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, 1951 ~ Cellist, singer, composer Arthur Russell, full name Charles Arthur Russell Jr, born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, USA ~ Eclectic musician known best for his work in New York's avant-garde and disco scenes. Collaborated with Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Peter Gordon, Talking Heads singer David Byrne, Walter Gibbons, Larry Levan and Nicky Siano ~ Russell passed away in 1992
May 21, 1951 ~ José Maria Nunes Corrêa, commonly known as pop singer Zezinho Corrêa, born in Carauari, Brazil ~ Lead singer of Carrapicho, known for Tic Tic Tac lifted off their 1996 Festa De Boi Bumba album. The single would be an international hit, reaching top 10 in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. A remix by Frank Farian the following year also did well in Austria, Canada, Iceland, and be a hit in American clubs. Prior to his rise to fame with the band, Corrêa honed his skills as an actor and singer in musicals ~ Corrêa passed away in 2021
May 21, 1949 ~ Arnold Charles Ernest Hintjens, commonly known as singer, songwriter Arno, born in Ostend, Belgium ~ Known for his raspy voice. Rose to fame in the 1980s as frontman of TC Matic, one of the most important Belgian rock bands known for songs such as Oh La La La, Qua Pasa and Putain Putain. Debuted as a solo artist with the eponymous Arno album in 1986. Especially acclaimed for his Idiots Savant album, released in 1993. Sang the Dutch version of Randy Newman's You've Got A Friend In Me, retitled Je Bent Een Vriend Van Mij, for a Dutch-language version of Pixar's 1995 Toy Story animated film ~ Hintjens passed away in 2022
May 21, 1948 ~ Gerald Hugh Sayer, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Leo Sayer, born in Shoreham-by-Sea, UK ~ Member of late 1960s outfit the Terraplane Blues Band. Formed Patches with frequent collaborator Dave Courtney. As a solo artist enjoyed a string of 1970s, 1980s hits, his first seven singles all reaching the UK top 10, his 1977 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing and When I Need You the following year both also topping the Billboard Hot 100. Co-wrote Roger Daltrey's Giving It All Away and One Man Band as well as Cliff Richard's Dreamin'
May 21, 1944 ~ Marcia Blank, commonly known as pop singer Marcie Blane, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for her 1962 surprise hit, Bobby's Girl. Initially only recorded as a favor to a friend it would become a million-seller reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, What Does A Girl Do, would be her only other charting single and stall in the low 80sMay 21, 1943 ~ Rock, blues rock, folk rock, skiffle guitarist Hilton Valentine, full name Hilton Stewart Paterson Valentine, born in North Shields, UK ~ Original guitarist of the Animals, noted for his electric guitar intro on the band's 1964 signature song The House Of The Rising Sun. After the band disbanded in 1966 Valentine has recorded solo albums, joined in several Animals reunions and collaborated with former bandmates ~ Valentine passed away in 2021
May 21, 1943 ~ Singer Mike Ramsden, full name Michael John Ramsden, born in Totnes, UK ~ Member of vocal folk group Silkie, known for their 1965 single You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, originally by the Beatles, which cracked the American top 10. John Lennon produced the single, Paul McCartney played guitar and George Harrison tambourine
May 21, 1943 ~ Vincent Rodney Cheesman, commonly known as organist, pianist, singer Vincent Crane, born in Reading, UK ~ Taught himself to play boogie woogie piano in his teens and picked up the organ after hearing Graham Bond. Following his musical studies at the Trinity College of Music, London, UK, Crane would first gain serious attention fronting his own outfit the Vincent Crane Combo, and subsequently rise to fame when he joined Arthur Brown in the Crazy World Of Arthur Brown. Crane's organ playing was a pivotal element of the band's sound and, along with Arthur Brown's wide-ranging operatic voice and unique stage presence, helped rocket the band to stardom. They only released the one eponymous album, which spawned the massive hit Fire co-written by Crane, before disbanding in the early 1970s, yet in their day were one of the most popular acts, sharing bills with the likes of the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and the Doors. They are especially remembered for bringing shock rock and freak aesthetics to a wider, more mainstream audience, and have been said to influence acts such as Alice Cooper, Kiss, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, and Marilyn Manson. Despite their success, and with a sophomore album shelved, the Crazy World Of Arthur Brown disbanded within a few years. Following the band's dissolution, Crane and bandmate Carl Palmer went on to form Atomic Rooster. Palmer would eventually become better known as a member of Emerson Lake & Palmer, while Crane, who would remain the band's sole constant member, recorded about half a dozen albums with Atomic Rooster. They are best known for the gutsy Devil's Answer, a UK No.4 hit once described as Memphis soul meets British rock, and Tomorrow Night lifted off their Death Walks Behind You masterpiece. Crane has also appeared on Rory Gallagher's eponymous 1971 debut album, on occassion rejoined Arthur Brown, teamed up with Peter Green and Ray Dorset in the blues outfit Katmandu, and appeared on Dexys Midnight Runners' 1985 album Don't Stand Me Down. Crane suffered from bipolar disorder, requiring treatment throughout his life, and died of an intentional painkillers overdose at age 45 ~ Cheesman passed away in 1989
May 21, 1941 ~ Singer Ronald Isley born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Lead singer, founding member of R&B, soul, funk sibling outfit the Isley Brothers, known for songs such as Twist & Shout, This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You), It's Your Thing, and That Lady. Ronald has also released a number of solo albums, starting with 2003's Here I Am with Burt Bacharach, and guested on recordings by R Kelly, Keith Sweat, Warren G, and Patti LaBelleMay 21, 1940 ~ Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity, commonly known as singer Tony Sheridan, born in Norwich, UK ~ Known for his early 1960s singles My Bonnie and Ain't She Sweet, both of which featured the Beatles, then relatively unknown, as Sheridan's backing band ~ McGinnity passed away in 2013
May 21, 1933 ~ Classical trumpeter, composer Maurice André born in Ales, France ~ Appeared on over 300 recordings. Rose to international prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with a series of baroque works on piccolo trumpet, also performin transciptions of works for oboe, flute, voice and string instruments. One of André's students, Guy Touvron, wrote the biography Maurice André (A Trumpet For Fame), published in 2003 ~ André passed away in 2012
May 21, 1930 ~ Jazz double bassist Tommy Bryant born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Brother of pianist Ray Bryant and singer, drummer Len Bryant. Worked with Billy Krechmer, Elmer Snowden, Jo Jones, Charlie Shavers, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Wilen, Benny Golson, Big Joe Turner, Coleman Hawkins, and Mahalia Jackson ~ Bryant passed away in 1982
May 21, 1926 ~ Jazz singer Janet Thurlow, full name Janet Lorraine Thurlow, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ First gained attention as a “song stylist” in the late 1940s with renowned New Orleans producer, songwriter Robert Bumps Blackwell's band, a group that also included the then-unknown Quincy Jones and Ray Charles. Invited by Lionel Hampton in 1950 to join his orchestra as a singer, making her recording debut on the 1951 I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me which reportedly made her the first white singer to front an all-Black big band. By 1953 Thurlow started her solo career, performing through the mid 1960s. Thurlow was also featured on the 1953 Charles Mingus recording Eclipse, a song about interracial romance. Thurlow herself married African-American trombonist Jimmy Cleveland earlier the same year ~ Thurlow passed away in 2022May 21, 1920 ~ Swing, jazz tubist Bill Barber, full name John William Barber, born in Hornell, New York, USA ~ Worked with the Kansas City Philharmonic and various ballet and theatre orchestras prior to a stint in the US Army, playing in Patton's 7th army band during World War II. Would spent the 1950s throughout the mid 1960s playing jazz. Best known for his association with Miles Davis, appearing on albums such as Birth Of The Cool, Porgy & Bess, and Sketches Of Spain. Other notable credits include Urbie Green, Bob Brookmeyer, Slide Hampton, John Coltrane (Africa/Brass), and Gil Evans. Barber would semi-retire from music to work as an elementary school teacher, yet continued to record from time to time ~ Barber passed away in 2007
May 21, 1916 ~ Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, commonly known as singer, comedian, radio and TV personality Dennis Day, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his radio sitcom A Day In The Life Of Dennis Day, running on NBC from 1946 through 1951. The show revolved around a fictional character, Dennis Day, open and close with a song by Day and feature one in the middle ~ McNulty passed away in 1988
May 21, 1904 ~ Thomas Wright Waller, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Fats Waller, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Innovative stride pianist quintessential to development of modern jazz. Reportedly once kidnapped to play at gangster Al Capone's birthday party. Fronted Fats Waller's Rhythm. Wrote over 400 songs, many with lyricist Andy Razaff, including Ain't Misbehaving and Honeysuckle Rose ~ Waller passed away in 1943May 21, 1901 ~ Bandleader, pianist Horace Heidt born in Alameda, California, USA ~ Popular bandleader during the 1930s and 1940s touring the vaudeville circuit and a regular appearance on radio and TV. Known for hits such as Gone With The Wind, Sweet Someone, The Man With The Mandolin, I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire and Deep In The Heart Of Texas ~ Heidt passed away in 1986