10 ready-to-read segments for December 18, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1892, 134 years ago: Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker premieres in Saint Petersburg. The ballet opened at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre on a double bill with Iolanta, his last opera. Its music is known for the celesta, an instrument Tchaikovsky had tried earlier in The Voyevoda. Here's Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
On this day in 1961, 65 years ago: The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" reaches No. 1. It took over the top spot on the Hot 100 from the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman".
On this day in 1982, 44 years ago: Hall & Oates' "Maneater" goes to No. 1. The single from H2O held the top of the Hot 100 for four weeks, longer than any of the duo's other five chart-toppers.
On this day in 2010, 16 years ago: Katy Perry's "Firework" climbs to No. 1. It replaced Pink's "Raise Your Glass" at the top of the Hot 100 and held on for the next week's chart, dated December 25.
On this day in 1897, 129 years ago: Bandleader Fletcher Henderson is born. His band became known as the top Black orchestra in New York, and with Don Redman he worked out the formula for swing. He later sold arrangements to Benny Goodman to keep his band going.
On this day in 1943, 83 years ago: Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is born. His songwriting team with Mick Jagger ranks among the most successful ever. Forty years to the day after his birth, he married Patti Hansen.
On this day in 1968, 58 years ago: Spanish star Alejandro Sanz is born. He has won 24 Latin Grammys and four Grammys. His 1997 album Más is the best-selling album ever in Spain, and "La Tortura" with Shakira set a record for weeks atop Hot Latin Songs.
On this day in 1970, 56 years ago: Rapper DMX is born. His debut, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, sold 251,000 copies in its first week. He became the first artist whose first five albums all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
On this day in 2000, 26 years ago: Kirsty MacColl dies in a diving accident at 41. She was struck by a powerboat off Cozumel, Mexico. Her duet with Shane MacGowan on the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" reached No. 2 in the UK in 1987.
On this day in 2022, 4 years ago: The Specials' singer Terry Hall dies at 63. The Specials' "Ghost Town" spent three weeks at No. 1 in Britain in 1981. Soon after, he left to start Fun Boy Three with bandmates Lynval Golding and Neville Staple.
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