10 ready-to-read segments for November 17, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1992, 34 years ago: The Bodyguard soundtrack is released. Whitney Houston's take on Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" held No. 1 for a record 14 weeks, and the album's 45 million sales make it the best-selling soundtrack ever. Here's Whitney Houston with “I Will Always Love You.”
On this day in 1962, 64 years ago: "Big Girls Don't Cry" takes the Four Seasons back to No. 1. Like "Sherry" before it, the song held the top of the Hot 100 for five weeks, making them the first rock-era act to reach No. 1 with their first two chart hits.
On this day in 1970, 56 years ago: Elton John plays a live radio concert in New York. The trio set with Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson became his first live album, 17-11-70, and he has called it his best live performance.
On this day in 1984, 42 years ago: Wham! hit No. 1 in America. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" reached the top of the Hot 100 and stayed there until early December.
On this day in 1998, 28 years ago: Garth Brooks releases Double Live. It sold 1,085,000 copies in its first week, the biggest opening since SoundScan began tracking sales.
On this day in 1938, 88 years ago: Gordon Lightfoot is born in Orillia, Ontario. "Sundown" was his only US No. 1, and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" told the story of a Lake Superior shipwreck in song.
On this day in 1942, 84 years ago: Four Seasons songwriter Bob Gaudio is born. He wrote or co-wrote most of the group's music, including "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry," plus Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."
On this day in 1944, 82 years ago: Byrds songwriter Gene Clark is born. He wrote many of the band's best early originals, including "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and a share of "Eight Miles High."
On this day in 1955, 71 years ago: Stride piano originator James P. Johnson dies at 61. Seen as a vital link between ragtime and jazz, he wrote "The Charleston," which became an unofficial anthem of the Roaring Twenties.
On this day in 1959, 67 years ago: Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos dies at 72. His Bachianas Brasileiras blend his love of Bach with Brazilian music; No. 5, for soprano and eight cellos, ranks among his most popular works.
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