10 ready-to-read segments for January 7, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 2017, 9 years ago: The Weeknd's "Starboy" reaches No. 1. After eight non-consecutive weeks at No. 2, the Daft Punk-produced single finally topped the Hot 100. It was the Weeknd's third No. 1 and the French duo's first. Here's The Weeknd with “Starboy.”
On this day in 1950, 76 years ago: Gene Autry's "Rudolph" is the first No. 1 of the 1950s. Gene Autry's version of Johnny Marks's reindeer tale topped Billboard's best sellers chart in the first week of the decade. It went on to sell about 12.5 million copies.
On this day in 1955, 71 years ago: Marian Anderson breaks the Met Opera color line. Singing Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, the great contralto became the first Black artist to perform with New York's Metropolitan Opera. The company later named her a permanent member.
On this day in 1971, 55 years ago: Black Sabbath's Paranoid reaches US stores. The album had already topped the UK chart after its September 1970 release there; Warner Bros. now brought it to America. It carried "War Pigs," "Iron Man" and the title track.
On this day in 2012, 14 years ago: LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" tops the Hot 100. The first Hot 100 chart dated 2012 had LMFAO's single on top, and it held No. 1 for two weeks before Rihanna's "We Found Love" returned to the summit.
On this day in 1899, 127 years ago: Francis Poulenc is born in Paris. A member of the group of composers known as Les Six, Poulenc mixed wit and devotion in works like his exuberant Gloria and the opera Dialogues des Carmélites.
On this day in 1948, 78 years ago: Kenny Loggins is born in Everett, Washington. After the duo Loggins and Messina, he became the king of 1980s movie songs with "Footloose," his only solo No. 1, and Top Gun's "Danger Zone."
On this day in 1950, 76 years ago: Juan Gabriel is born in Michoacán, Mexico. Born Alberto Aguilera Valadez, he wrote standards like "Amor eterno" and "Querida" and sold over 100 million records, more than any other Mexican artist.
On this day in 2020, 6 years ago: Rush drummer Neil Peart dies at 67. Peart was both Rush's powerhouse drummer and its main lyricist. His instrumental showcase "YYZ" won Modern Drummer's award for best drum recording of the 1980s.
On this day in 2025, 1 years ago: Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary dies. Yarrow co-wrote "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and sang with his trio at the 1963 March on Washington. He died at 86 in his Manhattan home.
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