10 ready-to-read segments for December 23, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1929, 97 years ago: Trumpeter Chet Baker, the Prince of Cool, is born. His recording of "My Funny Valentine," featuring his own solo, became a hit and stayed tied to his name from then on. Here's Chet Baker with “My Funny Valentine.”
On this day in 1893, 133 years ago: Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel premieres in Weimar. Richard Strauss conducted the first performance of the opera at Weimar's Hoftheater.
On this day in 1966, 60 years ago: Ready Steady Go! airs its last episode. The British pop TV show had been on the air since August 1963 and was cancelled as the beat boom faded.
On this day in 1977, 49 years ago: Cat Stevens formally becomes a Muslim. The singer-songwriter embraced Islam at London's Regent's Park Mosque. The following year he took the name Yusuf Islam.
On this day in 1989, 37 years ago: Phil Collins tops the Hot 100 with "Another Day in Paradise." His song about homelessness, with vocals from David Crosby, became his seventh solo US No. 1. It later won the Grammy for Record of the Year.
On this day in 1935, 91 years ago: Singer Esther Phillips is born. She began her career billed as Little Esther. Her 1975 recording of "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" reached the US Top 20 and the UK Top 10.
On this day in 1940, 86 years ago: Chi-Lites lead singer Eugene Record is born. He fronted the Chicago vocal group, whose "Oh Girl" and "Have You Seen Her" were both million-sellers.
On this day in 1964, 62 years ago: Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder is born. Born in Evanston, Illinois, he won a 2008 Golden Globe for "Guaranteed" from Into the Wild and joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Pearl Jam in 2017.
On this day in 2007, 19 years ago: Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson dies at 82. Duke Ellington called him the "Maharaja of the keyboard." He won eight Grammys between 1975 and 1997.
On this day in 2013, 13 years ago: Saxophonist and flutist Yusef Lateef dies at 93. He mixed jazz with Eastern music, playing instruments like the shehnai and koto. His 1987 album Little Symphony won the Grammy for Best New Age Recording.
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