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.
April 5, 1950 ~ Singer Agnetha Fältskog born in Jököping, Sweden ~ Cites Connie Francis, Marianne Faithfull, Aretha Franklin, and Lesley Gore, as her main influences. Released her eponymous debut album in 1968, Agnetha Fältskog, before becoming an international superstar as a member of ABBA, which also included her then-husband Björn Ulvaeus. The band would rise to international fame, enjoying popularity especially across Europe, after winning the 1974 Eurovision Songfestival with Waterloo. Other well known songs include SOS, Mamma Mia, Fernando, Money Money Money, Knowing Me Knowing You, Take A Chance On Me, The Winner Takes It All, and Super Trouper. Their 1976 single Dancing Queen would top the Billboard Hot 100. Fältskog has released a number of solo albums, all in Swedish, prior to and during the ABBA years, switching to English after the band broke up. As a solo artist Fältskog is perhaps best known for the early 1980s singles The Heat Is On and Wrap Your Arms Around Me
April 5, 1950 ~ Drummer, songwriter Everett Morton, full name Everett Matthew Livingstone Morton, born in St Kitts, St Kitts & Nevis ~ Reggae-influenced drummer known for his syncopated and polyrhythmic drumming. Member of 1980s ska revival band the Beat, known for hits such as The Tears Of A Clown, Mirror In The Bathroom, Too Nice To Talk To and perhaps their best known Can't Get Used To Losing You, all of which reached top 10 in the band's native UK ~ Morton passed away in 2021
April 5, 1948 ~ Rock, hard rock, heavy metal drummer Dave Holland born in Northampton, UK ~ Member of Trapeze from 1969 through 1979, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including Medusa and You Are The Music (We're Just The Band). Following his departure from the band in 1979, Holland joined Judas Priest, first appearing on the highly acclaimed British Steel album. Holland has also worked with Finders Keepers, Pinkerton's Assorted Colours, Blue Jays, Glenn Hughes (Play Me Out), Justin Hayward (Songwriter), Robin George, Leonor Marchesi, Tony Iommi, and Al Atkins ~ Holland passed away in 2018April 5, 1948 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Hans Theessink born in Enschede, the Netherlands ~ Once described as “one helluva guitar player” by Bo Diddley. Active since the 1960s, initially as a member of the Silly Skiffle Group and as a solo artist since the early 1970s, recording some two dozen albums through the end of the century
April 5, 1948 ~ Kent Henry Plischke, commonly known as guitarist Kent Henry, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Uncredited on Blues Image's Open sophomore album, noted for his guitar solo on the hit Ride Captain Ride. Worked with Steppenwolf, present on the 1971 For Ladies album and on the band's farewell tour. Has also worked with Genesis, Charity, Screaming Lord Sutch, and John Kay ~ Plischke passed away in 2009
April 5, 1946 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Johnny Coppin born in Woodford, UK ~ Co-founded Decameron with Dave Bell, known for a string of albums during the 1970s including the acclaimed Say Hello To The Band released in 1973. Also known as a solo artist with well over a dozen albums to his name starting in the late 1970sApril 5, 1946 ~ Folk, rock, pop singer, guitarist Takuro Yoshida born in Okuchi, Japan ~ Well over two dozen albums to his name since the early 1970s. Best known for his Tabi No Yado hit single, a million-seller in 1982. Founded the For Life Records record label with Yosui Inoue, Shigeru Izumiya and Hitoshi Komuro. Many of Yoshida's songs have been used for TV, notably Jun as the theme song to the manga series Cromartie High School
April 5, 1946 ~ Producer, songwriter Vincent Youmans, full name Vincent Millie Youmans, passed away in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Leading Broadway composer of his day. Co-wrote songs such as Orchids In The Moonlight (Raul Roulien, Rudy Vallée, Dinah Shore), Tea For Two (Phyllis Cleveland, Teddy Weatherford, Doris Day), Sometimes I'm Happy Sometimes I'm Blue (the Six Hottentots, Jack Hylton, Mildred Bailey), and More Than You Know (Mayo Methot, Ruth Etting, Lena Horne) ~ Youmans was born in 1898
April 5, 1944 ~ Jazz, free jazz saxophonist Evan Parker, full name Evans Shaw Parker, born in Bristol, UK ~ Pivotal figure on the European free jazz scene. Influenced by Paul Desmond, Warne Marsh, John Coltrane. As leader or co-leader over 60 albums to his name. In-demand sideman for the likes of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Derek Bailey, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Joe McPhee, the Globe Unity Orchestra, Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, John Zorn, Fred Frith, Sylvie Courvoisier, the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, and the Transatlantic Art Ensemble. Outside jazz circles has worked with pop and rock acts including Scott Walker, Jah Wobble, Spiritualized, Spring Heel Jack, David Sylvian and Robert WyattApril 5, 1942 ~ Guitarist, singer Allan Clarke born in Salford, UK ~ Co-founded the Hollies with Graham Nash, known for their harmony vocals and a string of 1960s UK top 10 hits including Stay, Just One Look, I'm Alive, Look Through Any Window, I Can't Let Go and perhaps their best known Bus Stop, the latter also topping the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966
April 5, 1941 ~ Violinist, mandolinist, guitarist Dave Swarbrick, full name David Cyril Eric Swarbrick, born in Stoneleigh, UK ~ Best known as key member of Fairport Convention, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums starting with the critically acclaimed Liege And Lief album released in 1969. Has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Dave Swarbrick in 1976. Revered as one of Britain's most acclaimed folk rock violinists, Swarbrick has appeared on albums by Martin Carthy, Ewan MacColl, AL Lloyd, John Renbourn, Sandy Denny (Sandy), Richard Thompson, Heads Hands & Feet, Alan Stivell, Peter Bellamy, and Tom Paxton ~ Swarbrick passed away in 2016
April 5, 1940 ~ Country, folk singer, guitarist Tommy Cash born in Dyess, Arkansas, USA ~ Served as a DJ for the Armed Forces Radio network while enlisted. Following his stint in the US Army, Cash would work with Hank Williams Jr and eventually land a record deal with Musicor Records in the mid 1960s. Best known for his 1969 Billboard Country No.4 hit Six White Horses, dedicated to the memory of John F Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. Following the success of the single, Cash would score a handful of top 20 hits on the same chart through the mid 1970s. In 1970, Cash would be the first to record the Carl Perkins-penned Rise And Shine, notably covered by Kitty Wells later the same year. Other well known songs include One Song Away, So This Is Love, I Recall A Gypsy Woman, and She Met A Stranger (I Met A Train). Despite being a passionate, versatile singer in his own right, Cash never achieved near the same stature as his elder brother Johnny Cash. Cash continued to perform and record well into the 2010s ~ Cash passed away in 2024
April 5, 1939 ~ Singer, songwriter Ronald White, full name Ronald Anthony White, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Co-founding and sole constant member of the Miracles until his death in 1995, known for Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as Shop Around, I Second That Emotion, The Tears Of A Clown, Love Machine. In addition to co-writing a vast amount of the band's material White also co-wrote, usually in partnership with Smokey Robinson, hits for Kim Weston, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, and the Temptations, including the latter's My Girl 1964 hit which would be covered by over 200 artists. White is also noted for bringing Stevie Wonder to Motown ~ White passed away in 1995
April 5, 1936 ~ Experimental, opera, classical pianist, tubist, composer John White born in Berlin, Germany ~ Pioneered British minimalism. Has composed over 150 piano sonatas, over 20 symphonies, some 30 ballets. Closely associated with Cornelius Cardew, Gavin Bryars, and the Promenade Theater OrchestraApril 5, 1933 ~ Soprano, lyric colaratura singer Eugenia Ratti born in Genoa, Italy ~ Active since the mid 1950s. Has worked with the Paris Opera, the Munich State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Dallas Opera, and other renowned orchestras. Especially known for soubrette roles in works composed by Domenico Cimarosa and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ~ Ratti passed away in 2020
April 5, 1932 ~ Soul, R&B singer, songwriter Billy Bland born in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA ~ Member of 1950s band the Bees, known for songs such as Toy Bell and My Ding-a-ling. As a solo artist best known for Let The Little Girl Dance, a unexpected Billboard top 10 hit in 1960. Bland would follow up with two minor hits barely gracing the charts, namely Harmony and You Were Born To Be Loved before retiring from the music industry ~ Bland passed away in 2017
April 5, 1931 ~ Jack Henderson Clement, commonly known as producer, songwriter, pianist Cowboy Jack Clement, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Producer at Sun Records. Worked with Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis. Wrote Ballad Of A Teenage Queen, Guess Things Happen That Way, The One On The Right Is On The Left and produced Ring Of Fire for Johnny Cash. Other artists who have recorded Clement's songs include Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Bobby Bare, Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, Cliff Richard, Charley Pride, Tom Jones, Dickey Lee, and Hank Snow. To European audiences perhaps best known for producing portions of U2's Rattle & Hum album, notably the tracks When Love Comes To Town and Angel Of Harlem ~ Clement passed away in 2013April 5, 1930 ~ Vaudeville, ragtime singer Gene Greene, full name Eugene Delbert Greene, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the first to use scat singing techniques. Known for songs such as The Chinese Blues, Alexander's Got A Jazz Band Now, and his best known King Of The Bungaloos ~ Greene was born in 1877
April 5, 1929 ~ Robert George Meek, commonly known as producer Joe Meek, born in Newent, UK ~ Pioneered space age pop and recording practices such as overdubbing, sampling and reverberation. One of the first producers, engineers to be recognized for his individual identity as an artist. Wrote and produced the Tornados's Telstar, the first single by a British rock group to reach No.1 on the American Billboard Hot 100. Other singles produced by Meek include Johnny Remember Me for John Leyton, Just Like Eddie for Heinz, Angela Jones for Michael Cox, Have I The Right for the Honeycombs and Tribute To Buddy Holly for Mike Berry ~ Meek passed away in 1967
April 5, 1928 ~ Mario Gino Merlino, commonly known as singer, saxophonist, clarinetist Gene Merlino, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Worked with Frankie Carle, Ray Anthony, Freddy Martin. Best known for numerous appearances from the early 1960s through the late 1970s on TV shows such as the Red Skelton Show, the Judy Garland Show, The Carol Burnett Show and Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Member of the Anita Kerr Singers. Provided the singing voice for the 1967 musical film Camelot. In later years also sang for the animated TV series The Simpsons, namely Whacking Day, South Of The Border and Jellyfish ~ Merlino passed away in 2024
April 5, 1926 ~ Jazz drummer Stan Levey born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Considered one of the earliest bebop drummers. Started with Dizzy Gillespie at age 16. Also worked with Stan Kenton, Howard Rumsey, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Buddy Bregman, Conte Candoli, Victor Feldman, Jimmy Giuffre, Lee Konitz, Oscar Peterson, Warne Marsh, Shorty Rogers, Sonny Stitt, Quincy Jones, and Skitch Anderson ~ Levey passed away in 2005
April 5, 1907 ~ Jakob Franz Wolff, commonly known as label executive, photographer, producer Francis Wolff, born in Berlin, Germany ~ Of Jewish descent emigrated to New York by the late 1930s, teaming up with childhood friend and Blue Note co-founder Alfred Lion. Until the latter's retirement in 1967 Wolff would concentrate on the company's financial affairs and day to day running of the business, only occasionally supervising recording sessions. Nevertheless his contributions proved important to the label's success. Wolff also served as the company's photographer, his work used for publicity material and album sleeves. The publication of the 1995 book The Blue Note Years The Jazz Photography Of Francis Wolff would help make the public more aware of his work as one of the leading jazz photographers ~ Wolff passed away in 1971April 5, 1903 ~ Folk singer, banjoist, guitarist Frank Warner born in Selma, Alabama, USA ~ Folklorist, song collector known to have preserved and recorded some 1,000 traditional folk songs with his wife Anne Warner, including Tom Dooley, He's Got The Whole World In His Hands and Days Of Forty-nine ~ Warner passed away in 1978
April 5, 1903 ~ Singer Franklyn Baur born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the early 1920s. Released his first recording, If The Rest Of The World Don't Want You, for Victor in 1923. Would go on to appear on hundreds of recordings both as a solo artist and as a featured vocalist working with artists such as the Revelers, Nathaniel Shilkret, Roger Wolfe Kahn, and Paul Whiteman ~ Baur passed away in 1950
April 5, 1903 ~ Songwriter Jimmy Campbell, full name James Alexander Campbell-Tyrie, born in Gosforth, UK ~ Frequent songwriting, music publishing partner of Reg Connelly, the pair at times publishing or writing music under the common moniker Irving King. The pair wrote or co-wrote a number of oft-covered 1920, 1930s songs including Show Me The Way To Go Home (the New Princes Toronto Band, the California Ramblers, Julie London), If I Had You (the Piccadilly Players, Ben Selvin, Art Tatum), Goodnight Sweetheart (the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Ruth Etting, Dean Martin, the Flamingos, Connie Francis), By The Fireside (Buddy Campbell, Vera Lynn, Jo Stafford), Try A Little Tenderness (Jack Payne, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding), and Just An Echo In The Valley (Bing Crosby, Ray Noble, Rudy Vallée) ~ Campbell passed away in 1967
April 5, 1903 ~ Uilleann piper Leo Rowsome born in Dublin, Ireland ~ First uillean piper to perform on Irish National Radio in the 1920s. First Irish artist to perform on BBC radio. Formed the Pipes Quartet in the mid 1930s, remaining popular throughout the 1940s and 1950s ~ Rowsome passed away in 1970