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 3, 1977 ~ Country singer, guitarist, banjoist, pianist, songwriter Eric Church, full name Kenneth Eric Church, born in Granite Falls, North Carolina, USA ~ Debuted in 2006 with the Sinners Like Me, spawning the Billboard Country top 20 hits How 'Bout You, Two Pink Lines and Guys Like Me. Other well known songs include Love Your Love The Most, Hell On The Heart, Drink In My Hand, Springsteen, Give Me Back My Hometown, Record Year, Some Of It, and Hell Of A ViewMay 3, 1977 ~ Rock, progressive rock bassist, guitarist, singer Helmut Köllen passed away in Cologne, Germany ~ Best known as bassist for Triumvirat during the mid 1970s, replacing Hans-Georg Pape. Present on band's best known albums, starting with Illusions On A Double Dimple released in 1974 and its follow-up Spartacus released the following year. Köllen sole solo album, You Won't See Me, would be released posthumously after his death at age 27 ~ Köllen was born in 1950
May 3, 1973 ~ Singer Diana Ross releases Touch Me In The Morning, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Contrary to what the title might suggest, Touch Me In The Morning has the singer telling her lover to leave after a night of lovemaking. It isn't that she would want to go on, it's because she might but knows it's not meant to be. Touch Me In The Morning would be the first hit, peaking at No.1 Billboard Hot 100, for the then-unknown stockbroker turned songwriter Michael Masser. Masser had co-written the song with noted lyricist Ron Miller and served as co-producer alongside Tom Baird. Masser would co-write several more songs for Diana Ross, including the Academy Award-nominated Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To). Others who would record songs co-written by Masser would include Gladys Knight, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, and Whitney HoustonMay 3, 1972 ~ Alternative metal, nu metal, rap metal, post-grunge singer, guitarist Josey Scott, full name Joseph Scott Sappington, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Lead singer for metal outfit Saliva, active since the mid 1990s. Co-wrote and performed the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single Hero with Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger for the soundtrack to the 2002 superhero film Spider-Man. Scott has also collaborated with Lil Wyte, Three 6 Mafia, and the X-Ecutioners
May 3, 1972 ~ Rock guitarist Leslie Harvey, full name Leslie Cameron Harvey, passed away in Swansea, UK ~ Offered a spot in the Animals by Alan Price but declined, preferring to stay with his brother Alex Harvey in the Alex Harvey Soul Band. Member of the short-lived the Blues Council, known for their sole album Baby Don't Look Down before a traffic accident killed two band members effectively ending the band. Member of Cartoone. Co-founding member of Stone The Crows, known for for a number of early 1970s albums ~ Harvey was born in 1944
May 3, 1971 ~ Label founder, executive Damon Dash, full name Damon Anthony Dash, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for co-founding the Roc-a-fella Records label with Jay-Z and Kareem Burke. Dash was romantically involved with singer Aaliyah from 2000 until her death in a plane crash the following yearMay 3, 1971 ~ Country, country rock, rock & roll singer, guitarist, bassist, banjoist John Hopkins, full name John Driskell Hopkins, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Zac Brown Band, known for songs such as Toes, Goodbye In Her Eyes and Heavy Is The Head all of which co-written by Hopkins
May 3, 1970 ~ Soul jazz keyboardist, organist Robert Walter, full name Robert Shaun Walter VI, born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Founding member of the Greyboy Allstars. Also worked with Fred Wesley, Gary Bartz, Skerik, Melvin Sparks, Andy Bey, Reuben Wilson, Harvey Mason, Alec Ounsworth, Anders Osborne, Red Holloway, Chuck Rainey, Phil Upchurch, Mike Clark, Johnny Vidacovich, Mike Gordon, Steve Kimock, 20th Congress, Cochemea Gastelum, Chris Stillwell, Stanton Moore, Dan Prothero, James Singleton, Tim Green, Creedle, Karl Denson, Mike Gordon, Gary Jules, and Susan TedeschiMay 3, 1967 ~ Gospel singer, guitarist, organist, songwriter Shawn McLemore, full name Shawn Lamont McLemore, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his 1997 Wait On Him debut album which charted on the Billboard Gospel charts. McLemore would continue to record through the 2010s but failed to reach the same level of succes ~ McLemore passed away in 2021
May 3, 1965 ~ Drummer, producer Magnus Öström born in Skultuna, Sweden ~ First gained attention working with Esbjörn Svensson in the early 1990s. Has also worked with Bobo Stenson, Lennart Åberg, Palle Danielsson, Nils Landgren, Benny Golson, Mulgrew Miller, Stefon Harris, Nils Landgren, and Nicolai Dunger. Has also released a number of solo records, starting with Thread Of Life in 2011
May 3, 1962 ~ Singer, comedian, songwriter Maarten van Roozendaal born in Heiloo, the Netherlands ~ Mainly performed his own songs, yet also a fine interpreter of Cornelis Vreeswijk. Collaborated with Paul de Munnik, Egon Kracht, Wouter Planteijdt, Marcel de Groot, Willem Ennes, and Kim Soepnel ~ Van Roozendaal passed away in 2013
May 3, 1961 ~ Singer, songwriter Paul Field, full name Paul James Field, born ~ Lead singer for pop group the Cockroaches, which also included brothers John Field and Anthony Field, known best for She's The One of their 1987 eponymous The Cockroaches debut album. Formed the Field Brothers with brother John in the 2010, recording originals as well as some old Cockroaches songs as country songs including She's Some Kind Of Girl, Rely On Me and Permanently Single. Released his Love Songs For Lonely People solo debut album in 2021, featuring guests such as Kasey Chambers and Jimmy Barnes. Field also served as managing director for children's music group the Wiggles for over two decades starting in 1996
May 3, 1960 ~ Rock, folk, jazz bassist, singer Alan Thomson born in Glasgow, UK ~ Member of the Arthur Trout Band. Best known for his association with John Martyn, touring with Martyn until his death in 2009. Has worked with Strangeways, Jacqui McShee, Geezer Butler, John Jorgenson, Amos Garrett, Brent Mason, Denny Laine, Rick Wakeman, and Pentangle
May 3, 1960 ~ Singer, guitarist Peter Howarth born in Blackpool, UK ~ Lead singer of the Hollies since 2004. Has previously worked as session and touring musician with artists including Cliff Richard and the Who, portrayed Roy Orbison in the Only The Lonely and co-wrote the West End musical Robin Prince Of Sherwood with 10cc guitarist Rick Fenn
May 3, 1959 ~ Synth-pop, new wave keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, singer Dave Ball, full name David James Ball, born in Chester, UK ~ Formed the synth-pop duo Soft Cell with Marc Almond, known for a string of early 1980s hits including the UK top 10 hits Tainted Love, Bedsitter, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, Torch, and What. After the duo disbanded in 1984, Ball has recorded as a solo artist, served as producer for Vicious Pink, Rose McDowall, Kylie Minogue, Gavin Friday, and Anni Hogan, and as remixer for the likes of David Bowie, Vanessa-Mae, and Erasure ~ Ball passed away in 2025
May 3, 1953 ~ Rock bassist, guitarist, pianist, singer Bruce Hall, full name Bruce William Hall, born in Champaign, Illinois, USA ~ Member of REO Speedwagon, joining the band in 1977 as replacement for Gregg Philbin and first appearing on the You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish album. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Back On The Road Again, Let's Be-Bop, Someone Tonight, Hey Wait A Minute, Thru The Window and Accidents Can Happen
May 3, 1953 ~ Indie rock, punk rock drummer, keyboardist, singer Gary Young born in Mamaroneck, New York, USA ~ Original drummer of Pavement, present on the band's 1992's Slanted And Enchanted debut album and its follow-up Watery Domestic EP later the same year before being fired from the band in 1993. Young subsequently released a number of solo albums, starting with 1994's Hospital under the group moniker Gary Young's Hospital ~ Young passed away in 2023May 3, 1952 ~ Pianist, keyboardist Henning Sommerro born in Surnadal, Norway ~ Wrote music for over 140 theater and film productions. Has worked with Erik Bye, Sigmund Groven, Geirr Lystrup, Halvdan Sivertsen, Arve Tellefsen, Palle Mikkelborg, Åge Aleksandersen, Arne Domnérus, and Aly Bain
May 3, 1952 ~ Singer, songwriter Keiji Haino born in Chiba, Japan ~ Eclectic singer drawing from rock, improvisation, noise music, psychedelica, minimalism, drone music and other idioms. Actively recording since the late 1970s both as a solo artist and with acts such as Fushitsusha, Vajra, Vajra, Black Stage, the Purple Trap, Knead, Sanhedroin, and Lost Aaraaf
May 3, 1951 ~ Christopher Charles Geppert, commonly known as pop rock, soft rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Christopher Cross, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his Sailing sophomore single and Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) the following year. Both would top the Billboard Hot 100, the latter was used on the Arthur soundtrack and won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song shared with co-composers Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter AllenMay 3, 1951 ~ Greg Taylor, commonly known as blues, rock & roll, pop harmonica player, keyboardist, singer Greg Fingers Taylor, born in Wichita, Kansas, USA ~ Best known for his association with Jimmy Buffett, being a member of Buffett's backing unit the Coral Reefer Band. Also worked with Larry Raspberry, Kim Wilson, and Doug Deming
May 3, 1950 ~ Jazz pianist Dag Arnesen, full name Dag Syver Arnesen, born in Bergen, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Active since the early 1980s with over a dozen albums to his name. Has worked with Søyr, the Bergen Big Band, Thorgeir Stubø, Knut Riisnæs, Kjell Karlsen, Terje Gewelt, and Palle MikkelborgMay 3, 1950 ~ Folk, folk pop singer, guitarist, Mary Hopkin born in Pontardawe, UK ~ Best known for her 1968 UK No.1 single Those Were The Days. Represented England in the 1970 Eurovision Songfestival with Knock Knock Who's There reaching 2nd place behind Ireland's Dana with All Kinds Of Everythin'. Married to producer Tony Visconti from 1971 to 1981
May 3, 1949 ~ Jazz, avant-garde jazz, classical saxophonist Larry Ochs born in New York, New York, USA ~ Briefly studied trumpet before switching to saxophone. About a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, over two dozen albums with his the Rova Saxophone Quartet including the acclaimed Electric Rags II released in 1990. Formed Kihnoua with singer Dohee Lee and drummer Scott Amendola, known for their 2010 Unauthorized Caprices album. Has also worked with Glenn Spearman, Maybe Monday, and Dave RempisMay 3, 1947 ~ Donald Hanson Marvin Kerr Richards Jr, commonly known as reggae guitarist, singer Junior Marvin born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known for his association with Bob Marley through his membership of the Wailers, notably present on the 1977 Bob Marley & The Wailers album. Has also worked with Hanson, Gass, the Keef Hartley Band, Toots & the Maytals, and with Steve Winwood