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 26, 1977 ~ R&B singer William Powell passed away in Canton, Ohio, USA ~ Lead singer for the O'Jays, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. The band is known especially for two 1972 No.1 Billboard R&B hits, Back Stabbers and Love Train, both cherished and remembered as some of the finest of the Philly soul era. Other well known songs include Give The People What They Want, I Love Music (Part I), Livin' For The Weekend, Message In Our Music, and Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love). Following Powell's death at age 35 of cancer, the band would attract Sammy Strain as lead singer, formerly of Little Anthony & the Imperials, and continued to record to lesser success ~ Powell was born in 1942
May 26, 1975 ~ Hip-hop, R&B, soul, neo soul singer, rapper, guitarist, songwriter Lauryn Hill, full name Lauryn Noelle Hill, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Rose to fame as member of the Fugees alongide Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, known best for their 1996 The Score sophomore album which included the hit singles Fu-gee-la, Killing Me Softly and Ready Or Not. As a solo artist especially acclaimed for her 1998 The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, one of the best-selling albums of all-time and pivotal to popularizing hip-hop and neo soul. The album's Doo Wop (That Thing) single would debut atop the Billboard Hot 100May 26, 1974 ~ Jazz drummer, bandleader Mike Reed born in Bielefeld, West Germany ~ Worked with David Boykin, Rob Mazurek, Josh Berman, Jeff Parker, Nicole Mitchell, Josh Abrams, Jason Adasiewicz, Tomeka Reid, Jason Roebke, Tim Haldeman, Loose Assembly, Julian Priester, Nick Butcher, Craig Taborn, and Marquee Hill
May 26, 1973 ~ Swing, dixieland, jazz trombonist JC Higginbotham passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and in-demand sideman. Has worked with Luis Russell, Benny Carter, Red Allen, Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Kenny Burrell, Buck Clayton, Coleman Hawkins, Alberta Hunter, Cootie Williams, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Louis Armstrong ~ Higginbotham was born in 1906
May 26, 1973 ~ R&B, soul, pop sibling group the Pointer Sisters release their eponymous The Pointer Sisters debut album ~ An impressive debut album, showcasing the siblings' versatility drawing from R&B, soul, funk, jazz, blues, and pop. The album would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 200, peaking at No.13, and spawn the singles Yes We Can Can, which reached No.11 Billboard Hot 100 and a cover of the Willie Dixon-penned blues classic Wang Dang Doodle, the latter first recorded by Howlin' Wolf over a decade earlier. The siblings would continue to record to mixed success, scoring an occasional hit now and then, before hitting their commercial peak in the 1980sMay 26, 1973 ~ Country singer Waylon Jennings releases We Had It All, lifted off his Honky Tonk Heroes album ~ Written by Troy Seals and Donnie Fritts, the song tells of two former lovers recalling happier times. The song was first released by Dobie Gray, with Waylon Jennings quick to follow just a few months later. It is the only song on Jennings' Honky Tonk Heroes album not written by Billy Joe Shaver, and would be a modest hit for Jennings, peaking at No.28 Billboard Country. Over the years, the song has been covered by dozens of artists including Brenda Lee, Rita Coolidge, Tom Jones, BJ Thomas, Tina Turner, Willie Nelson, and the Rolling Stones. Reportedly Elvis Presley, who was immediately infatuated when he first heard the song, had also given it a try. However, Presley never completed the song as the sad tale reminded him too much of his then-recent divorce from Priscilla Presley, Presley struggling to get through the lyrics before finally giving up in frustration after a few takes
May 26, 1972 ~ Drummer Alan White, full name Alan Victor White, born in London, UK ~ Member of Starclub from 1991 through 1994. Member of Oasis joining in 1995 as replacement for original drummer Tony McCarroll. White appeared on six of the band's albums, starting with 1995's (What's The Story) Morning Glory. White would be the band's longest-serving drummer remaining through 2004 to be succeeded by Zak Starkey
May 26, 1970 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Keith Gattis born in Georgetown, Texas, USA ~ As a solo artist known for his single Little Drops Of My Heart of his 1996 eponymous Keith Gattis debut album. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by Charlie Robison, Kenny Chesney (El Cerrito Place). George Strait (I Got A Car), and by Randy Houser (What Whiskey Does). Played with George Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Randy Houser, Gary Allan, Ashley Monroe, Allison Moorer, Waylon Payne, Miranda Lambert, Wade Bowen, Sara Evans, Brandy Clark, the Randy Rogers Band, Randy Travis, and the Eli Young Band ~ Gattis passed away in 2023
May 26, 1968 ~ William Edward John, commonly known as R&B, soul singer Little Willie John, passed away in Walla Walla, Washington, USA ~ Known for songs such All Around The World, Need Your Love So Bad, Talk To Me Talk To Me, Leave My Kitten Alone, Let Them Talk, Sleep and Fever ~ John was born in 1937May 26, 1967 ~ Guitarist, mandolinist Ervan Coleman passed away ~ Best known for his close association with Herb Alpert as a member of the Tijuana Brass. Wrote the hit song Tijuana Taxi. Member of Julius Wechter's the Baja Marimba Band. Also worked the T-Bones. Coleman passed away of surgical complications. Alpert's Bud from the 1967 Herb ALpert's Ninth album was written and recorded as a tribute to Coleman, nicknamed Bud ~ Coleman was born in 1921
May 26, 1967 ~ Bassist, pianist, singer Kristen Pfaff, full name Kristen Marie Pfaff, born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Briefly a member of Hole, present on the band's 1994 Live Through This major label debut album. Returned to her previous band Janitor Joe in the weeks before her death of a heroin overdose ~ Pfaff passed away in 1994
May 26, 1967 ~ R&B group the Miracles release More Love, lifted off their Make It Happen album ~ Lead singer Smokey Robinson sang lead, wrote, and produced More Love, a song born out of personal tragedy. Robinson's wife Claudette Robinson, a backing singer with the band, had a total of eight miscarriages and would usually apologize after each one. Robinson has been quoted he wrote the song “to let her know she did not let me down because she was there, she was alive (…) I wrote More Love to let her know how I felt about her”. Eventually, the couple would have two healthy children, a boy named Berry Robinson and a girl named Tamla Robinson. More Love would be covered over a dozen times, most notably by Kim Carnes in 1980 whose rendition reached No.10 Billboard Hot 100, surpassing the Miracles' original which had peaked at No.23 over a decade earlier
May 26, 1965 ~ Singer Connie Francis records Love Is Me Love Is You ~ Written by Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch, the latter also serving as producer. Released the following September in the UK as the B-side of Roundabout. Released in the USA as an A-side in February 1966, paired with I'd Let You Break My Heart Again on the flip side. Connie Francis would also recordd German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish versions. Others have recorded versions in Dutch, Finnish, Mandarin and Swedish
May 26, 1964 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Lenny Kravitz born in New York, New York, USA ~ His 1989 Let Love Rule debut album would be an instant hit in Europe but, though receiving warm reviews, it would take a while for American audiences to catch on to his hybrid of blues, funk, soul, psychedelica and hard rock. Would score his first and only Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over of his 1991 Mama Said sophomore album. Has recorded to critical acclaim, commercial success and a devoted fanbase since. Well known songs include Let Love Rule, Are You Gonna Go My Way, I Belong To You and American WomanMay 26, 1959 ~ Country keyboardist, singer David Robbins born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Co-founding member of Blackhawk remaining with the band from 1992 through 2008. Present on songs such as Every Once In A While, I Sure Can Smell The Rain, I'm Not Strong Enough To Say No, Like There Ain't No Yesterday and There You Have It, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Country
May 26, 1958 ~ Blues singer, drummer, guitarist Leroy Foster, also known as Baby Face Leroy Foster, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known for a number of late 1940s, early 1950s recordings such as Locked Out Boogie, My Head Can't Rest Anymore, Pet Rabbit, Boll Weevil and Rolling & Tumbling (Part 1). Backed Muddy Waters in his formative years. Also worked with Sunnyland Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson I, Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, Johnny Jones, and Lee Brown ~ Foster was born in 1923
May 26, 1958 ~ Alternative rock, gothic rock, post-punk, indie rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Wayne Hussey, full name Jerry Wayne Hussey, born in Bristol, UK ~ Co-founding and constant member, frontman of gothic rock outfit the Mission, known for a string of mid-1980s to early 1990s releases including the UK top 20 hits Wasteland, Tower Of Strength and Butterfly On A Wheel. Guitarist for Sisters Of Mercy from 1983 through 1985, present on the band's 1985 First And Last And Always debut album. Hussey had previously worked with Dead Or Alive, appearing on the band's 1984 Sophisticated Boom Boom debut album. Hussey released his Bare solo debut album in 2009
May 26, 1951 ~ Country songwriter Richard Leigh, full name Richard Christopher Leigh, born in McLean, Virginia, USA ~ Had his songs recorded by Crystal Gayle (Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue), the Bellamy Brothers, Ronnie Milsap, Debby Boone, Carol Chase, Don Williams (That's The Thing About Love), Tanya Tucker, Steve Wariner (Life's Highway), Mac Davis, Mickey Gilley (Put Your Dreams Away), Tammy Wynette, Billy Dean (Somewhere In My Broken Heart), Randy Travis, Reba McEntire (The Greatest Man I Never Knew), and Tamra Rosanes
May 26, 1949 ~ Randall Hank Williams, commonly known as Southern rock, country rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Hank Williams Jr, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ~ Son of country icon Hank Williams, father of singers Hank Williams III and Holly Williams. Proficient on a variety of instruments including guitar, bass, banjo, dobro, keyboards, saxophone, fiddle and drums. Influenced by Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Earl Scruggs, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jerry Lee Lewis. Debuted in 1964 with Long Gone Lonesome Blues, one his father's tunes. Has released well over 100 singles and over 50 albums since. Perhaps best known for A Country Boy Can Survive of his 1981 The Pressure Is On album and for All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight of his 1984 Major Moves album
May 26, 1949 ~ Vicki Ann Axelrad, commonly known as actress, pop singer Vicki Lawrence born in Inglewood, California, USA ~ Best known as an actress, notably portraying the cold and unaffectionate Thelma Harper, the mother of Carol Burnett's character on The Carol Burnett Show from 1967 through 1978. As a singer, Lawrence is known for her sole hit The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia. The song was written by her then-husband Bobby Russell who had trouble pitching the song. The publishers and record label considered the song difficult to market as the ballad was neither pop nor country. The song would be offered to Cher, but Cher's manager and husband Sonny Bono rejected the song as it might upset her Southern fans. Lawrence, who had sung on the demo version, was convinced of its potential and recorded the song with producer Snuff Garrett. Issued in late 1972, The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia would top the Billboard Hot 100 and sell over a million copies. Following the success of the single, Lawrence issued her full-length debut album of the same name, and two more albums through the end of the decade, yet she would be unable to repeat the success of her one major hit. The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia would be covered by dozens of artists, including Lynn Anderson, Tanya Tucker, and most notably by Reba McEntire whose 1991 single reached No.12 Billboard Country
May 26, 1948 ~ Pop, rock singer, songwriter Stevie Nicks, full name Stephanie Lynn Nicks, born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Cited as an influence by Beyoncé, Courtney Love, Michelle Branch, Belinda Carlisle, the Dixie Chicks, Mary J Blige, and Sheryl Crow. Rose to fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac joining the band with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham in 1975 in time for their massively successful Rumours album. Nicks remained with the band through 1991 and rejoined in 1997. Released her Bella Donna solo debut album in 1981 and has recorded over half a dozen solo albums since. Has collaborated with a host of artists including Don Henley, Kenny Loggins, Walter Egan, Robbie Patton, Tom Petty (Stop Draggin' My Heart Around), Phil Collins, Destiny's Child, Chris Isaak, Dave Grohl, and LeAnn Rimes
May 26, 1945 ~ R&B, pop, disco, soul singer, vocal coach Peggi Blu born in Lumberton, North Carolina, USA ~ In-demand backing singer, active since the 1970s, appearing on albums by Archie Shepp, Lou Courtney, Stephanie Mills (Merciless), Bob Dylan (Empire Burlesque), Brian Setzer, Barbra Streisand, Tracy Chapman, Quincy Jones (Back On The Block), Kylie Minogue, Laura Branigan, Cherrelle, Leonard Cohen (The Future), Melissa Manchester, Wanda Dee (The Goddess Is Here), Alice Cooper (Dirty Diamonds), and Neil Sedaka. Blue has recorded sporadically as a solo artist, noted most for the singles Tender Moments and All The Way With You, both lifted off her 1987 Blu Blowin' album. A winner of a TV talent show herself, having won Star Search back in 1986, Blu is best known as a vocal coach for the American Idol talent show in the 2000s ~ Blu passed away in 2024May 26, 1944 ~ Warren Nichols, commonly known as guitarist Gates Nichols born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of country-rock outfit Confederate Railroad, known for the Billboard Country top 10 hits Jesus And Mama, The Queen Of Memphis and Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind. Nichols remained with the band through 2008 and would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the next year ~ Nichols passed away in 2009
May 26, 1944 ~ Terence Allen, commonly known as rock, hard rock, glam rock keyboardist, organist, singer Verden Allen, born in Hereford, UK ~ Co-founding member of glam rock outfit Mott The Hoople, present on the band's 1972 David Bowie-produced All The Young Dudes breakthrough album. Allen has also worked with Jimmy Cliff, formed the Cheeks with James Honeyman-Scott and Martin Chambers, was a member of the Shakedown Sound and Soft Ground, and recorded as a solo artistMay 26, 1942 ~ Bandleader, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton records Flying Home ~ Written by Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Sid Robin. First recorded by Goodman in 1939 featuring solos from Hampton and guitarist Charlie Christian. The best known version is Hampton's 1942 however, especially noted for the Illinois Jacquet saxophone solo that would make musical history. The sax solo is widely regarded as the first ever R&B sax solo and highly influenced mid-to-late 1940s rhytm and blues
May 26, 1942 ~ Lute builder Stephen Murphy born in Sydney, Australia ~ Builder of classical era instruments based on 16th and 17th century designs operating out of the south of France. Has built over 400 lutes, archlutes, theorbos, vihuelas, and Renaissance and Baroque guitars since the early 1970