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 21, 1987 ~ Folk rock, pop rock singer Suzanne Vega releases Luka, lifted off her Solitude Standing sophomore album ~ Suzanne Vega takes on the dark subject of child abuse, as the song tells the story of a frightened little boy who is forbidden to talk about what he's going through asking a neighbor not to pry should they suspect something. Vega struggled to find the way to say what's going on without actually saying it. The singer later recalled to SongTalk: “Because I was aiming at such a complex subject, I was aiming for the simplest line to get there. Simple melodies, happy chords. I felt I had to make it accessible because it was such a dark subject. So I went all out. But I also tried to write in the language of a child. So that's probably why it worked, because it is so accessible.” Although Vega had written the song for her debut album, she held on to it for some time, letting it linger in “a bag of songs”. When she finally recorded it for her sophomore album Solitude Standing and issued it as a single, Luka reached No.3 Billboard Hot 100. A year later jangle pop outfit 10,000 Maniacs took a similar approach to the subject matter of child abuse, the song What's The Matter Here written from the perspective of the neighbour
May 21, 1985 ~ Singer Mutya Buena, full name Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena, born in London, UK ~ Original member of the Sugababes, remaining with the band through 2005 and succeeded by Amelie Berrabah. Present on some of the band's best known including Overload, Freak Like Me, Hole In The Head and Push The Button. In 2012 the original trio of Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy reunited for the one-off single Flatline released under the moniker Mutya Keisha Siobhan
May 21, 1983 ~ Singer, guitarist, DJ, songwriter Robert Harvey, full name Robert Michael Nelson Harvey, born ~ Formed the Music with Adam Nutter, Stuart Coleman and Phil Jordan. The band released their eponymous The Music in 2002, which included the Take The Long Road And Walk It UK top 20 single, and recorded two more successful albums through the remainder of the decade. Harvey notably guested on the Streets's 2011 Computers And Blues album. Harvey also co-produced or co-wrote songs for Clean Bandit (Real Love), Rudimental, Steve Angello, Felix Jaehn, Joel Corry, Digital Farm Animals, Ella Henderson, and David Guetta
May 21, 1983 ~ The rock trio ZZ Top release their video for Gimme All Your Lovin' ~ The Texan rock outfit release the video for Gimme All Your Lovin', the lead single of their 1983 Eliminator album. The video marked the first appearance of Billy Gibbons' 1933 Ford hot rod. The car would be featured in three more of the band's videos and used for the album's cover. Gibbons would have another car built just like it to bring on tourMay 21, 1981 ~ Reggae singer Bob Marley is buried with state honors in St Ann's, Jamaica ~ Diagnosed with a type of malignant melanoma as early as 1977 Bob Marley at the time rejected his doctors' advice to have his toe amputated, citing his religious beliefs. Following a European tour in 1980 Marley played two shows at Madison Square Garden, New York. After collapsing while jogging in Central Park it was found that the cancer had spread to his brain, lungs, and liver. Marley would seek alternative treatment but die eight months later, May 11th 1981. He was given a state funeral in Jamaica that combined elements of Ethiopian Orthodoxy and Rastafari tradition, buried in a chapel near his birthplace. Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga delivered the final funeral eulogy to Marley
May 21, 1981 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist Seja Vogel born in Kassel, West Germany ~ Influenced by the Cars, Devo, Kraftwerk. Member of Sekiden alongside guitarist, singer Simon Graydon and her brother drummer Mirko Vogel, known for the albums Junior Fiction and Sound Instincts. Touring member for Regurgitator, also appearing on the band's 2007 Love And Paranoia album. Vogel has also backed artists such as Sarah Blasko, Goldfrapp, Warpaint, and released her We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares solo debut album in 2010
May 21, 1979 ~ Richard Allen Mitchell, commonly known as R&B, jazz, hard bop, jazz fusion trumpeter Blue Mitchell, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Although somewhat forgotten today, Mitchell is fondly remembered by jazz aficionados for his rich, soulful tone and funky melodic phrasing, his style suitable in both jazz and R&B settings. Mitchell's mother had long hoped her son would become a musician, yet it would not be until age 17 he finally picked up the trumpet. Five years later, he would make his recording debut. Following his high school graduation, Mitchell would spend several years on the road, touring with the likes of Paul Williams, Earl Bostic, and Chuck Willis. Upon returning to Miami, he teamed up with Cannonball Adderley, and subsequently joined Horace Silver's combo, while simultaneously landing a record deal of his own through his connection to Adderley. Mitchell would record about half a dozen albums with Silver through the mid 1960s, including the acclaimed Song For My Father. As a leader, Mitchell recorded over two dozen albums, notably Big 6 and Blue Soul, both issued in 1959, and The Thing To Do, one of the first albums to feature a then-relatively unknown Chick Corea, released in 1964. Over the course of his lengthy career, Mitchell has toured with Ray Charles and John Mayall, served as principal trumpeter for Tony Bennett and Lena Horne, and prolifically sessioned for a wide array of artists, appearing on albums by Lou Donaldson, Philly Joe Jones, Sam Jones (The Soul Society), Bobby Timmons, Jimmy Smith (Open House), Jackie McLean (Jackie's Bag), Sonny Red, Harold Vick, Freddie Roach, Stanley Turrentine (The Spoiler), George Benson, Richard Groove Holmes, Hank Mobley, Jimmy McGriff (The Worm), Yusef Lateef, Harold Mabern, Cedar Walton, Grant Green, Joe Zawinul, David Fathead Newman, Papa John Creach, Bobby Hutcherson (Montara), Nancy Wilson, Elmo Hope, and Louie Bellson (Prime Time) ~ Mitchell was born in 1930May 21, 1979 ~ Pop singer, pianist Elton John plays the first of eight Russian concerts at the Bolshoi Oktyabrsky Concert Hall, Leningrad, becoming the first Western pop singer to tour the Soviet Union ~ As part of his A Single Man Tour, Elton John plays the first of eight concerts across two cities, Leningrad and Moscow. John believed he was granted the opportunity simply because he asked. As a result of the tour the authorities permitted the state-owned Melodiya record company to issue John's album A Single Man the following June, making it the first Western pop album officially released in the Soviet Union
May 21, 1975 ~ Pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Marit Bergman, full name Liv-Marit Bergman, born in Ratvik, Sweden ~ Member of 1990s band Candysuck. Rose to fame with her 2002 3:00 AM Serenades solo debut album and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Drew comparisons to noted producer Phil Spector for her grand arrangements
May 21, 1974 ~ Drummer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist Adriano Cintra born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Guitarist, singer for power rock trio Thee Butcher's Orchestra. Member of I Love Miami. Engineered Tom Zé's 1998 Com Defeito De Fabricação. Best known perhaps as co-founding member, drummer, bassist, guitarist, singer for Cansei de Ser Sexy, remaining with the band from 2003 through 2011 and appearing on most of the band's best known including the hit single Music Is My Hot Hot Sex
May 21, 1974 ~ Kejuan Waliek Muchita, commonly known as MC, rapper, producer Havoc, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Half of hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, the other half being rapper, producer Prodigy, known as main progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip-hop and one of the most successful rap duos in history. Well known songs include Shook Ones (Part II), Survival Of The Fittest and Hell On Earth (Front Lines). Havoc released his full-length The Kush solo debut album in 2007
May 21, 1973 ~ Singer, trumpeter, bandleader, actor Vaughn Monroe, full name Vaughn Milton Monroe, passed away in Stuart, Florida, USA ~ Popular 1940s, 1950s bandleader. At one time or another employed then-unknown sidemen such as Bucky Pizzarelli, Red Nichols, Ray Conniff and Don Costa. Best known for his signature tune Racing With The Moon, which would eventually sell over a million copies. Other well known recordings include In The Still Of The Night, There I've Said It Again, Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow, Ballerina, Someday You'll Want Me To, Sound Off and In The Middle Of The House ~ Monroe was born in 1911
May 21, 1972 ~ Christopher George Latore Wallace, commonly known as rapper the Notorious BIG, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the most important and influential rappers of all-time. Best known for songs such as Juicy and Big Poppa. Married to R&B singer Faith Evans ~ Wallace passed away in 1997May 21, 1969 ~ R&B outfit the Isley Brothers release I Turned You On, lifted off their The Brothers Isley album ~ Written and produced by Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, and Rudolph Isley, the follow-up to It's Your Thing would be nearly as big a hit, reaching top 10 on the Billboard R&B and top 30 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's then-controversial usage of the popular catchphrase “sock it to me”, referring to sex, helped its popularity among fans
May 21, 1965 ~ Tango violinist, bandleader, composer Alfredo Gobbi passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Acclaimed violinist and bandleader enjoying popularity during the golden age of tango. As a composer known for works such as Perro Fiel, Desvelo and Mi Paloma De Punta. Has worked with Juan Maglio Pacho, Roberto Firpo, Manuel Buzón, Anselmo Aieta, Osvaldo Pugliese, and Vicente Greco ~ Gobbi was born in 1912
May 21, 1965 ~ Flamenco singer Antonio Carmona, full name Antonio Carmona Amaya, born in Granada, Spain ~ Member of revered flamenco-fusion outfit Ketama, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums until its disbandement in 2004. The band is criticized by purists while praised by others for bringing the genre to a wider audience by fusing traditional flamenco with salsa, reggae, funk, jazz, and other idioms. Best known for the 1987 album La Pipa De Kif, which brought the band their international breakthrough, and for 2002's Dame La Mano, which incorporated elements from hip-hop and house. The band is also especially acclaimed for Songhai and Songhai 2, two collaborative albums with Malinese kora player Toumani Diabaté released respectively in 1988 and 1994
May 21, 1964 ~ R&B singer Marvin Gaye releases Try It Baby, lead single off his How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) album ~ Written and produced by Marvin Gaye's then-brother-in-law and Motown label head Berry Gordy Jr, this slow blues ballad would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100, and top 10 Billboard R&B. Backing vocals provided by the Temptations. The song tells of a woman who was “moving up” and leaving her man behind. It would actually still be nearly a decade before Gaye and his wife, Gordy's elder sister Anna Gordy Gaye, separated, resulting in an official divorce in 1977May 21, 1964 ~ Singer, pianist, guitarist Rachelle Ferrell born in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Sang backup for Lou Rawls, Vanessa Williams, Patti LaBelle, and for George Duke. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Something Else in 1990. Worked with Tyrone Brown, Eddie Green, Doug Nally, Terence Blanchard, Gil Goldstein, Michel Petrucciani, Kenny Davis, Stanley Clarke, Wayne Shorter, and Pete Levin
May 21, 1963 ~ Singer Stevie Wonder releases his Fingertips single, recorded live at the Regal Theater, Chicago, Illinois ~ Written by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby, produced by Berry Gordy Jr. Originally written as a jazz instrumental for Stevie Wonder, then still known as “Little Stevie Wonder” for his 1962 The Jazz Soul Of Little Stevie debut album, meant to showcase Wonder's talents on bongo and harmonica. The single, recorded live during a Motown Revue in June 1962, would become his first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. It would be the second single for the label, the first being Please Mr Postman, and catapult the 13-year-old Wonder to fame. The then-unknown Marvin Gaye, at the time a session musician for the label, plays drums on both the studio and live versions
May 21, 1961 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Dum Dum ~ Written by Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheeley. Produced by Owen Bradley. Released as a single the following June, paired with Eventually on the B-side, it would become a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Brenda Lee, peaking at No.4
May 21, 1957 ~ Punk rock, garage rock guitarist Gord Lewis born in Hamilton, Canada ~ Co-founding member of Teenage Head. The band was named after the Flamin' Groovies 1971 album titled Teenage Head and debuted in 1979 with the eponymous Teenage Head. Best known for their 1980 Frantic City album, which spawned the hits Let's Shake and Somethin' On My Mind. Lewis was found killed in 2022, his son Jonathan Lewis would be arrested and charged with second-degree murder ~ Lewis passed away in 2022
May 21, 1955 ~ Singer Chuck Berry records Maybellene at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, Illinois ~ Written by Chuck Berry. Produced by Leonard Chess and Phil Chess. Arguably one of the very first rock & roll songs, most definitely one that defined both the era and the genre. Berry on guitar and vocals, backed by Johnnie Johnson on piano, Willie Dixon on bass, Jerome Green on maracas, and Ebby Hardy on drums. During the same session Berry recorded Wee Wee Hours, which would serve as the single's B-side
May 21, 1955 ~ Paul Reginald Nelson, commonly known as punk, new wave, rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Paul Hyde, born in Yorkshire, UK ~ Formed late 1970s punk, ska and reggae-influenced outfit the Payolas with Bob Rock, known best for their 1982 No Stranger To Danger single. Co-wrote and performed on the 1985 the Northern Lights charity single Tears Are Not Enough. Hyde has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Turtle Island released in 1989
May 21, 1955 ~ Drummer, guitarist, songwriter Stan Lynch, full name Stanley Joseph Lynch, born in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, backing Petty from 1976 until leaving the band in 1994. In-demand session musician for artists including Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Belinda Carlisle, Bob Dylan, the Eagles, Eurythmics, Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, Freedy Johnston, Jim Lauderdale, the Mavericks, John Mellencamp, Roger McGuinn, Stevie Nicks, Rank & File, Toto, and Warren Zevon
May 21, 1954 ~ No wave, free jazz, rock, classical, avant garde guitarist Marc Ribot born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Actively recording as an eclectic and acclaimed solo artist since the early 1990s, with over two dozen albums to his name. Ribot is also especially known for his collaborations with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and John Zorn. Other notable associations include Bar Kokhba, Electric Masada, the Jazz Passengers, the Lounge Lizards, the Young Philadelphians, Noël Akchoté, Trey Anastasio, Laurie Anderson, the Ambitious Lovers, Cyro Baptista, Alain Bashung, the Black Keys, T-Bone Burnett, Vinicio Capossela, Shemekia Copeland, Beth Orton, Norah Jones, Mory Kanté, David Linx, and Maria McKee