would disband shortly after Hale's death, though their remained popularity propelled the record label to reissue compilations and shelved recordings ~ Hale passed away in 1968May 17, 1931 ~ Free jazz, avant-garde jazz saxophonist, bandleader Dewey Redman, full name Walter Dewey Redman, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Took up the clarinet while still in high school, and played in the marching band of the IM Terrell High School in his native Fort Worth, Texas, which also included Ornette Coleman, Prince Lasha, and Charles Moffett. Redman would become closely associated with Coleman from the late 1960s through the early 1970s, including on the albums Crisis and Science Fiction, collaborate with Keith Jarrett through the mid 1970s including on the highly acclaimed The Survivors Suite, and formed the Old And New Dreams quartet with Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Ed Blackwell. Redman has recorded about a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, notably the early 1980s albums Musics and The Struggle Continues, and guested on albums by the likes of Randy Weston, Clifford Thornton, Leroy Jenkins, Billy Hart (Enchance), Pat Metheny (80-81), Paul Motian, and Michel Benita, Although consistently praised by critics and peers as one the great avant-garde tenors, Redman never achieved the same level of fame as his son saxophonist Joshua Redman later would ~ Redman passed away in 2006
May 17, 1931 ~ John Lenwood McLean, commonly known as saxophonist Jackie McLean, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of guitarist John McLean Sr. Received informal training from Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Charlie Parker. While still in high school, McLean played with Kenny Drew, Sonny Rollins, and Andy Kirk Jr. One of the few bop players to venture into free jazz, McLean has recorded prolifically from the mid 1950s through the late 1960s, and is especially noted for the albums New Soil, Capuchin Swing, and Jackie's Bag. McLean has also been acknowledged for his gift for spotting young talent, employing sidemen such as Tina Brooks, Charles Tolliver, Ray Draper, Jack DeJohnette and Lenny White early on in their career ~ McLean passed away in 2006
May 17, 1925 ~ Gospel singer Ira Tucker Sr born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA ~ Father of singers Sundray Tucker, Ira Tucker Jr, and Lynda Laurence. Best known as a member of the Dixie Hummingbirds for some seven decades from 1938, starting while in his early teens, until his death at age 83. The gospel quartet is considered one of the most important and certainly longest-running gospel quartets, influential on a wide array of artists including Jackie Wilson and James Brown ~ Tucker passed away in 2008
May 17, 1925 ~ Jazz, R&B bassist Peter Badie, full name Peter Chuck Badie, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Active since the early 1950s, performing and recording with Roy Brown, Paul Gayten, and Dave Bartholomew. Member of Lionel Hampton's orchestra during the mid 1950s. Would go on to work with Hank Crawford, Edward Frank, June Gardner, Dizzy Gillespie, and Zoot Sims. Retired from music by the 1970s for medical reasons. Reemerged in the 1990s as member of Dr John's backing unit ~ Badie passed away in 2023
May 17, 1923 ~ Peter Mennini, commonly known as composer, teacher Peter Mennin born in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Has written symphonies, concertos, and numerous works for wind band, chorus, and other ensembles. Perhaps best known as President of the prestigious performing arts conservatory the Juilliard School, New York, from 1962 until his death nearly two decades later ~ Mennini passed away in 1983
May 17, 1919 ~ Singer, songwriter, actor, film producer Antonio Aguilar, full name Jose Pascual Antonio Aguilar Marquez Barraza, born in Villanueva, Mexico ~ Acted in over 120 films. Over 150 albums to his name. Sold over 25 million copies. Dubbed “Mexico's Horseman” for being an avid equastrian. Known for songs such as Gabino Barrera, Caballo Prieto Azabche, Albur De Amor and Un Puno De Tierra ~ Barraza passed away in 2007
May 17, 1916 ~ Jazz tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Dubbed “the Vice Prez” for his emulation of saxophonist Lester Young, the latter given the nickname “Prez” by Billie Holiday. Quinichette was active since the 1940s, backing artists such as Nat Towles, Ernie Fields, Jay McShann, Johnny Otis, Louis Jordan, Lucky Millinder, and Hot Lips Page, before forming his own groups by the early 1950s with whom he recorded about a dozen albums through the end of the decade, including the acclaimed Pres Meets Vice-Pres, Cattin' With Coltrane And Quinichette with John Coltrane, and For Basie ~ Quinichette passed away in 1983May 17, 1908 ~ Henry Cyril Franklin, commonly known as opera singer David Franklin, born in London, UK ~ As an opera singer enjoyed popularity throughout the early 1951, his career paused by serving in the Army during World War II. A throat operation in 1951 forced him to retire from performing altogether, after which he ventured into writing and broadcasting known to the public for his appearances on the BBC Radio shows My Music and Radio ~ Franklin passed away in 1973
May 17, 1908 ~ Jazz trombonist Warren Smith born in Middlebourne, West Virginia, USA ~ Learned piano, cornet and saxophone before settling on the trombone. Active from the 1920s, starting in territory bands, through the 1960s. Has worked with Harrison's Texans, Abe Lyman, Bob Crosby, Bud Jacobsen, Bob Scobey, Jess Stacy, Lu Watters, Duke Ellington, Joe Darensbourg, Wild Bill Davison, and Red Nichols ~ Smith passed away in 1975
May 17, 1866 ~ Eric Alfred Leslie Satie, commonly known as composer, pianist Erik Satie, born in Honfleur, France ~ Influential in late 19th and early 20th century Parisian avant-garde. Precursor to minimalism and repetitive music. Well known suites include Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes. His compositions would find a new audience through a series of acclaimed 1980s albums by pianist Reinbert de Leeuw ~ Satie passed away in 1925