10 ready-to-read segments for December 17, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1971, 55 years ago: David Bowie releases Hunky Dory in the UK. It came out on RCA. "Changes" followed as a single in January 1972, and "Life on Mars?" got its own single release in 1973 and climbed to No. 3 in Britain. Here's David Bowie with “Life on Mars?”
On this day in 1969, 57 years ago: Tiny Tim marries Miss Vicki live on The Tonight Show. NBC reckoned 30 to 35 million people tuned in. The singer was best known for his 1968 cover of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips".
On this day in 1991, 35 years ago: A US court rules against Biz Markie over an uncleared sample. He had used Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)" on I Need a Haircut. From then on samples had to be cleared and paid for, so most producers cut back to one or two per track.
On this day in 1994, 32 years ago: Ini Kamoze's "Here Comes the Hotstepper" hits No. 1. The Jamaican dancehall artist's track, featured on the soundtrack of the film Prêt-à-Porter, spent two weeks on top of the Hot 100.
On this day in 1894, 132 years ago: Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler is born. He took over the Boston Pops in 1930 and led it for close to 50 years. Under him, the orchestra reportedly recorded more than any other orchestra anywhere.
On this day in 1939, 87 years ago: Temptations falsetto Eddie Kendricks is born. His high voice led the Temptations on "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)". Going solo, he topped the pop chart in 1973 with "Keep On Truckin'".
On this day in 1949, 77 years ago: Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers is born. Free's "All Right Now", which he co-wrote with bassist Andy Fraser, was a worldwide radio hit in 1970. He later started Bad Company with Mick Ralphs.
On this day in 1967, 59 years ago: Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino is born in Turin. His 1999 single "Bla Bla Bla" was a big European hit, and "L'Amour toujours" earned him another platinum disc in Italy.
On this day in 1999, 27 years ago: Saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. dies at 56. He collapsed in a CBS green room after playing four songs for a TV show. His "Just the Two of Us" with Bill Withers, from Winelight, reached No. 2 in 1981.
On this day in 2010, 16 years ago: Captain Beefheart dies at 69. Don Van Vliet died of complications from multiple sclerosis. He quit music in 1982 to paint, and his 1969 double album Trout Mask Replica came to be hailed as his masterpiece.
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