Today in Tunes
On this day in music

December 1

10 moments from 1933 to 1997: 4 things that happened, 4 birthdays and 2 farewells.

Tune of the day
Peggy Sue
Buddy Holly
Why today: 1957 · Buddy Holly and the Crickets play The Ed Sullivan Show
Play on Spotify

What happened on December 1

  1. 195769 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    Buddy Holly and the Crickets play The Ed Sullivan Show

    On their first Sullivan spot the band ran through "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue" for a national TV audience. Holly came back to the show the following January.

    Play on Spotify Source: Buddy Holly - Wikipedia
  2. 196660 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Tom Jones hits UK No. 1 with "Green, Green Grass of Home"

    His version of the song, which Johnny Darrell had released in 1965, held the top spot in Britain for seven weeks. It has since passed 1.25 million UK sales.

    Play on Spotify Source: Green, Green Grass of Home - Wikipedia
  3. 196759 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    Hendrix's Axis: Bold as Love comes out in the UK

    The Jimi Hendrix Experience's second album arrived on Track Records, with the US release held back a month. "Little Wing" marked the first time Hendrix ran his guitar through a Leslie speaker.

    Play on Spotify Source: Axis: Bold as Love - Wikipedia
  4. 197650 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    The Sex Pistols stand in for Queen on live TV

    Queen pulled out of the Today show at the last minute, so the punk band was booked instead. Host Bill Grundy was suspended for two weeks over the interview, and the show was axed two months later.

    Play on Spotify Source: Bill Grundy - Wikipedia
  5. 193393 yrs ago
    BornR&B / Soul

    Soul singer Lou Rawls is born

    As a young man he sang briefly in a gospel group with Sam Cooke, and he went on to win three Grammys. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" topped the US R&B chart and reached No. 2 pop.

    Play on Spotify Source: Lou Rawls - Wikipedia
  6. 193492 yrs ago
    BornR&B / Soul

    Billy Paul, voice of "Me and Mrs. Jones," is born

    His Grammy-winning "Me and Mrs. Jones" sat at No. 1 through the final three weeks of 1972.

    Play on Spotify Source: Billy Paul - Wikipedia
  7. 194680 yrs ago
    BornPop

    Irish songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan is born

    His "Alone Again (Naturally)" spent six weeks, split across two runs, at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.

    Play on Spotify Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan - Wikipedia
  8. 195175 yrs ago
    BornJazz & Blues

    Bass innovator Jaco Pastorius is born

    He pulled the frets off his electric bass and played with Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. Bass Player magazine ranked him second of all time, behind only James Jamerson.

    Play on Spotify Source: Jaco Pastorius - Wikipedia
  9. 195472 yrs ago
    DiedCountry

    Fred Rose, Hank Williams's producer, dies at 56

    With Roy Acuff he set up Nashville's first music publishing company, and he wrote "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." In 1961 he was among the first three people voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

    Play on Spotify Source: Fred Rose (songwriter) - Wikipedia
  10. 199729 yrs ago
    DiedJazz & Blues

    Jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli dies at 89

    In 1934 he and guitarist Django Reinhardt founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

    Play on Spotify Source: Stéphane Grappelli - Wikipedia