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 22, 2025 ~ Accordionist Guy Klucevsek passed away in Staten Island, New York, USA ~ One of the few accordionists in jazz. Leader and sideman. Has worked with the Accordion Tribe, Dave Douglas, John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Laurie Anderson, Anthony Coleman, Lukas Foss, Robin Holcomb, Jerome Kitzke, Natalie Merchant (Motherland), Bobby Previte, Tom Waits, and Pauline Oliveros ~ Klucevsek was born in 1947
May 22, 2024 ~ Pop rock bassist, guitarist Charlie Colin passed away in Brussels, Belgium ~ Co-founding member of Train, with whom he recorded three albums prior to being fired from the band for substance abuse. Present on the albums Train, Drops Of Jupiter, and My Private Nation. During his tenure with the band, they scored their first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me) peaking at No.5, the song also winning a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. Upon hearing of his death, Train issued a statement describing Colin as the sweetest guy, fondly remembered for his technical prowess and contributions to the band, saying Colin's unique bass playing helped the band get noticed in San Francisco, California, and beyond, adding: “You're a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels” ~ Colin was born in 1966
May 22, 2023 ~ Charles Newby, commonly known as pop rock bassist Chas Newby, passed away in London, UK ~ Best known for briefly playing bass for the Beatles in late 1960, filling in for Stuart Sutcliffe on four gigs in the UK. After John Lennon asked Newby to accompany them on their 2nd Germany trip Newby declined, preferring to return to university after the holidays. As both Lennon and George Harrison declined to switch to bass, Paul McCartney reluctantly became the band's bass player ~ Newby was born in 1941May 22, 2023 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, violinist Ferus Mustafov, also known as King Ferus Mustafov, passed away in Skopje, Macedonia ~ Active since the late 1960s. Considered a leading figure in Balkan folk, gypsy, and Rom music, enjoying popularity especially in his native Macedonia. Credited as one of the artists to have brought international attention to Balkan music. Internationally perhaps best known for his 1995 King Ferus album ~ Mustafov was born in 1950
May 22, 2023 ~ Heavy metal drummer Kirk Arrington passed away ~ Member of the Metal Church from 1982 through 1995, rejoining in later years. Present on some of the band's best known and most acclaimed albums including the band's eponymous Metal Church debut album, Blessing In Disguise, and The Human Factor ~ Arrington was born in 1962
May 22, 2020 ~ Singer, harpist Mory Kanté passed away in Conakry, Guinea ~ Best known for Yé Ké Yé Ké, a top 10 hit throughout Europe in 1987, topping the singles charts in several countries including the Netherlands. Also a member of the Rail Band taking over as lead singer in 1973 when Salif Kreita left ~ Kanté was born in 1950
May 22, 2018 ~ Pop singer Brynn Cartelli wins NBC's The Voice ~ Cartelli wins the 14th season of NBC's talent show The Voice, runner-up would be singer Britton Buchanan. Following her win on the show, Brynn Cartelli would only find moderate chart success despite some promising tour dates opening for Kelly Clarkson on a 2019 tour and for OneRepublic in 2022. Cartelli has released her debut EP Based On A True Story in 2021, and her full-length Out Of The Blue debut album three years later
May 22, 2017 ~ Granville William Roker, commonly known as hard bop, bebop drummer Mickey Roker, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ While living in Philadelphia, where he was raised, Roker played with visiting jazz musicians before relocating to New York by the late 1950s to become a sought-after session drummer, including for a while as member of the house band at Blue Note Records. Perhaps best known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie during the 1970s, including on the acclaimed Dizzy's Big 4 album which also featured Ray Brown and Joe Pass. Other notable credits include Gigi Gryce, Ray Bryant, Sonny Rollins, Junior Mance (Junior's Blues), Ben Webster, McCoy Tyner, Irene Kral (Better Than Anything), Stanley Turrentine (The Spoiler), Blue Mitchell (Boss Horn), Lee Morgan (The Procrastinator), Milt Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver (Serenade To A Soul Sister), Duke Pearson (Now Hear This), Charles Kynard, Cedar Walton, Randy Brecker (Score), Bobby Hutcherson, Donald Byrd, Jon Faddis, Hank Jones (Groovin' High), JJ Johnson, and Shirley Scott ~ Roker was born in 1932
May 22, 2012 ~ Singer Katy Perry releases Wide Awake, lifted off her Teenage Dream (The Complete Confection) album ~ While her previous single Part Of Me was a kiss-off to a former boyfriend, Wide Awake finds the singer singing about her sense of feeling empowered now that the relationship is over. The song was not included on the original edition of Teenage Dream, yet she recorded it for the album's re-release with additional tracks. As Katy Perry would later tell MTV News: “There were two songs that I had from Teenage Dream that I couldn't put on (the album), Part Of Me and Dressin' Up, and then I knew we were doing this re-release, so I was like, I've got to get into the studio, because I can't wait eight months to be able to put out this feeling that I'm feeling right now.” Wide Awake would reach top 10 in several countries, including No.9 in the UK, No.2 in America, and No.1 in both Canada and New ZealandMay 22, 2010 ~ Singer Alanis Morissette and Mario Treadway, commonly known as rapper Souleye, marry in a private ceremony ~ Alanis Morissette and Souleye marry at a private ceremony held at their Los Angeles home. Morissette had been previously engaged to Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, breaking off the engagement in 2007. She has said that her 2008 Flavors Of Entanglement was created out of her grief after the breakup, saying the process of creating the album was cathartic. Morissette and Treadway have three children, two sons and a daughter
May 22, 2009 ~ Jose Rodiguez Trindade, commonly known as singer Zé Rodrix passed away in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Member of Sá Rodrix & Guarabyra, present on the albums Passado Presento & Futuro and Terra. Also worked with Som Imaginario, Momento Quatro, Secos & Molhados, Joelho de Porco. Active as a solo artist and film composer since the early 1970s. Wrote Casa No Campo, a massive hit for Elis Regina in 1971 ~ Rodrigues was born in 1947
May 22, 2006 ~ Jazz bassist Jack Fallon, full name Jack Patrick Fallon, passed away in London, UK ~ Studied violin with the London Symphony Orchestra before switching to bass as his primary instrument. Worked with Ted Heath, Ronnie Scott, Tommy Whittle, Jack Jackson, George Shearing, Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Count Basie, Malcolm Mitchell, Tony Crombie, Hoagy Carmichael, Maxine Sullivan, Stéphane Grappelli, Mary Lou Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Humphrey Lyttelton, Kenny Baker, Ralph Sharon, Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White, Johnny Duncan, and played the fiddle violin on Don't Pass Me By by the Beatles ~ Fallon was born in 1915May 22, 2005 ~ Singer Thurl Ravenscroft, full name Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft, passed away in Fullerton, California, USA ~ Member of vocal group the Mellomen, known for backing numerous artists during the Big Band era including Bing Crosby, Frankie Laine, Spike Jones, Jo Stafford, and Rosemary Clooney. Best known as a voice actor with a career spanning six decades starting in 1940. Uncredited on a number of well known songs for TV and feature films, perhaps most notably singing lead on the song You're A Mean One Mr Grinch from the 1966 animated TV special Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas often mistakenly attributed to either Boris Karloff or Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Ravenscroft was born in 1914
May 22, 2001 ~ Dolores Alexandria Turner, commonly known as jazz, gospel singer Lorez Alexandria, passed away in Gardena, California, USA ~ Drew comparisons to Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald. Described as one of the most gifted and underrated jazz singers of the 20th century. Backed by musicians such as King Fleming, Paul Serrano, Cy Touff, Ramsey Lewis, Howard McGhee, Wynton Kelly, Paul Horn, Bud Shank, Victor Feldman, Ray Crawford, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Gildo Mahones, Herman Riley, Andy Simpkins, Carl Burnett, Gordon Brisker, Houston Person, Bruce Forman, Stan Hope, Peter Weis, and Michael Carvin ~ Turner was born in 1929May 22, 1999 ~ Antonio de Souza, commonly known as bossa nova, jazz drummer Milton Banana, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Credited with inventing the bossa nova drumming style. Present on pivotal albums such as João Gilberto's Chega De Saudade debut album, and the Stan Getz and Gilberto collaboration Getz/Gilberto. De Souza has also recorded as a leader and collaborated with João Donato, Luiz Bonfá, Carlos Lyra, and Baden Powell ~ De Souza was born in 1935
May 22, 1999 ~ The 30th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. A perfect sunny and warm weekend this year's edition would draw some 61, 250 visitors in total. Included on today's, Saturday the 22nd's bill would be de Band Zonder Banaan, Frank Black, Afro Celt Sound System, Right Direction, Idlewild, System Of A Down, and Nashville Pussy
May 22, 1998 ~ Singer Royce Kendall passed away ~ Formed the country duo the Kendalls with his daughter Jeannie Kendall, known for a string of late 1970s to mid-1980s recordings including the Billboard Country No.1 hits Heaven's Just A Sin Away, Sweet Desire and Thank God For The Radio ~ Kuykendall was born in 1927
May 22, 1997 ~ Pop singer Céline Dion records My Heart Will Go On at Hit Factory, New York, New York ~ Written by James Horner and Will Jennings. Produced by Horner, Walter Afanasieff and Simon Franglen. Used as the theme song to Titanic. Released as a single in November it would become a signature song for Céline Dion, reach the higher echelons of charts the world over including No.1 positions in the USA, the UK and the Netherlands, and go on to sell some 18 million copies making it one of the all-time best-selling singlesMay 22, 1994 ~ The 25th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ The first Pinkpop edition as a multi-day festival lasting two days, kicks off. In total some 64,300 visitors would show up for this edition. Included on today's, Sunday the 22nd's bill would be Gorefest, Chris Isaak, Richard Thompson, Prong, the Posies, and Senser
May 22, 1991 ~ Kim Jun-myeon, commonly known as K-pop singer, songwriter, actor Suho, born in Seoul, South Korea ~ Fronted boy band EXO, enjoying popularity in Japan and their native South Korea throughout the 2010s. Well-known songs include December 2014 (The Winter's Tale), Love Me Right, Monster, and Ko Ko Bop. Jun-myeon has also ventured into acting and recorded as a solo artist, starting with the EP Self Portrait released in 2020
May 22, 1989 ~ Rock outfit Tin Machine release their eponymous Tin Machine debut album ~ The ever-eclectic singer David Bowie had successfully gone through several distinct phases and stage personas, notably Ziggy Stardust in the early 1970s, his Berlin period later the same decade, and radio-friendly dance-rock in the 1980s, yet following the disappointing 1987 album Never Let Me Down and subsequent tour, the singer felt he needed to reinvent himself aiming to make music for himself rather than the mainstream audience he had acquired with his 1983 Let's Dance album. Bowie would team up with guitarist Reeves Gabrels, the duo joined by siblings Tony Fox Sales and Hunt Sales, respectively on bass and drums, and formed the rock outfit Tin Machine. The band's 1989 debut album would be met with mixed but generally positive reviews, although the new outfit did alienate some longtime Bowie-fans who expected Bowie to be Bowie. Hunt Sales has been quoted as saying that the band's name reflected the sound of the band, while David Bowie has said their intent was to “make the kind of music that we enjoyed listening to.” 1989's Tin Machine would reach No.3 in the UK and No.28 on the American Billboard Hot 200 album charts. The band would record one more studio album, Tin Machine II which did significantly less, and one live album before dissolving in 1992, after which Bowie resumed his solo careerMay 22, 1983 ~ Singer, keyboardist Salvador Santana born in Marin County, California, USA ~ Son of renowned guitarist Carlos Santana. Co-wrote his father's Grammy Award-winning El Farol of the 1999 The Supernatural album. Influenced by his father as well as artists such as John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Atmosphere, Ozomatli. Best known for his 2010 Keyboard City sophomore album co-produced by Del The Funky Homosapien, the Beastie Boys' Money Mark and the Wu-Tang Clan's GZA
May 22, 1982 ~ In its 12th week on the charts, Don't Talk To Strangers by Rick Springfield peaks at No.2 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The previous year, Rick Springfield had scored a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit with Jessie's Girl off his break-out album Working Class Dog. His second biggest hit would be Don't Talk To Strangers, issued as lead single off his next album, aptly titled Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet. The song would spend three consecutive weeks at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, held off the top spot by the Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder duet Ebony And Ivory. At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards the following February, Don't Talk To Strangers would be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, an award that would go to Lionel Richie's Truly. Later Springfield would admit to Songfacts there's a dark undercurrent in the song: “The song Don't Talk To Strangers was my girlfriend who became my wife. I was screwing around on the road, and I was worried that she was doing the same thing while I was away. So it was my paranoia to her: I'm getting laid, but don't you go do the same thing, because it'll really upset me”May 22, 1981 ~ Singer Su-Elise Nash, full name Su-Elise Michelle Nash born in Dulwich, UK ~ Alongside Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash a member of Mis-Teeq from its inception in 1999 to its disbandement in 2005. The band would score a string of UK top 10 hits including Why, All I Want, B With Me and Scandalous, the latter also reaching the American top 40
May 22, 1977 ~ Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr, commonly known as jazz pianist Hampton Hawes, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Considered a key pianist in 1940s, 1950s jazz. Was playing with leading West Coast musicians including Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, and Teddy Edwards, by his teens. Upon his return from serving in the US Army Hawes formed his own trio with bassist Red Mitchell and Chuck Thompson, later supplemented by guitarist Jim Hall, producing records at the time considered to be some of the finest to come out of the West Coast. Other notable associations include the Lighthouse All-Stars, Barney Kessel (Kessel Plays Standards), Curtis Fuller, Charles Mingus, Benny Carter (Jazz Giant), and Sonny Rollins ~ Hawes passed away in 1928