10 ready-to-read segments for December 21, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1999, 27 years ago: DMX releases ...And Then There Was X. The rapper's album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. Its single "Party Up (Up in Here)" followed in February 2000. Here's DMX with “Party Up (Up in Here).”
On this day in 1970, 56 years ago: Elvis Presley drops in on President Nixon at the White House. Elvis flew overnight from LA and turned up at the White House gate at dawn, hoping for a federal narcotics badge. He brought Nixon a Colt .45 as a gift and went home with the badge.
On this day in 1979, 47 years ago: Willie Nelson makes his film debut in The Electric Horseman. The country star played Wendell Hickson in the movie and sang five songs on its soundtrack, including "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys."
On this day in 2012, 14 years ago: "Gangnam Style" becomes YouTube's first billion-view video. Psy's hit, released that July, was the first clip on the site ever to pass one billion views.
On this day in 2019, 7 years ago: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" finally reaches No. 1 in the US. Mariah Carey's holiday song topped the Hot 100 for the first time, 25 years after it came out. No song had ever taken so long to get there.
On this day in 1940, 86 years ago: Frank Zappa is born in Baltimore. The guitarist and composer produced nearly every one of the 60-plus albums he made solo and with the Mothers of Invention. He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
On this day in 1942, 84 years ago: Carla Thomas, often called the Queen of Memphis Soul, is born. She recorded for Atlantic and Stax and had a 1960 hit with "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)." Her duet with Otis Redding, "Tramp," climbed to No. 26 on the pop chart.
On this day in 1944, 82 years ago: Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is born. In 1987 he founded the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, a training orchestra for young musicians. He became the San Francisco Symphony's music director in 1995.
On this day in 1947, 79 years ago: Flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía is born. With Camarón de la Isla and Enrique Morente, he broke from tradition to form nuevo flamenco. His rumba "Entre dos aguas" pairs bongos with electric bass.
On this day in 1992, 34 years ago: Bluesman Albert King dies. A lefty who played right-handed guitars upside down, he was one of the "Three Kings of the Blues" with B.B. and Freddie King. His 1967 album Born Under a Bad Sign is probably his best-known record.
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