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.
September 5, 1951 ~ Drummer, songwriter Jamie Oldaker born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Worked with the Rogues Five, Bob Seger, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton Band, Frehley's Comet, the Tractors, the Bellamy Brothers, Asleep At The Wheel, Peter Frampton, Stephen Stills, Freddie King, the Bee Gees, Vince Gill, JJ Cale, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dunn, and Bonnie Bramlett ~ Oldaker passed away in 2020September 5, 1951 ~ Bassist Tony Mitchell born in Sydney, Australia ~ Rose to fame in the 1970s as member of Sherbet. Co-wrote some of the band's best known with keyboardist Garth Porter including Magazine Madonna and Howzat. The latter would reach top 10 in the UK and top the chart's in the band's native Australia
September 5, 1949 ~ Guitarist Clem Clempson born in Tamsworth, UK ~ Member of blues-rock trio Bakerloo. Member of Colosseum from 1969 through 1971. Joined Humble Pie in 1971 replacing Peter Frampton, remaining until the band's disbandement in 1975. Member of Strange Brew alongside Greg Ridley and Cozy Powell. Auditioned for Deep Purple but lost to Tommy Bolin. Has also worked with the Assembly, Jack Bruce, Billy Cobham, David Sancious, Roger Waters, Manfred Mann, Bob Dylan, Chris De Burgh, Kiri te Kanawa, Karl Jenkins, and Jon Anderson
September 5, 1947 ~ George Allen Miles Jr, commonly known as drummer Buddy Miles, born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Best known for his association with Jimi Hendrix, playing drums on the tracks Rainy Day Dream Away and Still Raining Still Dreaming of Electric Ladyland, the guitarist's third and final studio album, and on all tracks of Band Of Gypsies, recorded live at Fillmore East, New York, on New Years Day 1970. Miles had previously played with the somewhat overlooked late 1960s rock outfit the Electric Flag, including on their acclaimed A Long Time Comin' album released in 1968. Miles has also formed and fronted the Buddy Miles Express and the Buddy Miles Band, and appeared on albums by the likes of Buffalo Springfield, the Monkees, Steve Cropper, Muddy Waters, John McLaughlin (Devotion), Three Man Army, Gregg Allman (Laid Back), Betty Davis (They Say I'm Different), Funkadelic, Nils Lofgren, Eddie Hazel, and Santana (Viva Santana) ~ Miles passed away in 2008
September 5, 1947 ~ Charles Wesley Shaw, commonly known as free jazz drummer Charles Bobo Shaw, born in Pope County, Minnesota, USA ~ Member of the Human Arts Ensemble. Member of the Black Artists Group. Also worked with Lester Bowie, Frank Lowe, Hamiet Bluiett, John Mixon, Oliver Lake, Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Frank Wright, Alan Silva, Michel Portal, Cecil Taylor, Richard Martin, Frank Lowe, Julius Hemphill, Billy Bang, Luther Thomas, and Defunkt ~ Shaw passed away in 2017
September 5, 1947 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Mel Collins born in Isle Of Man ~ Best known for his association with King Crimson, first from 1970 through 1972, rejoining in 2013. Also known for his work with Camel, the Alan Parsons Project, Kokomo, Chris Squire. Sessioned for a host of other R&B, rock, jazz others, including 10cc, Alexis Korner, Clannad, Eric Clapton, Pino Daniele, the Dire Straits, Bryan Ferry, Marianne Faithfull, the Rolling Stones (sax solo on Miss You), Roger Waters, Gerry Rafferty, Tears For Fears, Go West, Joan Armatrading, Tina Turner (sax solo on Private Dancer), Alvin Lee, Jim Capaldi, and Bad Company
September 5, 1946 ~ Farrokh Bulsara, commonly known as singer Freddie Mercury, born in Stone Town, Zanzibar ~ Frontman, lead singer for Queen, known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Wrote or co-wrote a vast amount of the band's best known songs including Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody To Love, Seven Seas Of Rye, Don't Stop Me Now, Bicycle Race, Play The Game, We Are The Champions, and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Outside the band Mercury has released two albums, 1985's Mr Bad Guy and 1988's Barcelona, the latter a collaboration with Montserrat Caballé, as well as a number of singles, perhaps most notably the Platters cover The Great Pretender released in 1987 ~ Bulsara passed away in 1991
September 5, 1946 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor Loudon Wainwright III, full name Loudon Snowden Wainwright III, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA ~ Enjoys a cult following and revered by peers. One of many singers once tagged as “the new Bob Dylan”, a fact which he satirized in his 1992 song Talking New Bob Dylan. Over two dozen albums to his name, including the Grammy Award-winner High Wide & Lonesome. Formerly married to singer, songwriter Kate McGarrigle with whom he has two children, singer Rufus Wainwright and singer Martha Wainwright. Also previously romantically involved with singer Suzzy Roche, with whom he has one daughter, singer Lucy Wainwright Roche
September 5, 1945 ~ Alastair Ian Stewart, commonly known as singer, songwriter Al Stewart born in Greenock, UK ~ Best known for his 1976 smash hit Year Of The Cat. Seen as an influential key figure in British music through his earlier albums though, especially 1973's Past Present & Future, portraying a unique blend of folk-rock songs with delicately woven lyrical tales. Played at the first ever Glastonbury Festival in 1970, knew Yoko Ono before she met John Lennon, and once shared a London flat with a then young and unknown Paul Simon
September 5, 1945 ~ Rock drummer Mick Underwood, full name Michael John Underwood, born in Middlesex, UK ~ Underwood has enjoyed one of the longest British rock drummer careers spanning well over four decades starting in the early 1960s. Given his first drum kit at age 14, he was playing professionally by the time he left school. Closely associated with Ritchie Blackmore, the pair sessioning for producer Joe Meek early on in their careers, and with Ian Gillan. Touring musician for visiting Americans including Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent. Member of 1960s outfits such as the Outlaws, the Herd, and Episode 6. Co-founding member of progressive rock outfit Quatermass, known for their sole eponymous Quatermass album released in 1970. Underwood has also recorded with Strapps during the late 1970s, and with Ian Gillan throughout the 1980s including the acclaimed albums Mr Universe and Future Shock. Other notable associations include Jet Harris, Heinz, Graham Bonnet, Sammy, and Black Sabbath. In the 2010s Underwood, perhaps the most unassuming of all British rock drummers, looked back on his lengthy career, commenting: “A song is a song, and it doesn't start with me, (…) my job is to make that song sound the best for its own sake, not for mine” ~ Underwood passed away in 2024September 5, 1941 ~ Engineer, producer Elliot Mazer born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with acts such as Chubby Checker, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Crosby Stills & Nash, Y&T, Barclay James Harvest, Mike d'Abo, James Cotton, Area Code 615, and the Tymes. Notable production credits include Big Brother & the Holding Company's Cheap Thrills, Neil Young's Harvest and Tonight's The Night, and the Band's The Last Waltz ~ Mazer passed away in 2021
September 5, 1939 ~ Folk, pop singer, guitarist, banjoist, songwriter John Stewart, full name John Coburn Stewart, born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known as songwriter, including penning the Monkees No.1 hit Daydream Believer. Others who recorded his songs include Lovin' Spoonful, Nanci Griffith, Rosanne Cash (Runaway Train), and Joan Baez. Member of the Cumberland Three. Member of the Kingston Trio from 1961 through 1967. Married singer Buffy Ford in 1975, with whom he would also regularly work. Also recorded as a solo artist, noted for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Gold of his 1979 Bombs Away Dream Babies album ~ Stewart passed away in 2008September 5, 1931 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger Richie Powell born in New York, New York, USA ~ Baby brother of pianist Bud Powell. Worked with Paul Williams, Johnny Hodges, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Dinah Washington, and Clifford Brown. Brown, Powell and his wife were killed in a car crash travelling from Philadelphia to Chicago ~ Powell passed away in 1956
September 5, 1928 ~ Trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff born in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany ~ Free jazz innovator. Brother of saxophonist Emil Mangelsdorff who introduced him to jazz during the Nazi regime while it was strictly forbidden. In the 1950s Mangelsdorff played with Joe Klimm, Hans Koller, and Jutta Hipp. Led a revered quintet in the 1960s and toured internationally. The 1970s showed expanding into new territory, experimenting with multiphonics, playing with the Globe Unity Orchestra, Peter Brötzmann, Elvin Jones, Jaco Pastorius, Alphonse Mouzon, John Surman, Barre Phillips, and Stu Martin. Co-founded the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble. Would go on to collaborate internationally in various ensembles from the 1980s onwards including with Chico Freeman, Jean-François Jenny-Clark, Eric Watson, John Lindberg, Ed Thigpen, and Ernst Reijseger ~ Mangelsdorff passed away in 2005
September 5, 1917 ~ Arthur Goldberg, commonly known as label executive, producer Art Rupe, born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Founded Specialty Records in the mid 1940s, a pivotal record label in the development of R&B, blues and early rock & roll. Perhaps best known for his association with Little Richard, starting with 1955's Tutti Frutti which is widely considered one of the records that defined rock & roll. Other notable artists on the label's roster include gospel acts such as the Soul Stirrers which featured Sam Cooke, the Swan Silvertones, Alex Bradford, Wynona Carr and R&B and rock & roll artists including Lloyd Price, Guitar Slim, Don & Dewey, Roy Montrell, and Roddy Jackson ~ Goldberg passed away in 2022September 5, 1914 ~ Composer, music director, violinist Gail Kubik, full name Gail Thompson Kubik, born in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma, USA ~ Staff composer for NBC Radio. Music director for Motion Picture Bureau during World War II, composing and conducting scores for motion pictures. Won the 1952 Pullitzer Prize for Music for his composition Symphony Concertante ~ Kubik passed away in 1984
September 5, 1912 ~ Lyricist Ray Gilbert born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Zip-a-dee-doo-dah with Allie Wrubel, performed by James Baskett in the 1946 film Song Of The South. Others who have recorded his songs include Kay Kyser, Benny Goodman (All The Cats Join In), the Andrews Sisters, Count Basie, and Slim Whitman ~ Gilbert passed away in 1976
September 5, 1906 ~ Albert Luandrew, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Sunnyland Slim, born near Vance, Mississippi, USA ~ Helped define Chicago blues. Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting in the mid 1940s. Especially acclaimed for the albums Midnight Jump and Slim's Shout, both released in 1969. Has accompanied blues artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Robert Lockwood Junior, Little Walter, and rockers such as Canned Heat and Mick Taylor ~ Luandrew passed away in 1995
September 5, 1900 ~ Double bassist, bandleader Rafael Muñoz, full name Rafel Muñoz Medina, born in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico ~ Enjoyed popularity with his orchestra from the late 1920s through his retirement in the 1950s, playing guaraches, congas, and boleros. Well-known songs include Sandunguera, El Hueso De Maria, La Conga Del 39, and Ojos Malvados. Muñoz also served as musical director for the 1934 film Romance Tropical, the first Puerto Rican movie with sound ~ Muñoz passed away in 1961
September 5, 1892 ~ Classical violinist Joseph Szigeti born near Budapest, Hungary ~ Child prodigy enjoying an international career since his early teens. Dubbed “the Scholarly Virtuoso.” Performed regularly and recorded extensively from the 1920s until retiring from music altogether in 1960. Had several notable pieces composed especially for him such as Ernest Bloch's Violin Concerto, Béla Bartók's Rhapsody No.1 and Eugène Ysaÿe's Solo Sonata No.1 ~ Szigeti passed away in 1973
September 5, 1791 ~ Jacob Liebmann Beer, commonly known as opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer, born in Berlin, Germany ~ Linked Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Richard Wagner. Merged the German orchestra style with Italian vocal tradition. Known for operas such as Robert Le Diable and Il Crociato In Egitto ~ Beer passed away in 1864