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 25, 1987 ~ Pop rock group U2 release I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, lifted off their The Joshua Tree album ~ Fresh off the heels of the success of their previous single, With Or Without You, the gospel-influenced I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For would become the band's second consecutive Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. The lyrics could refer to a search for spiritual enlightement or a search for love, though Daniel Lanois who co-produced the parent album has stated he nudged the band towards gospel music: “I've always liked gospel music and I encouraged Bono to take it to that place. It was a very non-U2 thing to do at the time, to go up the street of gospel. I think it opened a door for them, to experiment with that territory”
May 25, 1985 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Everything She Wants by Wham hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Following Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and Careless Whisper, Wham's Everything She Wants becomes the third single off the Make It Big parent album to reach No.1 on the American charts. Once singer George Michael began his solo career in the late 1980s, he would dismiss much of Wham's material. However, he remained proud of Everything She Wants. Besides I'm Your Man, it would be the only other song Michael regularly performed on his solo tours. Michael later referred to it as his favorite Wham songMay 25, 1984 ~ Marion Elise Raven, commonly known as singer, songwriter Marion Raven, born in Norway ~ Half of pop duo M2M, the other half being Marit Larsen. Released solo debut, Here I Am, in 2005. Has written for Pixie Lott, Maria Arredondo, Lindsay Lohan, and Tanita Kolsas. Worked with producers such as Max Martin and Rami and musician such as Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida, and Meat Loaf
May 25, 1983 ~ Jazz tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Dubbed “the Vice Prez” for his emulation of saxophonist Lester Young, the latter given the nickname “Prez” by Billie Holiday. Quinichette was active since the 1940s, backing artists such as Nat Towles, Ernie Fields, Jay McShann, Johnny Otis, Louis Jordan, Lucky Millinder, and Hot Lips Page, before forming his own groups by the early 1950s with whom he recorded about a dozen albums through the end of the decade, including the acclaimed Pres Meets Vice-Pres, Cattin' With Coltrane And Quinichette with John Coltrane, and For Basie ~ Quinichette was born in 1916
May 25, 1981 ~ Singer, bassist, pianist Roy Brown, full name Roy James Brown, passed away in San Fernando, California, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity especially through the early 1950s. Influential on the early development of rock & roll and R&B. One of the first to incorporate gospel-styled singing into R&B, his pleading vocal style later emulated by BB King, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Bobby Blue Bland, and Jackie Wilson. Perhaps best remembered for Good Rocking Tonight, covered by a wide array of artists including Wynonie Harris, James Brown, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Doors, Montrose, and Joe Ely. Other well known songs include Rockin' At Midnight, Miss Fanny Brown, Love Don't Love Nobody, Cadillac Baby, and at the time his biggest seller Hard Luck Blues ~ Brown was born in 1925May 25, 1979 ~ Pop, blue-eyed soul singer Robert Palmer releases Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor Doctor), which would become his second Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit ~ Issued as the lead single off his Secrets album. Written and first recorded by Moon Martin, however, the song would become most closely associated with Robert Palmer. Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor Doctor) reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.14, and would also do well in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Europe, except for his native UK where it failed to reach top 40. The song has later been covered by over two dozen artists, most notably by Paul Rodgers for the soundtrack of the 1992 Dr Giggles slasher film, and by Koko Taylor. The original version, Moon Martin's 1978 stand-alone single, never charted
May 25, 1978 ~ Rock, post-grunge singer, guitarist Todd Whitener born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Joined Dead Reckoning in 1995, upon Whitener's entry in the band they would rename themselves Days Of The New. The following year their eponymous Days Of The New debut album would go platinum and the band would be booked as opening act for Metallica. By the turn of the century Whitener would form Tantric, known best for their 2009 Mind Control album
May 25, 1976 ~ Rock, alternative country, country rock singer, guitarist, mandolinist, songwriter Cody Canada, full name Cody Jay Canada, born in Pampa, Texas, USA ~ Frontman of rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed, spearheading the red dirt rise in Oklahoma and Texas. Active since the mid 1990s the band has recorded about half a dozen studio albums through their disbandement in 2010 and is especially acclaimed for the 2004 album Soul Gravy. Canada has since fronted the Departed, best known for their 2011 This Is Indian Land debut album
May 25, 1975 ~ Rock, noise rock bassist Brian Gibson born in Providence, Rhode Island, USA ~ Formed the duo Lightning Bolt with drummer, singer Brian Chippendale. The band is known for their guerilla-style live performances, where they typically play on the ground rather than a stage, with the crowd gathered around them. Though the band's sound is loud and agressive, they cites Philip Glass and Sun Ra as influences. A fingerstyle bassist, Gibson has cited the Who-bassist John Entwistle as an influence. They have recorded over half a dozen albums, starting in the late 1990s, and is especially acclaimed for Wonderful Rainbow released in 2003May 25, 1975 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Hayden Chisholm born in Otahuhu, New Zealand ~ Worked with Marcus Schmickler, Nils Wolgram, John Taylor, Felix Pan, Adrian Brendel, Burnt Friedman, Jochen Rückert, Antonis Anissegos, Jaki Liebezeit, Claudio Bohorquez, Mauricio Kagei, Rebecca Horn, David Sylvian, Sebastian Gramms, Nine Horses, Dejan Terzic, John Goldsby, Thorsten Wollmann, Dan Sperber, Juergen Friedrich, Nautilus, Wour Gooris, and Tilo Weber
May 25, 1974 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter James Reid born in Christchurch, New Zealand ~ Co-founding member, frontman of the Feelers, one of the best-selling New Zealand pop, rock acts. Starting in the late 1990s songs such as Space Cadet, Venus, Pull The Strings, Astronaut, and One World have all reached the top 10 in their native New Zealand
May 25, 1974 ~ Petter Alexis Askergren, mononymously known as rapper Petter, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Kickstarted the Swedish hip-hop boom with his debut album 1998's Mitt Sjatte Sinne and its follow-up 1999's Bananrepubliken, both of which reached Platinum status. Reached the Swedish top 10 with singles such as Vinden Har Vant, Saker En Ting, Sa Klart, Det Gar Bra Nu and LogisktMay 25, 1973 ~ Delmar Drew Arnaud, commonly known as rapper, songwriter, producer Daz Dillinger, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Helped bring West coast rap and gangsta rap to the mainstream. Formed the production duo Tha Dogg Pound with rapper Kurupt. co-produced on several pivotal albums including Dr Dre's 1992 The Chronic, Snoop Dogg's 1993 Doggystyle, Tupac Shakur's 1996 All Eyez On Me. As a solo artist has been releasing album since the late 1990s
May 25, 1971 ~ Mary Pollock, commonly known as pianist, organist, songwriter Muriel Pollock, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Married to pianist, singer, songwriter Will Donaldson from 1933 until his death in 1954. Pollock composed and performed for Broadway shows, radio programs and children's plays. Well known credits include 1920s stage productions such as Ups-A-Daisy in which she duetted on piano with Constance Mering, Pleasure Bound, and Shoot The Works. As a recording artist mostly active from the late 1920s through the mid-1930 ~ Pollock was born in 1895May 25, 1969 ~ Pop singer Bobby Vinton releases his The Days Of Sand And Shovels single ~ Written by Doyle Marsh and George Reneau. First recorded by Waylon Jennings earlier the same year, whose version reached top 20 Billboard Country. Bobby Vinton's cover would also do reasonably well, reaching top 40 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and top 20 in Canada. Country singer Nat Stuckey would cover the song in 1978, reaching top 30 on the country charts both in the USA and Canada
May 25, 1969 ~ Guitarist Glen Drover born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Best known as guitarist for King Diamond from 1998 through 2000, notably present on the House Of God, and lead guitarist for Megadeth from 2004 through 2008, the latter of which also included his brother drummer Shanw Drover. Drover has subsequently worked with Metalusion, Testament, Queensrÿche, and Walls Of Blood. The siblings also formed the nucleus of Eidolon, who released over half a dozen albums starting with their Zero Hour debut album
May 25, 1965 ~ Singer Simon Fowler, full name Simon Geoffrey Fowler, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Lead singer of pop, rock band Ocean Colour Scene, known for a string of mid 1990s UK hits including You've Got It Bad, The Day We Caught The Train, Circle, Hundred Mile High City, Traveller's Tune and Better Day. Fowler had previously fronted the short-lived band the Fanatics. Has also guested on recordings by Paul Weller, Alison Moyet, the Fine Young Cannibals and Kate Rusby and fronts the side project MerrymouthMay 25, 1963 ~ In its 7th week on the charts, Take These Chains From My Heart by Ray Charles peaks at No.8 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Ray Charles had always had a sweet spot for country music, once even stating “you take country music, you take black music, it's exactly the same thing”, and he proved his point with the albums Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music and its successor Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music Vol.2. Although label executives had initially frowned upon hearing of the black R&B pianist's desire to record an album consisting entirely of country covers, which turned out to become two albums, four of the pianist's country covers would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Take These Chains From My Heart, originally recorded by Hank Williams in 1952, would be the fourth, preceded by I Can't Stop Loving You, You Don't Know Me, and You Are My Sunshine
May 25, 1960 ~ Hard bop, post-bop trumpeter Wallace Roney born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Studied with Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie. Also the only trumpeter personally mentored by Miles Davis. Leader and sideman. Made his recording debut at age 15. Has collaborated with Bill Hardman, Valery Ponomarev, Woody Shaw, Johnny Coles, Freddie Hubbard, Cedar Walton, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Geri Allen, Kenny Barron, Cindy Blackman, Joey DeFrancesco, Vincent Herring, and James Spaulding ~ Roney passed away in 2020
May 25, 1958 ~ John William Weller, commonly known as singer, songwriter Paul Weller born in Woking, UK ~ Despite widespread critical acclaim Weller has remained a national, rather than international, star and even though he has been described by some as “the Godfather of Britpop” had trouble landing a record deal at the height of Britpop surge during the 1990s. Rose to fame as frontman of new wave, mod revival outfit the Jam, with whom he recorded half a dozen albums from 1977 through 1982. The band would score the UK No.1 hits Going Underground, Start, perhaps their best known Town Called Malice, and Beat Surrender. Enjoyed success with jazz-influenced blue-eyed soul band the Style Council during the 1980s before embarking on a solo career in the early 1990s with over a dozen albums to his name, including the acclaimed Wild Wood and Stanley RoadMay 25, 1956 ~ Lincoln Barrington Minott, commonly known as reggae, dancehall, lovers rock singer, producer Sugar Minott, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Started as a member of the African Brothers, alongside Tony Tuff and Derrick Bubbles Howard. After the group disbanded in 1974 Minott would pursue a successful solo career. Credited for pioneering dancehall, a genre that would dominate the 1980s. Known for songs such as Hard Time Pressure, Not For Sale, In A Dis Ya Time and perhaps his biggest hit Good Thing Going. Has worked with renowned producers such a Mikey Dread, Sly & Robbie, Prince Jammy, and Donovan Germain ~ Minott passed away in 2010
May 25, 1952 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Zoraida Santiago born in Santurce, Puerto Rico ~ First gained attention in the late 1970s, joining Roy Brown in the ensemble Aires Bucaneros, writing or co-writing songs such as Prisa Loco, De La Tierra En Que Naci, and Canciones Para Vieques Appeared on the albums Aires Bucaneros and Casi Alba. Has subsequently recorded as a solo artist, noted for her 1982 Tiene Que Ser La Luna recording, worked in theatrical productions, and composed and recorded the soundtrack for the TV film Luisa Capetillo (Pasion De Justicia)May 25, 1950 ~ Rock, progressive violinist, tambourinist, singer Robby Steinhardt, full name Robert Eugene Steinhardt, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-lead singer of Kansas from 1973 to 1982, rejoining in 1997. Present on the band's best known including Carry On Wayward Son, Point Of Know Return and Dust In The Wind. Also worked with Steinhardt-Moon and with the Stormbringer Band ~ Steinhardt passed away in 2021
May 25, 1949 ~ R&B, soul, dance, house singer, songwriter Colonel Abrams, his real name, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Played guitar and keyboards for Heavy Impact. Fronted 94 East, a Minneapolis-based funk unit best remembered for including a then-unknown teenage Prince as its lead guitarist. As a solo artist Abrams is known for a string of 1980s singles including Trapped, which did especially well in Europe, and the Billboard R&B top 10 hits I'm Not Gonna Let You and How Soon We Forget. Upon his death at age 67 on Thanksgiving Day, renowned producer Jellybean, known for Madonna's Holiday and Whitney Houston's Love Will Save The Day, would comment: “It's a sad day for the House music community.” ~ Abrams passed away in 2016May 25, 1948 ~ Hard rock, glam metal, soft rock singer Klaus Meine born in Hannover, Germany ~ Frontman, lead singer of the Scorpions and along with guitarist Rudolf Schenker the only other member to appear on every album. The band is best known for their 1974 single Still Loving You and 1991's Wind Of Change, the latter reaching the top 10 of the American Billboard Hot 100