Today in Tunes
On this day in music

December 30

10 moments from 1921 to 2004: 4 things that happened, 4 birthdays and 2 farewells.

Tune of the day
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
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What happened on December 30

  1. 1921105 yrs ago
    HappenedClassical

    Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges premieres in Chicago

    Prokofiev himself conducted the first night at the Auditorium Theatre. The opera's March was later used on the CBS radio drama The FBI in Peace and War.

  2. 194284 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Frank Sinatra opens at the Paramount and Sinatramania begins

    His act followed Benny Goodman's orchestra, and the crowds were so loud that Jack Benny thought the building might fall. His four-week run was extended for four more.

  3. 195076 yrs ago
    HappenedCountry

    Patti Page's "Tennessee Waltz" hits No. 1

    It stayed on top for nine weeks and had sold 2.3 million copies by May 1951. The song later became an official state song of Tennessee.

  4. 196759 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    "Hello, Goodbye" takes over No. 1 in America

    The Beatles' single replaced the Monkees' "Daydream Believer" and held the top spot for three weeks. In Britain it led the chart for seven.

  5. 192898 yrs ago
    BornRock

    Bo Diddley is born in McComb, Mississippi

    His five-accent "hambone" beat runs through rock, pop and hip-hop. His 1955 single "Bo Diddley" went to No. 1 on the R&B chart.

  6. 194680 yrs ago
    BornRock

    Patti Smith is born in Chicago

    "Because the Night," which she wrote with Bruce Springsteen, reached No. 13 in the US in 1978. Her memoir Just Kids won the National Book Award.

  7. 194779 yrs ago
    BornRock

    ELO co-founder Jeff Lynne is born in Birmingham

    He formed Electric Light Orchestra in 1970 with Roy Wood and Bev Bevan, aiming for rock with classical overtones. He later co-founded the Traveling Wilburys and co-produced the Beatles' "Free as a Bird."

  8. 198640 yrs ago
    BornPop

    Ellie Goulding is born in Hereford

    "Burn" was her first UK No. 1, and "Love Me like You Do" spent four weeks on top there. She was named Best British Female at the 2014 Brits.

  9. 197947 yrs ago
    DiedPop

    Broadway composer Richard Rodgers dies at 77

    With Oscar Hammerstein II he wrote Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music. He was the first to collect all four of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

  10. 200422 yrs ago
    DiedJazz & Blues

    Clarinetist and bandleader Artie Shaw dies at 94

    After two obscure years, his 1938 "Begin the Beguine" quickly made him a major pop star. That year he hired Billie Holiday as his band's full-time singer.