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 24, 2024 ~ Keyboardist, organist, singer Doug Ingle, full name Douglas Lloyd ingle, passed away ~ Co-founding member, organist, lead singer, primary songwriter of Iron Butterfly. The band is best known for their 1968 hit In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, the title a slurred pronounciation of “in the Garden of Eden”. The 17-minute album version, which became a rock classic, came about by accident. In order to set his levels at the start of the recording session, engineer Don Casale asked the band to jam through a practice run. They kept on jamming for 17 minutes, not knowing that Casale had already hit the “record” button. That first practice run ended up being the master take and made it to the album of the same name. A shortened version would be released as a single, and make it to No.30, their highest-charting of four singles to reach the Billboard Hot 100. The band broke up in 1971, and has been reincarnated with various line-ups since but to considerable lesser success and no new recordings since 1975. The classic line-up will however forever be remembered for their epic 17-minute In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, providing a dramatic sound which helped pave the way for hard rock and heavy metal ~ Ingle was born in 1946
May 24, 2023 ~ Conductor, double bassist, bass guitarist, composer Bill Lee, full name William James Edwards Lee III, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Father of filmmaker Spike Lee, has also composed the scores for several of his son's films. Has worked with Chris Anderson, Harry Belafonte, Chad Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Aretha Franklin, Odetta, Simon & Garfunkel, Ian & Sylvia, Tom Rush, Burt Bacharach, Peter Paul & Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Paxton, Carolyn Hester, John Lee Hooker, Josh White, Duke Ellington, Malvina Reynolds, Eric Bibb, the Clancy Brothers, and Bob Dylan. Notably, Lee is the only other musician on Dylan's It's All Over Now Baby Blue, widely considered a classic ~ Lee was born in 1928May 24, 2023 ~ Composer Javier Álvarez, full name Javier Álvarez Fuentes, passed away in Mérida, Mexico ~ Known for utilizing a variety of musical styles, merging unusual instruments with new music technologies. Has composed chamber music, orchestral pieces, opera, for film and for dance companies. Well-known compositions include the electroacoustic work Temazcai, the opera Mambo, and the 1992 soundtrack Cronos ~ Álvarez was born in 1956
May 24, 2023 ~ Anna Mae Bullock, commonly known as singer Tina Turner, passed away in Küsnacht, Switzerland ~ Rose to fame with her then-husband Ike Turner. The duo would score a string of hits from the early 1960s forward including A Fool In Love, It's Gonna Work Out Fine, Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits and River Deep Mountain High. After her break from Ike in the mid 1970s Tina would launch one of the most impressive comebacks in rock history with her 1984 Private Dancer album spawning the hit What's Love Got To Do With It, her first and only Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. Subsequent solo hits include We Don't Need Another Hero, Typical Male, I Don't Wanna Fight and the James Bond-theme GoldenEye. Has also acted in the Who's rock opera Tommy, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Last Action Hero. Retired from music after completing her 2009 Tina! (50th Anniversary Tour), one of the highest-grossing tours of all time ~ Bullock was born in 1939
May 24, 2020 ~ Jazz, hard bop, post-bop drummer Jimmy Cobb, full name Wilbur James Cobb passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Started in the early 1950s touring with Earl Bostic. Closely associated with Miles Davis from the late 1950s through the early 1960s including on seminal albums such as Porgy & Bess, Kind Of Blue and Sketches Of Spain. Has also worked with Dinah Washington (Dinah), Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Wayne Shorter, Art Pepper, John Coltrane (Giant Steps), Freddie Hubbard (Open Sesame), Howard McGhee, Wynton Kelly (Someday My Prince Will Come), Sonny Red, Wes Montgomery, Shirley Scott, Bunky Green (My Baby), Big Mama Thornton, Sarah Vaughan, and Starbuck. Later on in his career, Cobb would record as a leader including tributes to Davis, Kelly, and Chambers ~ Cobb was born in 1929
May 24, 2017 ~ Contralto concert, opera singer Claudia Hellmann passed away in Bad Feilnbach, Germany ~ Frequently performed the contralto part in the recordings of Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantatas, Christmas Oratorio and Easter Oratorio. Best known for her longtime association with the Stuttgart Opera. Has also worked with the Theater Münster, the Nürnberg Opera, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra ~ Hellmann was born in 1923
May 24, 2016 ~ Singer Alisan Porter wins NBC's The Voice ~ Porter wins the 10th season of NBC's talent show The Voice, runner-up would be Adam Wakefield. Previously Alisan Porter had released two albums, the eponymous Alisan Porter in 2009 and Who We Are in 2014. Following her win on the talent show Porter would release her third album, Pink Cloud, in 2019May 24, 2016 ~ Singer Gord Downie announces he has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer ~ Downie, frontman of acclaimed outfit the Tragically Hip, announces he has been diagnosed with glioblastoma last December and has undergone treatment. He would do one last tour with his band, known for songs such as Ahead By A Century, Gift Shop, and Poets, closing with a show in his native Kingston, Canada, in August. Gord Downie would pass away the following year
May 24, 2016 ~ Jazz clarinetist, bandleader Toshiyuki Miyama passed away ~ Joined the Lucky Puppy Orchestra after World War II. Would lead his own ensemble from 1950 onwards, initially named Jive Ace and renamed to the New Herd in 1958. The group would record with Charles Mingus in the 1971 and tour the world throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Miyama would lead the ensemble for over 5 decades, remaining active well into the 2000s ~ Miyama was born in 1921
May 24, 2015 ~ Jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, full name Marcus Batista Belgrave, passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA ~ Tutored by Clifford Brown. Toured with Ray Charles. Went on to work with Martha & the Vandellas, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Gunther Schuller, Carl Craig, Max Roach, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Tony Bennett, Palabra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dizzy Gillespie, Odessa Harris, John Sinclair, Roland Alexander, Curtis Amy, Hank Crawford, George Gruntz, Joe Henderson, BB King, Kirk Lightsey, David Murray, Cecil Payne, David Fathead Newman, Houston Person, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, and his wife Joan Belgrave ~ Belgrave was born in 1936May 24, 2012 ~ Rock, heavy metal, southern rock drummer Mark McConnell, also known as Mark Bam-Bam McConnell, passed away in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ First gained attention in the mid-1980s, replacing original drummer Roxy Petrucci in hard rock, glam metal outfit Madam X. At the time, the band was fronted by singer Sebastian Bach, with whom McConnell would team up several times over the course of his career including on Bach's solo albums Bring 'Em Bach Alive and Forever Wild. McConnell is also known as a member of Blackfoot in the 2000s, and subsequently the Southern Rock Allstars. Other associations include Warp Drive (Gimme Gimme), the Comatones, Cryptonaut, Future Urban Zoo, and Native Sun ~ McConnell was born in 1961
May 24, 2011 ~ Actor, songwriter, lyricist Thomas Hörbiger passed away in Munich, Germany ~ Co-wrote Merci Chérie with Udo Jürgens. Performed by Jürgens it would win Austria the 1966 Eurovision Songfestival with a staggering 31 points awarded, nearly twice as much as runner-up Sweden, the duo Lill Lindfors & Svante Thuresson only earning 16 points with their performance of Nygammal Vals ~ Hörbiger was born in 1931
May 24, 2011 ~ Boy band the Wanted release Glad You Came, lifted off their Battleground album ~ Their second UK No.1 hit, preceded by All Time Low, and their first to top the charts in Ireland. After the song was covered on the popular TV series Glee, it went to No.3 on the American Billboard Hot 100, at the time the highest entry for any British boy band and the first to reach top 10 since Take That's Back For Good peaked at No.7 in 1995. Band member Tom Parker has been quoted as saying: “We all felt it was a new, refreshing sound and a perfect song for the summer which really gets you in the mood for a party.” Producer Steve Mac, who had previously worked with acts such as Westlife, the Saturdays, and Boyzone, would win an ASCAP Award for co-writing and producing Glad You Came
May 24, 2009 ~ Alternative country, pop, rock guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, drummer Jay Bennett, full name Jay Walter Bennett, passed away in Urbana, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as member of Wilco from 1994 to 2001. Also a member of 1990s outfit Titanic Love Affair, guested on albums by Sheryl Crow, Allison Moorer, Sherry Rich and Billy Joe Shaver, produced recordings by Michelle Anthony, West Of Rome and Blues Traveler, and released several solo albums starting with 2002's The Palace At 4AM (Part I) ~ Bennett was born in 1963
May 24, 2008 ~ Singer, songwriter Dima Bilan wins the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Belgrade, Serbia ~ Representing Russia, Dima Bilan wins with the song Believe co-written by Bilan with Jim Beanz. Runner-ups would be Ukraine's Ani Lorak with Shady Lady in second place, and Greece's Kalomira with Secret Combination in third
May 24, 2008 ~ Hard bop, soul jazz organist Jimmy McGriff, full name James Harrell McGriff, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Charles Earland, Don Gardner, Arthur Prysock, Candido, Carmen McRae, Junior Parker, Buddy Rich, Rusty Bryant, Al Grey, Red Holloway, David Fathead Newman, Frank Wess, Eric Alexander, and Hank Crawford ~ McGriff was born in 1936
May 24, 2007 ~ Marion Childers, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, composer Buddy Childers, passed away in Woodland Hills, California, USA ~ Playing professionally since age 16, hired by Stan Kenton in 1942 for the position of lead trumpeter. Would go on to become a respected bandleader and collaborator working with a host of artists from jazz and other idioms well into the 1990s including Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Charlie Barnet, the Monkees, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Captain & Tennille, Barry Manilow, Laura Nyro, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Ray Charles, Charlie Parker, Maynard Ferguson, Art Pepper, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Lalo Schifrin, and Henry Mancini ~ Childers was born in 1926
May 24, 2007 ~ Progressive rock guitarist, sitarist Ken E Henson, full name Kenneth Edward Henson, passed away ~ Co-founded progressive rock outfits Freedom's Children in the mid 1960s, only recording sporadically. Best known for co-founding the Abstract Truth, with whom he released three albums from 1969 through 1971. Following the band's disbandement Henson would form the duo Finch & Henson with Brian Finch, with whom toured extensively throughout the early 1980s. They would continue to perform until his death at age 60 ~ Henson was born in 1947May 24, 2006 ~ Singer Taylor Hicks wins American Idol ~ Singer Taylor Hicks wins the 5th season of talent show American Idol aired on Fox, beating singer Katharine McPhee. Upon winning the show, Hicks signed with Arista Records, his eponymous major label debut issued later the same year. Prior to auditioning for American Idol, Hicks had spent well over a decade touring the Southeastern States, during which he self-released two albums and earned a devout following for his energetic stage presence
May 24, 2003 ~ Singer, songwriter Sertab Erener wins the 48th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Riga, Latvia ~ Representing Turkey, Sertab Erener wins with Everyway That I Can co-written by Erener and Demir Demirkan. Urban Trad, representing Belgium with the song Sanomi, reached 2nd place. Russia's Tatu, performing the song Ne Ver' Ne Boysia, ended in 3rd placeMay 24, 1999 ~ The 30th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 3 of 3. A perfect sunny and warm weekend this year's edition would draw some 61, 250 visitors in total. Included on today's, Monday the 24th's bill would be Ilse de Lange, Soulwax, the Manic Street Preachers, Robbie Williams, Skunk Anansie, Alanis Morissette, Faithless, Shawn Mullins, de Heideroosjes, Jewel, Lauryn Hill, Kula Shaker, Kashmir, Sebadoh, Zita Swoon, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Heather Nova
May 24, 1991 ~ Rock, country rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Gene Clark, full name Harold Eugene Clark, passed away in Sherman Oaks, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member and primary songwriter for the Byrds, songs written or co-written by Clark include I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better, She Don't Care About Time, You Won't Have To Cry, Eight Miles High and Set You Free This Time. Clark initially played rhythm guitar but would relinquish that position to David Crosby, switching to tambourine and harmonica. Also recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist and worked with acts such as the New Christy Minstrels, the Gosdin Brothers, Doug Dillard, McGuinn Clark & Hillman, and Carla Olson ~ Clark was born in 1944May 24, 1991 ~ After a limited release in major cities Madonna's concert documentary Madonna (Truth Or Dare) open in theaters ~ Initially intended to be a traditional concert film director Alek Keshishian was so impressed with Madonna's backstage life that he persuaded her to make it the focus of the film. The documentary, internationally known as In Bed With Madonna, chronicles her life during the 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. It was screened out of competition at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, was given a limited release in early May and would open to positive reviews two weeks later. The documentary would gross $29 million, making it the highest-grossing documentary of all-time, a postition it held until Bowling For Columbine surpassed it in 2002. The film has been noted as a groundbreaking film for its casual portrayal of homosexuality and would have a profound impact on reality television and celebrity culture, inspiring parodies and other music-related documentaries
May 24, 1990 ~ Country singer Alan Jackson releases Wanted, lifted off his Here In The Real World debut album ~ Alan Jackson got the idea from seeing a “wanted” poster in an old John Wayne movie playing in the background. Working from this, Jackson wrote the song as a classified ad seeking a partner. To the casual listener, the song may read like the narrator simply describes what he is seeking for in a new romantic lover, however, a closer listen reveals the song is actually a plea for forgiveness, the man admitting he has done somebody wrong. Remorseful, he hopes his lover will forgive him when she reads the ad. Preceded by Here In The Real World, Wanted become the singer's second Billboard Country top 10 hit, peaking at No.3May 24, 1988 ~ Lyricist, screenwriter Tom Adair, full name Thomas Montgomery Adair, passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Songwriting partner of Hal Hopper, Gordon Jenkins, and most successfully Matt Dennis. With the latter Adair wrote songs such as Everything Happens To Me first recorded by Kay Kyser, Let's Get Away From It All, Will You Still Be Mine, and Violets For Your Furs all recorded by Tommy Dorsey, and In The Blue Of The Evening recorded by Johnny Long ~ Adair was born in 1913