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 30, 2022 ~ Sound engineer Dave Smith, full name David Joseph Smith, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Dubbed “the father of MIDI” for his pivotal role in the development of MIDI, a standard interface protocol for electronic instruments and pro audio equipment. Graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Computer Science and Electronic Engineering. Founded the Sequential Circuits company in the mid 1970s, the company quickly becoming one of the most successful synthesizer manufacturers. Best remembered for designing the Prophet 5, the first commercial polyphonic and microprocessor-controlled synthesizer ~ Smith was born in 1950
May 30, 2022 ~ Joseph Paul Florio, commonly known as songwriter, producer Paul Vance, passed away in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA ~ Prolific songwriter with over an estimated 300 songs to his credit, often teaming up with Lee Pockriss. Among their best known are Perry Como's 1957 hit Catch A Falling Star and Brian Hyland's Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini, the latter a 1960 Billboard Hot 100 charttopper. The duo would be sued by songwriters Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and George Shadow Morton for their spoof song and Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit The Leader Of The Laundromat recorded under the moniker the Detergents, which parodied the Shangri-Las' The Leader Of The Pack. The case would be settled out of court ~ Florio was born in 1929May 30, 2020 ~ Coloratura soprano Maddy Mesplé, full name Madeleine Mesplé, passed away in Toulouse, France ~ Considered the leading colaratura soprano of her day in France, enjoying popularity for over three decades starting in the early 1950s. Known for roles in productions of works such as Lakmé, The Tales Of Hoffmann, Mignon, Roméo Et Juliette, and Hamlet ~ Mesplé was born in 1931
May 30, 2019 ~ Dickran Gobalian, commonly known as singer, guitarist Leon Redbone, passed away in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Jazz, blues, roots singer with over a dozen album to his name starting with 1975's On The Track. Preferred material from the Tin Pan Alley-era, circa 1890 to 1910. Upon a chance meeting in 1972 Redbone impressed Bob Dylan, the latter mentioning him in a Rolling Stone interview leading the magazine to do a profile on Redbone ~ Gobalian was born in 1949May 30, 2018 ~ Double bassist, singer Major Short passed away ~ Member of vocal trio Somethin' Smith & the Redheads, active during the 1950s and 1960s. The trio also included guitarist, banjoist Robert H Robinson and pianist Saul Striks, and are best known for their 1955 hit It's A Sin To Tell A Lie. Lesser hits included Heartaches, Ace In The Hole, and You Always Hurt The One You Love ~ Short was born in 1924
May 30, 2014 ~ Contralto singer Gerda Schriever passed away in Leipzig, Germany ~ Best known as a member of the Thomanerchor for over two decades starting in the mid 1950s. Also noted as a member of the Leipziger Bachsolisten from 1968 through 1972 and for her association with the Dresdner Kreuzchor. Married to pianist Hans-Joachim Drechsel, with whom she had three children ~ Schriever was born in 1928
May 30, 2012 ~ Jazz, blues guitarist Pete Cosey, full name Peter Palus Cosey, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his 1973-1975 stint playing with Miles Davis, including on the albums Get Up With It, Agharte, Pangaea, and Fark Magus. Prior Cosey worked as an in-demand session musician backing artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass (including on the single Rescue Me), Rotary Connection, Howlin' Wolf, and Muddy Waters. Member of the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians. Member of the Pharaohs, which would later evolve into Earth Wind & Fire. Cosey's talent and technique has been likened to Jimi Hendrix yet Cosey would maintain a low profile throughout his career and not record any solo albums ~ Cosey was born in 1943May 30, 2011 ~ George John Tozzi, commonly known as opera singer Giorgio Tozzi, passed away in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Closely associated with the Metropolitan Opera. Also performed in Broadway musicals, dubbed singing parts for film, guest starred on several TV shows including The Odd Couple, Kojak and Knight Rider, and wrote the 1997 The Golem Of The Golden West novel ~ Tozzi was born in 1923
May 30, 2010 ~ Ollie Creggett, commonly known as singer, keyboardist, drummer Ali Ollie Woodson passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Joined the Temptations in 1984 replacing Dennis Wilson as the lead singer. Except for a year-long hiatus Woodson remained with the band through 1996. Had also worked with Aretha Franklin, Jean Carn, and with Bill Pinkney ~ Woodson was born in 1951May 30, 2010 ~ The 41st edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 3 of 3. Sunny and warm with occasional rain, this year's edition would draw a total of some 72,000 visitors. Included on today's, Sunday the 30th's bill would be the Maccabees, Danko Jones, Skunk Anansie, Triggerfinger, the Pixies, the Prodigy, Jon Allen, Kate Nash, Slash, Mika, Pink, DeWolff, General Fiasco, Yeasayer, Florence + the Machine, and Gogol Bordello
May 30, 2009 ~ The 40th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. Dry and warm, this year's edition would draw a total of some 90,000 visitors. Included on today's, Saturday the 30th's bill would include Chris Cornell, the Killers, Bruce Springsteen, the Kings Of The Day, Me First & the Gimme Gimme's, Elbow, the Noisettes, Just Jack, and Dr Lektroluv
May 30, 2008 ~ Big band bandleader, clarinetist, saxophonist Nat Temple, full name Nathan Temple, passed away in Woking, UK ~ Modeled his playing after Benny Goodman. Rose to fame as a member of Harry Roy's orchestra during the 1930s, including on the 1933 hit Tiger Rag. Following a stint in the British Army during World War II, Temple founded his own orchestra with whom he notably launched the career of vocalist Frankie Vaughan, and backed famed American composer Hoagy Carmichael on his British tour. Temple would quickly become a regular presence on the BBC, providing musical entertainment for various comedy shows, and continued to lead various configurations of his group well into the 1990s. Over the course of his lengthy career Temple has worked with artists such as Benny Lee, Julie Andrews, Eartha Kitt, Petula Clark, and Mel Tormé ~ Temple was born in 1913May 30, 2008 ~ The 39th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. To mixed weather this year's edition would draw a total of some 94,000 visitors. Included on today's, Friday the 30th's bill would be Flogging Molly, Incubus, Metallica, SAT2D, Animal Alpha, Alter Bridge, From First To Last, Jonathan Davis, and Porcupine Tree
May 30, 2005 ~ Indie rock band Arctic Monkeys release their debut single, featuring the songs Fake Tales Of San Francisco and From The Ritz To The Rubble ~ Titled Five Minutes With Arctic Monkeys, the band's debut single was issued in a limited edition. Both songs would be re-recorded for the band's Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not debut album released the following year. With only 1500 CDs and 1500 vinyl copies of the single released, it has become a sought after collector's item. The band would go on to become one of the most highly acclaimed and commercially successful British indie rock bands to emerge in the 2000sMay 30, 2004 ~ The 35th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Geleen, the Netherlands ~ Day 2 of 3. Sunny and warm with occasional rain this year's edition would draw a total of some 36,000 visitors. Included on today's, Sunday the 30th's bill would be Seeed, Less Than Jake, the Rasmus, the Pixies, Tiësto, the Kaizers Orchestra, T Raumschmiere, the Audio Bullys, Dave Clarke, and After Forever
May 30, 2003 ~ Michael Peter Hayes, commonly known as producer, label executive Mickie Most, passed away in London, UK ~ Produced singles such as the Animals' debut single Baby Let Me Take You Home, Brenda Lee's Is It True and What'd I Say, Donovan's Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow, Lulu's To Sir With Love, the Seekers' The Days Of My Life an Nancy Sinatra's The Highway Song. Worked with Jeff Beck on the albums Truth and Beck-ola. Continued into the 1970s producing acts such as Alexis Korner's CCS, Smokie, Hot Chocolate, Julie Felix, Suzi Quatro (Can The Can, Devil Gate Drive), and Mud (Tiger Feet). Discovered Kim Wilde singing background vocals for her father and Most immediateley scored with Kids In America, launching Kim's career. Most's son Calvin Hayes is a member of pop group Johnny Hates Jazz, also signed to Most's RAK Records. Other acts that Most worked with throughtout the years include Terry Reid, the She Trinity, New World, Duncan Browne, Cozy Powell, Tam White, and Chris Spedding ~ Hayes was born in 1938May 30, 1998 ~ The 29th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. Mostly a sunny and warm weekend this year's edition would draw some 51,500 visitors. Included on today's, Saturday the 30th's bill would be Itchy Bitchy, Girls Against Boys, Primus, Supersub, Ozric Tentacles, and Zion Train
May 30, 1996 ~ Bassist John Kahn passed away in Mill Valley, California, USA ~ In-demand session musician from the mid 1960s onwards. Has worked with Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites, John Lee Hooker, Tom Fogerty, Al Kooper, Jackie DeShannon, Otis Rush, Brewer & Shipley including on the 1971 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit One Toke Over The Line, and with once-girlfriend Maria Muldaur. Perhaps best known as regulator collaborator of Jerry Garcia in the bands the Jerry Garcia Band, Old & In The Way, Legion Of Mary, and Reconstruction ~ Kahn was born in 1947May 30, 1995 ~ Antonio González Flores, commonly known as rock, pop, flamenco singer, guitarist, pianist, actor Antonio Flores, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Brother of singers Lolita Flores and Rosario Flores. Best known for Cosas Mias, his fourth and final album released in 1995. His previous albums had been commercially unsuccessful yet in hindsight Flores would posthumously be acclaimed as one of Spain's most influential artists ~ Flores was born in 1961
May 30, 1993 ~ Herman Poole Blount, commonly known as jazz bandleader, pianist, poet Sun Ra, passed away in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Led the musical collective the Arkestra from the 1950s until his death in the early 1990s, drawing from a wide variety of jazz subgenres including ragtime, swing, bebop, free jazz, avant-garde and jazz fusion. Pioneered the use of electric keyboards and synthesizers. Blount has adamantly claimed to have had encounters with extra-terrestrials and have visited Saturn, a theme regularly adressed in his music ~ Blount was born in 1914May 30, 1989 ~ Jamel Phillips, commonly known as rapper A$AP Twelvyy, born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Member of hip hop group A$AP Mob. Released his full-length 12 debut album in 2017. Has collaborated with the likes of the Flatbush Zombies, Smoke DZA, Harry Fraud, and Statik Selektah
May 30, 1989 ~ Singer Bobby Brown releases On Our Own, recorded as the theme song to the Ghostbusters II comedy film ~ As Bobby Brown was hot in the late 1980s, he was asked to do the theme song for the Ghostbusters II film. The song is not to be confused with another song of the same name by Ray Parker Jr, which was used in the first film of the Ghostbusters franchise. Brown also had a small cameo in the movie, where he played a doorman welcoming the Ghostbusters team when they arrive at Gracie Mansions. On Our Own, written by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, LA Reid and Daryl Simmons with Edmonds and Reid also serving as producers, would reach No.2 Billboard Hot 100, making it Brown's fifth consecutive and fifth overall American top 10 hit. It also reached top 10 in Canada, Ireland, and the UK, and topped the charts in New Zealand
May 30, 1988 ~ Country, progressive country singer Rodney Crowell releases his Diamonds & Dirt album ~ Recorded entirely in Nashville, Tennessee, Diamonds & Dirt was Rodney Crowell's first album aimed squarely at country audiences and by far his commercially most successful. Five singles were lifted off the album, It's Such A Small World which featured his then-wife Rosanne Cash, I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried, She's Crazy For Leaving, After All This Time, and the Buck Owens-cover Above And Beyond, all of which would reach the top position on the Billboard Country charts. The album itself would reach top 10 on the Billboard Country album charts, peaking at No.8, his highest charting album as a solo artist, and be critically warm received, with No Depression stating the songs were “played by a band that, in its day, rivaled the Desert Rose Band and Dwight Yoakam's backing unit as the tightest pseudo-honky-tonkers in country music”
May 30, 1986 ~ Henry Mobley, commonly known as jazz, hard bop, soul jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ As a longtime associate of Horace Silver, starting on the 1955 Horace Silver & the Jazz Messengers landmark album, Mobley was considered pivotal to the development of hard bop. Praised for his laid-back, subtle tone and regarded by some critics as one of the most underrated jazz saxophonists, his sound less agressive than John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins yet neither as soft as Stan Getz and Lester Young. Mobley recorded over two dozen albums as a leader, including the acclaimed Hank Mobley Quintet and Soul Station, the latter featuring Art Blakey, Wynton Kelly, and Paul Chambers, and has appeared on albums by Stan Getz, Kenny Dorham (Afro-Cuban), Dizzy Gillespie, Doug Watkins, Lee Morgan, Kenny Burrell, Art Farmer (Farmer's Market), Jackie McLean (4 5 And 6), Kenny Drew, Curtis Fuller, Johnny Griffin (A Blowin' Session), Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd (Byrd In Flight), Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock (My Point Of View), Freddie Roach, Grant Green (I Want To Hold Your Hand), Milt Jackson, and Tete Montoliu ~ Mobley was born in 1930
May 30, 1984 ~ Indie pop, indie folk-pop singer, pianist, clavinetist, organist, songwriter Brooke Waggoner born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Self-released her Heal For The Honey debut album in 2008 and has recorded consistently since. Had her songs used on TV series such as Pretty Little Liars, Grey's Anatomy, and Army Wives. Guested on the White Stripes guitarist Jack White's Blunderbuss solo debut album. Has also guested on recordings by Kyle Andrews, Mat Kearney, Sleeping At Last, Buddy Miller, Beck, and Cody Jinks