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 8, 1976 ~ Folk, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Martha Wainwright born in Montreal, Canada ~ Daughter of singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle. Sister Rufus Wainwright. Half-sister of singer Lucy Wainwright Roche, with whom she has worked under the moniker the Wainwright Sisters. Active as a solo artist since the late 1990s, releasing her acclaimed eponymous Martha Wainwright major label debut album in 2005
May 8, 1975 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, actor Enrique Iglesias, full name Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Son of singer Julio Iglesias. Emerged in the 1990s, releasing his eponymous Enrique Iglesias debut album in 1995. Would regulary reach No.1 on the Billboard Latin charts through the end of the decade. Broke through to mainstream with his 1999 single Bailamos, reaching No.1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and has recorded to mainstream commercial succes since. Has collaborated with Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Kelis, Lil Wayne, Wisin & Yandel, Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger, Usher, Nicky Jam, and Bad Bunny
May 8, 1974 ~ Saxophonist, keyboardist, singer Graham Bond, full name Graham John Clifton Bond, passed away in London, UK ~ Leading figure, pioneer in early British R&B. Fronted the Graham Bond Organisation, which also included Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Jon Hiseman, John McLaughlin and Dick Heckstall-Smith. The latter would go on to use the Bond-penned Walkin' In The Park for Colosseum's debut album. First to use a mellotron, influencing later keyboardist such as Deep Purple's Jon Lord, Has also worked with Alexis Korner, Harvey Mandel, Dr John, Ginger Baker's Air Force, Pete Brown, and Don Rendell ~ Bond was born in 1937
May 8, 1974 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, producer, engineer Nash Chambers born in Mount Gambler, Australia ~ Member of family band the Dead Ringer Band alongside his parents Bill Chambers and Diane Chambers and sister Kasey Chambers, present on the albums Red Desert Sky, Home Fires, Living In The Circle and Hopeville. Following his parents separation and the band's disbandement has worked with his sister Kasey since her acclaimed The Captain debut album released in 1999, serving as her backing musician, producer and manager since. Chambers has also worked with Troy Cassar-Daley, Shane Nicholson, Archie Roach, and Grizzlee Train
May 8, 1972 ~ Pop, soft rock singer, songwriter Darren Hayes, full name Darren Stanley Hayes, born in Brisbane, Australia ~ Formed the duo Savage Garden with Daniel Jones, best known for their 1997 eponymous Savage Garden debut album which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Truly Madly Deeply. The duo would release a sophomore album, Affirmation, in 2001 before disbanding. Hayes released his solo debut, Spin, in 2002May 8, 1967 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, producer James Hurt, full name James Maurice Hurt, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Worked with Sherman Irby, Gregory Tardy, Antonio Hart, Abbey Lincoln, Russell Gunnn, Abraham Burton, Wadada Leo Smith, Elisabeth Kontomanou, Arto Lindsay, Graham Haynes, DJ Logic, Melvin Gibbs, Butch Morris, Buster Williams, Erin McPherson, Nasheet Waits, Donald Edwards, Stacy Dillard, Nate Smith, Felix Pastorius, Marco Capelli, Chris Dingman, David Gilmore, Steve Lehman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Corey Glover, Bernie Worrell, Maceo Parker, and DJ Spinna
May 8, 1966 ~ Paul Cafaro, commonly known as punk rock, garage punk, rock singer Blag Dahlia, born in Highland, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as signer of punk band the Dwarves. Has also served as producer for acts such as Mondo Generator, FYP, and the Swingin' Utters. Involved in an altercation with the Queens Of The Stone Age-frontman Josh Homme in 2004, after which Homme would be arrested and eventually ordered by a judge to stay at least 100 yards away from Dahlia, do community service and go into rehab
May 8, 1966 ~ Southern rock, country rock drummer Brit Turner born in Mt Clemens, Michigan, USA ~ Member of Blackberry Smoke, which also included his brother bassist Richard Turner, with whom he has recorded a little over half a dozen albums since the early 2000s. The band draws mainly from Southern rock, inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd, with a solid dose of bluegrass, gospel, and R&B added for good measure. They are noted for being the first independent country band to score a Billboard Country No.1 album with All The Roses released in 2015. The band's next three albums would also reach top 10, with Like An Arrow also reaching top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200. Diagnosed with glioblastoma, Turner retired from performing in late 2022. Following his death at age 57, the band issued a statement saying: “Brit was Blackberry Smoke's True North, the compass that instituted the ideology that will continue to guide this band” ~ Turner passed away in 2024May 8, 1966 ~ Rowland Constantine O'Malley Armstrong, commonly known as producer, remixer Rollo Armstrong, born in Kensington, UK ~ Co-founding member of Faithless, known for songs such as Salva Mea, Insomnia, God Is A DJ and We Come 1. Brother of Dido, with whom he has also worked. Has remixed for the Pet Shop Boys, Simply Red, R Kelly, U2, Moby, Grace, Tricky, and Suede
May 8, 1963 ~ Singer Anthony Field, full name Anthony Donald Joseph Field, born in Kellyville, Australia ~ Best known as frontman of children's music group the Wiggles. Field also co-founded pop, pub rock unit the Cockroaches, which included his brothers lead singer Paul Field and rhythm guitarist John Field, best known for their 1987 eponymous The Cockroaches debut album containing the Australian top 10 hit She's The One
May 8, 1963 ~ Gerard John Best, commonly known as rock & roll, hard rock, heavy metal bassist Jerry Best, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known as member of Lion, notably present on the 1986 Power Love album. Has also worked with Mansfield, Freak Of Nature, Dio (Angry Machines), Mike Tramp, Courtney Love (America's Sweetheart), and Chuck Wright
May 8, 1958 ~ Jazz pianist, arranger, composer Christian Jacob born in Metz, France ~ Well-known for accompanying jazz singer Tierney Sutton, appearing on over half a dozen of Sutton's albums. Leader of the Christian Jacob Trio, especially known for their 2004 Styne And Mine album which payed tribute to the music of Jule Styne. Music director for Broadway singer Betty Buckley. Has also worked with Maynard Ferguson, Anita O'Day, Miki Coltrane, Tom Garling, Flora Purim, Pat Longo, Bud Shank, and Vic Lewis
May 8, 1957 ~ Jazz, bebop clarinetist, saxophonist Massimo Urbani born in Rome, Italy ~ Started on clarinet but soon switched to sax, to become a renowned alto saxophonist with about a dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially noted for The Blessing released the year of his death. As a sideman, Urbani has appeared on albums by Mario Schiano (Sud), Monte Mario, Enrico Pieranunzi (Isis), Larry Nocella, Luigi Bonafede, Paolo Pellegatti, Tullio de Piscopo, Mike Melillo, and Enrico Rava. Urbani passed away at age 36 of a heroin overdose ~ Urbani passed away in 1993May 8, 1956 ~ Composer Javier Álvarez, full name Javier Álvarez Fuentes, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Known for utilizing a variety of musical styles, merging unusual instruments with new music technologies. Has composed chamber music, orchestral pieces, opera, for film and for dance companies. Well-known compositions include the electroacoustic work Temazcai, the opera Mambo, and the 1992 soundtrack Cronos ~ Álvarez passed away in 2023
May 8, 1956 ~ Sofie Thérèse Verbruggen, mononymously known as pop, jazz, disco singer Sofie, born in Antwerp, Belgium ~ Member of Belgian disco outfit Trinity, known for their 1976 hit single 002-345-709 (That's My Number). Following the band's disbandement Verbruggen would record as a solo artist, notably the modest 1980s hit I Love You, perform in musicals, and duet with Bobby Womack, Paul Carrack, and Toots Thielemans
May 8, 1954 ~ Piedmont blues harpist Phil Wiggins born in Washington DC, USA ~ First teamed up with the elder guitarist John Cephas in the mid 1970s, both playing in singer, pianist Big Chief Ellis' backing unit. Following Ellis' death in 1977, the pair decided to continue as a duo despite their 24-year age difference. Showing strong influences from Blind Boy Fuller, Gary Davis, and Sonny Terry, the duo would become a popular festival act, earning acclaim among blues aficionados for keeping the Piedmont blues alive. Cephas & Wiggins recorded well into the 2000s, and are noted most for the late 1980s albums Dog Days Of August and Walking Blues ~ Wiggins passed away in 2024
May 8, 1953 ~ Drummer Alex van Halen, full name Alexander Arthur van Halen, born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Co-founding member of quintessential rock, hard rock group Van Halen, which also included his brother Eddie Van Halen, known for songs such as Dance The Night Away, Oh Pretty Woman, Jump, Panama, and Why Can't This Be Love. Prior to their eponymous 1978 Van Halen debut album the band had been known as Mammoth
May 8, 1953 ~ Guitarist, singer Billy Burnette born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Son of rockabilly singer Dorsey Burnette. Member of Fleetwood Mac from 1987 through 1995 and notably present on 1990's Behind The Mask, the band's first studio album after the departure of Lindsey Buckingham
May 8, 1952 ~ Saxophonist John Purcell born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as a saxophonist yet is proficient on virtually all reeds including piccolo, clarinet, flute and oboe. Well known as member of the American Jazz Orchestra from 1985 through 1991. Recorded about half a dozen albums with the World Saxophone Quartet. Especially acclaimed for his contributions to several Jack DeJohnette albums including Album Album released in 1984. Other notable credits include David Murray, Henry Butler, Benny Carter, and David Sanborn
May 8, 1951 ~ Drummer, songwriter Chris Frantz, full name Charton Christopher Frantz, born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA ~ Co-founded seminal new wave unit Talking Heads with singer, guitarist David Byrne in the early 1970s. The band would become one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the 1980s, especially noted for their 1984 concert film and album Stop Making Sense. Well known songs include Psycho Killer, Take Me To The River, Once In A Lifetime, Burning Down The House, This Must Be The Place (Naieve Melody), Slippery People, Girlfriend Is Better, and Road To Nowhere. During the band's hiatus in the early 1980s Frantz formed the side project Tom Tom Club with bandmate and wife Heads bassist Tina Weymouth. The couple would also serve as producers for the likes of the Happy Mondays, Angelfish, and Ziggy Marley, and provide backing vocals on Damon Albarn's Gorillaz on their 2001 eponymous Gorillaz debut album. Frantz published his memoir, Remain In Love (Talking Heads Tom Tom Club Tina), in 2020May 8, 1951 ~ Judith Silverman, commonly known as jazz singer, composer Judi Silvano born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Has been releasing solo albums since the early 1990s. Collaborated with Mal Waldron, Kenny Werner, and with Bill Frisell. Changed her stage name to Silvano when she married saxophonist Joe Lovano. Has also worked with Michal Bocian, Jim Pepper, James Emery, Adam Kolker, and Bruce Arnold
May 8, 1951 ~ Singer, percussionist Philip Bailey, full name Philip James Bailey, born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Influenced by Miles Davis, Max Roach, Sarah Vaughan, Dionne Warwick. Best known as co-lead singer of R&B, funk, disco outfit Earth Wind & Fire with a hiatus from 1984 to 1987. Sang lead on songs such as Devotion, Keep Your Head To The Sky, Reasons, Fantasy, Star and Guiding Lights. Guested on recordings by Alphonso Johnson, Eumir Deodato, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Loggins, Ray Parker Jr, Anita Pointer, Dianne Reeves, and Cee Lo Green. Also released a number of solo albums, mostly during his EWF hiatus in the 1980s. Noted for his 1985 Chinese Wall album, which included Easy Lover, a Phil Collins-duet that reached top 10 position across Europe, the UK and AmericaMay 8, 1948 ~ Pianist, bandleader, singer, composer Tania Maria born in Sao Luis, Brazil ~ Sings in both Portuegese and English. Draws from pop, jazz, samba, bossa nova. Actively recording since the late 1960s with over 2 dozen albums to her name. Broke through internationally with the album Come With Me, released in 1983. Has collaborated with Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, and Sammy Figueroa
May 8, 1946 ~ R&B singer Charles McCormick born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Member of Bloodstone, known for songs such as Natural High, Never Let You Go, Outside Woman, My Little Lady and We Go A Long Way Back, all of which reached top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts between 1973 and 1982 ~ McCormick passed away in 2022
May 8, 1945 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, classical pianist, composer Keith Jarrett born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Got his start working with drummer Art Blakey. Also notably worked with Charles Lloyd, Miles Davis. Best known for his 1975 The Köln Concert which quickly became the all-time best-selling piano album. Sued Steely Dan for copyright infringement, claiming the band's Gaucho bore a resemblance to his Long As You Know You're Living Yours of his 1974 Belonging album, and won, eventually awarded royalties and having his name added to the credits. Retired from music in 2018 after a series of stroles left him partially paralyzed and unable to use his left hand