10 ready-to-read segments for December 13, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 2003, 23 years ago: OutKast's "Hey Ya!" climbs to No. 1. The single from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below stayed on top of the Hot 100 for nine weeks. It later won a Grammy and was up for Record of the Year. Here's OutKast with “Hey Ya!”
On this day in 1928, 98 years ago: Gershwin's An American in Paris premieres with real taxi horns. The New York Philharmonic played it at Carnegie Hall under Walter Damrosch. Gershwin had brought four real Paris taxi horns back with him for the score.
On this day in 1986, 40 years ago: "The Way It Is" takes over the top of the Hot 100. Bruce Hornsby & the Range's hit replaced Peter Cetera and Amy Grant at No. 1, holding the spot for a week before the Bangles moved in.
On this day in 2013, 13 years ago: Beyoncé drops a surprise album overnight. With no warning and no promotion, her self-titled album appeared on iTunes in the early morning. It still opened at No. 1, selling over 617,000 digital copies in three days.
On this day in 1903, 123 years ago: Flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya is born. He turned flamenco guitar into a concert music of its own, not just backing for dancers, and was the first flamenco guitarist to tour the world with orchestras.
On this day in 1912, 114 years ago: Brazil's accordion hero Luiz Gonzaga is born. He carried the baião style and the accordion to a huge audience in Brazil. His 1947 recording "Asa Branca" has been covered by countless artists.
On this day in 1956, 70 years ago: Morris Day of The Time is born. As leader of the band The Time, he played himself in Prince's film Purple Rain. The Time's songs include "Jungle Love."
On this day in 1975, 51 years ago: Blink-182's Tom DeLonge is born. He co-founded Blink-182 as a singer and guitarist, later formed Angels & Airwaves in 2005, and later started a company devoted to UFO research.
On this day in 1989, 37 years ago: Taylor Swift is born in Pennsylvania. She went on to become the first artist ever to win the Grammy for Album of the Year four times.
On this day in 2002, 24 years ago: Lovin' Spoonful guitarist Zal Yanovsky dies at 57. After his years in the Lovin' Spoonful he swapped guitars for kitchens, running the restaurant Chez Piggy and a bakery in Kingston, Ontario.
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