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, 1941 ~ Linda Gertz, commonly known as singer, songwriter Linda Laurie born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Scored a minor hit as a singer with her 1959 novelty single Ambrose (Part Five) while she was still in high school. Would record a few more sides throughout the mid 1960s, yet none charted. Eventually she found greater success as a songwriter, her songs recorded by Bobby Vinton, Sonny & Cher, Helen Reddy (Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)), Nancy Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Love Unlimited, and Diana Ross ~ Gertz passed away in 2009
May 26, 1940 ~ Mark Lavon Helm, commonly known as drummer, singer Levon Helm, born in Elaine, Arkansas, USA ~ Drummer and singer for the Band, known for their association with Bob Dylan as well as for songs such as The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Also worked with the Hawks, Paul Butterfield, Fred Carter Jr, Emmaretta Marks, Steve Cropper, Donald Duck Dunn, Booker T Jones, Dr John, Lou Marini, Howard Johnson, Tom Bones Malone, Paul Kennerley, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, his daughter Amy Helm, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Jim Weider, Jimmy Vivino, Mike Merritt, Brian Mitchell, Erik Lawrence, Steven Bernstein, Jay Collins, Byron Isaacs, Little Sammy Davis, Warren Haynes, and Bob Weir ~ Helm passed away in 2012May 26, 1938 ~ Hans Liebezeit, commonly known as krautrock flutist, percussionist Jaki Liebezeit, born in Ostrau, Germany ~ Co-founding member of experimental rock outfit Can, notably present on songs such as Halleluhwah. Member of Phantom Band. Has also worked with Jah Wobble, Philip Jeck, Depeche Mode, Brian Eno, Burnt Friedman, and Robert Coyne ~ Liebezeit passed away in 2017
May 26, 1938 ~ Composer, pianist William Bolcom, full name William Elden Bolcom, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Married to mezzo-soprano Joan Morris, for whom he composed numerous song cycles. Best known for his 1984 composition Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience, a three-hour work for soloists, choruses and orchestra based on the writings of English poet William BlakeMay 26, 1937 ~ Composer, pianist, author Neil Ardley, full name Neil Richard Ardley, born in Wallington, UK ~ Author of over 100 books on science, technology, and music. As a musician worked with the New Jazz Orchestra, Denis Preston, Ian Carr, Nucleus, Tony Coe, Norma Winstone, Trevor Tomkins, and John Martyn ~ Ardley passed away in 2004
May 26, 1936 ~ Jazz trumpeter Charles Turner, full name Charles Henry Turner, born in Bunnell, Florida, USA ~ Best known for his association with Frank Sinatra. Also worked with Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Dorsey, Ralph Flanagan, Harry James, Charlie Spivak, Count Basie, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ava Gardner, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Wayne Newton, Andy Williams, Robert Goulet, Red Skelton, John Denver, Vic Damone, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gormé ~ Turner passed away in 2006
May 26, 1934 ~ Trumpeter, composer Bernard Vitet born in Paris, France ~ Considered a pioneer of free jazz in his native France. Closely associated with François Tusques, Michel Portal, Jean-Jacques Birge, and Francis Gorge. To more mainstream pop audiences, Vitet is known as a superb accompanist for the likes of Serge Gainsbourg, Barbara, Yves Montand, and Colette Magny. Vitet has also collaborated with a host of international jazz artists including Lester Young, Archie Shepp, Anthony Braxton, Don Cherry, the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Gato Barbieri, Martial Solal, and early on in his career with Django Reinhardt, Eric Dolphy, and Albert Ayler. Has recorded prolifically, most notably well over a dozen albums with Un Drame Musical Instantané, and has invented several instruments such as the reed trumpet, a multiphonic French horn, a variable tension double-bass, and the dragoon. Besides trumpet, Vitet also sang and played flugelhorn, piano, and violin ~ Vitet passed away in 2013
May 26, 1932 ~ Stage, film, cabaret, TV singer, actor Alvin Ing born in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Closely associated with the musical Flower Drum Song, composed by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, performing the role of Wang Ta in numerous tours. Has also appeared in Chu Chem, Pacific Overtures, City Of Angels, and other musicals ~ Ing passed away in 2021May 26, 1931 ~ Jazz drummer Frank Gant born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Worked with Donald Byrd, Sonny Stitt, Yusef Lateef, Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Billy Mitchell, Pepper Adams, Little John Wilson, Billie Holiday, Alvin Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Rouse, Jamil Nasser, and Harold Mabern ~ Gant passed away in 2021
May 26, 1928 ~ Jazz pianist Gene Dinovi, full name Eugene Salvatore Dinovi, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Joe Marsala, Chuck Wayne, Buddy DeFranco, Benny Goodman, Chubby Jackson, Brew Moore, Boyd Raeburn, Buddy Rich, Artie Shaw, Lester Young, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Danny Bank, John Carisi, Bill Crow, Tony Fruscella, Dave Schildkraut, Carmen McRae, Ruby Braff, James Campbell, Don Thompson, Memo Acevedo, Dave Young, Terry Clarke, Tony Bennett, Charlie Barnet, and Aura
May 26, 1926 ~ Trumpeter Miles Davis, full name Miles Dewey Davis III, born in Alton, Illinois, USA ~ One of the most important and influential jazz musicians. Helped birth if not spearheaded several radical changes in jazz, perhaps most notably jazz fusion merging jazz and rock. Recorded prolifically since the 1950s. Acclaimed for albums such as Kind Of Blue, Sketches Of Spain, Filles de Kilimanjaro and Bitches Brew, many of his albums widely considered pivotal to the developement of jazz ~ Davis passed away in 1991
May 26, 1924 ~ Cellist, conductor, composer Victor Herbert, full name Victor August Herbert, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for composing Broadway operettas successful from the the 1890 through the start of World War I. Co-founder of ASCAP. Extremely productive, having written over 40 operettas, over 30 compositions for orchestra as well as operas and compositions for cello, violin, piano, choral works and orchestrated numerous works by other composers ~ Herbert was born in 1859
May 26, 1923 ~ Mildred Elizabeth Cummings, commonly known as R&B, jazz singer, songwriter Little Miss Cornshucks, born in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Never became a household name yet was invaluably influential on other singers such as Lavern Baker, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Wynona Carr, Billy Wright, and Johnnie Ray. Known for songs such as Papa Tree Top Blues, Gonna Leave Here Walkin', When Mommy Sings A Lullaby, Cornshuck's Blues, True (You Do Not Love Me) and her signature song So Long ~ Cummings passed away in 1999May 26, 1921 ~ Label executive, producer, songwriter Frank Guida born in Palermo, Italy ~ Best known for discovering Gary US Bonds, known for New Orleans and Quarter To Three, both produced by Guida. Helped establish “the Norfolk Sound”. Also worked with Leroy Toombs, Jimmy Soul (If You Wanna Be Happy), Tommy Facenda (High School USA), Lenis Guess, and Pamala Stanley ~ Guida passed away in 2007
May 26, 1921 ~ Ingeborg Simon, commonly known as soprano Inge Borkh, born in Mannheim, Germany ~ Closely associated with the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Bavaria State Oper. Especially known for her roles in Richard Strauss operas such as Salomé and Elektra. Has also worked with the Metropolitan Opera, the Frankfurt Opera, the Hamburgische Staatsoper, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Simon passed away in 2018
May 26, 1920 ~ Norma Deloris Egstrom, commonly known as singer, actress, songwriter Peggy Lee, born in Jamestown, North Dakota, USA ~ Pop, jazz, standards singer. Among one of the few who at the time welcomed and embraced the music of a younger generation. Also a popular actress and respected songwriter and lyricist ~ Egstrom passed away in 2002
May 26, 1919 ~ Jazz pianist, bandleader, composer Calvin Jackson, full name John Calvin Jackson, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Frankie Fairfax, Mildred Bailey, Ray Charles [arranger on the Sweet & Sour album], Buddy Collette, and Fred Katz ~ Jackson passed away in 1985May 26, 1919 ~ Rubén González Fontanills, commonly known as Afro-Cuban jazz, son, danzo, mambo pianist Rubén González, born in Santa Clara, Cuba ~ Active since the 1940s. Alongside Lilí Martínez and Peruchín defined modern Cuban piano playing. Has worked with artists such as Paulina Álvarez, Arsenío Rodriguez, the Orquesta Riverside, Enrique Jorrin. Resurged in the 1990s playing with the Afro-Cuban All Stars and gaining international exposure with the Buena Vista Social Club ~ González passed away in 2003
May 26, 1914 ~ Harold Baker, commonly known as jazz trumpeter Shorty Baker born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Active since the mid 1930s. Played the riverboats. Moved to work with Don Redman, Teddy Wilson, Andy Kirk, Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Billy Strayhorn. He was with Duke from 1942 through 1962 ~ Baker passed away in 1966
May 26, 1914 ~ Harry Aaron Finkelman, commonly known as jazz, swing trumpeter Ziggy Elman, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Known for a number of late 1930s recordings including Bye 'n Bye and Frallach In Swing, the term “frallach” referring to what would later become known as klezmer music. Closely associated with with Benny Goodman, playing in Goodman's orchestra from the mid 1930s through the end of the decade. Has also worked with Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, and Jess Stacy ~ Finkelman passed away in 1968May 26, 1891 ~ Mamie Robinson, commonly known as vaudeville, jazz, blues singer, pianist, dancer, actress Mamie Smith, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Made blues history in 1920 recording That Thing Called Love and You Can't Keep A Good Man Down, making her the first African-American singer to be recorded and her success prompting record companies to seek other female singers ushering in the era of classic female blues ~ Robinson passed away in 1946
May 26, 1886 ~ Singer Al Jolson born in Seredzius, Lithuania ~ Dubbed the “King of Blackface” performers, performing with a tainted blackface depicting African-Americans, though he has been credited to fight racism on Broadway as early as 1911. Starred in the first talking picture The Jazz Singer in 1927, followed by a series of successful musical films during the 1930s. The first to perform for WW2 troops overseas. The first to perform for the military overseas during the Korean war, a tour which left him physically exhausted. He was posthumously awarded the Medal for Merit by Defense Secretary Marshall ~ Jolson passed away in 1950