Today in Tunes
On this day in music

January 22

11 moments from 1897 to 2005: 5 things that happened, 4 birthdays and 2 farewells.

Tune of the day
I Wish
Stevie Wonder
Why today: 1977 · Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" tops the Hot 100
Play on SpotifyApple Music

What happened on January 22

  1. 1907119 yrs ago
    HappenedClassical

    Strauss's Salome shocks the Metropolitan Opera

    The Met gave the opera its US premiere, but pressure from wealthy patrons got every later performance cancelled after that one night. Salome didn't return to the house until 1934.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Salome (opera) - Wikipedia
  2. 193492 yrs ago
    HappenedClassical

    Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth opera premieres in Leningrad

    The opera opened at Leningrad's Maly Opera Theatre, with Moscow following two days later. In 1936, shortly after Stalin attended a Moscow performance, Pravda attacked it as "Muddle Instead of Music."

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (opera) - Wikipedia
  3. 196660 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    The Beach Boys cut "Wouldn't It Be Nice" backing track

    Brian Wilson ran 21 takes of the instrumental with Wrecking Crew players at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood. The song would open Pet Sounds that May.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Wouldn't It Be Nice - Wikipedia
  4. 196957 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    George Harrison invites Billy Preston to Beatles sessions

    Harrison ran into the keyboard player outside the Apple building and asked him to take part in the Get Back sessions, which had just moved to Apple's own studio the day before.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Get Back sessions - Wikipedia
  5. 197749 yrs ago
    HappenedR&B / Soul

    Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" tops the Hot 100

    Wonder's single took over the top spot from Leo Sayer's "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" and stayed there for one week before Rose Royce's "Car Wash" replaced it.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1977 - Wikipedia
  6. 1897129 yrs ago
    BornClassical

    Soprano Rosa Ponselle is born in Meriden, Connecticut

    Her very first opera performance anywhere was her 1918 Metropolitan Opera debut, singing Leonora in Verdi's La forza del destino opposite Enrico Caruso.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Rosa Ponselle - Wikipedia
  7. 1924102 yrs ago
    BornJazz & Blues

    Trombonist J. J. Johnson is born in Indianapolis

    One of the first trombonists to take up bebop, Johnson proved the slide trombone belonged in the style, and his tunes "Lament" and "Wee Dot" became jazz standards.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: J. J. Johnson - Wikipedia
  8. 194977 yrs ago
    BornRock

    Journey singer Steve Perry is born

    Born in Hanford, California, Perry fronted Journey from 1977 and sang on "Don't Stop Believin'," "Open Arms" and "Faithfully." Jon Bon Jovi nicknamed him "The Voice."

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Steve Perry - Wikipedia
  9. 196561 yrs ago
    BornHip-hop

    DJ Jazzy Jeff is born in Philadelphia

    Jeff Townes helped popularize the "transformer" scratch, and with Will Smith as the Fresh Prince he won the first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: DJ Jazzy Jeff - Wikipedia
  10. 200422 yrs ago
    DiedJazz & Blues

    Arranger Billy May dies at 87

    May wrote the swinging big-band charts behind Frank Sinatra's Come Fly with Me and kept arranging for him on and off for decades, along with Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Billy May - Wikipedia
  11. 200521 yrs ago
    DiedLatin

    "Bésame mucho" writer Consuelo Velázquez dies

    The Mexican pianist and songwriter was just 16 when she wrote the bolero in 1932. She died in Mexico City at 88.

    Play on Spotify Apple Music Source: Consuelo Velázquez - Wikipedia