Today in Tunes
On this day in music

December 16

10 moments from 1770 to 2013: 4 things that happened, 4 birthdays and 2 farewells.

Tune of the day
Moonlight Sonata
Ludwig van Beethoven
Why today: 1770 · Beethoven is born in Bonn, most likely on this day
Play on Spotify

What happened on December 16

  1. 197254 yrs ago
    HappenedR&B / Soul

    Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones" hits No. 1

    The song knocked Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman" off the top of the Hot 100 and stayed there for three weeks, through the end of 1972.

    Play on Spotify Source: List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1972 - Wikipedia
  2. 198640 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    The Housemartins top the UK chart singing with no instruments

    Their voices-only take on "Caravan of Love", first recorded by Isley-Jasper-Isley, became just the second a cappella record to reach No. 1 in Britain, after the Flying Pickets' "Only You".

    Play on Spotify Source: Caravan of Love - Wikipedia
  3. 199333 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    MTV airs Nirvana's Unplugged in New York

    The band had taped the set at Sony Studios a month earlier. Released as an album the next year, it entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 and earned Nirvana the only Grammy they ever won.

    Play on Spotify Source: MTV Unplugged in New York - Wikipedia
  4. 200620 yrs ago
    HappenedR&B / Soul

    Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" reaches No. 1

    It was her fourth solo chart-topper and her second of 2006, and it went on to hold the top of the Hot 100 for ten straight weeks. Ne-Yo was among its co-writers.

    Play on Spotify Source: Irreplaceable (song) - Wikipedia
  5. 1770256 yrs ago
    BornClassical

    Beethoven is born in Bonn, most likely on this day

    No document proves the exact day, but he was baptized on December 17 and Beethoven himself accepted the 16th as his birthday. His "Moonlight" Sonata is still among his most popular pieces.

    Play on Spotify Source: Ludwig van Beethoven - Wikipedia
  6. 194680 yrs ago
    BornPop

    ABBA's Benny Andersson is born in Stockholm

    He played keyboards and co-wrote the songs for ABBA, who broke through by winning Eurovision in 1974. With Björn Ulvaeus he went on to write the musicals Chess and Mamma Mia!

    Play on Spotify Source: Benny Andersson - Wikipedia
  7. 194977 yrs ago
    BornRock

    ZZ Top founder Billy Gibbons is born

    He started ZZ Top in late 1969 and has been its guitarist, lead singer and main songwriter ever since, the one member who never left the band.

    Play on Spotify Source: Billy Gibbons - Wikipedia
  8. 197155 yrs ago
    BornElectronic

    Trance DJ and producer Paul van Dyk is born

    His tracks include "For an Angel", and he was the first artist nominated in the Grammys' new Best Dance/Electronic Album category, for his 2003 record Reflections.

    Play on Spotify Source: Paul van Dyk - Wikipedia
  9. 198838 yrs ago
    DiedR&B / Soul

    Sylvester, the "Queen of Disco", dies at 41

    The singer died in San Francisco of complications from AIDS. His "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" was chosen for the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2019.

    Play on Spotify Source: Sylvester (singer) - Wikipedia
  10. 201313 yrs ago
    DiedCountry

    Country singer Ray Price dies at 87

    He died at home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. His 1970 recording of "For the Good Times" gave him his first country No. 1 since 1959.

    Play on Spotify Source: Ray Price (musician) - Wikipedia