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, 1986 ~ Country singer Garth Brooks marries his college sweetheart Sandy Mahl ~ Brooks marries his college sweetheart Mahl, who would co-write Brooks' That Summer Billboard Country No.1 hit of the 1992 The Chase album. The couple would have three daughters before divorcing in 2001. Garth Brooks would later marry country singer Trisha Yearwood
May 24, 1984 ~ Singer, songwriter Ina Wroldsen, full name Ina Christine Wroldsen born in Sandefjord, Norway ~ Formed the electropop duo Ask Embla with producer, songwriter Arnthor Birgisson. Also an in-demand songwriter, songs written or co-written by Wroldsen being recorded by the likes of Shontelle, Shakira, Jess Glynne, Clean Bandit (Rockabye), Sean Paul, David Guetta, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato (Lionheart), Calvin Harris, Tinie Tempah, Olly Murs, the Pussycat Dolls, the Saturdays, Leona Lewis, and One Direction
May 24, 1984 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases Hold Me, lead single off her eponymous Whitney Houston debut album ~ Written by Michael Masser, a former stockbroker turner songwriter, and Linda Creed. The song was originally recorded as a solo track by Diana Ross for her 1982 Silk Electric album under the title In Your Arms. Two years later, Whitney Houston cut the song as a duet with Teddy Pendergrass, and it gave the then-unknown singer her first taste of success as the single reached No.5 Billboard R&B. Houston would go on to become one of the all-time best selling artists, selling over 200 million records over the course of her career. Houston would record several more songs co-written by Masser, especially early on in her career. Saving All My Love For You, Greatest Love Of All, and Didn't We Almost Have It All all reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100
May 24, 1976 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, programmer, producer Alessandro Cortini born in Bologna, Italy ~ Best known as touring member of industrial metal band Nine Inch Nails from 2005 through 2008 and again since 2013. Frontman of electronic-alternative band SONOIO. Founding member of Modwheelmood. Has also worked with the Mayfield Four, Ladytron, Muse, and How To Destroy Angels
May 24, 1976 ~ Terrance Quaites, commonly known as R&B singer, songwriter TQ, born in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for his 1998 debut single Westside, reaching top 10 across Europe, top 20 in America. Throughout the early 2000s several subsequent singles including Summertime featuring Another Level, Daily and Let's Get Back To Bed Boy featuring Sarah Connor would chart reasonably well in the UK but fail to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
May 24, 1974 ~ Edward Kennedy Ellington, commonly known as bandleader, composer Duke Ellington, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Colossal figure in jazz, wrote over 1,000 songs and led the Duke Ellington Orchestra for about 5 decades from the early 1920s until his death in the mid 1970s. Known best for hits such as East St Louis Toodle-oo, Three Little Words, Sophisticated Lady, Stormy Weather, Cocktails For Two, Solitude, Cotton, Oh Babel Maybe Someday, I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart and perhaps his best known Take The A-Train ~ Ellington was born in 1899
May 24, 1970 ~ Jazz, stride pianist Cliff Jackson, full name Clifton Luther Jackson, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the most powerful stride pianists. After relocating to New York in the early 1920s, Jackson played with Lionel Howard, Bob Fuller, and Elmer Snowden. Briefly led his own ensemble, the Krazy Kats, in the early 1930s, before finding employ as a solo pianist playing the nightclubs and as accompanist for singers such as Viola McCoy, Lena Wilson, Sara Martin, Martha Copeland, Helen Gross, and Clara Smith. Jackson is also particularly known as a solo pianist, noted for the 1962 Carolina Shout album. Jackson has also recorded with Eddie Condon, Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Rushing, and Al Sears. Jackson was married to singer Maxine Sullivan from 1950 until his death two decades later ~ Jackson was born in 1902May 24, 1969 ~ Canadian rock band the Guess Who perform on American Bandstand ~ During their first performance on American TV the band play These Eyes and Laughing. Both songs would reach gold status in America, the latter would become the band's first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, a feat later repeated with American Woman and No Sugar Tonight
May 24, 1969 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones record Live With Me, the first recording with newest member guitarist Mick Taylor ~ Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Produced by Jimmy Miller. Included on the 1969 Let It Bleed album. The song is specifically noted for being the first recording made with new member Mick Taylor. Live With Me would also be the first recording with tenor saxophonist Bobby Keys who thereafter would regularly session with the band and the only time they recorded with Leon Russell who played piano and arranged the horns. Other musicians included Mick Jagger lead vocals, Keith Richards guitar and bass, Charlie Watts drums, and Nicky Hopkins piano
May 24, 1967 ~ Dwight Arrington Myers, commonly known as rapper Heavy D, born in Mandeville, Jamaica ~ Best known as frontman of Heavy D & the Boyz, which also included G-Whiz, Trouble T-Roy, and Eddie F. Also known for a number of notable guest appearances including on Janet Jackson's Alright (1989), one of the earliest rap appearances on a pop record, and on Michael Jackson's Jam (1992). Reportedly instrumental in getting Andre Harrell to sign Sean Combs as well as Jodeci ~ Myers passed away in 2011
May 24, 1965 ~ Drummer Denzil Best, full name Denzil DaCosta Best, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand jazz, bebop drummer most active during the 1950s. Worked with Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet, Chubby Jackson, George Shearing, the Birdlanders, Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz, Artie Shaw, Erroll Garner, Phineas Newborn Jr, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Tyree Glenn, and Sheila Jordan ~ Best was born in 1917
May 24, 1965 ~ Filming begins for the Frankie And Johnny Elvis Presley film in Hollywood, California ~ A Western style musical drama starring Elvis Presley as a riverboat gambler. Filming takes place in Hollywood and New Orleans. The film would be released the following year to mixed reviews. Its Frankie & Johnny title track was released as a single, b/w Please Don't Stop Loving Me, and would reach top 30 Billboard Hot 100
May 24, 1965 ~ Aleck Ford, commonly known as singer and blues harpist Sonny Boy Williamson II, passed away in Helena, Arkansas, USA ~ Recorded with Elmore James, including on the original recording of Dust My Broom. As a solo artist known for songs such as Don't Start Me Talkin', Checkin' Up On My Baby, Bring It On Home and Help Me. The latter would become a blues standard ~ Ford was born in 1912
May 24, 1963 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Elmore James passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of the Slide Guitar”. Influenced by Robert Johnson, Kokomo Arnold, Tampa Red. Known for a number of blues classics, hugely influential on future blues and rock singers and guitarists. Well known songs include The Sky Is Crying, My Bleeding Heart, Look On Yonder Wall and Shake Your Moneymaker ~ James was born in 1918
May 24, 1963 ~ Keyboardist Vivian Trimble, full name Vivian Elizabeth Trimble, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Key member Luscious Jackson, an all-female outfit named after a mispronounciation of basketball player Lucious Jackson's name. Considered a distinct 1990s phenomenon, once described by Mike D of the Beastie Boys as “somewhere between Hole and the Indigo Girls”, the group may have been a bit too eclectic to break through to mainstream audiences, yet they were a critics darling from the git-go. Trimble recorded two albums with the band, their 1992 Natural Ingredients debut album and its highly acclaimed Fever In Fever Out follow-up, produced by Daniel Lanois, released four years later, before departing the band in 1998. During Trimble's tenure with the band, they only scored one Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit, Naked Eye peaking at No.36, yet Here of their debut album and Why Do I Lie of their sophomore album have both been featured in soundtracks, respectively for the coming-of-age teenage comedy Clueless and the drama film Good Will Hunting. Trimble has also formed the Kostars with Luscious Jackson bandmate Jill Cunniff, resulting in the 1996 album Klassics With A K, and formed the duo Dusty Trails with the Breeders' Josephine Wiggs, releasing their sole eponymous album in 2000. Musically little has been heard from Trimble since, who worked as a booker at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire, although she did guest on former bandmate Jill Cunniff's 2007 solo album City Beach, as well as on albums by Russell Simins and Luna. Trimble passed away at age 59 due to cancer-related complications ~ Trimble passed away in 2023
May 24, 1962 ~ Jazz guitarist Ben Monder born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Debuted in 1995 with his Flux album teaming up with drummer Jim Black and bassist Drew Gress. Has also worked with Lee Konitz, David Bowie, Paul Motian, David Binney, George Garzone, John Hollenbeck, Marc Johnson, Guillermo Klein, Rebecca Martin, Donny McCaslin, Charles Pillow, Tim Riles, Kendra Shank, Toots Thielemans, Kenny Wheeler, Frank Kimbrough, and Miguel Zenón
May 24, 1961 ~ Smooth jazz, R&B saxophonist, singer Walter Beasley born in El Centro, California, USA ~ Released his eponymous Walter Beasley debut album in 1987 and has recorded steadily to commercial succes since becoming one of the best-selling African-American saxophonists by the late 1990sMay 24, 1960 ~ Keyboardist Guy Fletcher, full name Guy Edward Fletcher, born in Maidstone, UK ~ Member of the Dire Straits from 1984 until the band's disbandement in 1995, first appearing on the UK and USA charttopping Brothers In Arms album. In-demand session musician appearing on records by Aztec Camera, Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, Tina Turner, Randy Newman, Heather Nova, and Mark Knopfler. Fletcher has also released a number of solo albums, starting with Inamorata released in 2008
May 24, 1956 ~ Drummer, bandleader, songwriter Larry Blackmon born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founder, lead singer, frontman of Cameo, initially named the New York City Players in honor of the Ohio Players. Praised for the widely imitated snare drum sound as heard on hits such as Word Up and Candy. Blackmon also guested on albums by Ry Cooder (1987's Get Rhyth,) and Cyndi Lauper (1989's A Night To Remember) and co-produced Eddie Murphy's 1989 So Happy albumMay 24, 1956 ~ Singer Lys Assia wins the 1st edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Lugano, Switzerland ~ Representing Switzerland, Lys Assia wins the very first edition with the song Refrain written by Géo Vournard and Emile Gardaz. The full voting results were not made public at the time, though it has been said that Assia beat the runner-up by a mere two points
May 24, 1955 ~ Singer, songwriter Rosanne Cash born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Daughter of Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash-Distin. Often classified as a country artist yet draws from a wide array of genres including folk, rock and blues. Released her eponymous Rosanne Cash debut album in 1978 and has recorded to critical acclaim and devoted fanbase since. Best known for her 1981 Seven Year Ache album, which included the Billboard Country No.1 hits My Baby Thinks He's A Train, Blue Moon With Heartache and the title track Seven Year Ache which also crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Married to singer Rodney Crowell from 1979 to 1992, with whom she has three daughters. Cash is also an in-demand collaborator appearing on recordings by Guy Clark, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn, and the Chieftains
May 24, 1951 ~ Guitarist, singer, producer Jean-Marie Aerts, full name Jean-Marie René Albert Aerts, born in Zeebrugge, Belgium ~ Influenced by Vince Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, and Jan Akkerman. First gained attention in the mid 1970s, backing the likes of Raymond van het Groenewoud, Johan Verminnen, and Bert de Coninck, yet would rise to fame as a member of TC Matic, one of the quintessential Belgian rock bands of the 1980s. The band, best known for launching the career of lead singer Arno, recorded four albums through the mid-1980s and is especially remembered for songs such as Oh La La La and Putain Putain. Following the band's disbandement, Aerts has recorded as a solo artist, and served as producer for a wide array of Belgian and Dutch artists including Absynthe Minded, Urban Dance Squad, Jo Lemaire, Tom Wolf, Kris de Bruyne, and Gorki ~ Aerts passed away in 2024
May 24, 1949 ~ Country songwriter, producer Don Cook, full name Don Kirby Cook, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Renowned songwriter. Artists who recorded songs written or co-written by Cook include Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers (I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again), John Conlee (Lady Lay Down), Rex Allen Jr, the Oak Ridge Boys, Conway Twitty (In My Dreams), Lee Greenwood, Keith Whitley (I Get The Picture), Gary Morris, Michael Johnson, George Jones, John Schneider, Reba McEntire (Just Across The Rio Grande), George Strait, Michael Martin Murphey, Mark Collie, and Brooks & Dunn
May 24, 1947 ~ Drummer, guitarist, singer, songwriter Albert Bouchard, full name Albert Thomas Bouchard, born in Watertown, New York, USA ~ Founding member of the Blue Öyster Cult. Brother of bassist Joe Bouchard. Also worked with the Mamas & the Papas, Herman's Hermits, Peter Noone, the Spencer Davis Group, Mike Watt, Richie Stotts, Gumball, Fabienne Shine, Maria Excomunikata, Heads-up, David Roter, the Brain Surgeons, the X Brothers, Helen Wheels, Underbelly, Les Braunstein, David Hirschberg, Jesús Adrián Romero, and Dennis DunawayMay 24, 1947 ~ Country singer, songwriter Mike Reid, full name Michael Barry Reid, born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Former professional football player, retiring from sports in 1974 Co-wrote Ronnie Milsap's Grammy Award-winning Stranger In My House. As a singer known for a string of late 1980s, early 1990s hits including Till You Were Gone, As Simple As That, I'll Stop Loving You and perhaps his best known Walk On Faith, the latter topping the Billboard Country chart in 1990