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, 1984 ~ Jazz, hard bop trumpeter, hornist Ray Copeland passed away in Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA ~ Known for his confident tone, Copeland was an in-demand sideman from the late 1940s, starting with acts such as Mercer Ellington and the Savoy Sultans, through the 1980s. The trumpeter would become especially associated with Thelonious Monk, notably present on the 1953 eponymous Thelonious Monk album and on Monk released one year later, and with Randy Weston, with whom he appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1966 alongside saxophonist Cecil Payne, bassist Bill Wood, drummer Lenny McBrowne and conga player Big Black, a line-up regarded by Weston as his best. Over the course of his four-decade career, Copeland has also appeared on albums by Ernie Wilkins, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Mann (Great Ideas Of Western Mann), Dinah Washington (Dinah Washington Sings Fats Walller), Art Blakey, Cat Anderson, Bob Brookmeyer, Oscar Pettiford (First Bass), Betty Carter (I Can't Help It), Art Farmer, Dave Pike, Booker Ervin, and Archie Shepp (Attica Blues Big Band). Copeland's son Keith Copeland would follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional jazz drummer ~ Copeland was born in 1926
May 18, 1980 ~ Singer Ian Curtis, full name Ian Kevin Curtis, passed away in Macclesfield, UK ~ Lead singer, primary songwriter of post-punk band Joy Division, who recorded the quintessential albums Unknown Pleasures and Closer. Best known for their 1980 Love Will Tear Us Apart hit single. Despite recording only two albums before Ian's suicide at age 23 the band would prove to be hugely influential on bands such as U2, the Cure, Interpol, Bloc Party, and the Editors. The band was on the verge of an American breakthrough but would disband shortly after Curtis' death, the remaining members continuing as New Order ~ Curtis was born in 1956
May 18, 1979 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter David Nail, full name David Brent Nail, born in Kennet, Missouri, USA ~ Recorded a full-length eponymous David Nail debut album for Mercury Records in the early 2000s. A lead single, Memphis, would become a moderate hit on the Billboard Country charts but the album would remain unreleased. Five years later Nail signed with MCA Nashville and released his I'm About To Come Alive album. Has since repeatedly reached the higher echelons of the country charts, noted most for the singles Red Light, Let It Rain feat Sarah Buxton and Whatever She's GotMay 18, 1979 ~ Pop, rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Melissa McClelland born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Described as “reminiscent of a female Tom Waits” and influenced primarily by blues and Americana. Married to guitarist, singer Luke Doucet, with whom she also recorded under the moniker Whitehorse. Debuted as a solo artist with the independently released eponymous Melissa McClelland album in 2001. Has worked with Ladybird Sideshow, Jesse Cook, Blue Rodeo, and Peter Katz
May 18, 1975 ~ Bandoneonist, bandleader, composer Anibal Troilo, full name Anibal Carmelo Troilo, passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Popular bandleader during the golden age of tango, a period from the early 1940s through the mid 1950s. Best known for his instrumentals though he has also recorded with vocalists such as Roberto Goyneche, Edmundo Rivero and Francisco Fiorentino. Noted for employing Astor Piazzolla in his orchestra from 1939 through 1944 ~ Troilo was born in 1914
May 18, 1975 ~ Folk rock, acoustic pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Jack Johnson, full name Jack Hody Johnson, born in Oahu, Hawaii, USA ~ Debuted in 2001 with the Brushfire Fairytales album and has recorded to critical acclaim since. Known for songs such as Flake, Sitting Waiting Wishing, Upside Down, If I Had Eyes, You And Your Heart, I Got You, and Don't Let Me Down with Milky Chance
May 18, 1975 ~ Composer, conductor Leroy Anderson passed away in Woodbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Known for his light orchestral pieces, many of which premiered by the Boston Pops Orchestra. Described by renowned conductor, film composer John Williams as “one of the great American masters of light orchestral music.” ~ Anderson was born in 1908
May 18, 1974 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, The Streak by Ray Stevens hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Capitalizing on the then-popular fad of streaking, Ray Stevens scored his second and final American charttopper with The Streak. Stevens would later recall: “There were about a dozen other records about streaking on the market before I could get mine out, and I was pretty fast! I wrote the song the minute I heard about streaking, and got in the studio and cut it. People were just, I don't know how they got their records out so fast, but maybe they weren't all that good. When mine came out, it took the market. It was the one that radio liked”
May 18, 1970 ~ Rock, hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer Billy Howerdel born in West Milford, New Jersey, USA ~ Recorded as a solo artist under his given name as well as under the moniker Ashes Divide. Best known as founding member of A Perfect Circle, which also included Tool's Maynard James Keenan, known for their platinum Mer De Noms debut album released in 2000May 18, 1970 ~ The 1st edition of Pinkpop takes place in Geleen, the Netherlands ~ The weather is sunny and some 10,000 visitors show up for this edition's bill which includes Keef Hartley, the Golden Earring, the George Baker Selection, Dream, Opus, Livin' Blues and the Mr Albert Show
May 18, 1969 ~ Actress, singer Helena Noguerra born in Brussels, Belgium ~ Married to singer, actor Philippe Katerine from 1999 to 2008. Sister of singer Lio, with whom she also collaborated. Has worked extensively as an actress since the late 1980s. As a singer released her Projet Bikini debut album in 19. Known for songs such as Lunette Noires and Rivière Des Anges. Toured with Nouvelle Vague in 2010. Has also worked with artists such as Olivier Libaux, Serge Rezvani, André Manoukian, François Morel, Natalie Dessay, and Arielle DombasleMay 18, 1967 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist Josh Clayton-Felt born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Co-founded alternative rock outfit School Of Fish with Michael Ward, best known for 3 Strange Days of their eponymous School Of Fish debut album released in 1991. Following the band's disbandement has recorded as a solo artist, starting with Inarticulate Nature Boy released in 1996 ~ Clayton-Felt passed away in 2000
May 18, 1967 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock keyboardist Martin Duffy, full name Martin Bernard Duffy, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Member of indie rockers Felt. Guested on Primal Scream's first two albums, Sonic Flower Groove and Primal Scream, prior to joining the band fulltime in 1989. Worked with the Charlatans, replacing the late Rob Collins on tour and on the band's Tellin' Stories album released in 1997. Member of supergroup the Chavs alongside Tim Burgess and Carl Barât. Has also appeared on recordings by Heidi Berry, Beth Orton, Paul Weller, and the Chemical Brothers. Released his sole solo album, Assorted Promenades, in 2014 ~ Duffy passed away in 2022
May 18, 1966 ~ British pop group the Hollies record Bus Stop at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Written by future 10cc-member Graham Gouldman. Produced by Ron Richards. One of the band's best remembered, remaining a radio staple to this day. Served as the title track of the band's fourth album. Released as a single the following June, b/w Don't Run And Hide, it would become the band's first American top 10 hit, peaking at No.5 Billboard Hot 100
May 18, 1965 ~ Industrial rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist Christopher Hall, full name Robert Christopher Hall, born in Illinois, USA ~ Formed Stabbing Westward with keyboardist Walter Flakus in 1985 while still in college. The band would tour relentlessly in support of their 1993 Ungod debut album building a modest but steady fanbase and break into the mainstream with their Wither Blister Burn & Peel sophomore album released in 1996, which would reach gold status. Hall founded the Dreaming after Westward's initial disbandement in 2002. Westward would reunite in the 2020s, releasing the album Chasing Ghosts to critical acclaim in 2022May 18, 1965 ~ Power metal, heavy metal drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg born in Hamburg, West Germany ~ Best known as co-founding member of Helloween, fired from the band in 1993. Noted for his high-energy drumming and for his cheerful attitude earning him the nickname “Mr Smile”. Has also worked with Gentry and Iron Fist ~ Schwichtenberg passed away in 1995
May 18, 1965 ~ Nu jazz, acid jazz, jazz funk, trip hop DJ, producer Tadashi Yabe born ~ Formed United Future Organization with fellow club DJs Toshio Matsuura and Raphael Sebbag, the trio considered pioneers of the Japanese acid-jazz sound. They are perhaps best known for their debut 12" I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Jazz) and its follow-up Loud Minority, the latter an international cult favorite on club circuits in the early 1990s. The trio would follow up with about half a dozen albums through their disbandement in the early 2000s, starting with No Sound Is Too Taboo released in 1994 ~ Yabe passed away in 2024
May 18, 1962 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Huw Warren born in Swansea, UK ~ Co-founded the Perfect Houseplants teaming up with Mark Lockheart, Dudley Phillips and Martin France. Also worked with Andrew Manze, Pamela Thorby, the Orlando Consort, the Creative Jazz Orchestra, LPO Renga, Lieuwen Steffan, June Tabor, Iain Ballamy, Mark Feldman, Maria Pia de Vito, Peter Herbert, Joanna MacGregor, Theo Bleckmann, Pamela Thorby, Erik Truffaz, Gabriele Mirabassi, Ralph Towner, Ra Ramamani, Kenny Wheeler, Loose Tubes, Steve Argüelles, Julian Argüelles, Billy Jenkins, John Parricelli, John Ethridge, Christine Tobin, Tim Garland, Scott Stroman, Antonio Forcione, Brian Abrahams, Billy Bragg, Elvis Costello, Eddi Reader, Echobelly, Christine Collier, and the Audio BullysMay 18, 1962 ~ Sandra Ann Lauer, commonly known as pop singer Sandra Cretu, born in Saarbrücken, West Germany ~ Best known for a string of 1980s and 1990s singles, using the moniker Sandra, produced by then-husband Michael Cretu, most notably I'll Never Be Maria Magdalena. Also worked with Michael as vocalist with the highly successful Enigma project. Previous to her solo career member of disco outfit Arabesque
May 18, 1960 ~ Singer Tyka Nelson, full name Tyka Evene Nelson, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Daughter of jazz pianist John L Nelson and singer Mattie Della Shaw, and the only full sibling of Prince. Nelson has released four albums starting with Royal Blue released in 1988, which included her best known song Marc Anthony's Tune. Nelson wrote the song as at the time she had a crush on singer Marc Anthony, the single would reach top No.33 Billboard R&B ~ Nelson passed away in 2024
May 18, 1959 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ One of the earliest songs penned by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who wrote the song in 1952. It would first be recorded by Little Willie Littlefield in late 1952, who changed the title to KC Loving. Stoller would later comment the title change is what likely tanked Littlefield's single. However, in 1959, the song would be revived with about a dozen versions recorded within the same year, all using the original title. The definitive hit version would be Wilbert Harrison's, however, and the song became a popular standard. Later, Harrison's version would be included on the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. In 2001, the song would also be inducted in Grammy Hall of Fame. Mike Stoller has been quoted as saying that neither he nor Leiber had ever visited Kansas City when they wrote the song
May 18, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, actress, producer, songwriter Toyah Willcox, full name Toyah Ann Willcox, born in King's Heath, UK ~ Eponym and frontwoman of Toyah, known for songs such as I Want To Be Free and Thunder In The Mountains. Embarked on a solo career in the mid-1980s though as a solo singer would never reach the same level of success. Did work though with respected names such as with Robert Fripp in the short-lived early 1990s band Sunday All Over The World and with REM drummer Bill Rieflin in the Humans, formed in 2007. Also known as an actress for theatre, TV and filmMay 18, 1954 ~ Conductor, cellist, composer, arranger Jaques Morelenbaum born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Son of conductor Henrique Morelenbaum and piano teacher Sarah Morelenbaum, brother of clarinetist Lucia Morelenbaum and conductor Eduardo Morelenbaum. Member of A Barca Do Sol. Member of the Quarteto Jobim Morelenbaum alongside Paulo Jobim, Daniel Jobim and his wife singer Paula Morelenbaum. As an arranger worked with Antônio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Ivan Lins, Madredeus, David Byrne, and Ryuichi Sakamoto
May 18, 1954 ~ Eric Goulden, commonly known as rock, new wave, punk rock singer, songwriter Wreckless Eric, born in Newhaven, UK ~ Best known for his 1977 single Whole Wide World featuring Nick Lowe on bass and guitar and Steve Goulding on drums. The song would be underappreciated at the time, never even making it to the charts, but in hindsight be acclaimed by critics as one of the best punk songs of all-timeMay 18, 1953 ~ Singer Feliciano Tavares Jr, full name Feliciano Vierra Tavares Jr, born ~ Member of sibling R&B, disco outfit Tavares, known best for She's Gone, It Only Takes A Minute, Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel, Don't Take Away The Music and More Than A Woman, the latter notably featured on 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack
May 18, 1953 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter John Schumann born in Adelaide, Australia ~ Lead singer of folk band Redgum, best known for their 1983 I Was Only 19 (A Walk In The Green Light) hit single. The single told of psychological and medical trauma sustained serving in the Australian forces during the Vietnam war, its proceed would help Veterans during the 1983 Royal Commission into the effect of Agent Orange employed during the war. Schumann was also known for his involvement in politics. Served as chief of staff for then-leader of the Australian Democrats Meg Lees. Ran for office himself in the 1998 federal election, narrowly losing to Alexander Downer