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 7, 1973 ~ Producer, songwriter Kristian Lundin born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Has written or co-written songs for the likes of NSYNC (Tearin' Up My Heart), E-Type, Céline Dion, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys (Larger Than Life), One Direction (Kiss You), and R5
May 7, 1971 ~ Singer, songwriter Eagle Eye Cherry, full name Eagle-Eye Lanoo Herry, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Son of jazz trumpeter Don Cherry. Half-brother of singer Neneh Cherry. Debuted as a solo artist with the 1997 album Desireless which spawned the global hit Save Tonight. Also known for songs such as Falling In Love Again, Are You Still Having Fun, Long Way Around, Feels So Right, and Don't Give Up. Co-wrote and sang on Santana's Wishing It Was from the 1999 album The Supernatural
May 7, 1970 ~ Even Johansen, commonly known as folk, pop, electronic singer, guitarist, songwriter Magnet, born in Bergen, Norway ~ Co-founding member of rock outfits Libido and Chocolate Overdose. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Quiet And Still released in 2000. Acclaimed for his 2003 On Your Side sophomore album. The album included the Bob Dylan-cover Lay Lady Lay performed as a duet with Irish singer Gemma Hayes. The track would later be used for the Mr & Mrs Smith action comedy starring Brad Pitt and Angelina JolieMay 7, 1970 ~ Ronald Ward Jr, commonly known as alternative metal, post-grunge singer, guitarist, keyboardist Scooter Ward, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member, lead singer, occasional guitarist for Cold, acclaimed especially for their first three albums starting with their eponymous 1998 Cold debut album. Ward has also guested on recordings by Tony Iommi, Reveille, Sierra Swan, and Breaking Benjamin
May 7, 1969 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Don't Forget To Remember at IBC Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb, the former also singing the lead vocals. Produced by Robert Stigwood and the band. Included on the album Cucumber Castle. Released as a single, b/w The Lord, in August 1969May 7, 1968 ~ Jan Engelaar, commonly known as DJ, producer DJ Jean born in Veenendaal, the Netherlands ~ Known for a string of 2000s hits, reaching the higher echelons of the Dutch charts. Well known songs include The Launch, Love Come Home, Every Single Day and Feel It
May 7, 1968 ~ Nora Louise Kuzma, commonly known as singer, actress, model Traci Lords, born in Steubensville, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as a former pornstar, working as a minor with a fake ID. She left the porn industry two days after her 18th birthday. Pursued a model as an actress for film and TV, writer and producer. Debuted in 1995 with the album 1,000 Fires which despite critical acclaim sold poorly. The single Control would become a minor hit
May 7, 1966 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones release Paint It Black in the USA. lifted off their Aftermath album ~ Originating from improvisational melodies by Brian Jones on the sitar, the raga rock song Paint It Black shows Indian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European influences. In America the song was released as a single off their Aftermath album and would reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100, making it their third No.1 hit after (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction and Get Off Of My Cloud. Brian Jones had a lot of input into this song, but was left off the songwriting credits. Jones had been a key element of the band's sound, notably playing lead guitar on Get Off Of My Cloud and recorder on Ruby Tuesday, but he was usually left off the songwriting credits as, according to Keith Richards, he never presented the band a finished song. His sitar line on Paint It Black may have been his biggest contribution to the band though. Jones was fired from the band in 1969 and drowned in his swimming pool less than a month laterMay 7, 1963 ~ Jazz, funk bassist Dwayne Dolphin born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Acclaimed for his 1993 Portrait Of Adrian album. In-demand sideman working with a host of jazz, R&B and funk artists including Geri Allen, Arthur Blythe, Pee Wee Ellis, Stanley Turrentine, Fred Wesley, and Wynton Marsalis
May 7, 1961 ~ Heavy metal, hard rock guitarist Phil Campbell, full name Philip Anthony Campbell, born in Pontypridd, UK ~ Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page, Jan Akkerman. Founded Persian Risk in 1979, and appeared on the band's Calling For You and Ridin' High singles. Best known as member of Motörhead from 1984, replacing Brian Robertson, until its disbandement in 2015 after the death of frontman Lemmy Kilmister. The band is considered to have been extremely influential in re-energising heavy metal and a precursor to the new wave of British heavy metal. Campbell founded Phil Campbell & the Bastard Sons in 2016, which actually includes his sons Todd Campbell, Dane Campbell and Tyla Campbell. Released his Old Lions Still Roar solo debut album in 2019 ~ Campbell passed away in 2026
May 7, 1958 ~ Wayne Stevens, commonly known as bassist Bones Hillman, born in Auckland, New Zealand ~ Member of Midnight Oil, joining the band in 1987 as replacement for Peter Gifford and remaining until his death. Has also worked with Swingers, Anne McCue, Elizabeth Cook, Sheryl Crow, and Matthew Good ~ Stevens passed away in 2020
May 7, 1958 ~ Rock & roll, country, country pop singer Conway Twitty records It's Only Make Believe at Bradley Film & Recording Studios, Nashville, USA ~ Written by Conway Twitty and drummer Jack Nance. Produced by Jim Vienneau. Initially released as the flip side of Twitty's July 1958 single I'll Try, it would become one of his best known. Over the course of his career Twitty recorded the song several times, including as a duet with Loretta Lynn in 1970. Covered by a number of artists including British singer Billy Fury in 1964 and American singer Glen Campbell in 1970, both of whom scored a top 10 hit it with it in their respective homelandsMay 7, 1958 ~ Bassist, composer Michael Formanek born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Veteran bassist served as sideman to Art Pepper, Tony Malaby, Uri Caine, Franco Ambrosetti, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Dave Liebman. Closely associated with saxophonist Tim Berne. As a leader has recorded well over a dozen albums, and especially praised for Wide Open Spaces released in 1990
May 7, 1957 ~ Country songwriter, guitarist Hayden Nicholas, full name James Hayden Nicholas, born in Texas, USA ~ Member of Revolver. Best known as frequent songwriting partner of Clint Black, helpful in Black's early succes and breakthrough co-writing songs such as Nobody's Home which helped Black land a record deal and A Better Man and Killin' Time
May 7, 1956 ~ Anne Jennifer Beckingham, commonly known as keyboardist, songwriter, conductor Anne Dudley born in Beckenham, UK ~ Worked in classical and pop. Composed for film including arranging for the film version of Les Miserables and winning an Academy Award for the 1997 The Full Monty film. Core member of synth-pop band Art Of Noise since tis inception in 1983
May 7, 1955 ~ Pianist Axel Zwingenberger born in Hamburg, Germany ~ Classically trained pianist switched to boogie-woogie after hearing recordings by Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis. Active since the mid 1970s both as a solo artist and in-demand collaborator. Has worked with Ray Bryant, Champion Jack Dupree, Lloyd Glenn, Lionel Hampton, Jay McShann, Joe Newman, Sammy Price, Big Joe Turner, Sippie Wallace, and Vince Weber. Member of supergroup the ABCD Of Boogie-Woogie alongside pianist Ben Waters, bassist Dave Green and the Rolling Stones-drummer Charlie WattsMay 7, 1953 ~ Country songwriter John Jarrard born in Gainesville, Georgia, USA ~ Had his songs recorded by artists such as Alabama, George Strait (Blue Clear Sky), Don Williams (Nobody But You), John Anderson, John Berry, Blackhawk, Diamond Rio, the Forester Sisters, James House, Tracy Lawrence (Is That A Tear), Neal McCoy, the Pirates Of The Mississippi, Charley Pride (Shouldn't It Be Easier Than This), Collin Raye, John Schneider, Pam Tillis, and Rick Trevino ~ Jarrard passed away in 2001
May 7, 1951 ~ Rock, blues rock, hard rock guitarist, singer Bernie Marsden, full name Bernard John Marsden, born in Buckingham, UK ~ Member of Whitesnake from 1978 through 1982, for whom he co-wrote several of the band's best known including Fool For Your Loving, Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues, She's A Woman, Lovehunter, Trouble, Child Of Babylon, Rough And Ready, and Here I Go Again. Marsden has also worked with UFO, Cozy Powell, Babe Ruth, Paice Ashton Lord, Alaska, and the Company Of Snakes, and recorded over a dozen solo albums ~ Marsden passed away in 2023
May 7, 1950 ~ Blues, vaudeville singer, dancer Bertha Hill, also known as Bertha Chippie Hill, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for her association with Louis Armstrong on a number of mid-1920 recordings including Pratt City Blues, Low Land Blues, Kid Man Blues, Georgia Man and Trouble In Mind. Also worked with Ethel Waters, Lonnie Johnson, Scrapper Blackwell, Leroy Carr, Lovie Austin, and Art Hodes ~ Hill was born in 1905
May 7, 1950 ~ Charles Lempriere Prince, commonly known as drummer Prairie Prince, born in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA ~ Co-founding member of Journey though left the band in 1974 before any recordings were made. Rose to prominence as member of the Tubes in the 1970s. Produced the band's best known album, Outside Inside which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit She's A Beauty. Member of Jefferson Starship from 1992 through 2008. Closely associated with Chris Isaak, touring with Isaak and appearing on the albums Silvertone, Chris Isaak and Heart Shaped World. In-demand session drummer, present on albums by Todd Rundgren, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Tom Waits, m Dick Dale, Glenn Frey, Richard Marx, John Fogerty, and Phil Lesh
May 7, 1949 ~ James Barry Keefer, commonly known as pop singer Keith, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for 98.6, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1967. Its title refers to the normal human body temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. Keith recorded a number of subsequent recordings but would be unable to achieve another top 10 hitMay 7, 1948 ~ Bassist, guitarist, songwriter Alan Spenner, full name Alan Henry Spenner, born in Dalston, UK ~ Worked with Wynder K Frog, Spooky Tooth, ABC, David Coverdale, David Soul, Joe Cocker (including backing Cocker at the 1969 the Woodstock Music and Art Fair concert), Kenny Loggins, Lynda Carter, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, Mick Taylor, China Crisis, Murray Head, Kokomo, and Roxy Music ~ Spenner passed away in 1991
May 7, 1948 ~ Vincent Clifford, commonly known as singer Billy Thunderkloud, born ~ Fronted Billy Thunderkloud & the Chieftones, known best for the 1975 singles What Time Of Day and its follow-up Pledging My Love both charting reasonably well on the Billboard Country charts ~ Clifford passed away in 2018May 7, 1948 ~ Country rock guitarist, mandolinist, banjoist Kerryn Tolhurst, full name Kerryn William Tolhurst, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Co-founded and fronted country rock outfit the Dingoes, best known for Way Out West debut single released in 1973. Co-founded short-lived 1980s outfit the Rattling Sabres, known for the original hit All Fired Up notably covered by Pat Benatar whose version would reach top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
May 7, 1948 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Lluis Llach, full name Lluis Llach i Grande, born in Girona, Spain ~ One of the main representatives of nova cançó. Best known for L'Estaca, an unofficial anthem of the Catalan Independence Movement
May 7, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, singer Pete Wingfield, full name William Peter Wingfield, born in Liphook, UK ~ As a solo artist considered a one-hit wonder, his Eighteen With A Bullet single reaching top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. The song would later be used for the soundtrack to the 1998 Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels comedy crime film. Music journalist for Melody Maker. Produced Dexys Midnight Runners' 1980 Searching For The Young Soul Rebels debut album. Wrote Making A Good Thing Better for Olivia Newton-John, Eyes In The Back Of My Head for Patti LaBelle, and Tribute (Right On) for the Pasadenas. As a keyboardist has worked with the Olympic Runners, Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes, Keef Hartley, Colin Blunstone, Bryn Haworth, and Alan Parsons
May 7, 1948 ~ Percussionist Ramesh Shotham born in Madras, South India ~ Influenced by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin. A live performance by Ravi Shankar would set Shotham on a journey discovering his own musical roots, Indian music. Has recorded a handful of solo albums, and guested on recordings by Embryo (Turn Peace), Rabih Abou Khalil, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Charlie Mariano (Nassim), and Nicolas Simion