10 ready-to-read segments for December 6, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1988, 38 years ago: Roy Orbison dies at 52, the year he co-founded the Wilburys. He collapsed while visiting his mother in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and died of a heart attack in hospital. Earlier in 1988 he had formed the Traveling Wilburys with Harrison, Dylan, Petty and Lynne. "Oh, Pretty Woman" topped the US and UK charts in 1964. Here's Roy Orbison with “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
On this day in 1968, 58 years ago: The Rolling Stones release Beggars Banquet in the UK. Decca put the album out in Britain, with the US edition following a day later. Its songs include "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Street Fighting Man", and it reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 5 in America.
On this day in 1969, 57 years ago: Altamont: the free concert that turned deadly. About 300,000 people came to the Altamont Speedway near Tracy, California, to see the Rolling Stones, Santana, Jefferson Airplane and more. During the Stones’ set, a Hells Angel fatally stabbed 18-year-old Meredith Hunter after Hunter drew a revolver.
On this day in 1969, 57 years ago: A band that didn't exist tops the Hot 100. "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" knocked the Beatles’ "Come Together" from No. 1. Its writers credited it to Steam, a made-up group, and sports crowds still sing it to see off the losing team.
On this day in 2003, 23 years ago: Ludacris lands his first Hot 100 No. 1 with "Stand Up." Kanye West produced the track, with Ludacris co-producing and Shawnna as guest. It came from the album Chicken-n-Beer and spent 28 weeks on the chart.
On this day in 1896, 130 years ago: Songwriter Ira Gershwin is born. With his brother George he wrote over a dozen Broadway shows, giving the world "I Got Rhythm" and "Someone to Watch Over Me". He shared the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Of Thee I Sing.
On this day in 1920, 106 years ago: Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck is born. His quartet recorded Time Out in 1959, full of unusual time signatures, and it became the first jazz album to pass a million sales. Its single "Take Five", written by Paul Desmond, runs in 5/4.
On this day in 1929, 97 years ago: Conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt is born in Berlin. In 1953 he and his wife Alice founded Concentus Musicus Wien, an ensemble dedicated to performing on period instruments.
On this day in 1995, 31 years ago: Rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie is born in the Bronx. His single "Drowning" made the Hot 100's top 40, and his album Hoodie SZN went to No. 1 in January 2019.
On this day in 1989, 37 years ago: Oscar-winning songwriter Sammy Fain dies. Nominated ten times for Best Original Song, he won twice with lyricist Paul Francis Webster: "Secret Love" from Calamity Jane and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing".
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