John Linnell
One half of the ingenious duo They Might Be Giants, whose accordion and wit helped shape the sound of brainy, off-kilter alternative rock.
Born 1959 (age 67)·American musician·Birthday: June 12·Baby Boomers
Biography
John Linnell, with his musical partner John Flansburgh, spent decades proving that clever, quirky songwriting could find a massive audience. As one-half of They Might Be Giants, Linnell provided the band's distinctive melodic heart, often channeling a blend of new-wave energy and Tin Pan Alley craftsmanship through his chosen instrument: the accordion. His voice, reedy and earnest, delivered lyrics that were by turns philosophical, absurd, and deeply human. From the early days of dial-a-song on an answering machine to Grammy-winning children's albums and alt-rock radio hits like 'Birdhouse in Your Soul,' Linnell's compositions refused to fit into easy categories. He approached music with the curiosity of a collector, weaving baritone saxophone, clarinet, and intricate keyboard lines into a body of work that is both playful and meticulously constructed. In the landscape of American music, he stands as a testament to the power of idiosyncrasy, intellect, and unforgettable melody.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
John was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the influential alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, which has released over 20 studio albums.
- Won two Grammy Awards for the children's albums 'Here Come the 123s' and 'Here Comes Science.'
- Wrote and sang lead on the band's signature hit 'Birdhouse in Your Soul.'
Did You Know?
He and bandmate John Flansburgh share the same first name and birthday (though Flansburgh is a year older).
He is a self-taught musician on multiple instruments, including accordion and saxophone.
He provided the voice and songs for the character of 'Hippo' on the children's TV show 'The Adventures of Pete & Pete.'
“I'm trying to write a song that doesn't already exist in the world.”
