Today in Tunes
On this day in music

October 4

10 moments from 1917 to 2022: 4 things that happened, 3 birthdays and 3 farewells.

Tune of the day
Me and Bobby McGee
Janis Joplin
Why today: 1970 · Janis Joplin dies at 27 during the Pearl sessions
Play on Spotify

What happened on October 4

  1. 194383 yrs ago
    HappenedJazz & Blues

    Louis Jordan records "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby"

    Jordan and his Tympany Five cut the jump-blues song in 1943, but Decca didn't release it until June 1944, as a B-side. Jump blues like this fed directly into early rock and roll.

    Play on Spotify Source: Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby - Wikipedia
  2. 200521 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Fiona Apple finally releases Extraordinary Machine

    After long delays and a full re-recording, the album opened at No. 7 in the US, the first top-ten album of her career.

    Play on Spotify Source: Extraordinary Machine - Wikipedia
  3. 200521 yrs ago
    HappenedRock

    Nickelback release the blockbuster All the Right Reasons

    The album opened at No. 1 and then stayed in the Billboard top 30 for 110 weeks in a row. It has sold about 11 million copies worldwide.

    Play on Spotify Source: All the Right Reasons - Wikipedia
  4. 201016 yrs ago
    HappenedPop

    Bruno Mars debuts with Doo-Wops & Hooligans

    His first album had "Just the Way You Are", which won a Grammy, and "Grenade", which went to No. 1 in nearly every country where it came out.

    Play on Spotify Source: Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Wikipedia
  5. 1917109 yrs ago
    BornFolk

    Chilean folk pioneer Violeta Parra is born

    She led the Nueva Canción movement that brought new attention to Chilean folk music. Her song "Gracias a la vida" is one of the most covered Latin American songs anywhere.

    Play on Spotify Source: Violeta Parra - Wikipedia
  6. 195769 yrs ago
    BornHip-hop

    Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons is born

    He started Def Jam with Rick Rubin in 1984, and it became hip-hop's most important label. He sold his share for $120 million in 1998.

    Play on Spotify Source: Russell Simmons - Wikipedia
  7. 195967 yrs ago
    BornElectronic

    Pet Shop Boys keyboardist Chris Lowe is born

    Lowe's ear for dance music helped make the Pet Shop Boys the most successful duo in UK chart history, with 44 top 40 hits.

    Play on Spotify Source: Chris Lowe - Wikipedia
  8. 197056 yrs ago
    DiedRock

    Janis Joplin dies at 27 during the Pearl sessions

    Pearl came out three months after she died and went to No. 1. Her version of "Me and Bobby McGee" became a No. 1 single in 1971.

    Play on Spotify Source: Janis Joplin - Wikipedia
  9. 198244 yrs ago
    DiedClassical

    Pianist Glenn Gould dies at 50

    Gould gave up live concerts in 1964 to work only in the studio. He recorded Bach's Goldberg Variations twice, once in 1955 and again in 1981, and the two versions sound very different.

    Play on Spotify Source: Glenn Gould - Wikipedia
  10. 20224 yrs ago
    DiedCountry

    Country legend Loretta Lynn dies at 90

    In 1972 she became the first woman the CMA named Entertainer of the Year. "Coal Miner's Daughter" later became a memoir and an Oscar-winning film.

    Play on Spotify Source: Loretta Lynn - Wikipedia