10 ready-to-read segments for December 12, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1940, 86 years ago: Dionne Warwick is born. Much of her early work came from songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including 1964's "Walk On By," a million-selling international hit. Over her career, 56 of her singles reached the Hot 100. Here's Dionne Warwick with “Walk On By.”
On this day in 1920, 106 years ago: Ravel's La valse is first performed in Paris. Ravel called it a choreographic poem for orchestra. Though conceived as a ballet, it was first heard in Paris and only reached the ballet stage in Antwerp in 1926.
On this day in 1970, 56 years ago: The Doors play their last show with Jim Morrison. At The Warehouse in New Orleans, Morrison reportedly fell apart on stage and stopped singing. The band never played in public with him again.
On this day in 1987, 39 years ago: George Michael's "Faith" reaches No. 1 in America. The single held the top of the Hot 100 for four weeks, and Billboard later named it the biggest US single of 1988.
On this day in 2012, 14 years ago: 12-12-12 benefit brings rock royalty to Madison Square Garden. Springsteen, The Who, the Rolling Stones and more played for Hurricane Sandy victims. Paul McCartney closed with Grohl, Novoselic and Smear of Nirvana, their first time playing together in 18 years.
On this day in 1915, 111 years ago: Frank Sinatra is born in Hoboken, New Jersey. The singer and actor became one of the biggest-selling recording artists in history, with sales estimated at around 150 million records.
On this day in 1929, 97 years ago: Jazz pianist and bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi is born. She became Berklee's first Japanese student in 1956, later led a big band with saxophonist Lew Tabackin, earned fourteen Grammy nominations and was named an NEA Jazz Master.
On this day in 1943, 83 years ago: Saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. is born in Buffalo. His 1980 album Winelight won a Grammy and included "Just the Two of Us" with Bill Withers, which climbed to No. 2 on the Hot 100.
On this day in 2007, 19 years ago: Ike Turner dies at 76. His 1951 recording "Rocket 88" is often named among the candidates for the first rock and roll record. Ike & Tina Turner entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
On this day in 2020, 6 years ago: Country star Charley Pride dies at 86. The first Black artist to become a country superstar, he spent five weeks at No. 1 on the country chart with "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" and joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
Every segment comes from a fact checked against the source linked with it. Spot a problem? Email hello@todayintunes.com.