Today in Tunes
On this day in music

November 17

10 moments from 1938 to 1998: 5 things that happened, 3 birthdays and 2 farewells.

Tune of the day
I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston
Why today: 1992 · The Bodyguard soundtrack is released
Play on Spotify

What happened on November 17

  1. 196264 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    "Big Girls Don't Cry" takes the Four Seasons back to No. 1

    Like "Sherry" before it, the song held the top of the Hot 100 for five weeks, making them the first rock-era act to reach No. 1 with their first two chart hits.

    Play on Spotify Source: Big Girls Don't Cry (The Four Seasons song) - Wikipedia
  2. 197056 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    Elton John plays a live radio concert in New York

    The trio set with Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson became his first live album, 17-11-70, and he has called it his best live performance.

    Play on Spotify Source: 17-11-70 - Wikipedia
  3. 198442 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Wham! hit No. 1 in America

    "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" reached the top of the Hot 100 and stayed there until early December.

    Play on Spotify Source: List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1984 - Wikipedia
  4. 199234 yrs ago
    HappenedR&B / Soul

    The Bodyguard soundtrack is released

    Whitney Houston's take on Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" held No. 1 for a record 14 weeks, and the album's 45 million sales make it the best-selling soundtrack ever.

    Play on Spotify Source: The Bodyguard (soundtrack) - Wikipedia
  5. 199828 yrs ago
    HappenedCountry

    Garth Brooks releases Double Live

    It sold 1,085,000 copies in its first week, the biggest opening since SoundScan began tracking sales.

    Play on Spotify Source: Double Live (Garth Brooks album) - Wikipedia
  6. 193888 yrs ago
    BornFolk

    Gordon Lightfoot is born in Orillia, Ontario

    "Sundown" was his only US No. 1, and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" told the story of a Lake Superior shipwreck in song.

    Play on Spotify Source: Gordon Lightfoot - Wikipedia
  7. 194284 yrs ago
    BornPop

    Four Seasons songwriter Bob Gaudio is born

    He wrote or co-wrote most of the group's music, including "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry," plus Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."

    Play on Spotify Source: Bob Gaudio - Wikipedia
  8. 194482 yrs ago
    BornRock

    Byrds songwriter Gene Clark is born

    He wrote many of the band's best early originals, including "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and a share of "Eight Miles High."

    Play on Spotify Source: Gene Clark - Wikipedia
  9. 195571 yrs ago
    DiedJazz & Blues

    Stride piano originator James P. Johnson dies at 61

    Seen as a vital link between ragtime and jazz, he wrote "The Charleston," which became an unofficial anthem of the Roaring Twenties.

    Play on Spotify Source: James P. Johnson - Wikipedia
  10. 195967 yrs ago
    DiedClassical

    Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos dies at 72

    His Bachianas Brasileiras blend his love of Bach with Brazilian music; No. 5, for soprano and eight cellos, ranks among his most popular works.

    Play on Spotify Source: Heitor Villa-Lobos - Wikipedia