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 31, 1978 ~ Anti-folk, indie rock singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Anna Ternheim born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Writing and performing since her early teens. Released her full-length Somebody Outside debut album in 2004. Best known for songs such as To Be Gone, My Secret, Girl Laying Down and Today Is A Good Day
May 31, 1977 ~ Alternative rock, post-hardcore drummer Chris Pennie born ~ Best known as member of progressive rock band Coheed & Cambria and co-founder of mathcore outfit the Dillinger Escape Plan. Has also worked with Return To Earth, Idiot Pilot, the Armed, Joseph A Peragine, and Greg Puciato
May 31, 1977 ~ Danny Polfliet, commonly known as pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Danny Vera, born in Middelburg, the Netherlands ~ First gained attention in the late 1990s as frontman of Till Dawn. Released his For The Light In Your Eyes solo debut album in 2003. Had Chris Isaak guest on his 2005 Hold On A While album. Had James Burton guest on his 2013 Distant Rumble album. Best known for Rollercoaster, a hit in the Netherlands in 2019
May 31, 1975 ~ In its 18th week on the charts, Before The Next Teardrop Falls by Freddy Fender hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Ben Peters and Vivian Keith, the song would first be recorded by Duane Dee, whose single reached No.44 Billboard Country in 1968, and by several others including Linda Martell and notably Jerry Lee Lewis for his 1969 Another Place Another Time album. However, the song would become most closely associated with Freddy Fender who initially wasn't that thrilled with the song. Urged on by producer Huey P Meaux, Fender reluctantly recorded the song and it became his breakout hit. The single reached No.1 on both the Billboard Country and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts. As to his initial reluctance, Fender has been quoted as saying: “The recording only took a few minutes. I was glad to get it over with and I thought that would be the last of it”
May 31, 1973 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist, banjoist, bassist, keyboardist Adam Gardner, full name Adam Seth Gardner, born in New Jersey, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead singer for alternative rock outfit Guster, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums since the mid 1990s including the acclaimed Keep It Together released in 2003. Member of side project the LeeVees with Dave Schneider of the Zambonis, known for their 2005 Hanukkah Rocks album. Gardner and his wife also founded the non-profit company Reverb, helping bands and concert organizers reduce their carbon footprint
May 31, 1972 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion bassist, singer, songwriter Christian McBride born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Appears on over 300 recordings as a sideman. Worked with Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, the Five Piece Band, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Sting, Paul McCartney, Céline Dion, Isaac Hayes, the Roots, Queen Latifah, Renée Fleming, Carly Simon, Bruce Hornsby, and James BrownMay 31, 1972 ~ Industrial, techno singer Hanin Elias born in Wittlich, West Germany ~ Member of Atari Teenage Riot, known for fusing left-wing, anarchist and anti-fascist views with punk vocals and a techno sound. Elias has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the Parfum EP released in 1992, and guested on recordings by Pigface
May 31, 1971 ~ The 2nd edition of Pinkpop takes place in Geleen, the Netherlands ~ Sunny and hot, some 16,000 visitors show up for this edition's bill which includes Fleetwood Mac, Hardin & York, Shocking Blue, Focus, Forest, CCC Inc, Supersister, and Brainbox
May 31, 1968 ~ Film composer, pianist, conductor Giovanni Fusco passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Brother of composer Tarcisio Fusco. Married to pianist Adriana Dante, their daughter being the acclaimed operatic soprano Cecilia Fusco. Has composed numerous film scores, notably Cronacio Di Un Amore, Mon Amour, L'Avventura and La Guerre Est Finie ~ Fusco was born in 1906
May 31, 1967 ~ Jazz pianist, songwriter Billy Strayhorn, full name William Thomas Strayhorn, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with Duke Ellington. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Take The A-Train, Chelsea Bridge, A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing and Lush Life ~ Strayhorn was born in 1915May 31, 1967 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Eric Revis born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Rose to prominence in the 1990s backing singer Betty Carter. Has since worked with Branford Marsalis, JD Allen, Orrin Evans, Russell Gunnn, Ralph Peterson Jr, Avishai Cohen, Winard Harper, Delfeayao Marsalis, Raul Midón, and Jeff Tain-Watts. Recording as a leader since the mid 2000s
May 31, 1966 ~ Mark Denis Lizotte, commonly known as rock, blues singer, guitarist Diesel, born in Fall River, Massachusetts, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Johnny Diesel & the Injectors released in 1989 which spawned the Australian top 10 hits Don't Need Love, Soul Revival, Cry In Shame. Subsequent hits include Please Send Me Someone To Love, Come To Me, All Come Together. Has frequently guested on albums by his brother-in-law Jimmy Barnes
May 31, 1965 ~ Willie Perry Jr, commonly known as DJ, hype man DJ Casper, also referred to as Mr C The Slide Man, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Earned the moniker “Casper”, as in the fictional character Casper the Friendly Ghost from the animated cartoon series of the same name, for regularly appearing on stage in all-white attire. Best known for his 2004 single Cha Cha Slide, which became a hit in Chicago. The song would gain wider attention after Perry appeared as a DJ in an episode of Orange Is The New Black, with prisoners and guards line dancing to the song ~ Perry passed away in 2023May 31, 1965 ~ Pop, rock drummer Steve White, full name Steven Douglas White, born in London, UK ~ Closely associated with Paul Weller, appearing on numerous of Weller's solo albums notably on Wild Wood and Stanley Road as well as on all albums by the Style Council. Has also worked with the Players, Jon Lord, Chad Smith, the Trio Valore, and the Family Silver
May 31, 1964 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Carl Petter Opsahl born in Oslo, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Caledonia Jazzband, the All-Star Brass Band, Soulfood, Christian Frank, Bjorn Olufsen, Willert Krohn Hansen, Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag, Tord Gustavsen, Asmund Reistad, Jon Christensen, and Zotora
May 31, 1964 ~ Rapper Darryl McDaniels, also known as DMC, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Pioneered hip-hop culture. Co-founded hugely influential hip-hop group Run-DMC with Joseph Simmons and Jam Master Jay, known for It's Like That, My Adidas, You Be Illin', Down With The King and the Aerosmith-cover Walk This Way, the latter one of the first hip-hop songs to incorporate elements of rockMay 31, 1963 ~ Singer, actor, producer Hugh Dillon born in Kingston, Canada ~ Lead singer of punk-infused outfit the Headstones best known for Cubically Contained which reached the Canadian top 20 in 1997. After the band disbanded in 2003 Dillon formed the indie rock band the Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir, drawing from country, pop, punk and new wave
May 31, 1963 ~ Hardcore punk guitarist John Berry born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founded the Beastie Boys with Adam Yauch and Kate Schellenbach. Came up with the band's name. Berry departed the band in 1982, prior to their rise to fame, and would be succeedeed by Adam Horovitz ~ Berry passed away in 2016
May 31, 1962 ~ Pop, rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Corey Hart, full name Corey Mitchell Hart, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Best known for the mid-1980s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Sunglasses At Night and Never Surrender. Has continued to record consistently since, the singles It Ain't Enough, Everything In My Heart, In Your Soul, A Little Love, Black Cloud Rain, and Another December all reaching top 10 in his native Canada
May 31, 1955 ~ Composer, pianist, author Bruce Adolphe born in New York, New York, USA ~ Had his compositions performed by the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, the Beaux Arts Trio, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Washington National Opera, the latter notably premiering the one-act opera Let Freedom Sing (The Story Of Marian Anderson) in 2009. Adolphe has also authored several books on music and performs a weekly “Piano Puzzler” on Performance Today, the most listened-to classical music program in the United StatesMay 31, 1955 ~ William Thomas Emmanuel, commonly known as guitar, singer, songwriter Tommy Emmanuel, born in Muswellbrook, Australia ~ Guitar virtuoso admired by peers, critics and fans for his eclectic stylistic range, fingerpicking technique, ernergetic stage presence and overall virtuosity. Actively recording since the 1970s. Has collaborated with Bill Wyman, Arthur Blanch, Daryl Braithwaite, Rodney Crowell, Doyle Dykes, John Farnham, Al Perkins, Joscho Stephan, Marty Stuart, and Chet Atkins
May 31, 1954 ~ Pop, R&B, disco singer Vicki Sue Robinson born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Best known for her 1976 disco hit Turn The Beat Around. Had previously worked as a stage actress, singer debuting on Broadway performing in the original 1970 production of Hair at age 16. Also played in the 1973 cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. Sang backup on Todd Rundgren's acclaimed 1972 Something/Anything album. Robinson would spend most of the 1980s recording as a solo artist, jingle singer, and as a session backing vocalist, notably on Irene Cara's 1980 hit Fame, as well as with artists such as Michael Bolton and Cher ~ Robinson passed away in 2000
May 31, 1953 ~ Pop singer Bunny Walters, full name Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters, born in Katikati, New Zealand ~ Scored a number of hits in New Zealand during the 1970s, often covers of international hits. Well known releases include Just Out Of Reach, Brandy, Take The Money And Run, Home Isn't Home Anymore, and Quando Quando ~ Walters passed away in 2016
May 31, 1952 ~ James Douglas Vallance, commonly known as drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, arranger, producer Jim Vallance or Rodney Higgs, born in Chilliwack, Canada ~ Original drummer for rock outfit Prism, present on the band's eponymous Prism album released in 1977. Best known for his association with Bryan Adams, co-writing a significant amount of the singer's songs including Cuts Like A Knife, The Best Was Yet To Come, Heaven, Summer Of '69, and It's Only Love, the latter recorded as a duet with Tina Turner. Others who recorded songs co-written by Vallance include Toronto, Kiss, Ted Nugent, 38 Special, Neil Diamond, Anne Murray, Glass Tiger, Aerosmith (Rag Doll), Joe Cocker (When The Night Comes), Ozzy Osbourne, and Taylor HicksMay 31, 1951 ~ Singer Tony Bennett records Cold Cold Heart at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York, New York ~ Written and first recorded by country singer Hank Williams, who released the song earlier the same year. Due to the popularity of Tony Bennett's pop version, both Williams and country music would gain exposure among a wider audience. Bennett's pop rendition, featuring a light orchestral arrangement by Percy Faith, would be one of only three Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits for Bennett, the others being Because Of You earlier the same year and Rags To Riches in 1953