May 24, 2024 ~ Keyboardist, organist, singer Doug Ingle, full name Douglas Lloyd ingle, passed away ~ Co-founding member, organist, lead singer, primary songwriter of Iron Butterfly. The band is best known for their 1968 hit In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, the title a slurred pronounciation of “in the Garden of Eden”. The 17-minute album version, which became a rock classic, came about by accident. In order to set his levels at the start of the recording session, engineer Don Casale asked the band to jam through a practice run. They kept on jamming for 17 minutes, not knowing that Casale had already hit the “record” button. That first practice run ended up being the master take and made it to the album of the same name. A shortened version would be released as a single, and make it to No.30, their highest-charting of four singles to reach the Billboard Hot 100. The band broke up in 1971, and has been reincarnated with various line-ups since but to considerable lesser success and no new recordings since 1975. The classic line-up will however forever be remembered for their epic 17-minute In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, providing a dramatic sound which helped pave the way for hard rock and heavy metal ~ Ingle was born in 1946
May 24, 2023 ~ Conductor, double bassist, bass guitarist, composer Bill Lee, full name William James Edwards Lee III, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Father of filmmaker Spike Lee, has also composed the scores for several of his son's films. Has worked with Chris Anderson, Harry Belafonte, Chad Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Aretha Franklin, Odetta, Simon & Garfunkel, Ian & Sylvia, Tom Rush, Burt Bacharach, Peter Paul & Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Paxton, Carolyn Hester, John Lee Hooker, Josh White, Duke Ellington, Malvina Reynolds, Eric Bibb, the Clancy Brothers, and Bob Dylan. Notably, Lee is the only other musician on Dylan's It's All Over Now Baby Blue, widely considered a classic ~ Lee was born in 1928
May 24, 2023 ~ Composer Javier Álvarez, full name Javier Álvarez Fuentes, passed away in Mérida, Mexico ~ Known for utilizing a variety of musical styles, merging unusual instruments with new music technologies. Has composed chamber music, orchestral pieces, opera, for film and for dance companies. Well-known compositions include the electroacoustic work Temazcai, the opera Mambo, and the 1992 soundtrack Cronos ~ Álvarez was born in 1956
May 24, 2023 ~ Anna Mae Bullock, commonly known as singer Tina Turner, passed away in Küsnacht, Switzerland ~ Rose to fame with her then-husband Ike Turner. The duo would score a string of hits from the early-1960s forward including A Fool In Love, It's Gonna Work Out Fine, Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits and River Deep Mountain High. After her break from Ike in the mid-1970s Tina would launch one of the most impressive comebacks in rock history with her 1984 Private Dancer album spawning the hit What's Love Got To Do With It, her first and only Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. Subsequent solo hits include We Don't Need Another Hero, Typical Male, I Don't Wanna Fight and the James Bond-theme GoldenEye. Has also acted in the Who's rock opera Tommy, Mad Max (Beyond Thunderdome) and The Last Action Hero. Retired from music after completing her 2009 Tina! (50th Anniversary Tour), one of the highest-grossing tours of all time ~ Bullock was born in 1939
May 24, 2020 ~ Jazz, hard bop, post-bop drummer Jimmy Cobb, full name Wilbur James Cobb passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Started in the early-1950s touring with Earl Bostic. Closely associated with Miles Davis from the late-1950s through the early-1960s including on seminal albums such as Porgy & Bess, Kind Of Blue and Sketches Of Spain. Has also worked with Dinah Washington (Dinah), Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Wayne Shorter, Art Pepper, John Coltrane (Giant Steps), Freddie Hubbard (Open Sesame), Howard McGhee, Wynton Kelly (Someday My Prince Will Come), Sonny Red, Wes Montgomery, Shirley Scott, Bunky Green (My Baby), Big Mama Thornton, Sarah Vaughan, and Starbuck. Later on in his career, Cobb would record as a leader including tributes to Davis, Kelly, and Chambers ~ Cobb was born in 1929
May 24, 2017 ~ Contralto concert, opera singer Claudia Hellmann passed away ~ Frequently performed the contralto part in the recordings of Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantatas, Christmas Oratorio and Easter Oratorio. Best known for her longtime association with the Stuttgart Opera. Has also worked with the Theater Münster, the Nürnberg Opera, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra ~ Hellmann was born in 1923
May 24, 2016 ~ Singer Alisan Porter wins NBC's The Voice ~ Porter wins the 10th season of NBC's talent show The Voice, runner-up would be Adam Wakefield. Previously Porter had released two albums, the eponymous Alisan Porter in 2009 and Who We Are in 2014. Following her win on the talent show Porter would release her third album, Pink Cloud, in 2019
May 24, 2016 ~ Singer Gord Downie announces he has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer ~ Downie, frontman of acclaimed outfit the Tragically Hip, announces he has been diagnosed with glioblastoma last December and has undergone treatment. He would do one last tour with his band, known for songs such as Ahead By A Century, Gift Shop, and Poets, closing with a show in his native Kingston, Canada, in August. Downie would pass away the following year
May 24, 2016 ~ Jazz clarinetist, bandleader Toshiyuki Miyama passed away ~ Joined the Lucky Puppy Orchestra after World War II. Would lead his own ensemble from 1950 onwards, initially named Jive Ace and renamed to the New Herd in 1958. The group would record with Charles Mingus in the 1971 and tour the world throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Miyama would lead the ensemble for over 5 decades, remaining active well into the 2000s ~ Miyama was born in 1921
May 24, 2015 ~ Jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, full name Marcus Batista Belgrave, passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA ~ Tutored by Clifford Brown. Toured with Ray Charles. Went on to work with Martha & the Vandellas, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Gunther Schuller, Carl Craig, Max Roach, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Tony Bennett, Palabra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dizzy Gillespie, Odessa Harris, John Sinclair, Roland Alexander, Curtis Amy, Hank Crawford, George Gruntz, Joe Henderson, BB King, Kirk Lightsey, David Murray, Cecil Payne, David Fathead Newman, Houston Person, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, and his wife Joan Belgrave ~ Belgrave was born in 1936
May 24, 2012 ~ Rock, heavy metal, southern rock drummer Mark McConnell, also known as Mark Bam-Bam McConnell, passed away in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ First gained attention in the mid-1980s, replacing original drummer Roxy Petrucci in hard rock, glam metal outfit Madam X. At the time, the band was fronted by singer Sebastian Bach, with whom McConnell would team up several times over the course of his career including on Bach's solo albums Bring 'Em Bach Alive and Forever Wild. McConnell is also known as a member of Blackfoot in the 2000s, and subsequently the Southern Rock Allstars. Other associations include Warp Drive (Gimme Gimme), the Comatones, Cryptonaut, Future Urban Zoo, and Native Sun ~ McConnell was born in 1961
May 24, 2011 ~ Actor, songwriter, lyricist Thomas Hörbiger passed away in Munich, Germany ~ Co-wrote Merci Chérie with Udo Jürgens. Performed by Jürgens it would win Austria the 1966 Eurovision Songfestival with a staggering 31 points awarded, nearly twice as much as runner-up Sweden, the duo Lill Lindfors & Svante Thuresson only earning 16 points with their performance of Nygammal Vals ~ Hörbiger was born in 1931
May 24, 2010 ~ Operatic soprano Anneliese Rotherberger passed away in Münsterlingen, Switzerland ~ Especially acclaimed for her interpretations of the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Richard Strauss ~ Rothenberger was born in 1919
May 24, 2009 ~ Alternative country, pop, rock guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, drummer Jay Bennett, full name Jay Walter Bennett, passed away in Urbana, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as member of Wilco from 1994 to 2001. Also a member of 1990s outfit Titanic Love Affair, guested on albums by Sheryl Crow, Allison Moorer, Sherry Rich and Billy Joe Shaver, produced recordings by Michelle Anthony, West Of Rome and Blues Traveler, and released several solo albums starting with 2002's The Palace At 4AM (Part I) ~ Bennett was born in 1963
May 24, 2008 ~ Singer, songwriter Dima Bilan wins the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Belgrade, Serbia ~ Representing Russia, singer Bilan wins with the song Believe co-written by Bilan with Jim Beanz. Runner-ups would be Ukraine's Ani Lorak with Shady Lady in second place, and Greece's Kalomira with Secret Combination in third
May 24, 2008 ~ Hard bop, soul jazz organist Jimmy McGriff, full name James Harrell McGriff, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Charles Earland, Don Gardner, Arthur Prysock, Candido, Carmen McRae, Junior Parker, Buddy Rich, Rusty Bryant, Al Grey, Red Holloway, David Fathead Newman, Frank Wess, Eric Alexander, and Hank Crawford ~ McGriff was born in 1936
May 24, 2007 ~ Marion Childers, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, composer Buddy Childers, passed away in Woodland Hills, California, USA ~ Playing professionally since age 16, hired by Stan Kenton in 1942 for the position of lead trumpeter. Would go on to become a respected bandleader and collaborator working with a host of artists from jazz and other idioms well into the 1990s including Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Charlie Barnet, the Monkees, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Captain & Tennille, Barry Manilow, Laura Nyro, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Ray Charles, Charlie Parker, Maynard Ferguson, Art Pepper, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Lalo Schifrin, and Henry Mancini ~ Childers was born in 1926
May 24, 2007 ~ Progressive rock guitarist, sitarist Ken E Henson, full name Kenneth Edward Henson, passed away ~ Co-founded progressive rock outfits Freedom's Children in the mid-1960s, only recording sporadically. Best known for co-founding the Abstract Truth, with whom he released three albums from 1969 through 1971. Following the band's disbandement Henson would form the duo Finch & Henson with Brian Finch, with whom toured extensively throughout the early-1980s. They would continue to perform until his death at age 60 ~ Henson was born in 1947
May 24, 2003 ~ Singer, songwriter Sertab Erener wins the 48th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Riga, Latvia ~ Representing Turkey, Erener wins with Everyway That I Can co-written by Erener and Demir Demirkan. Urban Trad, representing Belgium with the song Sanomi, reached 2nd place. Russia's Tatu, performing the song Ne Ver' Ne Boysia, ended in 3rd place
May 24, 1999 ~ The 30th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 3 of 3. A perfect sunny and warm weekend this year's edition would draw some 61, 250 visitors in total. Included on today's, Monday the 24th's bill would be Ilse de Lange, Soulwax, the Manic Street Preachers, Robbie Williams, Skunk Anansie, Alanis Morissette, Faithless, Shawn Mullins, de Heideroosjes, Jewel, Lauryn Hill, Kula Shaker, Kashmir, Sebadoh, Zita Swoon, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Heather Nova
May 24, 1991 ~ Rock, country rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Gene Clark, full name Harold Eugene Clark, passed away in Sherman Oaks, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member and primary songwriter for the Byrds, songs written or co-written by Clark include I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better, She Don't Care About Time, You Won't Have To Cry, Eight Miles High and Set You Free This Time. Clark initially played rhythm guitar but would relinquish that position to David Crosby, switching to tambourine and harmonica. Also recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist and worked with acts such as the New Christy Minstrels, the Gosdin Brothers, Doug Dillard, McGuinn Clark & Hillman, and Carla Olson ~ Clark was born in 1944
May 24, 1991 ~ After a limited release in major cities Madonna's concert documentary Madonna (Truth Or Dare) open in theaters ~ Initially intended to be a traditional concert film director Alek Keshishian was so impressed with Madonna's backstage life that he persuaded her to make it the focus of the film. The documentary, internationally known as In Bed With Madonna, chronicles her life during the 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. It was screened out of competition at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, was given a limited release in early May and would open to positive reviews two weeks later. The documentary would gross $29 million, making it the highest-grossing documentary of all-time, a postition it held until Bowling For Columbine surpassed it in 2002. The film has been noted as a groundbreaking film for its casual portrayal of homosexuality and would have a profound impact on reality television and celebrity culture, inspiring parodies and other music-related documentaries
May 24, 1988 ~ Lyricist, screenwriter Tom Adair, full name Thomas Montgomery Adair, passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Songwriting partner of Hal Hopper, Gordon Jenkins, and most successfully Matt Dennis. With the latter Adair wrote songs such as Everything Happens To Me first recorded by Kay Kyser, Let's Get Away From It All, Will You Still Be Mine, and Violets For Your Furs all recorded by Tommy Dorsey, and In The Blue Of The Evening recorded by Johnny Long ~ Adair was born in 1913
May 24, 1986 ~ Country singer Garth Brooks marries his college sweetheart Sandy Mahl ~ Brooks marries his college sweetheart Mahl, who would co-write Brooks' That Summer Billboard Country No.1 hit of the 1992 The Chase album. The couple would have three daughters before divorcing in 2001. Brooks would later marry country singer Trisha Yearwood
May 24, 1984 ~ Singer, songwriter Ina Wroldsen, full name Ina Christine Wroldsen born in Sandefjord, Norway ~ Formed the electropop duo Ask Embla with producer, songwriter Arnthor Birgisson. Also an in-demand songwriter, songs written or co-written by Wroldsen being recorded by the likes of Shontelle, Shakira, Jess Glynne, Clean Bandit (Rockabye), Sean Paul, David Guetta, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato (Lionheart), Calvin Harris, Tinie Tempah, Olly Murs, the Pussycat Dolls, the Saturdays, Leona Lewis, and One Direction
May 24, 1976 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, programmer, producer Alessandro Cortini born in Bologna, Italy ~ Best known as touring member of industrial metal band Nine Inch Nails from 2005 through 2008 and again since 2013. Frontman of electronic-alternative band SONOIO. Founding member of Modwheelmood. Has also worked with the Mayfield Four, Ladytron, Muse, and How To Destroy Angels
May 24, 1976 ~ Terrance Quaites, commonly known as R&B singer, songwriter TQ, born in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for his 1998 debut single Westside, reaching top 10 across Europe, top 20 in America. Throughout the early-2000s several subsequent singles including Summertime featuring Another Level, Daily and Let's Get Back To Bed Boy featuring Sarah Connor would chart reasonably well in the UK but fail to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
May 24, 1974 ~ Edward Kennedy Ellington, commonly known as bandleader, composer Duke Ellington, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Colossal figure in jazz, wrote over 1,000 songs and led the Duke Ellington Orchestra for about 5 decades from the early-1920s until his death in the mid-1970s. Known best for hits such as East St Louis Toodle-oo, Three Little Words, Sophisticated Lady, Stormy Weather, Cocktails For Two, Solitude, Cotton, Oh Babel Maybe Someday, I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart and perhaps his best known Take The A-Train ~ Ellington was born in 1899
May 24, 1970 ~ Jazz, stride pianist Cliff Jackson, full name Clifton Luther Jackson, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the most powerful stride pianists. After relocating to New York in the early-1920s, Jackson played with Lionel Howard, Bob Fuller, and Elmer Snowden. Briefly led his own ensemble, the Krazy Kats, in the early-1930s, before finding employ as a solo pianist playing the nightclubs and as accompanist for singers such as Viola McCoy, Lena Wilson, Sara Martin, Martha Copeland, Helen Gross, and Clara Smith. Jackson is also particularly known as a solo pianist, noted for the 1962 Carolina Shout album. Jackson has also recorded with Eddie Condon, Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Rushing, and Al Sears. Jackson was married to singer Maxine Sullivan from 1950 until his death two decades later ~ Jackson was born in 1902
May 24, 1969 ~ Canadian rock band the Guess Who perform on American Bandstand ~ During their first performance on American TV the band play These Eyes and Laughing. Both songs would reach gold status in America, the latter would become the band's first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, a feat later repeated with American Woman and No Sugar Tonight
May 24, 1969 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones record Live With Me, the first recording with newest member guitarist Mick Taylor ~ Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Produced by Jimmy Miller. Included on the 1969 Let It Bleed album. The song is specifically noted for being the first recording made with new member Mick Taylor. Live With Me would also be the first recording with tenor saxophonist Bobby Keys who thereafter would regularly session with the band and the only time they recorded with Leon Russell who played piano and arranged the horns. Other musicians included Mick Jagger lead vocals, Keith Richards guitar and bass, Charlie Watts drums, and Nicky Hopkins piano
May 24, 1967 ~ Dwight Arrington Myers, commonly known as rapper Heavy D, born in Mandeville, Jamaica ~ Best known as frontman of Heavy D & the Boyz, which also included G-Whiz, Trouble T-Roy, and Eddie F. Also known for a number of notable guest appearances including on Janet Jackson's Alright (1989), one of the earliest rap appearances on a pop record, and on Michael Jackson's Jam (1992). Reportedly instrumental in getting Andre Harrell to sign Sean Combs as well as Jodeci ~ Myers passed away in 2011
May 24, 1965 ~ Drummer Denzil Best, full name Denzil DaCosta Best, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand jazz, bebop drummer most active during the 1950s. Worked with Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet, Chubby Jackson, George Shearing, the Birdlanders, Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz, Artie Shaw, Erroll Garner, Phineas Newborn Jr, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Tyree Glenn, and Sheila Jordan ~ Best was born in 1917
May 24, 1965 ~ Filming begins for the Frankie And Johnny Elvis Presley film in Hollywood, California ~ A Western style musical drama starring Presley as a riverboat gambler. Filming takes place in Hollywood and New Orleans. The film would be released the following year to mixed reviews. Its Frankie & Johnny title track was released as a single, b/w Please Don't Stop Loving Me, and would reach top 30 Billboard Hot 100
May 24, 1965 ~ Aleck Ford, commonly known as singer and blues harpist Sonny Boy Williamson II, passed away in Helena, Arkansas, USA ~ Recorded with Elmore James, including on the original recording of Dust My Broom. As a solo artist known for songs such as Don't Start Me Talkin', Checkin' Up On My Baby, Bring It On Home and Help Me. The latter would become a blues standard ~ Ford was born in 1912
May 24, 1963 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Elmore James passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of the Slide Guitar”. Influenced by Robert Johnson, Kokomo Arnold, Tampa Red. Known for a number of blues classics, hugely influential on future blues and rock singers and guitarists. Well known songs include The Sky Is Crying, My Bleeding Heart, Look On Yonder Wall and Shake Your Moneymaker ~ James was born in 1918
May 24, 1963 ~ Keyboardist Vivian Trimble, full name Vivian Elizabeth Trimble, born in New York, New York ~ Keyboardist for all-female quartet Luscious Jackson, known best for their 1996 Fever In Fever Out sophomore album. Also worked with Jill Cunniff under the moniker the Kostars, and formed the duo Dusty Trails with Josephine Wiggs ~ Trimble passed away in 2023
May 24, 1962 ~ Jazz guitarist Ben Monder born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Debuted in 1995 with his Flux album teaming up with drummer Jim Black and bassist Drew Gress. Has also worked with Lee Konitz, David Bowie, Paul Motian, David Binney, George Garzone, John Hollenbeck, Marc Johnson, Guillermo Klein, Rebecca Martin, Donny McCaslin, Charles Pillow, Tim Riles, Kendra Shank, Toots Thielemans, Kenny Wheeler, Frank Kimbrough, and Miguel Zenón
May 24, 1961 ~ Smooth jazz, R&B saxophonist, singer Walter Beasley born in El Centro, California, USA ~ Released his eponymous Walter Beasley debut album in 1987 and has recorded steadily to commercial succes since becoming one of the best-selling African-American saxophonists by the late-1990s
May 24, 1960 ~ Keyboardist Guy Fletcher, full name Guy Edward Fletcher, born in Maidstone, UK ~ Member of the Dire Straits from 1984 until the band's disbandement in 1995, first appearing on the UK and USA charttopping Brothers In Arms album. In-demand session musician appearing on records by Aztec Camera, Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, Tina Turner, Randy Newman, Heather Nova, and Mark Knopfler. Fletcher has also released a number of solo albums, starting with Inamorata released in 2008
May 24, 1956 ~ Drummer, bandleader, songwriter Larry Blackmon born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founder, lead singer, frontman of Cameo, initially named the New York City Players in honor of the Ohio Players. Praised for the widely imitated snare drum sound as heard on hits such as Word Up and Candy. Blackmon also guested on albums by Ry Cooder (1987's Get Rhyth,) and Cyndi Lauper (1989's A Night To Remember) and co-produced Eddie Murphy's 1989 So Happy album
May 24, 1956 ~ Singer Lys Assia wins the 1st edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Lugano, Switzerland ~ Representing Switzerland Assia wins the very first edition with the song Refrain written by Géo Vournard and Emile Gardaz. The full voting results were not made public at the time, though it has been said that Assia beat the runner-up by a mere two points
May 24, 1955 ~ Singer, songwriter Rosanne Cash born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Daughter of Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash-Distin. Often classified as a country artist yet draws from a wide array of genres including folk, rock and blues. Released her eponymous Rosanne Cash debut album in 1978 and has recorded to critical acclaim and devoted fanbase since. Best known for her 1981 Seven Year Ache album, which included the Billboard Country No.1 hits My Baby Thinks He's A Train, Blue Moon With Heartache and the title track Seven Year Ache which also crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Married to singer Rodney Crowell from 1979 to 1992, with whom she has three daughters. Cash is also an in-demand collaborator appearing on recordings by Guy Clark, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn, and the Chieftains
May 24, 1951 ~ Guitarist, singer, producer Jean-Marie Aerts, full name Jean-Marie René Albert Aerts, born in Zeebrugge, Belgium ~ Influenced by Vince Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, and Jan Akkerman. First gained attention in the mid-1970s, backing the likes of Raymond van het Groenewoud, Johan Verminnen, and Bert de Coninck, yet would rise to fame as a member of TC Matic, one of the quintessential Belgian rock bands of the 1980s. The band, best known for launching the career of lead singer Arno, recorded four albums through the mid-1980s and is especially remembered for songs such as Oh La La La and Putain Putain. Following the band's disbandement, Aerts has recorded as a solo artist, and served as producer for a wide array of Belgian and Dutch artists including Absynthe Minded, Urban Dance Squad, Jo Lemaire, Tom Wolf, Kris de Bruyne, and Gorki ~ Aerts passed away in 2024
May 24, 1949 ~ Country songwriter, producer Don Cook, full name Don Kirby Cook, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Renowned songwriter. Artists who recorded songs written or co-written by Cook include Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers (I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again), John Conlee (Lady Lay Down), Rex Allen Jr, the Oak Ridge Boys, Conway Twitty (In My Dreams), Lee Greenwood, Keith Whitley (I Get The Picture), Gary Morris, Michael Johnson, George Jones, John Schneider, Reba McEntire (Just Across The Rio Grande), George Strait, Michael Martin Murphey, Mark Collie, and Brooks & Dunn
May 24, 1947 ~ Drummer, guitarist, singer, songwriter Albert Bouchard, full name Albert Thomas Bouchard, born in Watertown, New York, USA ~ Founding member of the Blue Öyster Cult. Brother of bassist Joe Bouchard. Also worked with the Mamas & the Papas, Herman's Hermits, Peter Noone, the Spencer Davis Group, Mike Watt, Richie Stotts, Gumball, Fabienne Shine, Maria Excomunikata, Heads-up, David Roter, the Brain Surgeons, the X Brothers, Helen Wheels, Underbelly, Les Braunstein, David Hirschberg, Jesús Adrián Romero, and Dennis Dunaway
May 24, 1947 ~ Country singer, songwriter Mike Reid, full name Michael Barry Reid, born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Former professional football player, retiring from sports in 1974 Co-wrote Ronnie Milsap's Grammy Award-winning Stranger In My House. As a singer known for a string of late-1980s, early-1990s hits including Till You Were Gone, As Simple As That, I'll Stop Loving You and perhaps his best known Walk On Faith, the latter topping the Billboard Country chart in 1990
May 24, 1945 ~ Pop, rock, comedy pop singer, pianist, bassist, guitarist Dave Peacock, full name David Victor Peacock, born in Enfield, UK ~ Best known as half of Chas & Dave from 1974 until the death of Chas Hodges in 2018. Has also worked with a host of others including Black Claw, Spike Island, Françoise Hardy, Mick Greenwood, Magna Carta, Prelude, Teresa Brewer, Oliver Nelson, Les Walker, Labi Siffre, Mike Berry, Tony Ashton, and Dave Edmunds
May 24, 1945 ~ Jazz, soul, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Terry Callier, full name Terrence Orland Callier, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield, Major Lance and Jerry Butler. Started in doo-wop bands in his teens. Influenced by John Coltrane. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by HP Lovecraft (Spin Spin Spin, It's About Time) and by the Dells (The Love We Had Stays On My Mind). Worked with George Benson, Gil Scott-Heron, Paul Weller, Massive Attack, the Juju Orchestra, Hardkandy, Nujabes, Koop, Beth Orton, and the Urban Species ~ Callier passed away in 2012
May 24, 1944 ~ Singer, songwriter Susana Baca born in Chorrullos, Peru ~ Leading figure in the revival of Afro-Peruvian music. Actively recording since the late-1980s. Earned international acclaim with a series of albums on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label, starting with the eponymous Susana Baca produced by Greg Landau. Best known for Maria Lando. Briefly served as Peru's Minister of Culture in 2011, resigning due to a cabinet reshuffle in December
May 24, 1941 ~ Robert Allen Zimmerman, commonly known as singer, guitarost, songwriter Bob Dylan born in Duluth, Minnesota, USA ~ Quintessential protest singer. Cultural icon. Broke through as a songwriter with his 1963 The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan sophomore album and has recorded steadily since. Acclaimed for quintessential songs such as Blowin' In The Wind, The Times They Are A-Changin', Like A Rolling Stone, Positively 4th Street, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Just Like A Woman, All Along The Watchtower, Lay Lady Lay, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, It Ain't Me Babe, and Hurricane
May 24, 1941 ~ Emilio Bellissimo, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Tony Valentino, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Standells, which would serve as inspiration for later punk groups such as the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. The band is known best for their 1966 Billboard Hot 100 No.11 hit Dirty Water. The song, written by the band's producer Ed Cobb, with some additional contributions by several band members, has gone on to become acknowledged as one of the quintessential 1960s garage rock hits and remains a staple of classic rock radio to this day. In later years, the song would also be adopted as an anthem played after every hometown win by Boston baseball team the Boston Red Sox. Dirty Water has been named as one of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Although the band would be unable to score another Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit, Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White would also become a classic, later covered by hardcore band Minor Threat as well as by punk outfit the Cramps
May 24, 1940 ~ Guitarist Jay Berliner born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1972 Bananas Are Not Created Equal album. In-demand collaborator, session musician, sideman. Notable album appearances include Charles Mingus' The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady, Van Morrison's Astral Weeks and Harry Belafonte's Play Me. Other collaborations include Herbie Mann, Laura Nyro, Grady Tate, Airto Moreira, Jackie & Roy, George Benson (White Rabbit), Grover Washington Jr (Soul Box), Milt Jackson, Ron Carter, Joe Farrell, Stéphane Grappelli, Carly Simon, Deodato, Harry Connick Jr, and James Galway
May 24, 1938 ~ Holger Schüring, commonly known as bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist, singer Holger Czukay, born in Gdansk, Poland ~ Co-founding member of krautrock outfit Can, known for bridging the gap between pop and avant-garde. Czukay remained with the band through 1977 and rejoined on occasion in later years ~ Schüring passed away in 2017
May 24, 1938 ~ Cecil Bustamente Campbell, commonly known as singer, songwriter Prince Buster, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Highly influential on later reggae and ska artists. Helped define Jamaica's sound through a number of quintessential recordings in the 1960s, including Madness, The Ten Commandments Of Man, One Step Beyond, Al Capone, and Whine And Grine. His career slowed down in the 1970s to be rediscovered in the 1980s covered by British artists such as Madness and the Specials ~ Campbell passed away in 2016
May 24, 1937 ~ Saxophonist Archie Shepp born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Helpful in the development of avant-garde jazz. Has worked with Cecil Taylor, John Tchicai, Don Cherry, Roswell Rudd, Reggie Workman, Charles Moffett, Dave Burrell, Sunny Murray, Clifford Thornton, Horace Parlan, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Frank Zappa, and Joachim Kühn
May 24, 1937 ~ Jazz drummer Charly Antolini born in Zurich, Switzerland ~ Worked with Sidney Bechet, Bill Coleman, Oscar Klein, Werner Keller, Peter Witte, Horst Jankowski, Erwin Lehn, Eugen Cicero, Kurt Edelhagen, Peter Herbolzheimer, Max Greger, Steve Hooks, Andrei Lobanov, David Gazarov, Rocky Knaur, Len Skeat, Brian Lemon, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Barbara Dennerlein, Albert Mangelsdorff, Earl Hines, Roy Eldridge, Jimmy Giuffre, Art Farmer, Oliver Nelson, Art van Damme, Stuff Smith, Braden Powell, Dick Morrisey, Dirk Raufeisen, Jimmy Woode, Herman Rarebell, and Pete York
May 24, 1936 ~ Avant-garde, minimalist composer, pianist, guitarist, drummer, poet Harold Budd, full name Harold Montgomery Budd, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by John Cage and Morton Feldman. Emerged from the 1960s California avant-garde community. Known for works such as The Oak Of The Golden Dream, Madrigals Of The Rose and Pavillion Of Dreams, the latter released as his 1978 debut album produced by Brian Eno. Has also worked with Robin Guthrie, Andy Partridge, John Foxx, and Jah Wobble ~ Budd passed away in 2020
May 24, 1935 ~ Songwriter, lyricist James W Blake, full name James William Blake, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for co-writing The Sidewalks Of New York with Charles B Lawlor, music by Lawlor, lyrics by Blake. The song would be first recorded by Dan Quinn in 1895 and over the years covered by numerous artists including Vernon Dalhart, Paul Whiteman, Guy Lombardo, and Nat King Cole ~ Blake was born in 1862
May 24, 1935 ~ Pianist, singer Valerie Capers born in New York, New York, USA ~ Classically trained. Blind since the age of 6 learned to read braille music notation and memorize all pieces before playing them. Well-known for composing the Christmas cantata Sing About Love, which incorporated elements from jazz, gospel, blues, and classical music, the song cycle Song Of The Season, and Sojourner about the life of civil rights activist Sojourner Truth. Capers would describe the latter as an operatorio, a term she coined to describe the combination of opera and oratorio
May 24, 1928 ~ Bassist Max Bennett born in Des Moines, Iowa, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Georgie Auld, Terry Gibbs, Charlie Ventura, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Charlie Mariano, Conte Candoli, Bob Cooper, Bill Holman, Stan Levey, Lou Levy, Coleman Hawkins, Jack Montrose, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Frank Zappa (Hot Rats, Chunga's Revenge), the LA Express, Marvin Gaye, Barbra Streisand, Anthony Newley, Elvis Presley, the Four Tops, Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Seals & Crofts, Quincy Jones, Kenny Rogers, the Beach Boys, Carole King, OC Smith, Michael Franks, Artie Butler, Percy Faith, Hidle Brown Barnum, Stan Kenton, Céline Dion, Jose Iglesias, Carole King, the Temptations, the Crusaders, George Harrison, José Feliciano, Andy Kim, and the Grass Roots ~ Bennett passed away in 2018
May 24, 1919 ~ Herbert Bernfield, commonly known as saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader Herbie Fields, born ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his rendition of Dardanella. Worked with Raymond Scott, Lionel Hampton, Neal Hefti, Bill Evans, Eddie Bert, Bernie Glow, Manny Albam, Al Klink, Marty Napoleon, Serge Chaloff, Frank Rosolino, Jim Aton, and Tiny Kahn ~ Bernfield passed away in 1958
May 24, 1901 ~ Jazz pianist Frank Signorelli born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founded the Original Memphis Five, for whom he also co-wrote Sioux City Sue. Would go on to work with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Adrian Rollini, Eddie Lang, Bix Beiderbecke, Matty Malneck, Dick Stabile, Phil Napoleon, and Miff Mole. As a songwriter perhaps best known for co-writing songs such as A Blues Serenade (Johnny Sylvester, Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby), Little Buttercup (I'll Never Be The Same) (Joe Venuti, Nat King Cole, Coleman Hawkins), and Park Avenue Fantasy (Paul Whiteman, Morton Gould) ~ Signorelli passed away in 1975
May 24, 1831 ~ Music publisher, conductor, composer Benjamin Carr passed away ~ Regarded as the most important music publisher in America during the 1790s, as well as distinguished composer and conductor. Co-founded Musical Fund Society in 1820, one of the oldest musical societies in America. As a composer best known for his 1794 Federal Overture work for piano. Dubbed “the Father of Philadelphia Music” ~ Carr was born in 1768