10 ready-to-read segments for December 20, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1973, 53 years ago: Bobby Darin dies at 37 after heart surgery. He was the first-ever winner of the Grammy for Best New Artist, and "Mack the Knife" took Record of the Year. His career had taken off in 1958 with "Splish Splash". Here's Bobby Darin with “Mack the Knife.”
On this day in 1957, 69 years ago: Elvis Presley gets his Army draft notice. He was allowed to put off his service so he could finish making the film King Creole, and he was inducted at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, in March 1958.
On this day in 1969, 57 years ago: Peter, Paul and Mary go to No. 1 with "Leaving on a Jet Plane." The trio's recording knocked Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" off the top of the Hot 100 and held it for a week before the Supremes took over.
On this day in 1975, 51 years ago: KC and the Sunshine Band return to No. 1. "That's the Way (I Like It)" took back the top of the Hot 100, three weeks after Silver Convention's "Fly, Robin, Fly" had pushed it aside.
On this day in 1986, 40 years ago: The Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" hits No. 1. Written by Liam Sternberg, the song held the No. 1 spot for four weeks, into January 1987, and Billboard ranked it as 1987's biggest song in the US.
On this day in 1945, 81 years ago: Kiss drummer Peter Criss is born. The band's co-founder played the Catman. He thought up the tune of "Beth", which reached No. 7 in 1976 and is still Kiss's highest-charting US single.
On this day in 1948, 78 years ago: Producer and engineer Alan Parsons is born. He engineered the Beatles' Abbey Road and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, then formed the Alan Parsons Project, whose "Eye in the Sky" reached No. 3 in the US.
On this day in 1950, 76 years ago: Mexican composer Arturo Márquez is born. His Danzón No. 2 is his best-known work. Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra played it across Europe and the US on tour in 2007.
On this day in 1990, 36 years ago: Singer JoJo is born. At 13, her debut single "Leave (Get Out)" topped Billboard's Mainstream Top 40, making her the youngest solo artist ever to lead that chart.
On this day in 1999, 27 years ago: Country singer Hank Snow dies. His "I'm Moving On" sat at No. 1 for 21 weeks, and his recording of Geoff Mack's "I've Been Everywhere" made that song popular in North America.
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