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 18, 2024 ~ Country, country pop singer, guitarist Frank Ifield, full name Francis Edward Ifield, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Scored a string of early 1960s hits including I Remember You, Lovesick Blues, Wayward Wind, I'm Confessin' That I Love You, and Please, all of which reached top 30 in his native UK. Ifield, known for frequently incorporating yodeling, has recorded some two dozen albums over his career, enjoying popularity throughout the mid-1980s in both the UK and Australia. In 1986, Ifield contracted pneumonia, which resulted in removal of part of a lung and damage to his vocal cords, seriously pausing his career as he recovered ~ Ifield was born in 1937
May 18, 2024 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter John Koerner, also known as Spider John Koerner, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Closely associated with Dave Ray and Tony Glover, the trio recording and performing in various configurations, in solo turns and duets, but rarely as a trio. Ray suggested that it would be more accurate to refer to them not as Koerner Ray & Gloever, but rather Koerner and/or Ray and/or Glover. However, as a trio they did notably perform at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964, captured on the Newport Folk Festival 1964 (Evening Concerts III) album. In later years they would occasionally perform together, until Ray's death in the early 2000s. Koerner is also known for his 1965 Spider Blues album, and for teaming up with Willie Murphy for the 1969 collaborative Running Jumping Standing Still album. Koerner is considered an early influence on Bob Dylan, of whom Koerner has been quoted as saying: “We were all goofy, you know. We were thinkers and drinkers and artists and players, and Dylan was one of us. He was another guy.” ~ Koerner was born in 1938
May 18, 2024 ~ Nils Paul Danielsson, commonly known as jazz, free jazz double bassist Palle Danielsson, passed away in Åkers Styckebruk, Sweden ~ Studied violin as a child before switching to bass. Danielsson has been playing professionally since his mid-teens, becoming a fixture on the Scandinavian jazz scene backing artists such as Jan Garbarek and Bobo Stenson and visiting American jazz musicians such as Bill Evans, George Russell, and Ben Webster. Danielsson is perhaps best known for his tenure with Keith Jarrett in the latter half of the 1970s, including on the acclaimed albums Belonging and My Song. Danielsson has recorded sporadically as a leader or co-leader, including on the 1992 collaborative album Togetherness with his sister Monica Dominique, and has appeared on albums by Steve Kuhn (Watch What Happens), Karin Krog, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Barre Phillips, Lee Konitz (Altissimo), Albert Mangelsdorff, Enrico Rava (The Pilgrim And The Stars), Collin Walcott (Grazing Dreams), Michel Petrucciani, Christof Lauer, and Peter Erskine ~ Danielsson was born in 1946
May 18, 2022 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, banjoist Bob Neuwirth passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Underground cult hero. Influential on close friend and associate of Bob Dylan, with whom he also played including in the 1967 tour documentary Don't Look Back. Assembled Dylan's backing band for the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Mercedes Benz with Michael McClure and Janis Joplin, the latter first recording the song as the B-side to Cry Baby released in 1971. Recorded five albums through the late 1990s, starting with his eponymous Bob Neuwirth debut in 1974. Collaborated with John Cale on the 1994 collaborative Last Day On Earth album. Songs written or co-written by Neuwirth have been recorded by Kristofferson, Peter Case, T-Bone Burnett, Robert Earl Keen, and Todd Snider ~ Neuwirth was born in 1939
May 18, 2022 ~ Free jazz pianist, vibraphonist Paul Plimley, full name Paul Horace Plimley, passed away in Vancouver, Canada ~ Leader and sideman. Closely associated with bassist Lisle Ellis. Considered one of the finest interpreters of Ornette Coleman on the piano, an instrument usually seen as antithetical to Coleman's music. Has collaborated with Joe McPhee, Barry Guy, Trichy Sankaran, Henry Kaiser, and Mei Han ~ Plimley was born in 1953
May 18, 2022 ~ Actor, TV personality, singer, songwriter Wim Rijken passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Best known as an actor for TV, film, theater. As a singer debuted in 1988 with the single Wie Weet Wat Liefde Is duetting with Conny Vandenbos and later rerecorded as a duet with Marga Bult. As a solo artist known for songs such as Voor Mij Is Er Maar Eén, Jij Bent Mijn Zomer and Zo Zijn We Samen ~ Rijken was born in 1958
May 18, 2019 ~ Singer, pianist Duncan Laurence wins the 64th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Representing the Netherlands, Duncan Laurence wins with the song Arcade co-written by Laurence with Joel Sjoo and Wouter Hardy. Italy's Mahmood reached 2nd place with Soldi, Russia's Sergey Lazarev ended in 3rd place with ScreamMay 18, 2018 ~ Jazz, classical pianist Jack Reilly, full name Jack Aloysius Reilly, passed away in Toms River, New Jersey, USA ~ A musician's musician, higly admired by peers but never earning much public recognition. About a dozen albums to his name, particularly noted for November and Masks. Has collaborated with the likes of John LaPorta, Lennie Tristano, George Russell, Carol Lian, and Bill Charlap ~ Reilly was born in 1932
May 18, 2017 ~ Christopher John Boyle, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Chris Cornell, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Pivotal figure in 1990s grunge. Best known as singer, guitarist for Soundgarden and for Audioslave. Fronted Temple Of The Dog. Has also worked with Center For Disease Control Boys, Screaming Trees, Alice In Chains, Alice Cooper, and Slash ~ Boyle was born in 1964
May 18, 2016 ~ Singer, actress Yumi Ito passed away ~ Formed the pop duo the Peanuts with identical twin Emi Ito, enjoying popularity from the late 1950s until disbanding in 1975. The siblings started out singing Japanese covers of standards and international hits yet over time would add more originals to their repertoire, working with songwriters such as Koichi Sugiyama and Rei Nakanishi. The duo are best known for songs such as Kawaii Hana, Koi No Vacance, Souvenirs From Tokyo, Bye Bye Yokohama, and Furimukanaide ~ Ito was born in 1941May 18, 2014 ~ Genaro Louis Vitaliano, commonly known as singer Jerry Vale, passed away in Palm Desert, California, USA ~ Best known for charting the pop charts mostly with covers of romantic ballads, You Don't Know, Have You Looked Into Your Heart, as well as a number of classic Italian-American songs such as Amore Scusami, O Sole Mio, Volare, and Al-di-la ~ Vitaliano was born in 1932
May 18, 2013 ~ Singer Emmelie de Forest wins the 58th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Malmö, Sweden ~ Representing Denmark, Emmelie de Forest wins with the song Only Teardrops written by Lise Cabble, Julia Fabrin Jakobsen and Thomas Stengaard. Runner-ups were Azerbaijan's Farid Mammadov in 2nd place with Hold Me and Ukraine's Zlata Ognevich with Gravity in 3rdMay 18, 2012 ~ Singer Bruce Springsteen kicks off his Wrecking Ball World Tour at the Phillips Arena, Atlanta ~ Playing to a crowd of close to 15,000 visitors, Bruce Springsteen kicks off the tour in support of the Wrecking Ball album in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 130 dates across over two dozen countries the tour would run through September 21st the following year, concluding at the the Parque Dos Atletas, Rio de Janeiro. It would be the first tour without saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who had passed away the previous year
May 18, 2012 ~ Pop rock drummer Peter Jones, full name Peter Robert Jones, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Latter-day member of Crowded House, replacing founding member Paul Hester in 1994 and remaining until the band's initial disbandement in 1996. Jones was present for the band's initial farewell tour, documented on the Farewell To The World album, but did not return when the band reformed about a decade later. Jones has also worked with Deadstar, Reggaebites, Stephen Cummings, Tess McKenna, and with Rebecca Barnard. Following his musical career, Jones has also worked as a drum instructor and classroom teacher. Jones passed away age 49 of brain cancer ~ Jones was born in 1963
May 18, 2010 ~ Garage rock, punk blues, indie rock duo the Black Keys release Brothers, their 6th studio album ~ The band's previous album, 2008's Attack & Release, earned the duo their first major success reaching top 20 Billboard Hot 200 and top 40 in the UK, but Brothers would be their critical and commercial breakthrough reaching top 10 in about half a dozen countries including Canada and the USA. The album's lead single, Tighten Up produced by Danger Mouse, would receive a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Song, losing out to Neil Young's Angry World, and received the Award for Best Rock Performace by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The album itself received a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album, beating Arcade Fire, Band Of Horses, Broken Bells, and Vampire Weekend
May 18, 2007 ~ Jazz double bassist Herbie Lewis, full name Herbert Prince Lewis, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Among the top bassists of the bop era, closely associated with McCoy Tyner, Les McCann, and Jackie McLean. Lewis has also appeared on albums by Harold Land, Shirley Scott (Hip Soul), Richard Groove Holmes, Stanley Turrentine (That's Where It's At), Gerald Wilson, Bobby Hutcherson, Sam Rivers, Freddie Hubbard, the Jazz Crusaders, Cedar Walton, Tete Montoliu (Lunch In LA), Sonny Stitt, Sonny Simmons, and Eddie Harris ~ Lewis was born in 1941May 18, 2005 ~ Country banjoist, guitarist Bobby Thompson passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, USA ~ In-demand session musician, mostly active from the 1960s through the 1980s. Member of Area Code 615, alongside Weldon Myrick and Charlie McCoy. Has appeared on albums by the likes of the Monkees, Charley Pride, Dottie West, Willie Nelson (Yesterday's Wine), the Everly Brothers, Donna Fargo, Johnny Cash, Ferlin Husky, Waylon Jennings (The Ramblin' Man), the Pointer Sisters, the Statler Brothers, Ronnie Milsap, Jimmy Buffett, Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton (Jolene), Mickey Newbury, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis (When Two Worlds Collide), Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, and Neil Young ~ Thompson was born in 1937
May 18, 2004 ~ Modal jazz, avant-garde, hard bop, post-bop drummer Elvin Jones passed away in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Brother of pianist Hank Jones and trumpeter Thad Jones. Considered one of the premier jazz drummers of the post-bop era, bridging the gap between hard bop and avant-garde. Influential on rock drummers such as Jimi Hendrix-drummer Mitch Mitchell, Cream's Ginger Baker, the Doors' John Densmore, and Sleater-Kinney's Janet Weiss. As a leader especially acclaimed for the late 1960s albums The Ultimate Elvin Jones and Poly-Currents. As a sideman has backed artists such as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus (Pithecanthropus Erectus), Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter (Night Dreamer), Grant Green (Talkin' About), John Coltrane (A Love Supreme), Bob Brookmeyer, Freddie Hubbard (Blue Spirits), Jaki Byard, Ornette Coleman, and Chico Freeman (Beyond The Rain) ~ Jones was born in 1927May 18, 2002 ~ The 33rd edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. A sunny weekend, this year's edition would draw a crowd of in total some 63,000 visitors. Included on today's, Saturday the 18th's bill would be Heather Nova, Live, POD, Bush, Supergroover, After Forever, and Groove Armada
May 18, 1999 ~ Horace Swaby, commonly known as roots reggae, dub producer, pianist, keyboardist Augustus Pablo passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Popularised the use of the melodica in reggae. Best known for his 1976 King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown, a landmark album in dub music. Has worked with Mikey Chung, Clive Chin (Java), Lee Scratch Perry, Fred Locks, Dillinger, I-Roy, the Impact All-Stars, Paul Blackman, the Heptones, Bob Marley, Delroy Wilson, Junior Delgado, Horace Andy. Also played to melodica on Primal Scream's 1997 Star single ~ Swaby was born in 1954May 18, 1997 ~ The 28th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 2 of 3. Mostly sunny and warm, some rain today, this year's edition would draw a crowd of in total 49, 200 visitors. Included on today's, Sunday the 18th's bill would be Limp Bizkit, Placebo, the Descendents, Rammstein, de Osdorp Posse, Beth Orton, DJ L-Dopa, Lamb, Lady Aída, Faithless, DJ Hyper, and System 7
May 18, 1996 ~ Singer Eimear Quinn wins the 41st edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Oslo, Norway ~ Representing Ireland, Eimear Quinn wins with the song The Voice written by Brendan Graham. Runner-ups would be Elisabeth Andreassen representing Norway with I Evighet in 2nd place, and One More Time representing Sweden with Den Vilda in 3rdMay 18, 1993 ~ Kyle Thomas Harvey, mononymously known as rapper, singer, songwriter, actor Kyle, born in Ventura, California, USA ~ Best known for his 2018 breakout single iSpy featuring Lil' Yachty, which reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Has collaborated with Kehlani, G-Eazy, Chance the Rapper, and Ty Dolla $ign
May 18, 1986 ~ Composer, arranger, pianist, saxophonist Charles Albertine passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as composer, arranger for the Elgarts, Sammy Kaye, the Three Suns and as composer of Bandstand Boogie, the theme for TV dance show American Bandstand. Other artists who recorded Albertine's songs include Chet Atkins, Bud Powell, Barry Manilow, and Lawrence Welk ~ Albertine was born in 1929May 18, 1985 ~ Christian pop singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Francesca Battistelli born in New York, New York, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums to her name, starting with Just A Breath released in 2004. Known for songs such as I'm Letting Go, Free To Be Me, He Knows My Name, Write Your Story, Holy Spirit, and The Breakup Song. Married to NewSong-drummer Matt Goodwin since 2009
May 18, 1985 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, Don't You (Forget About Me) by the Simple Minds hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff specifically for the soundtrack of the coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club. The soundtrack also included Wang Chung's Fire In The Twilight and Joyce Kennedy's Didn't I Tell You, both written by the same duo, but Don't You (Forget About Me) would be the big hit and finally have American audiences take notice of the Simple Minds, up till then underpromoted in America by their label. Initially the band was reluctant to record someone else's song, but when they did they had their first American hit. Lead singer Jim Kerr would later recall to Songfacts: “We were loving what we were doing and thinking, Hang on a minute, you want us in 'cause you love us because we write these songs, but you want us to do -your- song? We weren't even willing to listen initially. We were like, No, we don't do other people's songs. End of story.”