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 23, 1956 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Claytoven Richardson born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Worked in various roles with artists such as Lave Love, Summers Heat, Narada Michael Walden, George Benson (backing vocals on Kisses In The Moonlight), Kenny G, Tevin Campbell, Michael Bolton, Elton John, Peabo Bryson, New Kids On The Block, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Céline Dion, the Dazz Band, the Whispers, Tiggi Clay, Fizzy Qwik, Regina Belle, Clarence Clemons, Barbra Streisand, Lou Rawls, Eddie Murphy, Lisa Fischer, Shanice, Stephanie Mills, Al Jarreau, Taylor Dayne, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Al Green, Grover Washington Jr, Curtis Mayfield, Puff Johnson, Gary Barlow, Steve Winwood, Kenny Loggins, Michelle Gayle, Patti Austin, Marc Anthony, Lara Fabian, Lionel Richie, Angela Strehl, Charlie Wilson, Boz Scaggs, and Sammy Hagar
May 23, 1956 ~ Jazz bassist, songwriter Steve Kirby born in Maumee Valley, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Wes Anderson, Kenny Barron, Kathleen Battle, Joanne Brackeen, Regina Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Wycliffe Gordon, Benny Green, Terreon Gully, Slide Hampton, Winard Harper, Stefon Harris, Antonio Hart, Eddie Henderson, John Hicks, Elvin Jones, Geoffrey Keezer, Oliver Lake, Abbey Lincoln, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Mulgrew Miller, Claudio Roditi, Wallace Roney, Jacky Terrasson, Steve Turre, Warren Wolf, and Miguel Zenón
May 23, 1955 ~ Kevin Barry Moore, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Luka Bloom, born in Newbridge, Ireland ~ Brother of Planxty-frontman Christy Moore. Active since the late 1970s, initially going by his real name Barry Moore. Chose his stage name for the Suzanne Vega-song Luka and added Bloom from the main character in James Joyce's Ulysses novel.
May 23, 1953 ~ Guido August Constancia Versmissen, commonly known as singer, songwriter Guido Belcanto, born in Turnhout, Belgium ~ Best known for songs such as Op Het Zeildoek Van De Botsauto's, Plastic Rozen Verwelken Niet, Vlammetjes and Toverdrank, the latter a translation of Summer Wine originally recorded by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
May 23, 1952 ~ Singer Anne-Marie David born in Arles, France ~ Internationally best known for winning the 1973 Eurovision Songfestival representing Luxembourg with the song Tu Te Reconnaîtres and for competing in the 1979 edition representing France with the song Je Suis L'Enfant Soleil, reaching 9th place
May 23, 1951 ~ Judy Mae Robbins, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Judy Rodman, born in Riverside, California, USA ~ Enjoyed country chart succes in the 1980s, notably with Until I Met You. Once roommate of Janie Fricke. Co-wrote LeAnn Rimes' One Way Ticket (Because I Can) with Keith Hinton
May 23, 1950 ~ Guitarist Daíthí Sproule born in Derry, Northern Ireland ~ Renowned solo guitarist drawing from traditional Irish music and influenced by Bob Dylan, Bert Jansch, the Beatles, British and Irish folk. Member of supergroup Altan. In-demand collaborator has worked with Laura Mackenzie, Tara Bingham, Randal Bays, Tommy Peoples, Manus McGuire, Paddy O'Brien, the Chieftains, Sean O'Driscoll, and Peter Ostroushko
May 23, 1950 ~ Richard L Shurman, commonly known as blues, R&B producer, engineer, music journalist Dick Shurman born in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA ~ Has worked on recordings for Johnny Winter, Lurrie Bell, Albert Collins, Roy Buchanan, Big Bill Morganfield, Larry Garner, Robert Cray, Hip Linkchain, Magic Slim, Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Rush, and Fenton Robinson
May 23, 1947 ~ Composer, conductor, producer Dick Bakker born in Blaricum, the Netherlands ~ Conducted het Metropole Orkest from 1991 through 2005. Co-wrote Teach-In's Ding-a-dong, winner of the 1975 Eurovision Songfestival contest. Also worked as an engineer and arranger on Shocking Blue's Venus and on the George Baker Selection's Paloma Blanca
May 23, 1947 ~ Richard Alan Beirach, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Richie Beirach or Richard Beirach, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Frequent collaborator of Dave Liebman since the late 1960s. Has also worked with artists such as Frank Tua, Terumasa Hino, Masahiko Togashi, George Mraz, Jack DeJohnette, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, George Coleman, Andy Laverne, Billy Hart, George Adams, John Abercrombie, Chet Baker, and Jeremy Steig ~ Beirach passed away in 2026
May 23, 1945 ~ Country keyboardist, singer Misty Morgan born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Formed a husband-wife country duo with her husband Jack Blanchard, actively recording since the late 1960s. The duo is best known for their 1970 Billboard Country No.1 hit Tennessee Bird Walk. Other well known songs include Humphrey The Camel, Somewhere In Virginia In The Rain and Just One More Song ~ Morgan passed away in 2021
May 23, 1944 ~ Ramon Fulwood, commonly known as funk drummer Tiki Fulwood, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Closely associated with George Clinton, starting as a member of doo-wop outfit the Parliaments and remaining with Clinton through the early 1970s as a member of Funkadelic. Present on the albums Funkadelic, Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow, and Maggot Brain, before departing the band in 1971 following a dispute over payment. Fulwood has also played with Tyrone Davis, the Chairmen Of The Board, and briefly with Miles Davis before dying of stomach cancer at age 35 ~ Fulwood passed away in 1979
May 23, 1943 ~ Music manager, publisher, booking agent, promoter, label executive Alan Walden born in Macon, Georgia, USA ~ Considered an iconic figure in the Macon music scene, and a trailblazing pioneer known for breaking racial barriers as representative of numerous black artists in the then-still highly segregated South. When his older brother Phil Walden was stationed in Germany, serving in the US Army, Walden took over the daily running of his brother's music promotion and publishing company where he managed artists such as Otis Redding, who would become a close friend, the company eventually becoming one of the largest black artists management companies in the South. Redding and the siblings also founded Redwal Music, a music publishing company to house songs such as When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge), Respect, I've Been Loving You Too Long, and (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding), and Soul Man (Sam & Dave). Walden is also considered pivotal to the emergence of Southern Rock, managing and recording acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws. The 1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd song Cry For The Bad Man, specifically the line ‘I'd rather quit and go back home, than to deal with the money miser’, was a snub aimed at Walden, who had repeatedly urged the band to save money rather than spend it. Ronnie Van Zant would later admit that in hindsight he regretted writing the song. Over the course of his career, Walden has worked with artists such as Johnnie Taylor, Arthur Conley, Al Green, Joe Tex, ZZ Hill, Albert King, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Etta James, Boz Scaggs, and September Hase. Looking back on her father's musical career and impact, Jessica Walden has stated: “His love of Macon was deep and wide. He could have lived anywhere the music industry called him, but he chose Macon. Here, he planted his unwavering belief that our story was far from over and that from here, anything was possible. Because of his passion for the place he called home and for the extraordinary local talent he believed in so completely, Macon made its mark on the world, and he made his mark with it” ~ Walden passed away in 2026
May 23, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer General Johnson, full name General Norman Johnson, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Member of the Showmen, known for a number of 1960s hits such as It Will Stand, 39-21-46 and Our Love Will Grow. Fronted the Chairmen Of The Board, scoring hits with You've Got Me Dangling On A String, Everything's Tuesday and perhaps their best known Give Me Just A Little More Time. Johnson also wrote a number of well known 1970s songs including Patches recorded by Clarence Carter and by Jerry Reed, Bring The Boys Home recorded by Freda Payne and Want-Ads, Stick-up and One Monkey Don't Stop No Show recorded by Honey Cone ~ Johnson passed away in 2010
May 23, 1940 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Bjørn Johansen, full name Bjørn John Johansen, born in Fredrikstad, Norway ~ Considered one of the all-time most influential Norwegian saxophonists. Worked with Kjell Karlsen, Lars Sandsgaard, Karin Krog, Bernt Rosengren, George Gruntz, Frode Thingnæs, Egil Kapstad, Laila Dalseth, Bjørn Alterhaug, Carl Morten Iversen, and Cedar Walton ~ Johansen passed away in 2002May 23, 1938 ~ Singer Bing Crosby, backed by John Scott Trotter, records Now It Can Be Told ~ Written by Irving Berlin for the 1938 Alexander's Ragtime Band where it was introduced by Alice Faye and Don Ameche. Bing Crosby's recording would reach top 10 on the pop charts. It would be recorded the same year by Mildred Bailey and by Jack Leonard with Tommy Dorsey's orchestra, the latter version becoming the biggest hit peaking at No.2
May 23, 1938 ~ Jazz drummer, painter Daniel Humair born in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Jean-Luc Ponty, Chet Baker, Michel Portal, Martial Solal, Dexter Gordon, Gerry Mulligan, Eric Dolphy, Ear Mix, René Urtreger, Kenny Barron, Franco Ambrosetti, Stéphane Grappelli, George Gruntz, the Swingle Singers, Barney Wilen, Flavio Ambrosetti, Jane Birkin, Art Farmer, Jim Hall, Roland Hanna, Bobby Jaspar, Eartha Kitt, Karin Krog, Joachim Kühn, Bud Powell, Henri Renaud, and Joe Venuti
May 23, 1934 ~ Engineer, inventor, electronic music pioneer Robert Moog, full name Robert Arthur Moog, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for co-inventing the Moog synthesizer with Herbert Deutsch in 1964. Moog pursued his work as a hobby, and is regarded as a poor businessman. Commentators have speculated that he would have become extremely wealthy had he patented his designs, his only patent being the synthesizers filter design, yet their availability in the public domain helped the synthesizer industry flourish. Moog did receive a number of honors though, notably receiving a Technical Grammy Award in 2002 and inclusion in the National Inventors Hall Of Fame in 2013 ~ Moog passed away in 2005
May 23, 1932 ~ Jazz guitarist, flutist Les Spann born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA ~ Started playing professionally in late 1950s assisting Phineas Newborn Jr, Ronnell Bright, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones. As a sideman Spann would appear on records by Nat Adderley, Benny Bailey, Bill Coleman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Curtis Fuller, Red Garland, Benny Goodman, Sam Jones, Abbey Lincoln, Charles Mingus, Duke Pearson, Jerome Richardson, Charlie Shavers, Sonny Stitt, Randy Weston, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Bill Coleman, and Billy Taylor. Spann recorded one album, 1960's Gemini, as a leader ~ Spann passed away in 1989
May 23, 1928 ~ Singer, actress Rosemary Clooney born in Maysville, Kentucky, USA ~ Popular 1940s and 1950s traditional pop and jazz vocalist known for songs such as Come On-a My House, Half As Much, Botch-a-me, The Night Before Christmas Song, Hey There, This Ole House and Mangos ~ Clooney passed away in 2002
May 23, 1924 ~ Composer Gladys Nordenstrom, full nme Gladys Mercedes Nordenstrom, born in Mora, Minnesota, USA ~ Studied under composer Ernst Krenek, whom she would later marry. After Krenek's death in 1991 would become major promoter of her late husband's legacy, eventually founding the Ernst Krenek Institute ~ Nordenstrom passed away in 2016May 23, 1922 ~ Producer, label executive Seymour Solomon born in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Co-founded Vanguard Records with his brother Maynard Solomon, a label focusing initially on classical music yet soon also expanding their catalogue with folk, jazz and blues. Non-classical artists signed by the label include the Weavers, Joan Baez, the Rooftop Singers, Larry Coryell, Mississippi John Hurt, Charlie Musselwhite, Buddy Guy and Country Joe & the Fish ~ Solomon passed away in 2002
May 23, 1921 ~ Trumpeter, clarinetist Humphrey Lyttelton, full name Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton, born in Eton, UK ~ Pivotal figure in British jazz, first gaining attention in the mid 1950s with the crossover pop hit Bad Penny Blues. Would go on to become one of Britain's best known bandleaders, leading a variety of ensembles and helping launch the careers of numerous sidemen, notably Tony Coe and Alan Barnes. Lyttelton also recorded with visiting American jazz musicians including Al Casey, Buddy Tate, and Kenny Davern, and toured with Jimmy Rushing, Vic Dickenson, and Big Joe Turner. Lyttelton is also well known as a radio host, presenting the BBC Radio show The Best Of Jazz for some four decades, and as a cartoonist co-writing the Flook series in the Daily Mail ~ Lyttelton passed away in 2008
May 23, 1918 ~ Robert Alexander Blackwell, commonly known as producer, songwriter Robert Bumps Blackwell, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Pivotal to early rock & roll, R&B. Closely associated with Little Richard, working on songs such as Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, Good Golly Miss Molly, Ready Teddy and Rip It Up. Also worked with Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Lloyd Price, Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert, Larry Williams, and Guitar Slim ~ Blackwell passed away in 1985
May 23, 1910 ~ Swing, big band bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist Artie Shaw, full name Arthur Jacob Arshawsky, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Widely seen as one of jazz's finest clarinetists. Widely popular from the late 1930s onwards. Led both big bands and smaller ensembles. Hired Billie Holiday as lead vocalist in 1938 and toured the segregated South. Has also worked with Lena Horne, Helen Forrest, Mel Tormé, Buddy Rich, Dave Tough, Barney Kessel, Jimmy Raney, Tal Farlow, Dodo Marmarosa, and Ray Conniff ~ Shaw passed away in 2004