Today in Tunes
On this day in music

December 21

10 moments from 1940 to 2019: 5 things that happened, 4 birthdays and 1 farewells.

Tune of the day
Party Up (Up in Here)
DMX
Why today: 1999 · DMX releases ...And Then There Was X
Play on Spotify

What happened on December 21

  1. 197056 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    Elvis Presley drops in on President Nixon at the White House

    Elvis flew overnight from LA and turned up at the White House gate at dawn, hoping for a federal narcotics badge. He brought Nixon a Colt .45 as a gift and went home with the badge.

    Play on Spotify Source: The President of the United States Meets the King of Rock 'n' Roll - White House Historical Association
  2. 197947 yrs ago
    HappenedCountry

    Willie Nelson makes his film debut in The Electric Horseman

    The country star played Wendell Hickson in the movie and sang five songs on its soundtrack, including "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys."

    Play on Spotify Source: The Electric Horseman - Wikipedia
  3. 199927 yrs ago
    HappenedHip-hop

    DMX releases ...And Then There Was X

    The rapper's album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. Its single "Party Up (Up in Here)" followed in February 2000.

    Play on Spotify Source: ...And Then There Was X - Wikipedia
  4. 201214 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    "Gangnam Style" becomes YouTube's first billion-view video

    Psy's hit, released that July, was the first clip on the site ever to pass one billion views.

    Play on Spotify Source: Gangnam Style - Wikipedia
  5. 20197 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    "All I Want for Christmas Is You" finally reaches No. 1 in the US

    Mariah Carey's holiday song topped the Hot 100 for the first time, 25 years after it came out. No song had ever taken so long to get there.

    Play on Spotify Source: All I Want for Christmas Is You - Wikipedia
  6. 194086 yrs ago
    BornRock

    Frank Zappa is born in Baltimore

    The guitarist and composer produced nearly every one of the 60-plus albums he made solo and with the Mothers of Invention. He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

    Play on Spotify Source: Frank Zappa - Wikipedia
  7. 194284 yrs ago
    BornR&B / Soul

    Carla Thomas, often called the Queen of Memphis Soul, is born

    She recorded for Atlantic and Stax and had a 1960 hit with "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)." Her duet with Otis Redding, "Tramp," climbed to No. 26 on the pop chart.

    Play on Spotify Source: Carla Thomas - Wikipedia
  8. 194482 yrs ago
    BornClassical

    Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is born

    In 1987 he founded the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, a training orchestra for young musicians. He became the San Francisco Symphony's music director in 1995.

    Play on Spotify Source: Michael Tilson Thomas - Wikipedia
  9. 194779 yrs ago
    BornLatin

    Flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía is born

    With Camarón de la Isla and Enrique Morente, he broke from tradition to form nuevo flamenco. His rumba "Entre dos aguas" pairs bongos with electric bass.

    Play on Spotify Source: Paco de Lucía - Wikipedia
  10. 199234 yrs ago
    DiedJazz & Blues

    Bluesman Albert King dies

    A lefty who played right-handed guitars upside down, he was one of the "Three Kings of the Blues" with B.B. and Freddie King. His 1967 album Born Under a Bad Sign is probably his best-known record.

    Play on Spotify Source: Albert King - Wikipedia