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 5, 1981 ~ Pop, R&B, UK garage, hip-hop singer, songwriter Craig David, full name Craig Ashley David, born in Southampton, UK ~ First gained attention in 1999 as featured vocalist on Artful Dodger's Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) hit single. Released his full-length Born To Do It the next year and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Best known for songs such as Fill Me In, 7 Days, Rise & Fall feat Sting, All The Way, Don't Love You No More, When The Bassline Drops featuring Big Narstie, and I Know You featuring Bastille. Has also collaborated with Tinchy Stryder, Kano, and Jay Sean
May 5, 1981 ~ Rock, heartland rock, roots rock singer, guitarist Tom Petty releases his Hard Promises album ~ The second of four albums co-produced by Jimmy Iovine, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 200. Hard Promises also cracked the UK top 40, a first for Tom Petty. Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks duets on the album track Insider. Petty and his backing unit the Heartbreakers in turn guested on Nicks' Stop Draggin' My Heart Around off her Bella Donna solo album, recorded around the same timeMay 5, 1979 ~ Martin Hosselton, commonly known as glam metal guitarist, bassist, singer Martin Sweet, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Rose to prominence as lead guitarist of Crashdiet, known for songs such as Riot In Everyone, Knokk 'Em Down, Breakin' The Chainz and It's A Miracle. Has also worked with Gemini Five, Sister, and with Sweet Creature
May 5, 1977 ~ Jazz bandleader, clarinetist, violinist, percussionist Sam Lanin, full name Samuel Charles Lanin, passed away in Hollywood, Florida, USA ~ First gained attention as a member of Victor Herbert's orchestra, backing Herbert from 1912 through the end of World War I. Following his departure from the orchestra, Lanin relocated to New York, where he established himself as one of the most prolific bandleaders of the 1920s, one of the first to be heard over the airwaves, and directing over an estimated 400 sessions for nearly every label through the end of the decade. Lanin only occasionally played himself, but is best remembered for recognizing young talent. Sidemen who have played in Lanin's numerous ensembles include Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy McPartland, Bix Beiderbecke, Nick Lucas, Frankie Trumbauer, and a young Bing Crosby. The 1929 stock market crash would hit Lanin heard, and he would lose a sponsorship deal and his radio show, after which his fame gradually waned. Lanin retired from music altogether from the music industry by the late 1930s ~ Lanin was born in 1891
May 5, 1976 ~ Violinist Corinne Chapelle born in California, USA ~ Child prodigy. Took up violin lessons at age 2 and gave her first public performance one year later. Studied with Yehudi Menuhin who called her “one of the most promising talents of her generation.” Received numerous awards. Has worked with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, and the Kölner Symphonie ~ Chapelle passed away in 2021May 5, 1976 ~ Tony Cottrell, commonly known as hip-hop rapper, producer Hi-Tek born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Son of singer Willie Cottrell. Closely associated with rapper Talib Kweli. Member of hip-hop group MOOD. Has also worked with Mos Def, Common, 50 Cent, Morcheeba, D12, Soulive, Beanie Sigel, Kurious, Anderson Paak, Lloyd Banks, Xzibit, and Snoop Dogg
May 5, 1976 ~ Guitarist, sound engineer Jeremy Ward born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Best known as sound technician for the Mars Volta. Also worked with dub outfit De-Facto and At The Drive-in. Died of a heroin overdose a month before the release of 2003s De-loused In The Comatorium, a wake-up call for Volta members Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez Lopez to quit using heroin ~ Ward passed away in 2003
May 5, 1975 ~ R&B singer, actress Marva Hicks, full name Marva Denise Hicks, born in Petersburg, Virginia, USA ~ Best known for Never Been In Love Before of her 1991 eponymous Marva Hicks album, the single reaching top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts. Other charting singles included One Good Reason and I Got You Where I Want. Would go on to become an in-demand backing singer for acts such as Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. As the 90s progressed Hicks would focus on her acting career, portraying roles in action movies and TV series such as LA Law and Star Trek Voyager, voicing over animated characters often including singing, and performing in the theatre in musical plays including productions of The Lion King, Motown The Musical and The Wiz both off and on Broadway ~ Hicks passed away in 2022
May 5, 1975 ~ R&B, neo soul singer, songwriter Raheem DeVaughn born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Released his The Love Experience debut album in 2005, spawning the singles Who Loves You More and You, and has recorded steadily to critical acclaim since. Best known for Woman and Customer, both reaching top 20 on Billboard's R&B charts and both taken of his 2007 The Love Behind The Melody 2007 sophomore albumMay 5, 1974 ~ Metal guitarist Jens Fredrik Ryland born in Narvik, Norway ~ Best known as member of progressive metal band Borknagar from 1997 through 2003 but has joined them on-stage on occasion since. Has also worked with Vortex and is known as founder of the annual Inferno Festival, involved in its organization the first two years
May 5, 1972 ~ Metal singer, guitarist, keyboardist Devin Townsend, full name Devin Garrett Townsend, born in New Westminster, Canada ~ Co-founding member, singer, guitarist, primary songwriter of extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad. Drew comparisons to Robert Fripp and Frank Zappa. Also worked with Steve Vai (Sex & Religion), the Casualties Of Cool, Front Line Assembly, Revamp, and Lamb of God
May 5, 1965 ~ Rock, punk rock, hard rock bassist, singer Bianca Halstead, also known as Bianca Butthole, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Bassist and lead singer of punk band Butt Trumpet and the all-female hard rock outfit Betty Blowtorch. Killed in a car accident when she accepted a ride from a drunk driver. A substance abuse center in Los Angeles, opened in 2008, was named the Bianca Center For Substance Abuse in her honor ~ Halstead passed away in 2001May 5, 1965 ~ British pop group the Hollies record I'm Alive at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Clint Ballard Jr. Produced by Ron Richards. The band would first pass the song over to another Manchester band, the Toggery Five, before changing their minds. Released later the same month, featuring You Know He Did on the flip side, it would become the band's first UK No.1 hit
May 5, 1964 ~ Guitarist, songwriter, producer Olivier Libaux born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France ~ Founded rock band Les Objets with Jérôme Rousseaux in 1989, known for their 1989 La Normalité and 1994 Qui Est Qui albums. Would go on to become an in-demand collaborator working with the likes of Carla Bruni, Alex Gopher, Dominique Dalan, Jean-François Coen, and Helena Noguerra. Released his L'Heroine Au Bain solo debut album in 2003. Also known for founding Nouvelle Vague, covering punk and new wave songs in a bossa nova style usually employing young female lead singers most of whom did not know the original versions ~ Libaux passed away in 2021May 5, 1961 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Flavio Boltro born in Turin, Italy ~ Worked with the RAI Symphonic Orchestra, Steve Grossman, Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Jordan, Jimmy Cobb, Bob Berg, Dave Liebman, Don Cherry, Manu Roche, Joe Lovano, Stefano di Battiste, Michel Petrucciani, Eric Legnini, Benjamin Henocq, Rosario Bonaccorso, Michel Portal, Laurent de Wilde, Giovanni Mirabassi, Glenn Ferris, Gino Paoli, and Daryl Hall
May 5, 1959 ~ Steven Bruce Schneider, commonly known as ock, hard rock, glam metal, pop rock guitarist, songwriter Steve Stevens born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with the Neurotic Outsiders-bandmate Billy Idol including on the pivotal 1980s albums Billy Idol, Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile. Awarded a Grammy Award for his lead guitar on Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem of the 1986 Top Gun film. Active as a solo artist since the mid-1980s. In-demand collaborator and session musician including for artists such as the Cars' Ric Ocasek, Michael Jackson (Bad), Robert Palmer, Juno Reactor, Peter Criss, and Sebastian Bach. Co-founded supergroup Bozzio Levin Stevens with drummer Terry Bozzio and bassist Tony Levin
May 5, 1955 ~ Blues harpist, guitarist, singer Billy Boy Arnold records I Wish You Would at Universal Recording Studio, Chicago, Illinois ~ Widely regarded as a timeless Chicago blues classic. Self-penned, originating from Arnold's Diddy Diddy Dum Dum from the time Arnold played with Bo Diddley. The song Diddy incorporates a Diddley style rhythm and would also serve as the basis for Diddley's Diddley Daddy recorded less than two weeks later. Billy Boy Arnold would released his single the following June, backed on the recording by Jody Williams on guitar, Milton Rector bass, Earl Phillips drums. The song would be covered by a number of artists, including the Yardbirds who would use it for their 1964 debut singleMay 5, 1955 ~ Francis Michael Chennesky, commonly known as singer, actor Frankie Michaels, born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ Child actor, singer known for being the youngest Tony Award winner ever, winning the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Patrick Dennis in the original production of Mame at age 10 ~ Chernesky passed away in 2016
May 5, 1955 ~ Guitarist, singer, producer, actor, director Richard Mazda born ~ Founding member of acclaimed yet shortlived mod bands the Tours and subsequently the Cosmetics. Would go on to become staff producer of IRS Records, working with pivotal punk, punk rock, new wave acts such as the Fall, the Birthday Party, Wall Of Voodoo, the Fleshtones, Tom Robinson, the Suburban Lawns, and the Scientists. Would later venture into R&B producing albums for the Average White Band, Neneh Cherry and Ultra Naté
May 5, 1949 ~ Cornelis Jan Kalis, commonly known as rock, pop drummer Cees Kalis, born in Voorburg, the Netherlands ~ Worked with the Running Tides, future Gruppo Sportivo guitarist Hans Vandenburg and with the Soul before co-founding Earth & Fire. Would leave the band after recording the Dutch top 10 hit Ruby Is The One in 1970 to complete his college education, succeeded by Ton van der Kleij. Kalis would eventually become a school teacher and only play occasionally as a hobby ~ Kalis passed away in 2006
May 5, 1949 ~ Avant-garde saxophonist, clarinetist, guitarist Kaoru Abe born in Kawasaki, Japan ~ Influential alto saxophonist who performed extensively from age 17 onwards though he has released some solo recordings. Has collaborated with Motoharu Yoshizawa, Takehisa Kosugi, Yosuke Yamashita, Derek Bailey, Milford Graves. Portrayed by punk rock singer Ko Machida in the 1997 The Endless Waltz film ~ Abe passed away in 1978
May 5, 1949 ~ Jay Randall Sandke, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, guitarist Randy Sandke born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Invited to join Janis Joplin's backing band but throat problems kept him from performing and would later switch to guitar. Has subsequently worked with the Nighthawks Orchestra, Bob Wilber, Benny Goodman, Susannah McCorkle, Harry Allen, Peanuts Hucko, Geoff Muldaur, Frank Vignola, and John PizzarelliMay 5, 1947 ~ Singer, songwriter Robin McNamara born in Newton, Massachusetts, USA ~ One-hit wonder known for Lay A Little Lovin' On Me, a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit in 1970. Had previously played the lead role of Claude in a Broadway production of the musical Hair ~ McNamara passed away in 2021
May 5, 1946 ~ Post-bop trumpeter, arranger, composer Jack Walrath, full name Jack Arthur Walrath, born in Stuart, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his associations with Ray Charles, Gary Peacock, Charles Mingus. Has also worked with Glenn Ferris, John Hicks, Pee Wee Ellis, Miles Davis. Had his compositions performed and recorded by Hamiet Bluiett, Red Rodney, Cecil Brooks III, Ray Mantilla, Hank Jones, and Zé Eduardo
May 5, 1943 ~ Beat drummer Gerry Freeman, full name Gerald Ernest Freeman, born in Solihull, UK ~ Member of the Applejacks, known for a number of mid 1960s singles including Like Dreamers Do penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Three Little Words and the UK top 10 hit Tell Me When. The band was also the first to record I Go To Sleep, written by the Kinks singer Ray Davies. Others who have recorded the song include Cher on her 1965 All I Really Want To Do solo debut album, Peggy Lee, the Pretenders, Graham Bonnet, and Soulwax