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, 1952 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter George Strait, full name George Harvey Strait, born in Poleet, Texas, USA ~ One of the most influential country musicians known for his neotraditionalist style, bringing back country music to its root and away from the poppy sound of the 1970s. Scored over 40 Billboard Country charttoppers since breaking through in the early 1980s. Known for songs such as Fool Hearted Memory, You Look So Good In Love, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, The Chair, Ocean Front Property, All My Ex's Live In Texas, Baby Blue, Love Without End (Amen), I Cross My Heart, Check Yes Or No, Carrying Your Love With Me, Write This Down, She'll Leave You With A Smile, and River Of LoveMay 18, 1951 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Andy Santana born in San Jose, California, USA ~ Worked with Bukka White, Joe Louis Walker, the Gospel Hummingbirds, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Luther Tucker, Billy Boy Arnold, Dave Myers, Carey Bell, William Clarke, Lou Ann Barton, Jimmy Thackery, Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, Chris Cain, Nappy Brown, Junior Watson, and Angela Strehli
May 18, 1949 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Jim McNeely born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. First gained attention working with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis during the late 1970s. Has also worked with Stan Getz, Phil Woods, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the DR Big Band, Ted Curson, and others ~ McNeely passed away in 2025
May 18, 1948 ~ Country, gospel singer Joe Bonsall, full name Joseph Sloan Bonsall Jr, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Bonsall first gained attention in the late 1960s as a member of gospel group the Keystone Quartet, alongside Richard Sterban. Through the gospel world, Sterban and Bonsall met up with William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys. When the band found themselves in need of a bass and tenor singer, they enlisted the pair. Looking back on joining the band, Bonsall later commented the Oak Ridge Boys were “the most innovative quartet in gospel music, they performed gospel with a rock approach, had a full band, wore bell-bottom pants and grew their hair long, things unheard of at the time”. Bonsall remained with the band until his death some five decades later, retiring from performing in early 2024 for medical reasons. The band enjoyed popularity especially from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, with over half a dozen of their albums reaching top 10 Billboard Country. Well known songs include Trying To Love Two Women, Elvira, (I'm Settin') Fancy Free, Bobbie Sue, I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes, Touch A Hand (Make A Friend), and It Takes A Little Rain (To Make Love Grow). Bonsall is also known as an author with close to a dozen books to his name, including his I See Myself memoir released the year before his death ~ Bonsall passed away in 2024
May 18, 1946 ~ Art punk, experimental guitarist Bruce Gilbert, full name Bruce Clifford Gilbert born in Watford, UK ~ Co-founding member of Wire. The band is considered the pivotal late 1970s art punk unit, especially acclaimed for their first three albums Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154. During the band's hiatuses has formed a series of bands, often collaborating with bandmate bassist Graham Lewis, including Cupol, Dome and Duet Emmo. The duo also produced The The's 1980 Black & White/Controversial Subject debut single. Gilbert has recorded as a solo artist, starting with To Speak released in 1993, collaborated with a wide array of artists, and has DJ'd at London techno clubs going by the moniker DJ Beekeeper
May 18, 1944 ~ Singer, songwriter Albert Hammond, full name Albert Louis Hammond, born in London, UK ~ Father of the Strokes-frontman Albert Hammond Jr. Member of the Magic Lanterns, member of the Family Dogg. As a singer known for his 1972 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 It Never Rains In Southern California. In-demand songwriter. Songs written or co-written by Hammond have been recorded by the Troggs, Cliff Richard, the Hondells, Joe Dolan, Blue Mink, the Fortunes, the Carpenters, Leo Sayer (Easy To Love), Julio Iglesias, Janis Ian, Joe Cocker (Don't You Love Me Anymore), Air Supply, Chicago (I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love), Whitney Houston (One Moment In Time), Eddie Money, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Céline Dion
May 18, 1941 ~ Doris Curry, commonly known as soul, southern soul, R&B, gospel singer Doris Duke, born in Sandersville, Georgia, USA ~ Married to doo-wop singer Gus Willingham. In-demand session and backing singer, notably present on Nina Simone's A Very Rare Evening live album. Released her Running Away From Loneliness debut single in 1966 under her married name Doris Willingham. Best known among aficionados for her 1969 I'm A Loser, spawning the Billboard R&B top 10 hit To The Other Woman (I'm The Other Woman). The album has over time become to be regarded as one of the finest deep soul records of all time ~ Curry passed away in 2019
May 18, 1941 ~ John Baslington Lyde, commonly known as guitarist Lobby Loyde, born in Longreach, Australia ~ First gained attention in the 1960s as a member of the Purple Hearts, known for their 1966 single Early In The Morning, and subsequently of Wild Cherries, known for the hit single That's Life. Would go on to become a leading figure in the 1970s Australian pub rock scene, notably as a member of Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs. Has also recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with the likes of Coloured Balls, and briefly with Rose Tattoo ~ Loyde passed away in 2007May 18, 1939 ~ Larry Wayne Stevens, commonly known as producer, songwriter Gary S Paxton, born in Coffeyville, Kansas, USA ~ First gained attention as the “Flip” in the duo Skip & Flip, the other being Clyde Battin, scoring the hits It Was I and Cherry Pie before splitting up. Would go on to work with the Association, Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Four Freshmen and with Tommy Roe. Perhaps best remembered for producing two unexpected hits, namely Alley Oop for the Hollywood Argyles in 1960 and Monster Mash for Bobby Pickett in 1962 ~ Stevens passed away in 2016
May 18, 1938 ~ Bandleader François Guin born in Contres, France ~ Worked with Marc Laferriere, Raymond Fonseque, Christian Chevalier, Jacques Denjean, Jacques Hélian, Danlei Janin, Duke Ellington, Luis Fuentes, Michel Legrand, Gerry Mulligan, Bill Coleman, Claude Bolling, the Four Bones, les Petits Francais, Moustache, and Georges Brassens
May 18, 1934 ~ Percussionist Jack Ashford born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as a member of Motown house band the Funk Brothers. Played on numerous recordings including the Miracles' Ooh Baby Baby, Martha & the Vandellas' Nowhere To Run, the Supremes' You Can't Hurry Love, Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine, and Thelma Houston's Don't Leave Me This Way
May 18, 1933 ~ Fred Smith, commonly known as R&B songwriter, producer Fred Sledge Smith, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing several hits for the Olympics including Hully Gully later notably covered by the Hollywood Argyles, Chubby Checker, and the Beach Boys. Smith also co-produced Bob & Earl's 1963 original recording of Harlem Shuffle, widely considered one of the most enduring early 1960s R&B recordings ~ Smith passed away in 2005
May 18, 1933 ~ Jazz pianist, conductor, arranger Larry Novak, full name Lawrence R Novak, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Father of drummer Gary Novak. Worked with Cleveland Eaton, Pearl Bailey, Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Herb Ellis, Butch Miles, Rufus Reid, Ray Brown, Carl Fontana, Kenny Burrell, Chick Corea, Al Hirt, Charlie Shavers, Barney Kessel, Scott LaFaro, Sonny Stitt, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Phil Woods, and Scott Hamilton ~ Novak passed away in 2020May 18, 1930 ~ Cool jazz trombonist, bass trumpeter, singer Mike Zwerin born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Perhaps best known for his association with Miles Davis, present on Davis's Birth Of The Cool sessions. Has also worked with Maynard Ferguson, Claude Thornhill, Archie Shepp, George Gruntz, Alexis Korner, Alan Silva, and Sugar Blue ~ Zwerin passed away in 2010
May 18, 1926 ~ Jazz organist Lou Bennett born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Started on be-bop piano, but was inspired to switch to organ after hearing Jimmy Smith. Recorded prolifically as a leader during the 1960s. Has guested on albums by the likes of René Thomas, Leo Wright, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Johnny Griffin, and King Curtis ~ Bennett was born in 1997
May 18, 1922 ~ Jazz trombonist Kai Winding, full name Kai Chresten Winding, born in Aarhus, Denmark ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his association with trombonist JJ Johnson. Has also worked with Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Miles Davis (Birth Of The Cool), Kenny Burrell, Albert Mangelsdorff, Quincy Jones, King Pleasure, Pete Rugolo, Zoot Sims, Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Parker, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Astrud Gilberto, Chuck Mangione, and the Birdlanders ~ Winding passed away in 1983
May 18, 1912 ~ Pierino Ronald Como, commonly known as easy listening, vocal pop singer, actor Perry Como, born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Recorded since the early 1940s, remaining popular well into the 1960s. Best known for songs such as I'm Gonna Love That Gal, Till The End Of Time, Prisoner Of Love, Chi Baba Chi Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep), Some Enchanted Evening, If (They Made Me A King), Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes, Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom), Round And Round, Catch A Falling Star and It's Impossible ~ Como passed away in 2001
May 18, 1911 ~ Joseph Vernon Turner Jr, commonly known as jump blues, R&B singer Big Joe Turner, born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Important to the development of R&B and rock & roll. According to songwriter Doc Pomus “rock & roll would have never happened without him.” Best known for being the first to record the Charles Calhoun-penned Shake Rattle & Roll, a hit in 1954 and generally regarded as one of the first rock & roll records. Over the years, the song would be recorded by well over a hundred artists including Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Conway Twitty, Buddy Holly, and Canned Heat. Turner is also well known for songs such as Roll 'Em Pete, Cherry Red, I Want A Little Girl, Wee Baby Blues, SK Blues, Corrine Corrina, and Midnight Special ~ Turner passed away in 1985May 18, 1911 ~ Composer, conductor Gustav Mahler passed away in Vienna, Austria ~ One of the leading composers, conductors of the Romantic era. Served as a bridge between the 19th century tradition and 20th century modernism. Of Jewish descent, his music would be banned throughout much of Europe during the Nazi era. Rediscovered by new generations after the war ~ Mahler was born in 1860
May 18, 1907 ~ Classical pianist Clifford Curzon, full name Clifford Michael Curzon, born in Islington, UK ~ Studied and taught at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Married to harpsichordist Lucille Wallace, with whom he adopted the two sons of soprano Maria Cebotari after she and her husband died. In-demand soloist, known for premiering works by Germaine Tailleferre, John Ireland, Alan Rawsthorne, and Lennox Berkeley. Recorded prolifically since the late 1930s, though highly self-critical Curzon would veto many of his recordings, some of which would be released after his death ~ Curzon passed away in 1982May 18, 1905 ~ Composer Erich Zeisl born in Vienna, Austria ~ Of Jewish descent fled Austria in the 1930s, first to Paris and eventually to America. Best known for his work in Hollywood, scoring the music for films such as The Postman Always Rings Twice and Abbott And Costello Meet The Invisible Man. Has also written chamber music, ballets, operas, concertos, and orchestral music ~ Zeisl passed away in 1959
May 18, 1892 ~ Opera singer Ezio Pinza, full name Ezio Fortunato Pinza, born in Rome, Italy ~ Closely associated with the Metropolitan Opera, appearing in over 750 performances of some 50 operas. Unjustly arrested by the FBI in 1942 and detained for three months with hundreds of other Italian-Americans on suspicion of supporting the Axis. After his tenure with the Met embarked on a second career in Broadway musicals, perhaps most notably in South Pacific portraying the role of the painter Emile de Becque ~ Oinza passed away in 1957