Today in Tunes
On this day in music

December 18

10 moments from 1892 to 2022: 4 things that happened, 4 birthdays and 2 farewells.

Tune of the day
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Why today: 1892 · Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker premieres in Saint Petersburg
Play on Spotify

What happened on December 18

  1. 1892134 yrs ago
    HappenedClassical

    Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker premieres in Saint Petersburg

    The ballet opened at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre on a double bill with Iolanta, his last opera. Its music is known for the celesta, an instrument Tchaikovsky had tried earlier in The Voyevoda.

    Play on Spotify Source: The Nutcracker - Wikipedia
  2. 196165 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" reaches No. 1

    It took over the top spot on the Hot 100 from the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman".

    Play on Spotify Source: List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1961 - Wikipedia
  3. 198244 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Hall & Oates' "Maneater" goes to No. 1

    The single from H2O held the top of the Hot 100 for four weeks, longer than any of the duo's other five chart-toppers.

    Play on Spotify Source: Maneater (Hall & Oates song) - Wikipedia
  4. 201016 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Katy Perry's "Firework" climbs to No. 1

    It replaced Pink's "Raise Your Glass" at the top of the Hot 100 and held on for the next week's chart, dated December 25.

    Play on Spotify Source: List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 2010 - Wikipedia
  5. 1897129 yrs ago
    BornJazz & Blues

    Bandleader Fletcher Henderson is born

    His band became known as the top Black orchestra in New York, and with Don Redman he worked out the formula for swing. He later sold arrangements to Benny Goodman to keep his band going.

    Play on Spotify Source: Fletcher Henderson - Wikipedia
  6. 194383 yrs ago
    BornRock

    Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is born

    His songwriting team with Mick Jagger ranks among the most successful ever. Forty years to the day after his birth, he married Patti Hansen.

    Play on Spotify Source: Keith Richards - Wikipedia
  7. 196858 yrs ago
    BornLatin

    Spanish star Alejandro Sanz is born

    He has won 24 Latin Grammys and four Grammys. His 1997 album Más is the best-selling album ever in Spain, and "La Tortura" with Shakira set a record for weeks atop Hot Latin Songs.

    Play on Spotify Source: Alejandro Sanz - Wikipedia
  8. 197056 yrs ago
    BornHip-hop

    Rapper DMX is born

    His debut, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, sold 251,000 copies in its first week. He became the first artist whose first five albums all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

    Play on Spotify Source: DMX (rapper) - Wikipedia
  9. 200026 yrs ago
    DiedPop

    Kirsty MacColl dies in a diving accident at 41

    She was struck by a powerboat off Cozumel, Mexico. Her duet with Shane MacGowan on the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" reached No. 2 in the UK in 1987.

    Play on Spotify Source: Kirsty MacColl - Wikipedia
  10. 20224 yrs ago
    DiedReggae

    The Specials' singer Terry Hall dies at 63

    The Specials' "Ghost Town" spent three weeks at No. 1 in Britain in 1981. Soon after, he left to start Fun Boy Three with bandmates Lynval Golding and Neville Staple.

    Play on Spotify Source: Terry Hall (singer) - Wikipedia