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, 1950 ~ Edward Allan Clarke, commonly known as heavy metal guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke born in Twickenham, UK ~ Member of the classic line-up of Motörhead, alongside Lemmy Kilmister and Phil Philty Animal Taylor. Sang lead or co-lead on Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, I'm Your Witchdoctor, Step Down and Emergency. After his departure from the band in 1982, Clarke teamed up with UFO-bassist Pete Way using the group moniker Fastway ~ Clarke passed away in 2018
October 5, 1949 ~ Louis Charles Stevenson, commonly known as country pop singer, guitarist, songwriter BW Stevenson or Buckwheat Stevenson, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Considered a one-hit-wonder for his 1973 Billboard Hot 100 No.9 hit My Maria, which Stevenson co-wrote with Daniel Moore. About a dozen years later Brooks & Dunn covered the song, taking it to the top of the Billboard Country charts. Stevenson scored several other minor hits throughout the 1970s, including Shambala, River Of Love, and Down To The Station, but none did as well as My Maria. Three Dog Night would score a 1973 Billboard Hot 100 No.3 with their cover of Shambala, which first appeared on the charts one week after Stevenson's original ~ Stevenson passed away in 1988October 5, 1949 ~ Jazz pianist Thomas Clausen born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Brother of vibraphonist Bent Clausen. As a leader over a dozen albums to his name. Guested on the 1989 Miles Davis Aura album. Has also worked with Jackie McLean, Dexter Gordon, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and Tim Berne
October 5, 1948 ~ Ska, rocksteady, ska singer Delroy Wilson, full name Delroy George Wilson, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Released his first single, the Coxsone Dodd-produced Emy Lou, at age 13. Would go on to score several hits including Dancing Mood, Rain From The Skies, This Old Heart Of Mine and It Hurts working with a host of Jamaica's top-notch producers such as Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs and Gussie Clarke ~ Wilson passed away in 1995
October 5, 1948 ~ Art rock, glam rock, chamber pop, power pop singer, songwriter Russell Mael, full name Russell Craig Mael, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Sparks, co-founded with his brother keyboardist Ron Mael, known for songs such as Cool Places, Progress, music That You Can Dance To, So Important, Just Got Back From Heaven and When Do I Get To Sing My Way. The band has also collaborated with Franz Ferdinand under the common moniker name FFS releasing an eponymous FFS album in 1995
October 5, 1947 ~ Rock, glam rock, hard rock singer Brian Johnson, full name Brian Francis Johnson, born in Dunston, UK ~ Founding member of early 1970s rock outfit Geordie, known for the 1973 UK top 10 hit All Because Of You. Following the death of Bon Scott joined AC/DC in 1980, first appearing on the pivotal Back In Black album, as replacement lead singer and stayed on until stepping down in 2016 for health reasonsOctober 5, 1947 ~ Jazz guitarist Kenny Poole born ~ Worked with James Brown, Jack McDuff, Tal Farlow, Joe Pass, Howard Alden, Jack Wilkins, Richard Groove Holmes, Mark Murphy, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Raney, Mundell Lowe, Cal Collins, Howard Alden, and Jimmy Bruno ~ Poole passed away in 2006
October 5, 1946 ~ William Daron Pulliam, commonly known as funk, soul singer Darondo, born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Debuted in the early 1970s with the single I Want Your Love So Bad. It led to a record deal, resulting in three albums from 1972 to 1974, and dates opening for James Brown ~ Pulliam passed away in 2013
October 5, 1946 ~ Rock keyboardist, percussionist Richard Kermode born in Lovell, Wyoming, USA ~ First gained serious attention as member of Janis Joplin's backing unit the Kozmic Blues Band, present at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair performance in 1969. Following Joplin's death in 1971 joined Latin rock band Malo. Appeared on Santana's 1973 Welcome album as well as tour with the band on the Caravanserai tour. Would continue to work as a session musician, including with Betty Davis, Ned Doheny, José Areas, Patti LaBelle, and Pete Escovedo ~ Kermode passed away in 1996October 5, 1945 ~ Dixieland, jazz, swing cornetist George Finola born ~ Co-founded the non-profit organization the Jazz Institute of Chicago. Helped organise the first edition of the New Orleans Jazz Festival, also known as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, an annual event celebrating the local music and culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. As a leader best known for his acclaimed Jazz Of The Chosen Few debut album released in 1965, featuring backing from Raymond Burke, Armand Hug, Danny Barker, and Blue Lu Barker ~ Finola passed away in 2000
October 5, 1943 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, guitarist, songwriter Leon Roppolo, full name Leon Joseph Roppolo, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Major influence on Benny Goodman. Best known as a member of the New Orleans Rhytm Kings, regarded as one of the top jazz bands of the 1920s. Co-wrote Farewell Blues, covered by King Oliver, Cab Calloway, Django Reinhardt, and Count Basie. Co-wrote Tin Roof Blues, covered by Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet ~ Roppolo was born in 1902
October 5, 1943 ~ Roy Alan Bookbinder, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Roy Book Binder, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Influenced by close friend Dave Van Ronk. Toured with Arthur Crudup and Homesick James. Over a dozen albums to his name, including a number of collaborations with fiddler Fats Kaplin notably Git Fiddle Shuffle released in 1975 ~ Bookbinder passed away in 2026October 5, 1943 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Steve Miller, full name Steven Haworth Miller, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Started in blues, blues rock shifting more towards radio friendly arena rock by the mid 1970s. Frontman and eponym of the Steve Miller Band, known for 1970s, 1980s hits such as The Joker, Take The Money And Run, Rock'n Me, Fly Like An Eagle, Jet Airliner and Abracadabra
October 5, 1942 ~ Jazz trumpeter Donald Ayler born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA ~ Despite long periods of mental instability, which severely hindered his career, Ayler is critically regarded as one of the great jazz trumpeters. He would however forever remain in the shadow of his more famous older brother saxophonist Albert Ayler, with whom he frequently worked including on albums such as Spirits Rejoice and Bells/Prophecy. An in-demand sideman, Ayler has also worked with Paul Bley, Elvin Jones, and John Coltrane ~ Ayler passed away in 2007October 5, 1942 ~ R&B singer Richard Street, full name Richard Allen Street, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of the Distants. Member of the Monitors. Best known as lead singer of the Temptations from 1971, taking over for Vernard Plain through 1993. First appearing on the Solid Rock album released in 1972 ~ Street passed away in 2013
October 5, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter Arlene Smith born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Lead singer of short-lived girl group the Chantels, known for the million-seller Maybe which reached the Billboard top 20 in 1958. Subsequent recordings would chart considerably lower, if at all, and the group would be dropped by their label in 1959
October 5, 1941 ~ Singer Wally Lester, full name Walter Paul Lester Jr, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Lester passed away in 2015October 5, 1938 ~ Singer, songwriter Donald Drowty born ~ The “Dante” in Dante & the Evergreens, known for their sole hit the 1960 single Alley Oop. Dante, at the time still in high school would go on to become a professional songwriter. Artists who have recorded his songs include the Isley Brothers, the McCoys and Herb Alpert
October 5, 1938 ~ Ska, rocksteady, reggae trumpeter Johnny Moore, full name John Arlington Moore, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Following a stint in the Army, including playing in the Jamaica Military Band, has worked with the Mapletof Poulle Orchestra and Eric Dean, dismissed from the latter's band for growing dreadlocks. Would go on to session for Count Ossie and play with band the Cavaliers, alongside Jackie Mittoo, and Lloyd Brevet. The studio band would evolve into the pivotal ska, rocksteady unit the Skatalites. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the Soul Vendors, Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Lee Scratch Perry, and the Jamaica All-Stars ~ Moore passed away in 2008October 5, 1937 ~ Avraham Reichstadt, commonly known as singer, producer, songwriter Abi Ofarim born in Safed, Palestine ~ Half of husband-wife duo Esther & Abi Ofarim, known for 1960s hits such as Noch Einem Tanz, Cinderella Rockafella and Morning Of My Life, the latter written by the Bee Gees ~ Ofarim passed away in 2018
October 5, 1937 ~ Singer Carlo Mastrangelo born in New York, New York, USA ~ Original member of the Belmonts and Dion & the Belmonts, present on recordings such as Teen-age Clementine, I Wonder Why and A Teenager In Love. Also fronted the progressive rock, jazz outfit Pulse in the 1970s ~ Mastrangelo passed away in 2016
October 5, 1936 ~ Annerose Boeck, commonly known as concert pianist Annerose Schmidt, born in Wittenberg, Germany ~ Noted for recording all of the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart piano concertos with Kurt Masur and the Dresden Philharmonic. Her repertoire also included Ludwig van Beethoven, Béla Bartók, Frédéric Chopin, Maurice Ravel, and the entire piano works of Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms ~ Boeck passed away in 2022
October 5, 1934 ~ Charles Henry Anderson, commonly known as blues, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Casey Anderson, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Masters over a dozen instruments. Proficient in various genres including jazz, country, folk and pop. Debuted in 1959 with the Casey Sings Out album. Has worked with musicians such as Art Ryerson, Bruce Langthorne, Panama Francis, Felix Pappalardi, and with producers such as Nesuhi Ertegun, Ed Hansen and Glen Dee Hardin ~ Anderson passed away in 1989
October 5, 1934 ~ Organist, composer Robert Theodore Anderson born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Prolific composer, noted especially for Triptych and the cantata Garden Of Gethsemane. In-demand recitalist. Leading organ teacher, counting Stefan Engels, Ignace Michiels, Carole Terry and Wolfgang Rübsam among his students ~ Anderson passed away in 2009
October 5, 1933 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Billy Lee Riley born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, USA ~ Rockabilly singer best known for his rendition of Red Hot, named one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll, as well for other lost classics such as Rock With Me Baby and Flying Saucers Rock & Roll. The latter featured labelmate Jerry Lee Lewis on piano. Known for his wild stage antics Riley enjoyed a brief career but feeling underpromoted by his label he left Sun Records in 1960. He would continue to record throughout most of the 1960s and work as a session musician for artists such as Dean Martin, the Beach Boys, Herb Alpert, and Sammy Davis Jr. He would retire from the music business in the early 1970s. Was covered by Robert Gordon and Link Wray in the late 1970s. Was rediscovered in 1992 by Bob Dylan, a fan since 1956, which eventually led to the Grammy-nominated album Hot Damns in 1997 ~ Riley passed away in 2009