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 9, 2025 ~ Juan Raoul Davis Rodriguez, commonly known as country, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Rodriguez, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ One of the most popular country singers of the 1970s and early 1980s, known for infusing his music with Latin sounds. Encouraged to pursue a career in music by Bobby Bare and Tom T Hall, the latter arranging an audition for him with Mercury Records which led to a record deal. Rodriguez has recorded well over two albums, starting with the warmly received Introducing in 1973. Rodriguez would regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts, especially through the mid 1970s, of which You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me), Ridin' My Thumb To Mexico, That's The Way Love Goes, I Just Can't Get Her Out Of My Mind, Just Get Up And Close The Door, and Love Put A Song In My Heart all reached No.1 Billboard Country ~ Rodriguez was born in 1951May 9, 2025 ~ Singer, songwriter Stewart Francke passed away ~ Played in a succession of bar bands in his late teens and early twenties, with whom at times he opened for the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Luther Allison, prior to settling down and focusing on a career in journalism. In the mid 1990s, however, Francke returned to music and has recorded about a dozen critically acclaimed albums since while drawing from R&B, garage rock, roots rock, and folk, earning him a loyal following in the Detroit area. Francke is especially known for his 2005 Motor City Serenade album, which featured renowned Motown musicians as well as personal hero Mitch Ryder, and for 2011's Heartless World, on which Bruce Springsteen guested. Upon Francke's passing, his sister Kit Francke-Reese remarked: “I wish I had his words, he truly had a brilliant mind. His music was bright, relatable and beautiful, and he was very thoughtful and funny” ~ Francke was born in 1958
May 9, 2024 ~ Dennis Tomich, commonly known as garage rock, proto-punk drummer Dennis Thompson or Dennis Machine Gun Thompson, passed away in Taylor, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Elvin Jones, Keith Moon, and Mitch Mitchell. Last surviving member of pioneering proto-punk outfit MC5, one of the rawest and most outspoken bands in American rock. They are especially acclaimed for their 1969 Kick Out The Jams debut album. Thompson's fast and hard drumming, earning him the nickname “Machine Gun”, was an essential element of the band's sound, and proved influential on punk and metal. The MC5 had been nominated for inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame six times, and was set to be inducted at a ceremony in October 2024. Upon Thompson's death at age 75, his son Chris McNulty told Detroit News: “He was a true, free-spirited rock and roller up until the very last day” ~ Tomich was born in 1948May 9, 2023 ~ Operatic bass Günter Wewel passed away in Arnsberg, Germany ~ Most closely associated with the Oper Dortmund, serving with the company for the majority of his career. Has also guested with a wide array of renowned orchestras including the Bavarian State Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, the Cologne Opera, and the Budapest National Opera. Also well known as a TV host, presenting the ARD musical entertainment show Kein Schöner Land from 1989 through 2007 ~ Wewel was born in 1934
May 9, 2023 ~ Rock keyboardist, singer Jon Povey passed away ~ Best known as a member of the Pretty Things, joining the band in 1967 along with guitarist Wally Waller. Present on albums such as Emotions and SF Sorrow, the latter regarded as one of the first rock operas. Previously the pair of Povey and Waller had played with Bern Elliott & the Fenmen, known for their 1963 UK top 20 hit Money and its follow-up New Orleans ~ Povey was born ca.1943
May 9, 2021 ~ Rock guitarist Chris Newman, full name Christopher Lynn Newman, passed away ~ Enjoyed regional popularity in the Northwest. Known for his intense blues and psychedelic-influenced guitar leads and near-operatic powerhouse vocals. Cited as an influence by numerous grunge artists, especially for his work with his best known band Napalm Beach, considered early innovators of the grunge sound. Other bands led by Newman include Snow Bud, the Flower People, Boo Frog, and the Chris Newman Deluxe Combo ~ Newman was born in 1953May 9, 2019 ~ Composer Arif Malikov passed away in Baku, Azerbaijan ~ Azerbaijani composer who shot to fame in 1961 with his composition for ballet Legend Of Love Ballet. Has also composed other ballets, symphonies, symphony poems, for films and for plays ~ Malikov was born in 1933
May 9, 2019 ~ Percussionist, bongo player Preston Epps, full name Preston Eugene Epps, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Considered a one-hit wonder, scoring a 1959 Billboard Hot 100 No.14 hit with Bongo Rock. Epps has learned to play the bongos and other percussion instruments while stationed in Okinawa, Japan, during the Korean war. Following the single's success, Epps issued his Bongo Bongo Bongo the following year, which reached top 40 Billboard Hot 200. Several more bongo-themed singles were released, including Bongo Shuffle, Bongo Boogie, and Bongo Rocket, but none would equal the success of his sole hit Bongo Rock. Despite failing to reach the charts again, Epps continued to perform in Southern California. In 1969, Epps would make a small appearance playing a bongo player in the crime-drama film Girl In Gold Boots, credited as “that Bongo Rock man” ~ Epps was born in 1930
May 9, 2017 ~ Harry Samuel Paris, commonly known as singer, actor Michael Parks, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor, star of the Then Came Bronson TV series, acclaimed for his role of Adam in the 1966 film The Bible (In The Beginning}. As a singer admired by peers and enjoys a cult following. Best known for the 1969 Closing The Gap debut album and its follow-up 1970's Long Lonesome Highway, its title track Long Lonesome Highway reaching the Billboard top 20 ~ Parks was born in 1940May 9, 2017 ~ Roberto Concina, commonly known as DJ, producer Robert Miles, passed away in Ibiza, Spain ~ Best known for his 1995 breakthrough single Children, bringing ambient house into the mainstream. Miles would go on to release five albums, the latest being Thirteen in 2011 ~ Concina was born in 1969
May 9, 2016 ~ Singer Luther Simmons Jr passed away ~ Original member of R&B, soul outfit Main Ingredient, remaining with the band through the mid 1970s, reuniting in later years. Present on the band's best known including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Everybody Plays The Fool and Just Don't Want To Be Lonely. Songs such as I'm So Proud, Black Seeds Keep On Growing, You've Got To Take It (If You Want It), and Happiness Is Just Around The Bend also did well on the Billboard R&B charts ~ Simmons was born in 1942
May 9, 2015 ~ Fiddler Johnny Gimble, full name John Paul Gimble, passed away in Dripping Springs, Texas, USA ~ Considered one of country's greatest fiddlers. Member of Bob Wills's backing unit the Texas Playboys. Also sessioned, toured and collaborated with Conway Twitty, Connie Smith, Marty Robbins (I'll Go On ALine), Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, Dale Watson, and his granddaughter Emily Gibson ~ Gimble was born in 1926
May 9, 2014 ~ Jazz pianist Frank Strazzeri passed away in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Active since the early 1950s, backing visiting musicians such as Roy Eldridge and Billie Holiday while still living in his native Rochester. Relocated to New Orleans by the mid 1950s, where he played Dixieland with Sharkey Bonano and Al Hirt prior to venturing into bebop with the likes of Charlie Ventura and Woody Herman. Relocating once again, this time to Los Angeles, Strazzeri became an in-demand session musician from the early 1960s onward, appearing on albums by Curtis Amy, Herb Ellis, Carmell Jones, and Roy Haynes. Strazzeri has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, and is especially acclaimed for Wood Winds West released in 1992. To pop rock audiences Strazzeri is best known for touring with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s, including for several Madison Square Garden dates and the 1973 Aloha From Hawaii worldwide telecast ~ Strazzeri was born in 1930
May 9, 2014 ~ Joseph Benjamin Wilder, commonly known as trumpeter Joe Wilder, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Benny Carter. Active since the early 1940s, backing the likes of Les Hite, Lionel Hampton, Jimmie Lunceford, Lucky Millinder, and Sam Donahue early on in his career. Recorded three albums as a leader in the 1950s, notably Softly With A Feeling, and several more from the 1980s onward. An in-demand sideman, Wilder has appeared on albums by Count Basie, Al Cohn, Marlene Verplanck (I Think Of You With Every Breath I Take), Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Hank Jones, Herbie Mann, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Marilyn Moore, Mary Ann McCall, Bobby Short, George Russell (New York NY), Billie Holiday, Jackie Paris, Ray Charles (Genius+Soul=Jazz), Oscar Brown Jr, Oliver Nelson, Pee Wee Russell (Spirit Of '67), Charles Mingus (Let My Children Hear Music), Ray Bryant, Leon Redbone (On The Track), Yusef Lateef (The Doctor Is In & Out), and Johnny Hartman ~ Wilder was born in 1922
May 9, 2011 ~ Country outfit the Zac Brown Band release Knee Deep featuring Jimmy Buffett, lifted off their You Get What You Give album ~ The song finds the narrator battling his post-breakup blues by buying a boat and taking a permanent vacation, a theme perfectly suited for guest vocalist Jimmy Buffett. Bassist John Driskell Hopkins would later comment to Billboard they had met Buffett on a camping trip and immediately clicked, further adding: “It sounds like a Buffett song when he sings it. Whatever he sings sounds like a Buffett song, y'know.” Knee Deep reached No.1 Billboard Country, making it only the second charttopper on the tally for Buffett, who had previously reached the top spot teaming up with Alan Jackson on It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
May 9, 2010 ~ Singer, dancer, actress Lena Horne, full name Lena Mary Calhoun Horne, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at age 16, starting a career in music, stage, film and TV that spanned over 6 decades. As a singer best known for songs such as One For My Baby And One More For The Road, Deed I Do and Love Me Or Leave Me. Announced her retirement from music in 1980 only to come back the next year with her one-woman show The Lady And Her Music which ran 300 performances on Broadway. Horne would continue to record and sporadically perform well into the 1990s ~ Horne was born in 1917May 9, 2009 ~ Gospel singer, songwriter Eugene Smith passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced gospel singers such as Alex Bradford and reverend James Cleveland. Sang with the Roberta Martin Singers from its inception in until the group's disbandement after Roberta Martin's death in 1969. Sang lead on numerous of the group's songs including He's All I Need, Satisfied, I'm Too Close, Shine On Me, Marching To Zion, It's Gonna Rain, Come Lord Jesus, and Standing On The Promises ~ Smith was born in 1921
May 9, 2009 ~ Multi-instrumentalist Stephen Bruton, full name Turner Stephen Bruton, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Worked with artists such as Kris Kristofferson, NRBQ, T-Bone Burnett, Bonnie Raitt, Gene Clark, Rita Coolidge, Christine McVie, Elvis Costello, Delbert McClinton, Sonny Landreth, and Carly Simon. Has produced albums for Alejandro Escovedo, Marcia Ball, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Hal Ketchum, Storyville, Chris Smither, and Ray Wylie Hubbard ~ Bruton was born in 1948
May 9, 2009 ~ Singer Travis Edmonson passed away in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Considered a folk music pioneer, influential on later artists including notably the Kingston Trio. Member of folk quartet the Gateway Singers. Following his departure from the quartet in 1958 formed the duo Bud & Travis with Bud Dashiell, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums through the mid 1960s. Edmonson has also recorded as a solo artist ~ Edmonson was born in 1932
May 9, 2007 ~ Jazz singer Carla White, full name Carla Ruth White, passed away in New York, USA ~ Best known for her scat singing. Studied under Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh. Worked extensively with trumpeter Manny Duran ~ White was born in 1951May 9, 1998 ~ Alice Jeanne Leppert, commonly known as actress, singer Alice Faye, passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, 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 was born in 1915
May 9, 1998 ~ Singer Dana International wins the 43rd edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Birmingham, UK ~ Representing Israel, Dana International wins with the song Diva written by Svika Pick and Yoav Ginai. Runner-ups would be the UK's Imaani with Where Are You in second place, and Malta's Chiara with The One That I Love in third
May 9, 1998 ~ Roots rock, blues harpist, singer Lester Butler passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Fronted the Red Devils, known for their sole 1992 King King produced by Rick Rubin. The band has also recorded a number of songs with the Rolling Stones-frontman Mick Jagger the same year, most of which were never released. The song Checkin' Up On My Baby would be included on the 2007 Jagger compilation The Very Best Of Mick Jagger. Butler has also fronted 13, known for their sole eponymous 13 album released in 1997 ~ Butler was born in 1959
May 9, 1995 ~ James Elbert Raney, commonly known as jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney, passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known for his early 1950s work with Red Norvo, replacing Tal Farlow in the Red Norvo Trio, and for backing Stan Getz during the same period. At home in various jazz idioms including cool jazz, bebop, post bop and hard bop. Has also worked with Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Buddy DeFranco, Al Haig, and Bob Brookmeyer. Suffered from Ménière's disease which eventually led to near deafness in both ears. This did not stop him from playing however, hailed by the New York Times in his obituary as “one of the most gifted and influential postwar jazz guitarists” ~ Raney was born in 1927
May 9, 1992 ~ Singer Linda Martin wins the 37th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Malmö, Sweden ~ Representing Ireland, Linda Martin wins with the song Why Me. Runner-ups would be the UK's Michael Ball with One Step Out Of Time in second place, and Malta's Mary Spiteri with Little Child in third. Martin's Why Me was penned by Johnny Logan who had twice previously won the contest as a singer, in 1980 with What's Another Year and in 1987 with Hold Me Now