10 ready-to-read segments for January 13, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1968, 58 years ago: Johnny Cash plays two shows inside Folsom Prison. Cash performed for inmates at 9:40 a.m. and again at 12:40 p.m. at the California prison. The tapes became At Folsom Prison, and its live "Folsom Prison Blues" hit No. 1 on the country chart. Here's Johnny Cash with “Folsom Prison Blues.”
On this day in 1910, 116 years ago: Caruso sings on an experimental radio broadcast. Radio pioneer Lee De Forest sent parts of Pagliacci from the Metropolitan Opera stage over the air, with Enrico Caruso starring. The patchy signal reportedly reached listeners as far off as Newark, New Jersey.
On this day in 1962, 64 years ago: "The Twist" returns to No. 1 on the Hot 100. Chubby Checker first topped the chart with it in 1960. Its second trip to No. 1, fueled by a twist craze among adults and high society, made it the first song to reach the top in two separate chart runs.
On this day in 1972, 54 years ago: Aretha Franklin starts recording Amazing Grace in church. Over two days at a Los Angeles Baptist church, Franklin sang gospel with Rev. James Cleveland and a community choir. The double album became the best-selling live gospel record ever and her own top seller.
On this day in 1973, 53 years ago: Eric Clapton returns with the Rainbow Concert. After two years of near silence, Clapton played two London shows organized by Pete Townshend, backed by Townshend, Steve Winwood and Ronnie Wood. The recordings came out as an album that September.
On this day in 1929, 97 years ago: Jazz guitarist Joe Pass is born in New Jersey. Born Joseph Passalacqua in New Brunswick, he became a master of unaccompanied jazz guitar, best heard on his 1974 solo album Virtuoso.
On this day in 1955, 71 years ago: Australian songwriter Paul Kelly is born in Adelaide. Kelly built a long career on story-songs. "To Her Door" was his highest-charting home hit of 1987, and he co-wrote "Treaty" with members of Yothu Yindi.
On this day in 1961, 65 years ago: Suggs of Madness is born in Hastings. Graham McPherson took the stage name Suggs and fronted the ska band Madness, which put fifteen singles into the UK top ten.
On this day in 1864, 162 years ago: Stephen Foster dies in New York at 37. Often called the father of American music, Foster wrote "Oh! Susanna" and "Camptown Races." Weakened by fever, he was found badly hurt in his Bowery hotel and died at Bellevue Hospital; "Beautiful Dreamer" was published after his death.
On this day in 1979, 47 years ago: Soul singer Donny Hathaway dies at 33. The Chicago-born singer and pianist gave us "This Christmas," "A Song for You" and classic duets with Roberta Flack such as "Where Is the Love."
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