10 ready-to-read segments for December 22, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 2002, 24 years ago: The Clash's Joe Strummer dies at 50. Rolling Stone voted the Clash's London Calling the top album of the 1980s. The band entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, the year after his death. Here's The Clash with “London Calling.”
On this day in 1808, 218 years ago: Beethoven premieres his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies in one night. The Vienna benefit concert also introduced his Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy. It lasted about four hours in a chilly hall, and the playing was rough.
On this day in 1958, 68 years ago: "The Chipmunk Song" hits No. 1 in the US. Ross Bagdasarian's Christmas novelty record led the Hot 100 for four weeks, into January 1959. It also won three Grammy Awards.
On this day in 1984, 42 years ago: "Like a Virgin" becomes Madonna's first US No. 1. The Nile Rodgers production reached the top of the Hot 100 just six weeks after entering the chart, then held on for six weeks.
On this day in 2000, 26 years ago: O Brother, Where Art Thou? opens in US theaters. The film's soundtrack went on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002.
On this day in 1858, 168 years ago: Opera composer Giacomo Puccini is born. His best-known operas include La bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. He left Turandot unfinished, and Franco Alfano completed it after his death.
On this day in 1949, 77 years ago: Bee Gees twins Robin and Maurice Gibb are born. The twins were born in Douglas on the Isle of Man. Their group, the Bee Gees, is estimated to have sold more than 200 million records.
On this day in 1960, 66 years ago: 2 Live Crew leader Luther Campbell is born. The rapper was at the heart of Campbell v. Acuff-Rose, a Supreme Court case over 2 Live Crew's parody of Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman."
On this day in 1939, 87 years ago: Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues, dies. Her 1927 record "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" became a blues standard and later gave its name to August Wilson's play and a 2020 film starring Viola Davis.
On this day in 2014, 12 years ago: Joe Cocker dies at 70. His "With a Little Help from My Friends" went to No. 1 in the UK in 1968. His duet with Jennifer Warnes, "Up Where We Belong," topped the Hot 100 and won a Grammy.
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