10 ready-to-read segments for December 25, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 2016, 10 years ago: George Michael dies on Christmas Day at 53. He formed Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their "Last Christmas" peaked at No. 2 in 1984 and finally reached No. 1 in the UK on New Year's Day 2021. Here's Wham! with “Last Christmas.”
On this day in 1815, 211 years ago: Boston's Handel and Haydn Society gives its first concert. It debuted at King's Chapel with 90 men and 10 women singing, and it has kept performing without a break ever since.
On this day in 1870, 156 years ago: Wagner's Siegfried Idyll premieres on a staircase. Wagner wrote it as a birthday gift for his wife Cosima. On Christmas morning, a small group from Zurich's Tonhalle Orchestra played it on the staircase of the couple's villa at Tribschen.
On this day in 1977, 49 years ago: Sex Pistols play two Christmas Day shows in Huddersfield. The first set at Ivanhoe's was played for kids whose firefighter parents were on strike. They were among the band's last UK shows for over 18 years.
On this day in 2006, 20 years ago: Dreamgirls opens across the US. After roadshow screenings starting December 15, the musical film reached US theaters on Christmas Day and later won Jennifer Hudson the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
On this day in 1907, 119 years ago: Cab Calloway, the Hi-de-ho man, is born. A Cotton Club regular and a lively scat singer, he recorded "Minnie the Moocher," the first single by a Black American artist to reach a million in sales.
On this day in 1926, 100 years ago: Cha-cha-chá creator Enrique Jorrín is born. The Cuban violinist came up with the cha-cha-chá in the early 1950s while playing in Orquesta América. "La engañadora" is one of his tunes in the style.
On this day in 1954, 72 years ago: Annie Lennox is born in Aberdeen. The former Eurythmics singer has eight Brit Awards and won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for "Into the West" from The Return of the King.
On this day in 1976, 50 years ago: Trance DJ Armin van Buuren is born. He has hosted the weekly radio show A State of Trance since 2001 and has topped DJ Mag's DJ poll five times.
On this day in 2006, 20 years ago: James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, dies. When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named its very first ten inductees in January 1986, he was among them.
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