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.
November 5, 1986 ~ Kown Bo-ah, commonly known as singer, dancer, actress, songwriter BoA, born in Guri, South Korea ~ Dubbed “the Queen of K-pop” and considered one of the most successful and influential Korean entertainers. Sings in multiple languages including English, Japanese and Mandarin, helping her reach success beyond her native South Korea. Well-known songs include Listen To My Heart, Double, Rock With You, Do The Motion, Hurricane Venus, and Only One
November 5, 1986 ~ Doo-wop singer Bobby Nunn, full name Ulysses B Nunn, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of the Robins, known for first recording Riot In Cell Block No.9. Member of the Coasters, known for Young Blood. Member of the Dukes, known for the late 1950s singles Looking For You and I Love You ~ Nunn was born in 1925
November 5, 1985 ~ Jazz trumpeter Richard Williams, full name Richard Gene Williams, passed away in Jamaica Queens, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with Charles Mingus, including performing with Mingus at the 1959 Newport Jazz festival and appearing on albums such as Mingus Ah Uhm and The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady. Other notable collaborations include Leo Wright, Booker Ervin, Gigi Gryce (Sayin' Somethin'), Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Randy Weston (Uhuru Afrika), Yusef Lateef, Freddie Hubbard, Red Garland, Jimmy Smith, Archie Shepp, Ruth Brown, Mose Allison, Aretha Franklin (Soul '69), Thad Jones, Charles Earland, Charles Tolliver, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk ~ Williams was born in 1931
November 5, 1979 ~ Rock, heartland rock, roots rock singer, guitarist Tom Petty releases Don't Do Me Like That, lead single off his Damn The Torpedoes album ~ Written by Tom Petty and recorded as a demo version with his previous band Mudcrutch. At some point, Petty considered handing the song over to the J Geils Band, as he felt it had their sound and feel. During the recordings for the album Damn The Torpedoes with the Heartbreakers, however, producer Jimmy Iovine persuaded Petty to include it on the album, convinced it would be hit. Iovine would be right, released as the album's lead single it would reach No.10 Billboard Hot 100, the first top 10 hit for the singerNovember 5, 1978 ~ Pop, pop-rock, entekkhno singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Michalis Hatzigiannis born in Khyrenia, Cyprus ~ One of Greece's most successful artists of the 2000s. Well known songs include Monos Mou, Oheiro Zoola I Tipota, Pio Poli, To Kalokairi Mou and Horevo, all of which topped the Greek charts. Internationally best known for representing Greece at the 1998 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 11th place with Genesis, and for his 2010 English-language album Mihalis
November 5, 1977 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, I'm Just A Country Boy by Don Williams hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Originally written by Marshall Barer and Fred Hellerman, the song traces back over two decades, first recorded by Harry Belafonte with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra back in 1954. Prior to Don Williams hit rendition, the song had also been recorded by Sam Cooke, the Brothers Four, Bobby Vinton, and Roger Whittaker. Williams issued his version as the lead single off Country Boy, and it would become his seventh Billboard Country charttopper further cementing his growing stature as one of the finest country singers of the 1970s. Several artists have later also recorded the song, perhaps most notably Richard Manuel of the Band during one of his last sessions in 1985. Manuel's recording would be included posthumously as Country Boy on the Band's Jericho album, released in 1993 some seventeen years after their “farewell concert”November 5, 1977 ~ Marc Shemer, commonly known as producer, MC, DJ Scram Jones, born in New Rochelle, New York, USA ~ Has, in one capacity or another, worked with the Wu-Tang Clan, Mariah Carey, Jae Millz, Saigon, Lloyd Banks, Tragedy Khadafi, Black Rob, Remy Ma, Lloyd Banks, Mareko, Dipset, the Notorious BIG, Capone, Smitty, Tony Touch, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, Fat Joe, Canibus, Troy Ave, and Kool G Rap
November 5, 1976 ~ Mika Tysska, commonly known as progressive rock, experimental rock, ambient guitarist Mr Fastfinger, born in Porvoo, Finland ~ Considered a guitar virtuoso active in various genres. Released his full-length The Way Of The Exploding Guitar debut album featuring guests such as Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess, Freak Kitchen's Mattias Eklundh and Mörglbl's Christophe Godin. Has also collaborated with Timo Kamarainen, Sauruxet and Pepe Deluxe
November 5, 1974 ~ Heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal singer, guitarist, accordionist, keyboardist Angela Gossow, full name Angela Nathalie Gossow, born in Westphalia, West Germany ~ Lead singer of melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Has also worked with Asmodina, Mistress, Annihilator, Doro, Kalisia and with Amaranthe
November 5, 1974 ~ R&B outfit Labelle release Lady Marmalade, lifted off their Nightbirds album ~ Written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, Lady Marmalade tells the story of New Orleans prostitutes. For a long time, the trio's lead singer Patti LaBelle did not known the meaning of the French chorus, which translates to “do you want to sleep with me tonight”. Well after the song had become a hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1975, Labelle told NME:“Although with Lady Marmalade I swear I had no idea for a while what it meant, until I asked Bob Crewe ‘what's voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?’ He told me, ‘Oh gosh’, I said, ‘what will my mother think?’”
November 5, 1974 ~ Rock, alternative country, folk rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Ryan Adams, full name David Ryan Adams, born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA ~ First gained attention as frontman and besides Caitlin Cary the only other sole constant member of alt-country outfit Whiskeytown, known for the critically acclaimed albums Faithless Street, Strangers Almanac and Pneumonia. Has released well over a dozen solo albums, starting with Heartbreaker released in 2000November 5, 1972 ~ Jazz trumpeter, hornist Ephraim Owens born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Fixture in the Austin music scene. In-demand collaborator, appearing on recordings by Reckless Kelly, Jimmie Vaughan, Sheryl Crow, Mumford & Sons, Patty Griffin. Joined the Tedeschi-Trucks Band in 2015
November 5, 1971 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist Jonny Greenwood, full name Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, born in Oxford, UK ~ Cites Lee Morgan, Miles Davis, Scott Walker, Can and Olivier Messiaen as influences. Lead guitarist of alternative rock outfit Radiohead, also serving as the band's arranger. The band is known for songs such as Creep, Paranoid Android, Karma Police, The Pyramid Song and There There, all of which reached top 10 in the band's native UK. Has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing his Junun debut album in 2015. Composed a number of soundtracks, most notably for the 2007 There Will Be Blood filmNovember 5, 1971 ~ Alternative rock, trip hop singer, guitarist, songwriter Sophie Barker, full name Sophie Alexandra Jessica Barker, born in London, UK ~ First gained attention in 1999 as guest vocalist with downtempo duo Zero 7, co-writing the band's Destiny. Also appeared on Groove Armada's sophomore Vertigo album. Would go on to records as a solo artist, starting with the 2004 Lullabye album, as well as guest on recordings by Sia, the Egg, Grooverider, Muki, and Bliss
November 5, 1970 ~ Avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer, composer Albert Ayler passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Hard to categorize saxophonist straddles the line between R&B, bebop and free jazz. Leader and sideman. Critically acclaimed for mid 1960s recordings, especially Spiritual Unity. Influenced numerous free jazz saxophonists including Charles Gayle, Ken Vandermark, Peter Brötzmann, and David S Ware. Worked with Little Walter, Stanley Turrentine, Gary Peacock, Sunny Murray, Alan Silva, Henry Vestine, Harold Budd, Cecil Taylor, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Ronnie Gardiner, Don Cherry, John Tchicai, Roswell Rudd, Beaver Harris, Henry Grimes, and with his brother Donald Ayler ~ Ayler was born in 1936November 5, 1969 ~ Carlos Sosa, commonly known as DJ, producer DJ Sneak, born in Puerto Rico ~ Important figure in the second wave of Chicago house producers with some dozen albums to his name. Rooted in salsa, merengue and Latin jazz, influenced by early house pioneers such as Farley Jackmaster Funk, Ralphi Rosario and Steve Hurley
November 5, 1969 ~ Contemporary Christian singer, songwriter Jeff Deyo born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Lead singer of Sonicflood, present of the band's first two albums Sonicflood and Sonicpraise. Released his Saturate solo debut album in 2002, spawning the hit More Love More Power
November 5, 1968 ~ Southern rock, hard rock, cowpunk guitarist Ruyter Suys, full name Ruyter Lara Johanna Pakon Suys, born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Influenced by Heart's Nancy Wilson and the Plasmatics' Wendy O Williams. Member of Nashville Pussy. Married to Blaine Cartwright, the band's lead singer
November 5, 1967 ~ Katarzyna Magdalena Szczot, commonly known as pop, soul, pop jazz singer, songwriter Kayah, born in Warsaw, Poland ~ Debuted in 1995 with her Kamien album quickly becoming one of the most popular Polish artists. Known for songs such as Nawet Desczcz, Na Jezykach, Suepermenka, Uwiers (To Nie Ja) with Urszula, Testosteron, Procz Ciebie Nic with Krzysztof Kiljanski, all of which reached top 10 in the singer's native Poland
November 5, 1967 ~ Marcelo Maldonado Peixoto, commonly known as hip-hop, samba, reggae rapper, songwriter Marcelo D2, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Rose to fame in the 1990 as key member of rap-rock outfit Planet Hemp. Released his full-length Eu Tiro E Onda debut album in 1998 and has been recording to commercial succes through the 2010s. Well known songs include A Procura Da Batida Perfeita, Qual E, That's What I Got featuring Chali 2na and Desabafo, all of which reached top 10 in the rapper's native BrazilNovember 5, 1966 ~ Jazz trombonist Øystein B Blix born in Tromsø, Norway ~ Central figure in the Tromsø jazz scene. Worked with Jørn Øien, Konrad Kaspersen, Trond Sverre Hansen, Marit Sondvik, Niels Præstholm, Nils-Olav Johansen, Tor Haugerud, Dridrik Ingvaldsen, Gustavo Bergalli, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Sigurd Ulveseth, Magnus Gran, Bernt Simen Lund, Gaute Barlindhaug, Tamba Kounda, and Alf Kjellman
November 5, 1966 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, Hooray For Hazel by Tommy Roe peaks at No.6 Billboard Hot 100 ~ In the self-penned Hooray For Hazel, Tommy Roe sings of a girl named Hazel who wins the heart of every man only to mistreat them. Roe, singing from the perspective of a lover who's been cheated on, warns the girl that soon all the hurt she caused will come right back at her. The single would be Roe's fourth American top 10 hit, preceded by Sheila, Everybody, and Sweet Pea. Session musician Jerry Scheff, who would later join Elvis Presley's backing band, plays the bass guitar
November 5, 1964 ~ Edwin Lemar Cole, commonly known as jazz pianist, orchestra leader, composer Buddy Cole, passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Married Yvonne King, one of the King Sisters. Worked with Alvino Rey, Frankie Trumbauer, Henry Mancini, Jill Corey, Bing Crosby (In A Little Spanish Town), and Rosemary Clooney ~ Cole was born in 1916
November 5, 1963 ~ Jazz double bassist Reginald Veal born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Pharoah Sanders, Elvin Jones, Charlie Rouse, Hamiet Bluiett, Harry Connick Jr, Terence Blanchard, Dakota Staton, Donald Harrison, Marcus Roberts, McCoy Tyner, Cassandra Wilson, Courtney Pine, Yusef Lateef, Eric Reed, and Greg Tardy
November 5, 1960 ~ Singer René Froger born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Became a household name with hits such as Winter In America, Are You Ready For Loving Me and Alles Kan Een Mens Gelukkig Maken, the latter a collaboration with het Goede Doel. Has also worked with Ted de Braak, Mini & Maxi, the Toppers, and Anita Doth