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 19, 1967 ~ Alessia Quilni, commonly known as eurodance, dance-pop, house singer Alexia, born in La Spezia, Italy ~ Sang backing vocals for Ice MC, notably on the hit Think About The Way. As a solo artist known for a number of Italian top 10 hits, with 1997's Uh La La La also reaching top 10 in several other countries
May 19, 1967 ~ Bebop, hard bop pianist Elmo Hope, full name St Elmo Sylvester Hope, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Somewhat overlooked pianist due to the subtlety of his playing, strongly influenced by classical music and techniques, in an era focused primarily focused on virtuosity. Influence on contemporaries Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, both of whom he also collaborated with. Best known for his 1956 Informal Jazz album featuring Donald Byrd, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones ~ Hope was born in 1923May 19, 1967 ~ Guitarist Michael Lee Firkins born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Draws from bluegrass, country, blues, jazz, rock. Noted for his high-speed fingerpicking. Influenced by Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Danny Gatton. Debuted in 1990 with the eponymous Michael Lee Firkins album and has recorded to a devoted fanbase since
May 19, 1962 ~ Guitarist Iain Harvie, full name Iain Wallace Harvie, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Besides bassist, lead singer Justin Currie the only other constant member of Del Amitri. The band enjoyed popularity across Europe, scoring a string of 1990s hits including Nothing Ever Happens, Spit In The Rain, Always The Last To Know, Driving With The Brakes On, Not Where It's At, and Don't Come Home Too Soon. The single Roll To Me of their 1995 Twisted album would also reach top 10 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart. Harvie has also served as producer for the likes of Eileen Rose and the MaccabeesMay 19, 1962 ~ Singer Marilyn Monroe sings Happy Birthday Mr President for John F Kennedy ~ Less than three months before her death Marilyn Monroe sings Happy Birthday Mr President at a fundraiser and early birthday celebration for President John F Kennedy's 45th birthday. It would be one of her most famous public performances. Monroe's sultry performance would fuel speculation of a secret affair between the two and lead to relentless tabloid reports with lies and doctored photos of the pair
May 19, 1961 ~ Producer, pianist, composer, arranger Allen Farnham born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Worked with Drew Gress, Jamey Haddad, Susannah McCorkle, Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, Dick Oatts, Rufus Reid, Mel Tormé, Masahiro Yoshida, Roseanna Vitro, Mark Sherman, and John Fedchock
May 19, 1961 ~ Andrew Stammers, commonly known as punk rock, post-punk bassist, singer Stan Stammers, born in Saffrom, UK ~ Turned down an offer to join the UK Subs, preferring to join Theatre Of Hate instead. The short-lived band would be best known for their Westworld album produced by the Clash's Mick Jones, its Westworld title track reaching the top 40. Following the band's disbandement in 1983 formed Spear of Destiny. Has also worked with the Straps, Crazy Pink Revolvers, and the Plastic EatersMay 19, 1960 ~ Singer Annette Funicello performs at Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York ~ Teen idol Annette Funicello performs at Radio City Music Hall, missing her own high school graduation party. Funicello began her career in her early teens, performing on the original Mickey Mouse Club TV show since age 12. As a recording artist she scored a number of late 1950s to early 1960 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including Tall Paul, O Dio Mio and Pineapple Princess
May 19, 1960 ~ R&B group the Drifters record Save The Last Dance For Me ~ Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It has been said a young Phil Spector has aided on the recording, though if true the level of his involvement is unclear. Lead vocals by Ben E King, who had departed the group by the time of its release, with backing from Bucky Pizzarelli, Allen Hanlon, Lloyd Trotman and Gary Chester. Initially intended as a B-side it would reach top of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and become one of the band's best known, later covered by numerous artists including Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Anka, Ike & Tina Turner, Randy Meisner, and Emmylou Harris
May 19, 1958 ~ Singer Peggy Lee records Fever at Capitol Records Studios, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, the song would first be recorded by Little Willie John for his 1956 debut album of the same name. Although the original would be a solid hit, including topping the Billboard R&B charts, it would become best known as recorded by Peggy Lee two years later. Lee changed the lyrics and arrangements, and made it her own. It became a global hit, reached top 10 in several countries including Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, and America, and earned the singer Grammy Award nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Vocal Performance at the very first Grammy Awards Ceremony in 1959. Both at the time of its release and retrospectively, Lee's rendition has been hailed by critics with the general consensus being it is best remembered for the singer's “playful delivery, charisma and sexuality”, traits that have been associated with the singer ever since. Fever, often regarded as the definitive torch song, has been covered over 600 times, with most artists inspired by Peggy Lee's rendition. Notable covers have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Clyde McPhatter, Ben E King, Conway Twitty, Sarah Vaughan, Little Milton, James Cotton, Isaac Hayes, and Roy Ayers
May 19, 1957 ~ Rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, pianist James Reyne, full name James Michael Nugent Reyne, born in Lagos, Nigeria ~ Co-founding and constant member of the Australian Crawl, known for songs such as Downhearted, Things Don't Seem and perhaps their best known Reckless (Don't Be So), the latter reaching top of the charts in their native Australia in 1983. Has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for the top 10 hits Fall Of Rome and Hammerhead both taken of his 1987 eponymous James Reyne debut album, and with the short-lived early 1990s pop rock unit the Company Of Strangers
May 19, 1954 ~ John Webb McMurry, commonly known as rock & roll singer, guitarist, actor Webb Wilder, born in Hattlesburg, Mississippi, USA ~ Fuses rock & roll with the Ventures-surf and Duane Eddy-twang. The character “Webb Wilder” was first created for a 1981 short comedy film about a private investigator who fell out of the 1950s and happened to also be a musician. The name stuck and McMurry has been recording consistently since the 1980sMay 19, 1953 ~ Country singers Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard record A Dear John Letter at Capitol Recording Studio, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Billy Barton, Fuzzy Owen and Lewis Talley. Recorded as a duet with Jean Shepard singing and Ferlin Husky speaking his part. Released the following July it would reach No.1 on the Billboard Country charts, making Shepard, then 19, the youngest female to top the country charts. She would hold the record for nearly two decades, until a 14 year old Tanya Tucker broke the record with What's Your Mama's Name
May 19, 1953 ~ Blues, blues-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jimmy Thackery born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Longtime and co-founding member of blues, roots rock band the Nighthawks, leaving the band in 1986 to focus on his solo career. Over two dozen albums to his name, starting with 1985's Sideways In Paradise with frequent collaborator John Mooney. Has also worked with Tom Principato, David Raitt, Tab Benoit, and Cate BrothersMay 19, 1951 ~ Music journalist, author Colin Irwin, full name Colin Lester Irwin, born in Chertsey, UK ~ Best known as journalist and editor for Melody Maker from the mid 1970s through the mid-1980s. Would go on to work as a music critic for the Guardian, Mojo, the Daily Telegraph, and the Independent. Irwin has also authored a number of books, including biographies of the Dire Straits, ABBA, and Leonard Cohen ~ Irwin passed away in 2022
May 19, 1951 ~ Drummer Gary McCracken born in Sarnia, Canada ~ Best known as member of rock outfit Max Webster from 1976 through 1981, with whom he recorded six albums. Co-wrote and sang lead on the band's 1979 A Million Vacations hit single. McCracken has also worked with Triumph, Wrabit, and Klaatu, and released his sole Audioscapes solo album in 2000
May 19, 1951 ~ Jeffrey Ross Hyman, commonly known as punk rock singer Joey Ramone, born in Forest Hills, New York, USA ~ Became a countercultural icon as frontman of 1970s punk rock band the Ramones, known for songs such as Blitzkrieg Bop, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Rockaway Beach and perhaps their best known Rock 'n Roll High School ~ Hyman passed away in 2001May 19, 1951 ~ Jazz, pop singer Patti Page records Mister & Mississippi ~ Written by Irving Gordon. Popularized by Patti Page, whose version would peak at No.8 on the Billboards pop chart in 1951. Also recorded by Rex Allen, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Bond, Dennis Day, Johnny Desmond, and by Tennessee Ernie Ford. The popularity of the song would later prompt Gordon to write Delaware, containing even more puns on state names
May 19, 1950 ~ TV personality, actor, singer Ron Brandsteder, full name Ronald Brandsteder, born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Best known as a game show host and frequent comic partner of André van Duin. As a singer best known for duetting with Bonnie St Claire on the 1976 Dutch top 10 hit Dokter Bernard and for duetting with former Luv' singer José Hoebee on the 1984 Leonard Cohen-cover So Long Marianne
May 19, 1949 ~ Joseph Michael Hill, commonly known as blues-rock, rock bassist, guitarist, singer Dusty Hill, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Brother of guitarist Rocky Hill, his bandmate in American Blues. Would rise to fame as member of ZZ Top, known for songs such as La Grange, Tush, Arrested For Driving While Blind, Cheap Sunglasses, Gimme All Your Lovin', Legs, Rough Boy, and Velcro Fly ~ Hill passed away in 2021
May 19, 1949 ~ Rock, hard rock, proto-punk, progressive rock guitarist, bassist, singer Larry Wallis born in UK ~ Best known as member of the Pink Fairies, notably present on the 1973 album Kings Of Oblivion for which Wallis wrote or co-wrote all songs. Briefly an early member of Motörhead during the mid 1970s, appearing on the 1975 album On Parole which would remain unreleased until 1979. Wallis has also worked with Shagrat, Blodwyn Pig, the Deviants, Steve Peregrin Took, UFO, and Lee Brilleaux. Wallis has sporadically recorded as a solo artist and served as in-house producer for Stiff Records, working with artists such as Wreckless Eric (A Louder Silence), the Adverts, and Mick Farren ~ Wallis passed away in 2019
May 19, 1948 ~ Model, singer, actress Grace Jones, full name Grace Beverly Jones, born in Spanish Town, Jamaica ~ Influenced artists such as Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Róisín Murphy, and Nile Rodgers. Emerged from the late 1970s New York disco scene, darling of the Studio 54 crowd as well as of leading fashion houses. Would move to a new wave style by the early 1980s drawing from reggae, funk, post-punk, club, dance and pop. Best known for songs such as La Vie En Rose, Pull Up To The Bumper, I've Seen That Face Before and Slave To The Rhythm. Jones has also guested on tracks by Thompson Twins, Arcadia, Lil' Kim (Revolution), Gorillaz, Beyoncé, and Janelle Monáe
May 19, 1948 ~ Saxophonist Tom Scott, full name Thomas Wright Scott, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of film, TV composer Nathan Scott. Well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, starting with The Honeysuckle Breeze released in 1967. Despite his absence from either movie a co-founding member of the Blues Brothers, with whom he recorded five albums. Wrote the theme songs for the TV series Starsky & Hutch and The Streets Of San Francisco. In-demand session musician, notable credits include the sax solos on Wings' Listen To What The Man Said and Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love For You and the lyricon on Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. Has also appeared on albums by the likes of Jan & Dean, Otis Spann, Harry Nilsson, Joni Mitchell (For The Roses), Billy Preston, America, Ringo Starr (Ringo), Bonnie Raitt, Barbra Streisand, George Harrison (Dark Horse), Gregg Allman, Tom Waits (The Heart Of Saturday Night), Neil Diamond, Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs (Silk Degrees), Steely Dan (Aja), Elvin Bishop, Rod Stewart (Blondes Have More Fun), the Muffins, Thijs van Leer, Randy Newman, Art Garfunkel (Fate For Breakfast), Captain & Tennille, Minnie Riperton, Dolly Parton, Blondie (Autoamerican), Al Jarreau, Pat Benatar, Dan Fogelberg, Lee Ritenour, Nona Hendryx, Toto, Pink Floyd, Joyride, Richard Marx, and Julio IglesiasMay 19, 1948 ~ Trevor Gordon Grunnill, commonly known as soft rock, baroque pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Trevor Gordon, born in Blackpool, UK ~ Formed the late 1960s duo the Marbles with Graham Bonnet, scoring a UK top 10 hit with Only One Woman penned by the Bee Gees-siblings Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb ~ Grunnill passed away in 2013
May 19, 1947 ~ Rock bassist Steve Currie born in Grimsby, UK ~ Best known as member of T.Rex, joining in 1970 and remaining through 1976. Present on most of the band's best known including Hot Love, Bang-a-gong (Get It On), Telegram Sam and Metal Guru ~ Currie passed away in 1981