Today in Tunes
On this day in music

January 12

11 moments from 1926 to 2007: 4 things that happened, 4 birthdays and 3 farewells.

Tune of the day
The Joker
Steve Miller Band
Why today: 1974 · "The Joker" tops the Hot 100
Play on SpotifyApple Music

What happened on January 12

  1. 195967 yrs ago
    HappenedR&B / Soul

    Berry Gordy founds Tamla Records in Detroit

    Marv Johnson's "Come to Me" came out on the new label that month. The company was incorporated as Motown in April 1960 and became home to a soul sound that crossed over to pop audiences.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Tamla Records - Wikipedia
  2. 197452 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    "The Joker" tops the Hot 100

    The Steve Miller Band's laid-back hit knocked "Time in a Bottle" off the top, giving the group its first Hot 100 No. 1. It held the spot for one week.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1974 - Wikipedia
  3. 199927 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Britney Spears releases ...Baby One More Time

    The debut entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 and went on to sell over 25 million copies, making Spears the youngest artist ever certified diamond.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: ...Baby One More Time (album) - Wikipedia
  4. 200719 yrs ago
    HappenedClassical

    Joshua Bell busks unnoticed in a D.C. subway

    For a Washington Post experiment, the star violinist played for about 45 minutes at L'Enfant Plaza. Of 1,097 passersby, seven stopped; the story won a Pulitzer.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Joshua Bell - Wikipedia
  5. 1926100 yrs ago
    BornCountry

    Ray Price is born in Texas

    He moved country music from a 2/4 to a 4/4 beat and recorded classics like "Crazy Arms," "Heartaches by the Number" and "For the Good Times."

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Ray Price - Wikipedia
  6. 1926100 yrs ago
    BornClassical

    Composer Morton Feldman is born in Queens

    Known for quiet, slowly unfolding music, he wrote Rothko Chapel for the chapel that houses Mark Rothko's paintings and a second string quartet lasting over six hours.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Morton Feldman - Wikipedia
  7. 192898 yrs ago
    BornR&B / Soul

    Ruth Brown is born in Portsmouth, Virginia

    Her run of R&B hits, including the 11-week No. 1 "Teardrops from My Eyes," did so much for Atlantic Records that it was called the house that Ruth built.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Ruth Brown - Wikipedia
  8. 197056 yrs ago
    BornHip-hop

    Raekwon is born in Brooklyn

    A founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Corey Woods released his solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Raekwon - Wikipedia
  9. 200125 yrs ago
    DiedLatin

    Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfá dies in Rio

    He wrote the music for "Manhã de Carnaval" from the film Black Orpheus, one of the most-played standards in the world.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Luiz Bonfá - Wikipedia
  10. 200323 yrs ago
    DiedPop

    Bee Gee Maurice Gibb dies in Miami Beach

    Robin's twin played bass, guitar and keyboards for the Bee Gees, including the bass lines behind their disco era. He was 53.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Maurice Gibb - Wikipedia
  11. 200719 yrs ago
    DiedJazz & Blues

    Alice Coltrane dies at 69

    A pianist and one of jazz's rare harpists, she played in John Coltrane's band and recorded albums like Journey in Satchidananda.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Alice Coltrane - Wikipedia