10 ready-to-read segments for January 17, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 2015, 11 years ago: "Uptown Funk" starts a 14-week run at No. 1. Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars's retro-funk party track took over the Hot 100 and stayed on top for fourteen weeks, enough to make it Billboard's biggest song of 2015. Here's Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars with “Uptown Funk.”
On this day in 1974, 52 years ago: Bob Dylan releases Planet Waves. Recorded with his old friends the Band and issued on Asylum Records, Planet Waves gave Dylan something he had never had before: a No. 1 album in the United States.
On this day in 1976, 50 years ago: Barry Manilow tops the Hot 100 with "I Write the Songs." The song was written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys and first cut by Captain & Tennille. Manilow's version hit No. 1 and won the Grammy for Song of the Year.
On this day in 2009, 17 years ago: Lady Gaga scores her first No. 1 with "Just Dance." Featuring Colby O'Donis, the dance-pop single held the top of the Hot 100 for three weeks, and Gaga added a second No. 1 before 2009 was out.
On this day in 1734, 292 years ago: Composer François-Joseph Gossec is born. Born in a village now in Belgium, Gossec became a leading symphonist in Paris, wrote music for the French Revolution and helped run the new Paris Conservatoire from 1795.
On this day in 1927, 99 years ago: Eartha Kitt is born in North, South Carolina. The singer and actress recorded "C'est si bon" and "Santa Baby" in 1953; the second remains her most recognizable hit.
On this day in 1952, 74 years ago: Ryuichi Sakamoto is born in Tokyo. A co-founder of synth pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra, he later won an Oscar for his score to The Last Emperor, a first for any composer from Japan.
On this day in 1955, 71 years ago: Steve Earle is born in Fort Monroe, Virginia. His 1986 debut Guitar Town made him a standard-bearer for country's New Traditionalists, and the hard-rocking "Copperhead Road" became his best-selling single.
On this day in 1751, 275 years ago: Tomaso Albinoni dies in Venice at 79. The Venetian wrote dozens of operas and was the first Italian known to publish concertos with the oboe as soloist. The famous Adagio in G minor bearing his name is thought to be mostly by 20th-century scholar Remo Giazotto.
On this day in 2012, 14 years ago: Johnny Otis, "Godfather of Rhythm and Blues," dies. Bandleader, producer and talent scout, Otis helped launch Etta James and Big Mama Thornton and scored his own hit with "Willie and the Hand Jive." Etta James died just three days later.
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