Today in Tunes
On this day in music

December 28

10 moments from 1880 to 2015: 5 things that happened, 3 birthdays and 2 farewells.

Tune of the day
Ace of Spades
Motörhead
Why today: 2015 · Motörhead's Lemmy dies at 70
Play on Spotify

What happened on December 28

  1. 1880146 yrs ago
    HappenedClassical

    Audran's operetta La mascotte opens in Paris

    Edmond Audran's comic opera played 472 performances at the Bouffes-Parisiens. It took in well over a million francs.

    Play on Spotify Source: La mascotte - Wikipedia
  2. 194482 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Bernstein's On the Town opens on Broadway

    Leonard Bernstein wrote the music, with words by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show ran 462 performances and introduced "New York, New York."

    Play on Spotify Source: On the Town (musical) - Wikipedia
  3. 196858 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    The Beatles' White Album reaches No. 1 in the US

    The 30-track double album took the top spot in its third week out. It spent nine weeks at No. 1 in all.

    Play on Spotify Source: The Beatles (album) - Wikipedia
  4. 197452 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Helen Reddy's "Angie Baby" tops the Hot 100

    Alan O'Day wrote the song. It was also her fifth No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart.

    Play on Spotify Source: Angie Baby - Wikipedia
  5. 200422 yrs ago
    HappenedR&B / Soul

    John Legend releases his debut album, Get Lifted

    The album reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and won Best R&B Album. "Ordinary People" earned him another Grammy, and he was also named Best New Artist.

    Play on Spotify Source: Get Lifted - Wikipedia
  6. 1903123 yrs ago
    BornJazz & Blues

    Jazz piano great Earl Hines is born

    His records with Louis Armstrong include the duet "Weather Bird." On his 25th birthday in 1928 he opened at Chicago's Grand Terrace with his own big band.

    Play on Spotify Source: Earl Hines - Wikipedia
  7. 1914112 yrs ago
    BornR&B / Soul

    Pops Staples of the Staple Singers is born

    In 1948 he and his wife started the family group to sing gospel in local churches with their children. He won a Grammy in 1995 for the blues album Father, Father.

    Play on Spotify Source: Pops Staples - Wikipedia
  8. 195076 yrs ago
    BornRock

    Box Tops and Big Star singer Alex Chilton is born

    He was only 16 when the Box Tops' "The Letter," his first professional recording, went to No. 1. He later formed Big Star with Chris Bell in 1971.

    Play on Spotify Source: Alex Chilton - Wikipedia
  9. 193789 yrs ago
    DiedClassical

    Composer Maurice Ravel dies at 62

    He told Arthur Honegger that Boléro was his only masterpiece, and that it had no music in it. He described the piece as one long, very gradual crescendo.

    Play on Spotify Source: Maurice Ravel - Wikipedia
  10. 201511 yrs ago
    DiedRock

    Motörhead's Lemmy dies at 70

    He played in Hawkwind before starting Motörhead in 1975. The band peaked with "Ace of Spades" in 1980 and the UK No. 1 live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith.

    Play on Spotify Source: Lemmy - Wikipedia