10 ready-to-read segments for December 1, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1957, 69 years ago: Buddy Holly and the Crickets play The Ed Sullivan Show. On their first Sullivan spot the band ran through "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue" for a national TV audience. Holly came back to the show the following January. Here's Buddy Holly with “Peggy Sue.”
On this day in 1966, 60 years ago: Tom Jones hits UK No. 1 with "Green, Green Grass of Home." His version of the song, which Johnny Darrell had released in 1965, held the top spot in Britain for seven weeks. It has since passed 1.25 million UK sales.
On this day in 1967, 59 years ago: Hendrix's Axis: Bold as Love comes out in the UK. The Jimi Hendrix Experience's second album arrived on Track Records, with the US release held back a month. "Little Wing" marked the first time Hendrix ran his guitar through a Leslie speaker.
On this day in 1976, 50 years ago: The Sex Pistols stand in for Queen on live TV. Queen pulled out of the Today show at the last minute, so the punk band was booked instead. Host Bill Grundy was suspended for two weeks over the interview, and the show was axed two months later.
On this day in 1933, 93 years ago: Soul singer Lou Rawls is born. As a young man he sang briefly in a gospel group with Sam Cooke, and he went on to win three Grammys. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" topped the US R&B chart and reached No. 2 pop.
On this day in 1934, 92 years ago: Billy Paul, voice of "Me and Mrs. Jones," is born. His Grammy-winning "Me and Mrs. Jones" sat at No. 1 through the final three weeks of 1972.
On this day in 1946, 80 years ago: Irish songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan is born. His "Alone Again (Naturally)" spent six weeks, split across two runs, at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.
On this day in 1951, 75 years ago: Bass innovator Jaco Pastorius is born. He pulled the frets off his electric bass and played with Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. Bass Player magazine ranked him second of all time, behind only James Jamerson.
On this day in 1954, 72 years ago: Fred Rose, Hank Williams's producer, dies at 56. With Roy Acuff he set up Nashville's first music publishing company, and he wrote "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." In 1961 he was among the first three people voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On this day in 1997, 29 years ago: Jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli dies at 89. In 1934 he and guitarist Django Reinhardt founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France.
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