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.
October 5, 2022 ~ Ann-Christine Nyström, commonly known as singer Ann-Christine, passed away in Danderyd Municipality, Sweden ~ Internationally best known for representing Finland in the 1966 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 10th place with Playboy written and conducted by Ossi Runne ~ Nyström was born in 1944
October 5, 2021 ~ Jim Varsos, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Hobo Jim, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ One of the most popular guitar players in Alaska, frequently playing smaller venues across the state. Would be named Alaska's official balladeer in 1994. Has recorded from time to time since the 1980s. Living part-time in Tennessee has also worked as a songwriter with some of Nashville's finest, co-writing Empty recorded by Janis Ian and The Rock recorded by George Jones ~ Varsos was born ca.1952October 5, 2014 ~ Actor, dancer, choreographer, singer, director, painter Geoffrey Holder, full name Geoffrey Lamont Holder, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Principal dancer for the Metropolitan Ballet before starting a film career, first appearing on-screen in the 1957 film Carib Gold. Best known for portraying Baron Samedi in the Bond film Live & Let Die in 1973 ~ Holder was born in 1930
October 5, 2013 ~ Edward Rudolph Warren Jr, commonly known as jazz bassist Butch Warren, passed away in Silver Springss, Maryland, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Kenny Dorham, Charles Davis, Tommy Flanagan, Buddy Enlow, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Hank Mobley, Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Stanley Turrentine, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Clark, Elmo Hope, Don Wilkerson, Grant Green, Slide Hampton, Booker Ervin, Bobby Timmons, and Walter Bishop Jr ~ Warren was born in 1939
October 5, 2011 ~ Guitarist Bert Jansch passed away in Hampstead, UK ~ Founding member of Pentangle. Leading figure in 1960s British folk revival. Over two dozen albums to his name. Critically acclaimed. Admired by peers. Influential on Al Stewart, Paul Simon, Johnny Marr, Elton John, Ian Anderson, Bernie Taupin, Bernard Butler, Jimmy Page, Nick Drake, Graham Coxon, Donovan, Neil Young, Hope Sandoval, the Fleet Foxes, Devendra Banhart, Neil Halstead, Roy Harper, and Gordon Giltrap ~ Jansch was born in 1943October 5, 2007 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Jack Wilson passed away in Northport, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Eddie Harris, Al Hibbler, Richard Evans, Gerald Wilson, Lou Donaldson, Herbie Mann, Jackie McLean, Johnny Griffin, Sammy Davis Jr, Sarah Vaughan, Lou Rawls, Eartha Kitt, Julie London, Sonny & Cher, Lorez Alexandria, Tutti Camarata, Curtis Amy, Earl Anderza, Roy Ayers, and Clark Terry ~ Wilson was born in 1946
October 5, 2006 ~ Singer, rapper Akon releases I Wanna Love You featuring Snoop Dogg, lifted off his Konvicted sophomore album ~ Originally this was a Plies song, titled I Wanna Fuck You, with Akon as the featured artist. However, following an incident where Plies and several of his entourage fired shots in a nightclub, the version with Snoop Dogg instead of Plies would be used as that one already unofficially circulated and this way the incident would not reflect on Akon. As he was a significantly more well known rapper than Plies, Snoop Dogg's appearance on the track would help propel I Wanna Love You to the top of the charts, giving Akon his first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. Snoop Dogg would also include the track on his Tha Blue Carpet Treatment album, which was issued a week after Akon's Konvicted sophomore album
October 5, 2005 ~ Shirley Marie O'Garra, commonly known as soul, pop singer Shirley Ellis, passed away in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Ellis had been a member of the Metronomes, which also included her husband Alphonso Elliston, before rising to fame as co-writer and performer of a handful of soul-tinged novelty songs through the mid 1960s. The Nitty Gritty, The Name Game, and The Clapping Song would all reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100, and all three have been regularly covered. Notable covers include The Nitty Gritty, a 1969 Billboard Hot 100 No.19 hit for Gladys Knight, and Laura Branigan's The Name Game, recorded for her 1987 Touch album. Ellis has recorded three albums, her last one being Sugar Let's Shing-a-ling released in 1967 ~ O'Garra was born in 1929
October 5, 2000 ~ José Refugio Sánchez Saldaña, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor Cuco Sánchez, passed away in Mexico City, Mexico ~ One of Mexico's most popular singers, songwriters known for songs such as Anillo De Compromiso, Anoche Estuve Llorando, Siempre Hace Frio, No Soy Monedito De Oro, Canno Santo and Gritenme Piedras Del Campo. Had his songs recorded by Pedro Infante, La Panchita, Veronica Loyo, Flor Silvestre, Antonio Aguilar, Dora María, Vikki Carr, and Linda Ronstadt ~ Sánchez was born in 1921October 5, 1997 ~ Classical flutist, pianist, conductor Albert Tipton passed away ~ Student of William Kincaid. Principal flutist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Toured with Leopold Stokowski. Tipton has also worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and regularly performed with his wife pianist Mary Norris ~ Tipton was born in 1917
October 5, 1995 ~ Swing bandleader, songwriter Dick Jurgens, full name Richard Henry Jurgens, passed away in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Kicked out of his high school orchestra for playing pop music. Enjoyed popularity during the 1930s and early 1940s. Known for originals such as If I Knew Then What I Know Now, Careless, A Million Dreams Ago and probably his best known Elmer's Tune, the latter notably covered by the Andrews Sisters, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller. As his style becoming out of fashion in the rock & roll era, Jurgen retired from music altogether by the mid 1950s ~ Jurgens was born in 1910October 5, 1994 ~ Raffaele Celéste Rosso, commonly known as trumpeter Nini Rosso, passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Became one of Italy's most beloved trumpeters in the 1960s. Known for Concerto Disperato which was notably covered by Ken Thorne as Theme From Legion's Last Patrol, and for Il Silenzio which became an international hit in 1965 ~ Rosso was born in 1926
October 5, 1992 ~ Singer Eddie Kendricks passed away in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Co-founded the Temptations in 1960 and stayed with the band through 1971. Sang lead on songs such as The Way You Do The Things You Do, I'll Be In Trouble, The Girl's Alright With Me, Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) (which he co-wrote), Get Ready, Please Return Your Love To Me, and Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me). Responsible for most of the group's vocal arrangements. Feeling uncomfortable with the move to psychedelic soul Kendricks left the band pursuiing a solo career. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Girl You Need A Change Of Mind, Keep On Truckin', Boogie Down, Son Of Sagittarius, Shoeshine Boy, He's A Friend, and Intimate Friends. The latter would be sampled by Alicia Keys on Unbreakable ~ Kendricks was born in 1939October 5, 1992 ~ Enrique Diaz, commonly known as tango double bassist Kicho Diaz, passed away ~ Worked with Jose Pascual, Anselmo Aieta, Anibal Troilo, Orlando Goni, Roberto Gianitellu, Juan Miguel Toto Rodriguez, Francisco Florentino, Astor Piazzolla, Horacio Salgán, Ubaldo de Lio, Enrique Mario Francini, Pedro Laurenz, Mariano Mores, and Sexteto Mayor ~ Díaz was born in 1918
October 5, 1990 ~ Jazz, blues tenor saxophonist Sam Taylor, full name Samuel Leroy Taylor Jr, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Bama State Collegians, Scatman Crothers, Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Buddy Johnson, Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner (including sax solo on Shake Rattle & Roll), Clyde McPhatter, the Drifters, the Chords (including on doo-wop classic Sh-boom), Ruth Brown, Freddy Cole, Al Hibbler, Langston Hughes, Quincy Jones, and Dick Hyman ~ Taylor was born in 1916October 5, 1988 ~ Cellist, beatboxer, rapper, singer, songwriter Kevin Olusola born in Pasadena, California, USA ~ Member of a-capella band Pentatonix. Best known for developing the art of “celloboxing”, simultaneously playing cello and beatboxing. Previously principal cellist of the Kentucky State Youth Orchestra and of the Yale Symphony Orchestra
October 5, 1987 ~ Conductor, director David Mahoney, full name David Joseph Mahoney, born ~ Principal conductor of the Novello Orchesta. Guest conductor with the Cape Town Philharmonic and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. Member of Only Men Aloud. Founded Cardiff Music Festival
October 5, 1987 ~ Electro house, progressive house, deep house, dubstep producer, DJ Dillon Francis, full name Dillon Hart Francis, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Discovered by Diplo, collaborating on the 2011 Que Que track which also featured Maluca. As a solo artist released his full-length major label debut, Money Sucks Friends Rule, in 2014. Best known for songs such as Get Low featuring DJ Snake, Coming Over with Kygo & James Hersey and Catchy Song
October 5, 1986 ~ Jazz banjoist, guitarist Emanuel Sayles passed away ~ Studied violin and viola, yet best known as a banjoist and guitarist. A valued accompanist, Sayles became a fixture on the New Orleans music scene where he backed artists such as William Ridgley, Fate Marable, AJ Piron, and Sidney Desvigne. Sayles spent most of the 1930s and 1940s in Chicago, sessioning extensively in both jazz and blues settings, before returning to Louisiana to work with the likes of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Punch Miller, Peter Bocage, Earl Hines, and Louis Cottrell Jr. Sayles occasionally recorded as a leader during the 1960s ~ Sayles was born in 1907
October 5, 1985 ~ Drummer Brian Keenan passed away in Winsted, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known as member of psychedelic soul band the Chamber Brothers, known for incorporating elements of traditional gospel and blues, psychedelica and rock into soul, scoring a Billboard top 20 hit with the eleven-minute single Time Has Come Today in 1968 ~ Keenan was born in 1943October 5, 1985 ~ Singer, songwriter Nicola Roberts, full name Nicola Maria Roberts, born in Stamford, UK ~ Member of Girls Aloud, known for a string of early 2000s UK hits including Sound Of The Underground, I'll Stand By You and The Promise. Created through the 2002 ITV reality show Popstars The Rivals the group would score 20 consecutive top 10 singles, earning them the Guinness World Records record of being the most successful reality television music group
October 5, 1982 ~ R&B, pop singer Brandi Williams born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ One third of R&B trio Blaque, alongside Natina Reed and Shamari Fears. The trio recorded from the late 1990s through the mid 2000s and is best known for their eponymous Blaque debut album, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits 808 and Bring It All To Me. The band's I Do sophomore single featured TLC's Lisa Left-Eye LopesOctober 5, 1982 ~ Pop singer Markus Fagervall, full name Markus Eino Fagervall, born in Kiruna, Sweden ~ First gained serious attention in 2006, winning the Swedish edition of Pop Idol. Subsequently his Everything Changes solo debut single would reach top of the charts in his native Sweden, a full-length Echo Heart album would reach double Platinum status. Previously Fagervall fronted progressive rock band Liquid Scarlet
October 5, 1981 ~ Lofton Alfonso Cooper, commonly knowqn as saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader Al Cooper, passed in New York, New York, USA ~ Half-brother of Grachan Moncur II. Founded and led the the Savoy Sultans in 1937 ~ Cooper was born ca.1911
October 5, 1981 ~ Pop rock group U2 release Gloria, lifted off their October sophomore album ~ The title is Latin for “glory,” while the Latin refrain of “In te domine” translates to “in you Lord”. Reportedly lead singer Bono's lyrics were partly inspired by an album of Gregorian chants, given to him by band manager Paul McGuinness. The singer would later elaborate on the origins of the song: “And of course Gloria is about a woman in the Van Morrison sense. Being an Irish band, you're conscious of that. And I think that what happened at that moment was very interesting: people saw that you could actually write about a woman in the spiritual sense and that you could write about God in the sexual sense. And that was a moment. Because before that there had been a line”