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 4, 1954 ~ Country singer, guitarist, trumpeter, songwriter Don King, full name Donald Alan King, born in Fremont, Nebraska, USA ~ Recorded successfully from the mid 1970s until his retirement in the early 1980s. Well-known songs include I've Got You To Come Home To, She's The Girl Of My Dreams, You Were Worth Waiting For, Here Comes That Feeling Again, and The Closer You Get. Following his retirement King's touring band would decide to stay together as Sawyer Brown, and surpass King's success in terms of chart hits and sales
May 4, 1954 ~ Pia Alfreda Schipani, commonly known as actress, singer Pia Zadora, born in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA ~ Active as a child actress since the mid 1960s. Would turn to a career in music in the 1980s. Known for songs such as The Clapping Song and notably the Jermaine Jackson-duet When The Rain Begins To Fall from the soundtrack of Voyage Of The Rock Aliens. The latter single would be a modest hit in America but reach top 10 across Europe, including No.1 in Germany and the Netherlands
May 4, 1953 ~ Luis Mauricio Pragana dos Santos, commonly known as pop rock, funk rock, electro rock, progressive rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Lulu Santos, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Member of progressive rock band Vimana. Active as a solo singer since the early 1980s with well over 2 dozen albums to his name. Best known for songs such as Tesouros De Juventude, De Repente California, Tempos Modernos, Adivinha O Que and perhaps his best known Como Uma Onda
May 4, 1953 ~ Soul, gospel singer, pianist Oleta Adams, full name Oleta Angela Adams, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Discovered by Roland Orzabal who invited her to appear on Tears For Fears' next album, 1989's The Seeds Of Love. She duetted with Orzabal on the hit single Woman In Chains and the attention enabled Adams to release a debut album, Circle Of One, which garnered critical acclaim and commercial succes
May 4, 1952 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Bob Sheppard born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Billy Childs, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Steely Dan, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Scott Henderson, Lyle Mays, Peter Erskine, John Beasley, Bob Mintzer, Joni Mitchell, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew Tabackin, Chris Botti, Bill Cunliffe, Frank Macchia, Dan Siegel, Robbie Williams, Karrin Allyson, Ernestine Anderson, Kenny Barron, Jeff Beal, Walter Becker, Michael Bolton, Bob Curnow, Denise Donatelli, George Duke, Sheena Easton, Kurt Elling, Gordon Brisker, Molly Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Rickie Lee Jones, the Manhattan Transfer, Bette Midler, Dianne Reeves, Lee Ritenour, Barry Manilow, Andy Laverne, Chris Walden, and Neil YoungMay 4, 1952 ~ Singer Jacob Miller born in Mandeville, Jamaica ~ Fronted reggae outfit Inner Circle until his death in a car crash in 1980. Present on recordings such as You Make Me Feel Brand New and Everything Is Good. The band would initially split up following Miller's death but reform in later years and achieve top 10 success in UK and across Europe in the mid 1990s ~ Miller passed away in 1980
May 4, 1952 ~ Singer Monica Mancini born in Northridge, California, USA ~ Daughter of composer Henry Mancini. Listened more to the Beatles than to her father's music. Released an eponymous debut album, Monica Mancini, in 1998. Has worked with Plácido Domingo, Quincy Jones, and with Michael Jackson
May 4, 1951 ~ Harold West, commonly known as jazz, R&B drummer Doc West, passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Active since the late 1930s. Worked with Tiny Parham, Erskine Tate, Roy Eldridge, Chick Webb, Hot Lips Page, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Tiny Grimes, Don Byas, Oscar Pettiford, Slam Stewart, Leo Watson, Wardell Gray, Billie Holiday, Erroll Garner, Big Joe Turner, and Jay McShann ~ West was born in 1915
May 4, 1951 ~ Singer Jackie Jackson born in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Jackson 5, singing co-lead on songs such as I Want You Back, ABC, and Enjoy Yourself. Remained with the band through the name-change to the Jacksons, co-writing their perhaps best known hit Can You Feel It and singing lead on songs such as Wait and Torture
May 4, 1950 ~ Hard rock, folk rock singer, guitarist Chris Bradford, full name Christopher Michael Bradford, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Formed Bardot with Ray McRiner and Laurie Andrew, a trio critically compared to Crosby Stills & Nash and the Eagles and known for the 1978 Rockin' In Rhythm album. Fronted the Heroes, known for their sole Border Raiders album released in 1980. Bradford has also written or co-written songs for Kit Hain, Kiki Dee, Dr Feelgood, Lene Lovich, Greg Lake, and notably for Sweet's Andy Scott including Krugerrands, Invisible, and Let Her Dance
May 4, 1950 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Darryl Hunt, full name Darryl Gatwick Hunt, born in Hampshire, UK ~ Best known as bassist of the Pogues, joining in 1986 as replacement for Cait O'Riordan and remaining with the band through 1996. Wrote the track Love You Till The End of the 1996 Pogue Mahone album ~ Hunt passed away in 2022May 4, 1949 ~ Country singer, songwriter Stella Parton, full name Stella Mae Parton, born in Sevlerville, Tennessee, USA ~ Sister of singers Randy Parton and Dolly Parton. Best known for her 1975 hit I Want To Hold You In My Dreams. Other well known songs include Danger Of A Stranger and Standard Lie Number One
May 4, 1949 ~ Alistair Macdonald Cleminson, commonly known as hard rock, blues rock, glam rock guitarist, singer Zal Cleminson born in Glasgow, UK ~ Best known as a member of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, backing Alex Harvey from 1972 through 1978. Has also worked with Nazareth, Tear Gas, the Bo-Weavels, the Zal Band, Elkie Brooks, Midge Ure, Bonnie Tyler, and Tandoori CassetteMay 4, 1948 ~ Singer, songwriter, label executive Tim Dubois, full name James Timothy Dubois, born in Grove, Oklahoma, USA ~ Label executive associated with Arista Records and Universal South Records. As a songwriter best known for co-penning Love In The First Degree, a smash hit for Alabama in 1981
May 4, 1945 ~ Jazz, pop, rock guitarist Georg Wadenius, also known as Georg Jojje Wadenius, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Co-founding member of Made In Sweden and Solar Plexus. After relocating to America, Wadenius would rise to international fame as lead guitarist of Blood Sweat & Tears from 1972 through 1975, present on the albums New Blood, No Sweat, Mirror Image, New City, and In Concert. To American audiences, Wadenius is also well known as a member of the Saturday Night Live Band from 1979 through 1985. Wadenius has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader, starting with Goda Goda in 1969, and was an in-demand touring and session guitarist prior to, during and after his tenure with Blood Sweat & Tears. Over the course of his career, Wadenius has appeared on albums by the likes of Pugh Rogefeldt, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Pekka Pohjola, Grace Slick, Luther Vandross (Never Too Much), Steely Dan (Gold), Fonzi Thornton, the Weather Girls, Dionne Warwick, Michael Franks, Jeffrey Osborne, Johnny Gill, Lisa Fischer, Keith Washington, Tom Chapin (Billy The Squid), Ronnie Cuber (The Scene Is Clean), Donald Fagen, Dr John, Eric Bibb, Jon Lucien, the Backstreet Boys (Millenium), and Jason Miles ~ Wadenius passed away in 2026May 4, 1942 ~ Conductor, music director, pianist Enrique Bátiz Campbell born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Best known as founding conductor of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra, which apart from a stint with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra during the 1980s he conducted from the early 1970s until his retirement for medical reasons in 2018. As a pianist, Bátiz has also made numerous recordings, including of symphonies by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the complete orchestral works of Joaquín Rodrigo. Either in concert or on recordings, Bátiz has also conducted orchestras such as the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic ~ Bátiz passed away in 2025
May 4, 1942 ~ Pop, R&B singer, songwriter Nickolas Ashford born in Fairfield, South Carolina, USA ~ Formed the husband-wife songwriter, producer and recording duo Ashford & Simpson with Valerie Simpson. The duo had teamed up with Jo Armstead, writing a number of hits for the Scepter/Wand label in the mid 1960s including for Ronnie Milsap, Maxine Brown (One Step At A Time), the Shirelles, Chuck Jackson, Ray Charles (Let's Go Get Stoned). Joined Motown in 1966 as a songwriting duo, for whom they penned classics such as Ain't No Mountain High Enough for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell and Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand for Diana Ross. In later years the duo would also write for other labels, notably Chaka Khan (I'm Every Woman), Stephanie Mills, and Teddy Pendergrass. As recording artists the duo is best known for Solid, a top 20 Billboard hit, a top 10 hit across Europe in 1984 ~ Ashford passed away in 2011May 4, 1941 ~ Violinist, singer David LaFlamme born in New Britain, Connecticut, USA ~ Worked with the Orkustra and Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks. Best known for founding and fronting It's A Beautiful Day, which also included his wife Linda LaFlamme. The band is best known for White Bird of their eponymous 1969 It's A Beautiful Day debut album. After the group disbanded in 1972 LaFlamme has recorded as a solo artist ~ LaFlamme passed away in 2023
May 4, 1940 ~ Ronald Bullis, commonly known as drummer Ronnie Bond, born in Andover, UK ~ Original drummer for the Troggs, remaining with the band through 1968. The band has been critically described as the progenitors of punk, influential on Iggy Pop and the Ramones. Bond is present on all of the band's best known including the UK top 10 hits Wild Thing, With A Girl Like You, I Can't Control Myself, Any Way That You Want Me, and Love Is All Around ~ Bullis passed away in 1992
May 4, 1939 ~ Saxophonist Charles Owens born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ In-demand sideman. Has recorded a handful of albums as a leader, notably 1978's Two Quartets. Has worked with Buddy Rich, Mongo Santamaria, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Bryant, Paul Humphrey, Diana Ross, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Lorez Alexandria, Patrice Rushen, Gerald Wilson, James Newton, Horace Tapscott, Mercer Ellington, Buddy Childers, and Miles Davis
May 4, 1937 ~ Richard Anthony Monsour, commonly known as guitarist Dick Dale born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of the Surf Guitar”, known for songs such as Let's Go Tripping, Jungle Fever, Surf Beat, Secret Surfing Spot, Pipeline, and Misirlou ~ Monsour passed away in 2019
May 4, 1937 ~ Bassist, cellist Ron Carter born in Ferndale, Michigan, USA ~ One of the all-time most gifted and influential jazz bassists. Over 50 albums as leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for albums such as Uptown Conversation, Alone Together with Jim Hall, Piccolo, and Telephone. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Miles Davis (Round About Midnight), Benny Carter, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Don Ellis (How Time Passes), Coleman Hawkins, Eric Dolphy (Out There), Yusef Lateef, Randy Weston, Booker Little, Wes Montgomery, Sam Jones, Jaki Byard, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams (Life Time), Jack McDuff, Kenny Burrell, Charles Lloyd, Wayne Shorter, Stanley Turrentine, Shirley Scott (On A Clear Day), Oliver Nelson, Sam Rivers, the CTI All-Stars, and VSOP
May 4, 1935 ~ Jazz pianist Don Friedman, full name Donald Ernest Friedman, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ First appeared on the West Coast scene in 1956, playing with the likes of Dexter Gordon, Shorty Rogers, Buddy DeFranco, and the then-unknown Ornette Coleman. Friedman would relocate to New York, where he became an in-demand pianist, both as a leader and a sideman working with artists such as Pepper Adams, Booker Little, Jimmy Giuffre, Atilla Zoller, Chuck Wayne, and Clark Terry. Friedman remained active until his death at age 81, recording some 50 albums as a leader starting with the acclaimed A Day In The City (Jazz Variations On A Theme) released in 1961, though despite earning critical acclaim he never became a household name ~ Friedman passed away in 2016
May 4, 1931 ~ Gennady Nikolayevich Anosov, commonly known as conductor Gennnady Rozhdestvensky, born in Moscow, Russia ~ Son of conductor Nikolai Anosov and soprano Natalya Rozhdestvesnkaya. Closely associated with the Bolshoi Theatre, starting at age 20 conducting Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Would go on to conduct works such as Edison Denisov's Les Soleil Des Incas, Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Dmitri Shostakovich's Fourth Symphony. Has worked with renowned orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra ~ Rozhdestvensky passed away in 2018
May 4, 1931 ~ Jazz trumpeter Richard Williams, full name Richard Gene Williams, born in Galveston, Texas, USA ~ Closely associated with Charles Mingus, including performing with Mingus at the 1959 Newport Jazz festival and appearing on albums such as Mingus Ah Uhm and The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady. Other notable collaborations include Leo Wright, Booker Ervin, Gigi Gryce (Sayin' Somethin'), Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Randy Weston (Uhuru Afrika), Yusef Lateef, Freddie Hubbard, Red Garland, Jimmy Smith, Archie Shepp, Ruth Brown, Mose Allison, Aretha Franklin (Soul '69), Thad Jones, Charles Earland, Charles Tolliver, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk ~ Williams passed away in 1985