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 28, 1953 ~ Arthur Morgan Lindsay, commonly known as no wave, noise, avant-garde, jazz-pop guitarist, singer Arto Lindsay born in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ Co-founded no wave outfit DNA. Guested on early 1980s albums by the Lounge Lizards, Kip Hanrahan, John Zorn, and the Golden Palominos. Formed the Ambitious Lovers with Peter Scherer, drawing from pop, samba, and bossa nova. Served as producer for artists such as Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé, Gal Costa, and Marisa Monte. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially noted for Noon Chill released in 1998May 28, 1952 ~ Jean de Dieu Makies, commonly known as soukous, rumba singer Madilu System, born in Kinshasa, Congo ~ Active since the late 1960s, playing in a number of bands with Papa Noel and Sam Mangwana prior to rising to international fame as a member of TPOK Jazz. Joined the latter in 1980 and was notably present on songs such as Mamou (Tu Vois) and the band's biggest hit Mario. Following the band's disbandement Makiese has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Sans Commentaire released in 1993 ~ Makiese passed away in 2007
May 28, 1951 ~ Jazz, pop, classical composer, arranger, producer, guitarist Richard Niles born in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Son of singer, guitarist Tony Romano. Musical director for Cat Stevens. Conducted for Ronnie Spector, Twiggy, Kate Bush, Denny Laine. As staff arranger for Hansa Records discovered Sarah Brightman and arranged her first hit, I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper. Arranged Grace Jones' Slave To The Rhythm album. Has written, arranged, produced, conducted for Anita Baker, Cilla Black, Ray Charles, Randy Crawford, Paul McCartney, the Pet Shop Boys, Tears For Fears, Swing Out Sister, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, ABC, Was (Not Was), Cliff Richard, Ronan Keating, and Wet Wet Wet
May 28, 1950 ~ Derrick Burnett, commonly known as reggae singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist Watty Burnett, born in Port Antonio, Jamaica ~ Formed the duo the Soul Twins with Jimmy Nelson. Best known for his association with producer Lee Scratch Perry, serving as session vocalist and instrumentalist, as a member of the Congos, and recording a number of mid- to late 1970s Perry-produced singles as a solo artist including Rise And Shine, Open The Gate, and Rainy Night In Portland, the latter an adaptation of the Brook Benton-classic Rainy Night In GeorgiaMay 28, 1946 ~ Shirly Bryce, commonly known as country singer Sherry Bryce, born in Duncanville, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for her two duet albums with Mel Tillis, Living And Learning released in 1971 and Let's Go All The Way three years later. The former would spawn the hits Take My Hand and Living And Learning which peaked respectively at No.8 and No.9 on the Billboard Country charts. Bryce would record two more albums as a solo artist, yet to lesser success as her highest charting single, Don't Stop Now, stalled at No.45 Billboard Country. After retiring from the music business, Bryce would work in real estate in Florida ~ Bryce passed away in 2025
May 28, 1945 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter John Fogerty, full name John Cameron Fogerty, born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Rose to prominence as frontman, lead singer, primary songwriter of Creedence Clearwater Revival, known for songs such as Suzie Q, Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Green River, Fortunate Son, Who'll Stop The Rain, Lookin' Out My Backdoor, and Have You Ever Seen The Rain. After the band disbanded would go on to a successful solo career, starting with his The Blue Ridge Rangers album released in 1973
May 28, 1944 ~ William McCord, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Billy Vera, born in Riverside, California, USA ~ Fronted Billy Vera & the Beaters, best known for At This Moment. Upon its initial 1981 release it would stall in the high 70s, but after the song would be included on the NBC sitcom Family Ties a re-release would eventually top the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987
May 28, 1944 ~ Singer, songwriter Gary Stewart, full name Gary Ronnie Stewart, born in Jenkins, Kentucky, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of Honky-tonk” by Time Magazine. Known for a string of 1970s hits including She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles), Drinking Thing, and Your Place Or Mine. Has also written songs recorded by other singers such as for Billy Walker (She Goes Walking Through My Mind, Traces Of A Woman), Cal Smith (You Can't Housebreak A Tomcat), and Nat Stuckey (Sweet Thang And Cisco). Has also briefly played in Charley Pride's backing unit the Pridesmen ~ Stewart passed away in 2003
May 28, 1944 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Gladys Knight, full name Gladys Maria Knight, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Rose to fame in the 1960s with her backing unit the Pips, which consisted of her brother Bubba Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten. Best known for her Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits Midnight Train To Georgia and the collaborative single That's What Friends Are For with Dionne Warwick, Elton John & Stevie Wonder. Other well known songs include Every Beat Of My Heart, Letter Full Of Tears, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, If I Were Your Woman, Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) and Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
May 28, 1943 ~ Leonore Vonderlieth, commonly known as singer Vaughn De Leath, passed away in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Popular radio performer during the 1920s. One of the very first to record Are You Lonesome Tonight in 1927, a song popularized by Elvis Presley decades later. Other well known songs include Oliver Twist and Ukelele Lady ~ Vonderlieth was born in 1894
May 28, 1941 ~ José Fernando Arbex Miró, commonly known as drummer, singer Fernando Arbex, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Co-founding member of Los Brincos. The band is sometimes referred to as Spain's equivalent to the Beatles for their popularity and is known for songs such as Flamenco, Sola, Tú Me Dijiste Adiós, Mejor, and Un Sorbito De Champán. Following the band's disbandement by the end of the 1960s Arbex formed the progressive rock trio Alacrán, the Latin disco and rock outfit Barrabás, known for the 1970s singles Woman and Wild Safari, and served as producer for artists such as José Feliciano, Harry Belafonte, Nana Moskouri, Miguel Bosé, and the Middle Of The Road ~ Arbex passed away in 2003May 28, 1940 ~ Saxophonist, composer Hans Dulfer born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Widely regarded as the premier Dutch saxophonist. Father of saxophonist Candy Dulfer. Largely self-taught. Influenced by Coleman Hawkins. Active since the late 1950s. Has worked with Boy Edgar, John McLaughlin, Willem Breuker, Jan Akkerman, Herman Brood, and Saskia Laroo
May 28, 1940 ~ Percussionist, composer John Bergamo born in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Known for co-founding two all-percussion ensembles, namely the Repercussion Unit in the mid 1970s and the Hands On'Semble in the late 1990s. Has also collaborated with Frank Zappa, Nexus, Dave Liebman, Lou Harrison, Mickey Hart, Emil Richards, Gunther Schuller, John McLaughlin, and Steve Gadd ~ Bergamo passed away in 2013
May 28, 1939 ~ Organist, saxophonist Wojciech Karolak, full name Wojciech Krzysztof Karolak, born in Warsaw, Poland ~ Refers to himself as “an American jazz and rhythm & blues musician, born by mistake in Middle Europe.” Member of the Jazz Believers, which also included Krzysztof Komeda. Acclaimed for his virtue on the Hammond organ and as a film composer. Has worked with Andrzej Trzaskowksi, Michal Urbaniak, Tomasz Szukalski, Red Mitchell, Jaroslaw Smietana, and Leszek CichonskiMay 28, 1931 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Eric von Schmidt born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ Considered one of the premier guitarists in the late 1950s, early 1960s folk boom. Best known for his composition Joshua Gone Barbados. Has worked with Richard Fariña and Bob Dylan. Had a parallel career as a painter, ilustrated children's books and created album covers for Joan Baez, John Renbourn, the Blue Velvet Band, and Reverend Gary Davis ~ Von Schmidt passed away in 2007
May 28, 1930 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Son House records Walking Blues in Grafton, Wisconsin, USA ~ Written by Son House. Though the recording at the time remained unissued it would be part of House's repertoire and gain notoriety among fellow bluesmen and followers. The song would be covered or adapted by numerous artists, notably by Robert Johnson in 1936 which would become the best known version
May 28, 1929 ~ Albert Austin Burges, commonly known as rockabilly, country guitarist. singer Sonny Burgess, born in Newport, Arkansas, USA ~ Member of the Pacers, known for the 1956 single We Wanna Boogie b/w Red Headed Woman. Both songs written by Burgess and considered rock & roll classics. Also a member of the Rocky Road Ramblers ~ Burgess passed away in 2017
May 28, 1928 ~ Songwriter Dorothy LaBostrie born in Rayland, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known for co-writing Tutti Frutti for Little Richard. LaBostrie later claimed she had written the song entirely herself, dismissing Richard's claim he was the sole author. Also co-wrote Rich Woman, first recorded by Li'l Millet in 1955, later notably covered by Canned Heat, and co-wrote Irma Thomas signature song Don't Mess With My Man ~ LaBostrie passed away in 2007
May 28, 1926 ~ Bebop, cool jazz pianist Russ Freeman, full name Russell Donald Freeman, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Classically trained. Worked with Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, Art Pepper, Clifford Brown, Zoot Sims, André Previn, Maynard Ferguson, Jimmy Giuffre, Irene Kral, Jack Montrose, and Pete Rugolo ~ Freeman passed away in 2002
May 28, 1923 ~ Contemporary classical composer György Ligeti, full name György Sandór Ligeti, born in Transylvania, Romania ~ Regarded as one of the most important avant-garde composers of the latter half of the 20th century. Perhaps best known for his orchestral composition Atmospères and the “anti-anti-opera” Le Grand Macabre. Though he has not directly composed any film scores, excerpts of his music haven been adapted for use in films perhaps most notably in the Stanley Kubrick-film 2001 A Space Odyssey which includes excerpts from Atmospères, Lux Aeterna, Requiem, and Aventures ~ Ligeti passed away in 2006
May 28, 1917 ~ John Henry Creach, commonly known as violinist Papa John Creach, born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Sideman to Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Stuff Smith, Charlie Christian, Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Nat King Cole, and Roy Milton. Rediscovered in the mid 1960s, after which he would frequently collaborate with rock, psychedelic rock acts of the day, perhaps most notably the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna ~ Creach passed away in 1994
May 28, 1912 ~ Jazz guitarist, bandleader, songwriter Dave Barbour, full name David Michael Harbour, born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Married to singer Peggy Lee, with whom he also worked, from 1943 to 1951. Also worked with Adrian Rollini, Wingy Manone, Dick Stabile, Red Norvo, Teddy Wilson, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw, Lennie Hayton, Charlie Barnet, Raymond Scott, Glenn Miller, Lou Holden, Woody Herman, André Previn, and Benny Goodman ~ Barbour passed away in 1965May 28, 1912 ~ Composer, singer Tom Scott born in Campbelltown, Kentucky, USA ~ Billed as “the American Troubadour” and accompanying himself on guitar would enjoy popularity from the early 1940s on as a folk singer. Best remembered though for writing classical music, most of them drawing from American folk. Well-known pieces include Ballad Of The Harp Weaver, Colloquoy For Strings, Johnny Appleseed, and Symphony No.1. His From The Sacred Harp would be premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Leopold Stokowski. Scott had also composed art songs, the 1956 opera The Fisherman, and several film and TV scores ~ Scott passed away in 1961
May 28, 1911 ~ Arthur Reismond Herfurt, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Skeets Herfurt, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Active since the mid 1930s. Has worked with Smith Ballew, the Dorsey Brothers, Ray Noble, Alvino Rey, Benny Goodman, Earle Spencer, Billy May, Louis Armstrong, Georgie Auld, Jack Teagarden, Stan Kenton, Glen Gray, Ray Anthony, Joe Fingers Carr, Ray Conniff, the Four Freshmen, and Pete Rugolo ~ Herfurt passed away in 1992
May 28, 1910 ~ Aaron Thibeaux Walker, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, bandleader T-Bone Walker, born in Linden, Texas, USA ~ Pioneer and innovator of jump blues and electric blues. Quintessential to development of early rock & roll. Known best for his signature tune They Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday's Just As Bad), written and first recorded by Walker in 1947, later covered by a wide array of artists from all genres. Rock & roll icon Chuck Berry cites Walker as one of his two main influences, the other being Louis Jordan ~ Walker passed away in 1975