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, 1956 ~ Rock & roll pianist, singer Little Richard records Ready Teddy at J&M Music Shop, New Orleans, Louisiana ~ Written by John Marascalco and Robert Bumps Blackwell, the latter also serving as producer. An original for Little Richard it features Richard on lead vocal and piano backed by Lee Allen and Alvin Tyler on saxophones, Edgar Blanchard guitar, Frank Fields bass, and Earl Palmer drums. Released the following June as B-side to Rip It Up and included on Richard's 1957 Here's Little Richard debut album. It has since been covered by Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, and Gene Vincent. The song received its largest ever audience in September 1956 as Elvis Presley sang it during his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show to an estimated 60 million viewersMay 9, 1956 ~ Jazz, folk guitarist, songwriter Richard Chapman born in Pembury, UK ~ Draws from classical music, traditional folk and world music. Was involved as a consulltant to auction house Christie's in the 1994 Charlie Parker sale and the 1999 Eric Clapton sale
May 9, 1955 ~ Lieder, opera, oratorio, pop, rock mezzo-soprano singer Anne Sofie von Otter born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Recorded prolifically since the late 1980s with over four dozen albums to her name ranging from classical to lieder and from folk to rock covers. First gained attention as a member of the Basel Opera, making her opera debut as Alcina in Joseph Haydn's Orlando Paladino. Would go on to work with renowned companies including the Royal Opera House, La Scala, and the Metropolitan Opera. Collaborated with Elvis Costello on For The Stars (Anne Sofie Van Otter Meets Elvis Costello), the album containing renditions of pop and rock songs originally by the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and ABBA. Also especially noted for her 2007 Terezin (Music From Theresienstadt) album, performing songs written by prisoners of the Theresienstadt ghetto camp prior to their deportation to Auschwitz
May 9, 1955 ~ Drummer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer Charley Drayton, full name Charles Leslie Drayton, born in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand session and touring drummer. Member of Divinyls, present on the albums Divinyls and Underworld. Married to the band's frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett from 1999 until her death in 2013. Notably contributed percussion to the Rolling Stones album Dirty Work, leading Keith Richards to invite him to join his side project the X-Pensive Winos. Produced Fiona Apple's 2012 The Idler Wheel album. Has also worked with the B52's (Cosmic Thing), the Cult, Paul Simon, Cold Chisel, Johnny Hallyday, Little Steven, and Bob Dylan
May 9, 1953 ~ John Victor Edwards, commonly known as rock bassist, violinist, guitarist John Rhino Edwards, born in Chiswick, UK ~ Best known as member of Status Quo, joining the band in 1986 as replacement for Alan Lancaster. Had previously worked in Judie Tzuke's backing unit, where he was given the nickname “Rhino”, reportedly for being clumsy. Has also worked with Peter Green, the Climax Blues Band, and with Dexys Midnight Runners on their 1985 Don't Stand Me Down album
May 9, 1950 ~ Keyboardist Allen Ravenstine born in Ohio, USA ~ Inspired by his mother's love of Sergei Rachmaninoff and his father's interest in jazz. Best known as member of Pere Ubu starting in the mid 1970s. The influential art punk band is especially acclaimed for their mid- to late 1970s albums Dubg Housing, Modern Dance and New Picnic Time. Ravenstine would remain with the band through the late 1980s, his last appearance on 1989's Cloudland, before retiring from music altogether. As of the early 1990s Ravenstine works as a commercial pilotMay 9, 1950 ~ Thomas John Peterson, commonly known as rock bassist Tom Petersson born in Rockford, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding member of Cheap Trick, remaining with the band through 1980 and rejoining in 1987. Present on the band's acclaimed 1979 Cheap Trick At Budokan live album which yielded the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit I Want You To Want Me (Live)
May 9, 1949 ~ Pianist, singer, songwriter Billy Joel born in New York, New York, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name. One of the all-time best-selling artists with over 150 million records sold since the early 1970s. Dubbed “the Piano Man” after his first major hit. Became a household name with the 1977 The Stranger album, which included the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 songs Just The Way You Are, Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) and She's Always A Woman. Subsequent well known songs include My Life, It's Still Rock & Roll To Me, Tell Her About It, and We Didn't Start The Fire
May 9, 1949 ~ Blues guitarist Bob Margolin born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for his association with Muddy Waters during the 1970s, featured on the albums The Unk In Funk and Muddy Waters Woodstock Album, as well as with Waters and the Band guesting on the latter's farewell concert captured on The Last Waltz. Margolin has released solo albums and worked with Freeborne, Big Joe Duskin, Pinetop Perkins, the Nighthawks, John Brim, and Ann RabsonMay 9, 1948 ~ Progressive rock, punk rock, psychedelic rock drummer, guitarist, sitarist, singer Richard Hudson, full name Richard William Stafford Hudson, born in Tottenham, UK ~ Active since the late 1960s, starting with Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera appearing on the albums Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera and Ride A Hustler's Dream. Joined Strawbs along with bandmate John Ford in 1970, the pair remaining with the band through the mid 1970s and present on the band's most acclaimed Grave New World and Bursting At The Seams. Formed the duo Hudson Ford with Ford, recording four albums through 1977. Has subsequently also worked with the Monks, High Society, and Good Old Boys
May 9, 1946 ~ Schlager singer, songwriter Drafi Deutscher, full name Drafi Franz Richard Deutscher, born in Charlottenburg, Germany ~ Known for a string of 1960s hits, notably Shake Hands, Keep Smiling and Cinderella Baby. Internationally perhaps best known for co-writing Boney M's disco hit Belfast with Jimmy Bilsbury and Joe Menke ~ Deutscher passed away in 2006
May 9, 1945 ~ Actor, author, painter, trumpeter Hans Dagelet born in Deventer, the Netherlands ~ Best known as an actor, notably in De Lift, All Stars and Ik Ga Naar Tahiti. Married to alt-violist Esther Apituley. As a trumpeter known for his association with Spinvis and Vijf Slag
May 9, 1945 ~ Singer, guitarist, producer Steve Katz born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Blood Sweat & Tears, remaining with the band through 1973. Would go on to become an in-demand producer, notably working with Lou Reed on the 1974 albums Sally Can't Dance and Rock 'n Roll Animal. Has also produced Elliott Murphy's Night Lights and Horslips's Short Stories Tall Tales
May 9, 1944 ~ Rock, country rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Richie Furay, full name Paul Richard Furay, born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, USA ~ Member of the Au Go-Go Singers, the house band of the famous the Café Au Go Go in New York. Co-founding and constant member of Buffalo Springfield. The band is best known for their 1967 For What It's Worth Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, written by band member Stephen Stills. The song would become one of the era's best known, often regarded as an anti-war song but was actually inspired by protests against a curfew resulting in riots. Co-founding member of Poco, for whom Furay wrote his best known including Pickin' Up The Pieces, Good Feelin' To Know and Kind Woman, the latter dedicated to his wife Nancy. After departing the band in 1974 formed country rock supergroup the Souther Hillman Furay Band with JD Souther and Chris Hillman. Furay has subsequently recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, yet with disappointing sales retired from music by the early 1980s and became a senior pastor in Broomfield, Colorado. Furay has since reunited with his old bandmates on occasion
May 9, 1942 ~ Composer, arranger, conductor Bruce Rowland born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Best known as a film composer, notably credits including the soundtracks to films such as The Man From Snowy River and its sequel The Man From Snowy River II, the TV movie Tidal Wave (No Escape), and the animated feature film The Mysterious Geographic Explorations Of Jasper Morello. Conducted the orchestra for the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia, performing a special Olympics version of the main theme of The Man From Snowy River Suite
May 9, 1942 ~ Pop, rock singer Tommy Roe, full name Thomas David Roe, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Archetypical 1960s bubblegum pop singer known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Sheila, Everybody, Sweet Pea, Hooray For Hazel, Dizzy and Jam Up & Jelly Tight
May 9, 1941 ~ Pop, doo-wop singer Danny Rapp, full name Daniel Earl Rapp, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Lead singer for Danny & the Juniors, known best for their 1958 hit At The Hop. The song was based on their earlier song Do The Bop, and would become a worldwide hit after Dick Clark's suggestion to rewrite and retitle it. The group would have two follow-up hits with Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay and Twistin' USA before hitting a dry spell. In the 1970s the group capitalized on the nostalgia movement, touring and rerecording some of their biggest hits. By the late 1970s the group broke up in two separate groups, both using the Danny & the Juniors moniker. Rapp would pass away at age 41 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound ~ Rapp passed away in 1983
May 9, 1941 ~ Bassist Peter Birrell born in Manchester, UK ~ Co-founding member of Freddie & the Dreamers. Though the band came from Manchester, they would be grouped as part of the burgeoning Merseybeat sound, a genre generally associated with the Liverpool area. They enjoyed popularity especially during the first half of the 1960s, scoring a string of UK top 20 hits, including notably If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, You Were Made For Me, and I Understand. Their best known, I'm Tellin' You Now, would also reach the top position on the American Billboard Hot 100
May 9, 1940 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Dick Morrisey, full name Richard Edwin Morrissey, born in Surrey, UK ~ First gained attention in the early 1960s as a member of the Delta City Jazzmen while still only in his mid-teens. Has recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, starting with It's Morrisey at age 21. Co-founded If, regarded the premier British jazz-rock band, with Dave Quincy and Terry Smith, with whom he recorded a little over half a dozen albums during the early 1970s. Also closely associated with guitarist Jim Mullen. An in-demand collaborator, Morrisey has played with Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth, Georgie Fame, Charlie Watts, Geoff Whitehorn, the Average White Band, Peter Gabriel, Craig Nuttycombe, Duncan Browne, Roy Harper, Orange Juice (Rip It Up), Gary Numan, Paul McCartney, Brian Auger, Paul Carrack (Groove Approved), and Barclay James Harvest. Upon Morrisey's death at age 60, the Times described him as “the most brilliant British saxophonist to emerge in the wake of Tubby Hayes, (…) his advocacy of jazz-rock fusion successfully brought jazz to a rock audience and rock to a jazz audience” ~ Morrisey passed away in 2000
May 9, 1940 ~ Pianist, keyboardist John Hawken, full name John Christopher Hawken, born in London, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Nashville Teens, known for their 1964 recording of Tobacco Road and its follow-up Google Eye both of which would reach top 10 in their native UK. Member of Renaissance, with whom he recorded the albums Renaissance and Illusion at the turn of the 1970s. Member of Strawbs during the mid 1970s, present on the albums Hero And Heroine and Ghosts. Hawken has also worked with Luther Grosvenor, Claire Hamill, the Sutherland Brothers, and Illusion ~ Hawken passed away in 2024
May 9, 1939 ~ Pianist, composer Bruce Mather born in Toronto, Canada ~ Married to pianist Pierrete LePage, with whom he regulary collaborated in piano duets. Composed orchestral, chamber, vocal and piano works. Considered one of the premier composers of microtonal music, especially noted for the works Musique Pour Champigny and Yquem. Has taught at renowned institutions such as the University of Toronto, the University of Montreal, and the Paris Conservatoire, his students including the likes of John Burke, Jacques Desjardins, José Evangelista. Closely associated with Société de Musique Contemporaine du Qeébec, serving as its director for over a dozen years starting in the mid 1960s
May 9, 1939 ~ Experimental musical instrument inventor, singer, painter, sculptor Constance Demby, full name Constance Mary Demby, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Considered a pioneer in new age music. Plays piano, keyboards, dulcimer, koto, harpeleck, tamboura, and numerous self-invented sheet metal sound scultpures combining her work as a musician and a sculptor. Over a dozen album to her name. Best known for her 1986 Novus Magnificat album ~ Demby passed away in 2021
May 9, 1938 ~ Harry Peter Traum, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Happy Traum, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Traum began playing guitar and banjo in his teens, including taking lessons from noted blues musician Brownie McGhee. Though Traum never became a household name like his contemporaries Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, and longtime friend and collaborator Bob Dylan, Traum is considered a key figure on the Greenwich Village scene pivotal to the development of folk and one of the most gifted musicians to keep the genre alive past its heyday. Reportedly, Traum with his early 1960s group the New World Singers was the first to release a version of Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice It's Allright. Traum also regularly recorded with his brother guitarist Artie Traum, the siblings perhaps best remembered for their highly acclaimed 1970 Happy & Artie Traum album. Over the course of his lengthy career, Traum has recorded as a solo artist starting with Relax Your Mind released in 1975, played with several groups, notably the Woodstock Mountain Revue, and served as contributing writer for magazines such as Rolling Stone, Acoustic Guitar, and Guitar Player ~ Traum passed away in 2024
May 9, 1936 ~ Jazz pianist, conductor Kenny Clayton born in Edmonton, UK ~ Served as musical director and arranger for the likes of Dick Haymes, Cilla Black, Charles Aznavour, Sacha Distel, Roger Whittaker, and especially Petula Clark working with Clark from the early 1960s through the 2000s. Composed soundtracks for films such as The Ragman's Daughter, The Savage Hunt and Night Train To Murder and directed and arranged for theatrical productions including The Sound Of Music, No Strings and Privates On Parade ~ Clayton passed away in 2022
May 9, 1935 ~ Copla singer, songwriter Dolores Abril, full name Dolores Caballero Abril, born in Hellin, Spain ~ Married to Juanito Valderrama, with whom she also worked, from 1981 until his death in 2004. As a solo artist especially known for a number of 1960s recordings, notably Al Primer Derrote, Tu Te Casate, Gloria A Chicuelo Il and Que Bonita Esta La Reina ~ Abril passed away in 2020
May 9, 1935 ~ Noie Floyd Edwards, commonly known as guitarist, bassist Nokie Edwards, born in Lahoma, Oklahoma, USA ~ Member of surf band the Ventures from 1960 through 1968 and again from 1972 through 1985. initially as bassist and later, in the classic line-up as guitarist. Has also worked as a solo artist, including releasing the underrated 1971 Nokie, played lead guitar on Lefty Frizzell's final recordings, collaborated with artists such as AdVenture, Art Greenhaw and the Light Crust Doughboys, and had a minor career as an actor including briefly appearing on the Western TV series Deadwood ~ Edwards passed away in 2018