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.
November 5, 2025 ~ New wave, power pop drummer Gilson Lavis, full name David Leslie Gilson Davis, passed away in Lincolnshire, UK ~ Rose to fame as member of Squeeze, remaining with the band through 1993 and replaced by Pete Thomas. Present on some of the band's best known albums including the acclaimed Cool For Cats released in 1979 ~ Lavis was born in 1951
November 5, 2023 ~ Conductor, arranger Donald Hunsberger, full name Donald Ross Hunsberger, passed away in Pittsford, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, serving as the group's conductor from 1965, succeeding Clyde Roller, through 2002. During his tenure with the ensemble, Hunsberger conducted numerous recordings including notably with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and helped establish the principles of the wind ensemble concept. Hunsberger is also known for arranging transciptions of orchestral music for concert band, including works by Dmitri Shostakovich, Claudio S Grafulla, Aram Khachaturian, and John Williams' Star Wars film score ~ Hunsberger was born in 1932
November 5, 2022 ~ Pop singer Aaron Carter, full name Aaron Charles Carter, passed away in Lancaster, California, USA ~ Established himself as a pop and hip-hop star with pre-teen and teenage audiences from the late 1990s through the early 2000s, starting with his eponymous Aaron Carter debut album released at a mere 9 years of age. Well known songs include Crush On You, Crazy Little Party Girl and I Want Candy. Also ventured into acting, including in the Broadway musical Seussical ~ Carter was born in 1987
November 5, 2022 ~ Singer, songwriter Carmelo La Bionda passed away in San Donato Milanese, Italy ~ Formed the sibling duo La Bionda, at times also known under the moniker DD Sound, with Michelangelo La Bionda, considered pioneers of the Italo disco genre. First gained attention penning Primo Sole Primo Fiore for Ricchi & Poveri in 1970. Other songs written or co-written by the duo include Neve Blanca Amica Gentile Se Vuoi for Mia Martini, Piccolo Uomo for Bruno Lauzi, and several 1980s songs for Righeira including Vamos A La Playa. As recording artists the brothers rose to fame after turning to disco in the mid- to late 1970s, scoring internationally with the singles Disco Bass and Burning Love. Other well known songs included Sandstorm, One For You One For Me and There For Me ~ La Bionda was born in 1949
November 5, 2022 ~ Operatic tenor Daniele Baroni passed away in Ferrara, Italy ~ Rose to fame as leading tenor with the Metropolitan Opera from 1956 through 1962. Best known for his roles in Giacomo Puccini operas. Has also notably worked with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company, and the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company. Barioni was married to pianist Vera Franceschi until her premature death in 1966 ~ Barioni was born in 1930
November 5, 2022 ~ Indie rock, slowcore, dream pop drummer, singer Mimi Parker passed away in Duluth, Minnesota, USA ~ Co-founded Low in 1993 with her husband guitarist, singer Alan Sparhawk. Considered pioneers of slowcore and known for their atmospheric songs the band is especially acclaimed for their 1995 Long Division sophomore album. Well known songs include Halflight, California, Family Tree, and Sunflower. Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant would cover the band's Monkey and Silver Rider for his 2010 Band Of Joy solo album ~ Parker was born in 1967November 5, 2022 ~ Rahem Brown, commonly known as rapper Tame One, passed away ~ Member of 1990s rap group the Artifacts, which also included El Da Sensei and DJ Kaos, known for songs such as Easter, C'mon Wit Da Git Down, The Ultimate (You Know The Time) and perhaps their best known Wrong Side Of Da Tracks. Has also worked with Leak Bros, the Weathermen, and the Boom Skwad ~ Brown was born in 1970
November 5, 2022 ~ Reggae keyboardist Tyrone Downie passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known for his association with Bob Marley, joining the Wailers in the mid 1970s and first appearing on the 1976 Rastaman Vibration album. Has also worked with the Impact All-Stars, the Abyssinians, Beenie Man, Black Uhuru, Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, Tom Tom Club, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, and Alpha Blondy ~ Downie was born in 1956
November 5, 2021 ~ Saxophonist Charles Brackeen passed away in Carson, California, USA ~ Studied violin and piano before switching to saxophone. Sideman and leader. Has played with Don Cherry, Leroy Jenkins, Paul Motian, Ahmed Abdullah, Dennis González, and Ronald Shannon Jackson ~ Brackeen was born in 1940
November 5, 2021 ~ Sertanejo singer, guitarist, songwriter Marilia Mendonça, full name Marilia Dias Mendonça, passed away in Minas Gerais, Brazil ~ Broke through with Infiel taken of her 2016 Marilia Mendonça Ai Vivo debut album. Has written songs for artists such as João Neto & Frederico, Wesley Safadão, Henrique & Juliano, Matheus & Kauan, Jorge & Mateus, and Cristiano Araujo. Mendonça's career was cut short when, along with several of her entourage, she perished in a plane crash at age 26 ~ Mendonça was born in 1995
November 5, 2020 ~ Leonard Warren Borioff, commonly known as singer, songwriter Len Barry, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Lead singer of the Dovells, known for the early 1960s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits The Bristol Stomp and You Can't Sit Down. As a solo artist best known for the 1965 hit 1-2-3, which would eventually sell 4 million copies. Would go on to enjoy great popularity in the UK. Co-wrote Zoom for Fat Larry's Band and Love Town for Booker Newberry III ~ Borisoff was born in 1942November 5, 2020 ~ Joseph Reynaerts, mononymously known as pop singer Reynaert, passed away in Seraing, Belgium ~ Internationally best known for representing Belgium at the 1988 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 18th place with Laissez Briller Le Soleil. Other well known songs include Cerf-volant and Pas Assez ~ Reynaerts was born in 1955
November 5, 2015 ~ Jazz bandleader, director, arranger Kjell Öhman, full name Kjell Ingemar Öhman, passed away in Huddinge, Sweden ~ Appeared on over 3000 albums. Worked with Marcus Österdahl, Alice Babs, Georgie Fame, Charlie Norman, Svend Asmussen, Arne Domnérus, Ulf Wakenius, Rune Gustafsson, Hans Backenroth, and Ulf Lundell ~ Öhman was born in 1943
November 5, 2015 ~ Pop, jazz singer Nora Brockstedt passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Internationally best known for representing Norway twice at the Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 4th place in 1960 with Voi Voi and 7th place the following year with Sommer I Palma ~ Brockstedt was born in 1923
November 5, 2012 ~ Modernist composer Elliott Carter, full name Elliott Cook Carter Jr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the premier American modernist composers of the late 20th century, merging elements of European and American modernism. Composed orchestral, vocal, instrumental works and chamber music. Perhaps best known for his String Quartet No.2, earning him a 1960 Pullitzer Prize ~ Carter was born in 1908
November 5, 2005 ~ Fred Lincoln Wray Jr, commonly known as guitarist, songwriter Link Wray, passed away in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Best known for the 1958 instrumental hit Rumble, one of the earliest songs using distorted feedback later commonly used in punk and hard rock ~ Wray was born in 1929
November 5, 2003 ~ Singer Bobby Hatfield passed away in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA ~ Half of vocal duo the Righteous Brothers, the other half being Bill Medley. The brothers are best known for songs such as You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', Unchained Melody (actually a Hatfield solo performance), and Rock & Roll Heaven. As a solo artist Hatfield released a handful of mostly late 1960s singles including Hot Tamales, the self-penned Hang-Ups, Stay With Me, and Only You (And You Alone), of which only the latter charted peaking at No.95 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Hatfield was born in 1940
November 5, 2000 ~ James Houston Davis, commonly known as singer, songwriter Jimmie Davis, passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Served two nonconsecutive terms as governor of Louisiana. As a singer known for songs such as Is It Too Late Now, There's A Chill On The Hill Tonight, There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder, Grievin' My Heart Out For You, Bang Bang and perhaps his best known You Are My Sunshine ~ Davis was born in 1899
November 5, 1996 ~ Jazz, soul jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Recorded some 70 albums as a leader. As a composer best known for writing Freedom Jazz Dance, recorded and popularized by Miles Davis. Sideman on albums by Buddy Montgomery, Buddy Montgomery, Bernard Pretty Purdie, Cedar Walton, Ellis Marsalis Jr, Horace Parlan, and John Scofield ~ Harris was born in 1934
November 5, 1992 ~ Singers Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle release their A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme) duet single, recorded for the soundtrack of the Aladdin animated feature film ~ The film included two versions of this song, the main version sung by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga, and a pop version sung by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. The latter was played over the film's end credits and issued as a pop single, which reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ending a 14-week reign for Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. Lyricist Tim Rice would sneak in a clever nod in the lyrics to one of his childhood heroes: “There was a wonderful British pop singer called Billy Fury. And one of his hits in England was Wondrous Place. It was a great, weird pop record, way ahead of its time. Lots of echoes and minimalist backing. Sort of Peggy Lee meets Chris Isaak. As a tribute to Fury, I quite deliberately put in at the end of the song the line ‘a wondrous place’”
November 5, 1990 ~ Pianist, vibraphonist, songwriter, producer Bobby Scott, full name Robert William Scott, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Bandleader for Verve, ABC-Paramount, Bethlehem and Musicmasters. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing A Taste Of Honey, first recorded by Billy Dee Williams, and for co-writing He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother, first recorded by Kelly Gordon. Both songs would become classics covered by numerous artists ~ Scott was born in 1937
November 5, 1989 ~ Singer, songwriter Barry Sadler, full name Barry Allen Sadler, passed away in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA ~ Green Beret medic, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. Best known for his 1966 hit The Ballad Of The Green Berets, one of the few songs of the era to cast the military in a positive light ~ Sadler was born in 1940November 5, 1989 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader Lu Watters, full name Lucius Carl Watters, passed away in Santa Rosa, California, USA ~ Best known as leader of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band which at times also included Bob Scobey, Turk Murphy, Squire Gersh, Wally Rose, Clancy Hayes, and Harry Mordecai ~ Watters was born in 1911
November 5, 1989 ~ Classical pianist, composer Vladimir Horowitz, full name Vladimir Samoyiovich Horowitz, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Generally regarded as one of the all-time greatest pianists known for his virtuoso . Early on in his career toured Russia paid in bread, butter and chocolate rather than money due to the economic hardship of the day. Best known for his interpretations of the Romantic repertoire, notably his 1932 recording of Piano Sonata in B Minor to this day considered the best performance of the Franz Liszt composition. Married to Wanda Toscanini, daughter of renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini ~ Horowitz was born in 1903November 5, 1987 ~ Singer Alejandro Fuentes, full name Alejandro Javiero Fuentes, born in Viña del Mar, Chile ~ First gained attention in 2005 as contestant on the third season of the Norwegian talent show Idol, reaching third place. Released his Diamonds And Pearls debut album later the same year