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, 1942 ~ Alec Woodburn, commonly known as saxophonist, harmonica player, singer Jim King, born in Kettering, UK ~ Founded the Farinas in 1962 with Charlie Whitney. The band would eventually change their name to the Family. King would appear on the band's first two albums, Music In A Doll House and Family Entertainment, before departing the band in 1969. King has since sessioned for the likes of Dave Mason and Gordon Jackson, briefly played with jazz-rock outfit Ring Of Truth, and has mostly performed as a solo artist playing jazz-tinged classical saxophone ~ Woodburn passed away in 2012
May 5, 1942 ~ Virginia Wynette Pugh, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Tammy Wynette born in Tremont, Mississippi, USA ~ One of country's best known and best-selling female artists. Dubbed “the First Lady of Country Music” and along with Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson and Dolly Parton credited with having defined the role of women in country. Best known for her late 1960s recording Stand By Your Man. Married to country singer George Jones from 1969 to 1975, with whom she recorded a number of well-charting duets. ~ Wynette passed away in 1998
May 5, 1941 ~ Singer David Walker born in Washington DC, USA ~ Original member of traditional gospel group the Mighty Clouds Of Joy, alongside Johnny Martin, Ermant Franklin Jr, Elmo Franklin, Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and Joe Ligon. Also recorded secular music under the moniker Bunker Hill, of which 1962's Hide & Go Seek featuring guitarist Link Wray became a novelty hit. Despite hiding his identity he was found out and asked to leave the Clouds ~ Walker passed away in 1986May 5, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter Jerry Riopelle born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Mixed rock, country, jazz, R&B and hard rock. Played drums for the Hollywood Argyles. Staff writer, producer at Phil Spector's Philles Records label. Also worked at A&M Records and at Irving Music. As a songwriter had his work recorded by artists such as Brewer & Shipley, We Five, Shango, Leon Russell, Herb Alpert, Kenny Loggins, Rita Coolidge, and Meat Loaf ~ Riopelle passed away in 2018
May 5, 1941 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist Roy Phillips, full name Roy Godfrey Phillips, born in Parkstone, UK ~ Lead singer, organist of jazz and soul trio the Peddlers, which during its heyday also included bassist Tab Martin and drummer Trevor Morais. The trio issued their Live At The Pickwick debut album in 1966, and scored two hits in their native UK around the turn of the decade, Birth peaking at No.17, while its follow-up Girlie peaked at No.34. The latter would be a No.1 hit in New Zealand, where the trio would later score the top 20 hits Honey Come Back and Tell The World We're Not In. Following the trio's disbandement after about a decade together, Phillips issued his Mr Peddler solo debut album in 1976. Phillips would continue to record and perform to moderate success, mostly in New Zealand, his adopted home since the early 1980s ~ Phillips passed away in 2025May 5, 1941 ~ Jazz pianist Stanley Cowell born in Toledo, Ohio, USA ~ Co-founder of Strata East Records label. Cowell played with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Marion Brown, Max Roach, Bobby Hutcherson, Clifford Jordan, Harold Land, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Gary Bartz, Larry Coryell, Richard Davis, Sonny Fortune, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Heath, the Heath Brothers, Johnny Griffin, JJ Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Art Pepper, Charles Sullivan, Buddy Terry, and Charles Tolliver ~ Cowell passed away in 2020
May 5, 1941 ~ Blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist, hornist Victor Brox born in Ashton-under-Lyne, UK ~ Fronted the Victor Brox Blues Train. Named “favorite white blues singer” by Jimi Hendrix. Best known for his performance as Caiaphas on the original 1970 recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. Has collaborated with numerous artists including Eric Clapton, Ritchie Blackmore, Graham Bond, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, Keith Moon, and Aynsley Dunbar, notably singing lead and playing keyboards and organ in the latter's late 1960s blues, rock band the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation. Brox also appeared as a Leonardo da Vinci look-alike in the 1998 Ever After film ~ Brox passed away in 2023
May 5, 1940 ~ Composer, songwriter, singer Lucy Simon, full name Lucy Elizabeth Simon, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Sister of mezzo-soprano Joanna Simon and soft rock, folk rock singer Carly Simon. Formed the sibling duo Simon Sisters with the latter, recording three albums starting with the 1964 album Meet The Simon Sisters which would include the minor hit Winkin' Blinkin' And Nod. Simon would release two solo albums in the 1970s, Lucy Simon and Stolen Time, but is perhaps best remembered for writing the score for the musicals The Secret Garden and Doctor Zhivago, which premiered respectively in 1991 and 2011 ~ Simon passed away in 2022
May 5, 1938 ~ Veronica Loretta Stoneman, commonly known as banjoist, actress, comedian Roni Stoneman, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Dubbed “the First Lady of Banjo”. Daughter of guitarist Ernest Stoneman, one of the earliest country music stars. Member of family outfit the Stonemans for over a decade, with whom she has performed at the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Grand Ole Opry. Stoneman is especially known as a cast member of the Hee Haw country music variety TV show for nearly two decades starting in the early 1970s. While she occasionally picked banjo and sang on the show, it was her comedic talent that garnered more attention, specifically in the character of Ida Lee Nagger. As a musician, Stoneman continued to perform into the 2020s, either as a solo artist or with her sister mandolinist Donna Stoneman ~ Stoneman passed away in 2024
May 5, 1937 ~ Blues singer Sonny Boy Williamson I records Good Morning Little Schoolgirl in Aurora, Illinois ~ One of the, possibly the first recorded version of what was to become a blues standard. Released later the same year, paired with Sugar Mama Boy on the flip side. Recorded during Sonny Boy Williamson I's first session for Bluebirds Records, featuring Big Joe Williams and Robert Nighthawk on guitars, Williamson's rendition would eventually become widely regarded as highly influential. Covered by numerous artists, including John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, the Grateful Dead, and Ten Years After
May 5, 1936 ~ Sanford Irving Beresofsky, commonly known as actor, singer, songwriter Sandy Baron, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as an actor for stage, making his Broadway debut in the 1962 romantic comedy Tchin-Tchin, TV and film. Has occasionally written music including co-writing Adam Wade's 1962 The Writing On The Wall Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit and Lou Rawls' 1971 top 20 hit A Natural Man ~ Beresofsky passed away in 2001
May 5, 1935 ~ Edward Jordan, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Kidd Jordan, born in Crowley, Louisiana, USA ~ Active since the mid 1950s, backing blues and R&B artists such as Guitar Slim, Ray Charles, Big Maybelle, and Choker Campbell. Would go on to work with a wide array of artists in genres ranging from avant-garde to pop and rock, including William Parker, Archie Shepp, Ornette Coleman, Stevie Wonder, and Cecil Taylor. Later on in his career has also recorded as a leader or co-leader, noted for his 2006 Palm Of Soul album. To rock audiences perhaps best known for appearing on the REM-album Out Of Time released in 1991 ~ Jordan passed away in 2023
May 5, 1934 ~ John Henry Cannon, commonly known as rock & roll, rockabilly singer, saxophonist Ace Cannon, born in Grenada, Mississippi, USA ~ Toured and recorded with labelmate Bill Black's combo in the 1950s. The combo in turn backed Cannon on his 1961 Tuff debut single, which would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100. Cannon would record prolifically for the next three decades, but rarely released singles and would not repeat the smash success of his debut single ~ Cannon passed away in 2018
May 5, 1934 ~ Doo-wop, gospel, R&B, singer Johnnie Taylor, full name Johnnie Harrison Taylor, born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, USA ~ Earned the nickname “the Philosopher of Soul” after moving to Stax/Volt in the mid 1960s. Probably best remembered for Disco Lady off his 1976 Eargasm album. Disco Lady would become the first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit with the word “disco” in the title. Taylor had been active since the 1950s, notably as a member of gospel outfit the Highway QC's including on Somewhere To Lay My Head, and as a member of the Soul Stirrers, replacing Sam Cooke in the latter. As a solo artist, Taylor would enjoy popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, well known songs include Who's Making Love, Take Care Of Your Homework, Testify (I Wonna), I Believe In You (You Believe In Me), Cheaper To Keep Her, We're Getting Careless With Our Love, and Love Is Better In The AM (Part 1) ~ Taylor passed away in 2000
May 5, 1933 ~ Guitarist Cal Collins born in Medora, Indiana, USA ~ Collins first played the mandolin as a bluegrass musician but turned to jazz guitar after hearing Charlie Christian, Irving Ashby, and Oscar Moore perform. Collins worked with artists such as Benny Goodman, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vaché Jr, Rosemary Clooney, Ross Tompkins, Woody Herman, John Bunch, and Marshal Royal. Collins would occasionally return to country including on a 1993 tour with Jerry Douglas and Doc Watson ~ Collins passed away in 2001
May 5, 1926 ~ Pianist Vera Franceschi born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Regarded as one of the most acclaimed interpreters of Frédéric Chopin during the late 1940s and 1950s. Has also recorded works of Muzio Clementi, Luigi Cherubini, and Domenico Cimarosa. Married to tenor Daniele Baroni, with whom she has one son ~ Franceschi passed away in 1966
May 5, 1922 ~ May Lewis, commonly known as jazz singer, actress Monica Lewis born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Longtime voice of the Chiquita Banana animated ads starting in 1947. Daughter of pianist, musical director Leon Lewis and opera singer Jessica Lewis. Sang on radio shows from the late 1930s onwards, including her own Monica Makes Music, worked with Benny Goodman, and as a solo artist is known for songs such as Put The Blame On Mame, I Wish You Love and Autumn Leaves. Would venture into film by the 1950s. Married to record producer Bob Thiele from 1945 to 1947, to film producer Jennings Lang from 1956 until her death. Once proposed to by then-actor, future US President Ronald Reagan, whom she rejected ~ Lewis passed away in 2015May 5, 1919 ~ Piper, singer Séamus Ennis born in Finglas, Ireland ~ Widely regarded as one of the greatest uilleann pipers of all time. Helped revive interest in the uillean pipes as co-founder of Na Piobairi Uilleann, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the instrument and its music ~ Ennis passed away in 1982
May 5, 1915 ~ Alice Jeanne Leppert, commonly known as actress, singer Alice Faye, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Popular 20th Century Fox 1930s, 1940s musical actress singer, known for her roles in On The Avenue, Alexander's Ragtime Band and perhaps most notably Hello Frisco Hello in which she introduced the Academy Award-winning You'll Never Know ~ Leppert passed away in 1998
May 5, 1900 ~ Conductor, composer Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt born in Berlin, Germany ~ Worked the opera houses from 1923 through 1945. Listed by the Nazi regime on the list of elite artists, despite his avoiding joining the Nazi party and having a Jewish wife whom he sent to England with their two sons in 1936. Best known for founding the NDR Radiophilharmonie, also serving as its musical conductor and chief conductor from 1945 to 1971 ~ Schmidt-Isserstedt passed away in 1973
May 5, 1899 ~ Jazz drummer, songwriter Paul Barbarin, full name Adolphe Paul Barbarin, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Founded the Onward Brass Band. Also worked with the Silver Leaf Orchestra, the Young Olympia Band, Freddie Keppard, King Oliver, Luis Russell, Red Allen, Sidney Bechet, Art Hodes. Died while playing snare drums during a Mardi Grass parade ~ Barbarin passed away in 1969
May 5, 1898 ~ William Samuel McTier, commonly known as blues slide guitarist Blind Willie McTell, born in Thomson, Georgia, USA ~ Recorded only very little yet had a profound influence on artists such as Taj Mahal, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Chris Smither, the White Stripes and the Allman Brothers Band, the latter notably covering McTell's Statesboro Blues ~ McTell passed away in 1959