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.
July 5, 1980 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist Jason Wade, full name Jason Michael Wade, born in Camarillo, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Lifehouse, known for songs such as Hanging By A Moment, Breathing, You And Me, and Halfway Gone. As a solo artist known his rendition of You Belong To Me for the Shrek soundtrack
July 5, 1979 ~ Bassist, producer, composer Derrick Hodge born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ In-demand collaborator in neo-soul and jazz. Has worked in one capacity or another with artists such as Common, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Floetry, Nas, James Poyser, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper Experiment, Quincy Jones, Don Was, Terence Blanchard, Donald Byrd, Mulgrew Miller, and Bootsie Barnes. Noted credits include serving as orchestral arranger and music director in 2014 for the performance of Illmatic by Nas and the National Symphony Orchestra upon its 20th anniversary of the album release
July 5, 1979 ~ Singer, songwriter Shane Filan, full name Shane Steven Filan, born in Sligo, Ireland ~ Member of Irish boy band Westlife, alongside Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Brian McFadden, known for songs such as Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings, Fool Again, What Makes A Man, Queen Of My Heart, Hey Whatever, You Raise Me Up and Amazing, all of which reached top 10 in both the band's native Ireland and the UK. Debuted as a solo artist with the album You And Me in 2013July 5, 1977 ~ Ryan Daniel Montgomery, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Royce da 5'9", born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse. Formed the duo Bad Meets Evil with Eminem. Formed the duo PRhyme with DJ Premier. Active as a solo artist since the early 2000s. Has collaborated with Willa Ford, Promise, Tech N9ne, Consequence, Big Sean, Bun B, Papa Roach, and Gang Starr
July 5, 1976 ~ Rufus Arthur Johnson, commonly known as rapper Bizarre, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known for his work with D12, short for “Dirty Dozen”, which also included Eminem. As a solo artist best known for his 2005 single Rockstar of his Hannicap Circus debut album. The single would reach the top 20 in the UK and the NetherlandsJuly 5, 1975 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Dreaming My Dreams With You by Waylon Jennings peaks at No.10 Billboard Country ~ First recorded by Waylon Jennings. Issued as the lead single of Jennings' album of the same name. Though the song would remain perhaps most closely associated with Jennings, over the years it would be covered by dozens of artists including Crystal Gayle, Marianne Faithfull, the Cowboy Junkies, Alison Krauss, and Martina McBride. Both the song's songwriter, Allen Reynolds, and the producer for Jennings' original version, Cowboy Jack Clement, have recorded the song on their own, respectively in 1977 and 2004
July 5, 1973 ~ Alternative rock drummer Bengt Lagerberg born in Jököping, Sweden ~ Member of Swedish pop rock outfit the Cardigans, best known for a number of late 1990s singles including My Favourite Game, Erase-Rewind and the Tom Jones-collaboration Burning Down The House. Also worked with Brothers Of End
July 5, 1973 ~ Joseph Lewis Thomas, mononymously known as singer, songwriter, producer Joe, born in Columbus. Georgia, USA ~ Rose to prominence with his Everyting debut album released in 1993, spawning the Billboard R&B top 10 hit I'm In Luv. Perhaps best known for his 2001 Stutter hit single featuring Mystikal. Has also collaborated with G-Unit, Papoose, Kelly Rowland, Case (Faded Pictures), Prince Markie Dee, Big Pun, 98° (Thank God I Found You), Chico DeBarge, BeBe Winans, Angie Stone (More Than A Woman), Tony Yayo, Keith Sweat, and 50 CentJuly 5, 1973 ~ Singer Róisín Murphy born in Arklow, Ireland ~ Rose to fame as member of trip hop duo Moloko alongside Mark Brydon, known for songs such as Sing It Back, The Time Is Now and Familiar Feeling. After the duo disbanded Murphy has recorded as a solo artist, starting with 2005's Ruby Blue, and has collaborated with Crookers, David Byrne, Fatboy Slim, the Feeling, David Morales, and Invisble Cities
July 5, 1969 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones headline the free outdoor festival The Stones In The Park at Hyde Park, Westminster, UK, marking their return to the stage in over two years ~ Meant to introduce the band's new guitarist Mick Taylor, circumstances changed following the untimely death of former member Brian Jones a few days earlier. The band dedicated the performance to Jones, and Mick Jagger read a short eulogy on stage before the Rolling Stones began their 14-song set, which included songs never before performed in public such as Jumpin' Jack Flash, No Expectations, Street Fighting Man, and an 18-minute long rendition of Sympathy For The Devil, a number for which African tribal drummers joined the band on-stage. Other performers at the free event, which drew over an estimated 250,000 visitors, included the Third Ear Band, King Crimson, and Alexis Korner. While the event is considered memorable by some, critics agree that it was not one of the Stones' best performances. Keith Richards would later comment: “We played pretty bad until near the end, because we hadn't played in years. Nobody minded, they just wanted to hear us play again.”
July 5, 1964 ~ Hard rock singer Gary Hughes born in Manchester, UK ~ Front man of hard rock, melodic rock outfit TEN. Over half a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with 1989's Big Bad Wolf. Also closely associated with Magnum singer Bob Catley, producing and co-writing on Catley's first three solo albums. Has also worked in one capacity or another with Hugo, Vinny Burns, Johnny Lima, Ayreon, and with Serpentine
July 5, 1961 ~ Hard rock, blues rock, pop rock keyboardist, guitarist, singer Timothy Drury born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention backing Don Henley on The End Of Innocence in 1989. Would go on to work with the Eagles, Whitesnake, Bryan Adams, Melissa Etheridge, Stevie Nicks, the Mob, Yes, and Don Felder
July 5, 1960 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger Bill Johnson, full name William Luther Johnson, passed away in New York, New York, New York ~ Worked with Jabbo Smith, Baron Lee, Tiny Bradshaw, Erskine Hawkins, notably accompanying the latter on recordings such as Uptown Shuffle, Bear Mash Blues, Uncle Bud and co-writing Tuxedo Junction ~ Johnson was born in 1912
July 5, 1959 ~ Folk rock, pop rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Marc Cohn, full name Marc Craig Cohn, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for his 1991 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Walking In Memphis of his eponymous Marc Cohn debut album. The success of the single would help push the parent album into the top 40 and earn Cohn a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The single Walking In Memphis would remain his sole top 40 single, despite Cohn recording well into the 2000s, his critically acclaimed albums often featuring top-notch guests including David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, India Arie, and Jim Lauderdale
July 5, 1956 ~ Drummer Terry Chimes born in London, UK ~ Original drummer for the Clash, present on the band's eponymous The Clash debut album. Would go on to work with Johnny Thunders punk rock outfit the Heartbreakers, Cowboys International, Generation X, Hanoi Rocks, and Billy Idol. Has also notably toured with Black Sabbath in 1987 in support of the band's Eternal Idol album. Chimes retired from music by the mid 1990s to work as a chiropractor in Essex
July 5, 1954 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records That's All Right in Sun Studios, Memphis, Tennessee ~ Just goofing around Elvis Presley records an up-tempo version of the Arthur Big Boy Crudup tune backed by Scotty Moore on lead guitar and Bill Black on string bass. It would be released as Presley's debut single later the same month with Blue Moon Of Kentucky featured on the B-side
July 5, 1953 ~ Blues slide guitarist Kenny Brown born in Selma, Alabama, USA ~ Mentored by Mississippi Joe Callicott early in his teens, and later by RL Burnside, who would affectionately call Brown his “my white son.” Appeared on the Burnside's Too Bad Jim and A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey albums. Also notably backed Junior Kimbrough on the 1993 Sad Days And Lonely Nights album. As a solo artist best known for his 2003 Stingray albumJuly 5, 1953 ~ Guitarist Paul Hackman, full name Paul Wayne Hackman, born in St Thomas, Canada ~ Member of hard rock outfit Helix from 1976 until his death in 1992. Notably present on the band's Rock You and Deep Cuts The Knife, the latter written by Hackman and Bob Halligan Jr ~ Hackman passed away in 1992
July 5, 1953 ~ Electric blues, blues-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Ron Thompson born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Accomplished solo artist. Formed the Resisters. Has also worked with Little Joe Blue, John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, and Mark Naftalin
July 5, 1953 ~ Alfred Peter Zappacosta, mononymously known as rock, pop, jazz singer, guitarist Zappacosta, born in Sora, Italy ~ Member of Surrender, perhaps best known for their 1979 eponymous Surrender album. Active as a solo artist since the mid-1980s, with some dozen albums to his name. Well-known songs include Passion, We Should Be Lovers, When I Fall In Love Again, and Nothing Can Stand In Your Way. Member of supergroup the Northern Lights, known for the 1985 charity single Tears Are Not Enough raising relief funds for the mid-1980s Ethopian famine. Has also on occasion dabbled in acting on stage and film, notably starring in the 2005 Halo film
July 5, 1951 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, accordionist, songwriter Dave Moore born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA ~ Best known for his critically acclaimed 1999 Breaking Down To 3 album, featuring musicians such as Bo Ramsey and David Zollo. Has also collaborated with Peter Ostroushko, Radoslav Lorkovic, and Greg Brown
July 5, 1951 ~ Junko Abe, commonly known as enka singer, actress Keiko Fuji, born in Ichinososeki, Japan ~ Married to producer Teruzane Utada. The couple married and divorced seven times and have one daughter, singer Hikaru Utada. Debuted in 1970 with the Shiunjuku No Onna Enka (No Hoshi Fuji Keiko No Subete) in 1970 ~ Abe passed away in 2013
July 5, 1950 ~ Hugh Anthony Creg III, commonly known as singer Huey Lewis, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Eponym and frontman of Huey Lewis & the News, known for a string of 1980s radio-friendly hits such as Uf This Is It, The Power Of Love, Stuck With You, Hip To Be Square and Jacob's Ladder. Haas also worked with Clover, American Express, Thin Lizzy (Live & Dangerous), Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Phil Lynott, Bruce Hornsby, Jimmy Barnes, Joe Louis Walker, Dick Dale, Sammy Hagar, and Nick GravenitesJuly 5, 1950 ~ Guitarist, singer Michael Monarch born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Original lead guitarist of Steppenwolf, remaining with the band for the first three albums and present on the band's best known including Magic Carpet Ride, Rock Me and Born To Be Wild. Also worked with Janis Joplin, appearing on the 1969 I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama album. Member of 1970s rock band Detective. Member of supergroup World Classic Rockers
July 5, 1949 ~ Keyboardist Tommy Eyre born in Sheffield, UK ~ In-demand session keyboardist. Worked with Joe Cocker (notably on With A Little Help From My Friends), John Martyn, Gary Moore, Alex Harvey, Greg Lake, BB King, John Mayall, Ian Gillan, Gerry Rafferty (Baker Street), Tracy Chapman, Mark Almond, Wham, George Michael, Zzebra, Keb' Mo, and Jake Andrews ~ Eyre passed away in 2001