10 ready-to-read segments for November 28, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1943, 83 years ago: Randy Newman is born in Los Angeles. The wry songwriter behind "Short People" and "I Love L.A." found a new audience with Toy Story's "You've Got a Friend in Me." He has won two Oscars from 22 nominations. Here's Randy Newman with “You've Got a Friend in Me.”
On this day in 1811, 215 years ago: Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto premieres in Leipzig. Friedrich Schneider was the soloist at the Gewandhaus. Nobody knows who first called it the "Emperor," and Beethoven, no fan of Napoleon, would likely have hated the name.
On this day in 1925, 101 years ago: The Grand Ole Opry is born as the WSM Barn Dance. Host George D. Hay put fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson, then 77, on Nashville radio, and that night is marked as the Opry's beginning.
On this day in 1960, 66 years ago: Elvis tops the Hot 100 with "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" The ballad's spoken middle borrows Shakespeare's "all the world's a stage." It stayed at No. 1 into January 1961.
On this day in 1974, 52 years ago: John Lennon joins Elton John at Madison Square Garden. Elton bet a doubtful Lennon that "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" would reach No. 1, with an on-stage appearance as the stake. It did, so Lennon turned up at the Thanksgiving show. It was his last major concert.
On this day in 1929, 97 years ago: Motown founder Berry Gordy is born in Detroit. With $800 borrowed from his family in 1959 he started the label that became Motown. He also wrote or co-wrote hits like "Money (That's What I Want)" and "Reet Petite."
On this day in 1932, 94 years ago: Argentine saxophonist Gato Barbieri is born. His gritty tenor sax won a Grammy for the score of Last Tango in Paris, and his take on Santana's "Europa" became his best-known track.
On this day in 1940, 86 years ago: "Hey! Baby" singer Bruce Channel is born. His 1962 hit spent three weeks at No. 1. Its harmonica hook, played by Delbert McClinton, caught John Lennon's ear and shaped his playing on "Love Me Do."
On this day in 1972, 54 years ago: English composer Havergal Brian dies at 96. He wrote 32 symphonies, 25 of them after turning 70. His first, the Gothic, calls for one of the biggest orchestras of any symphony.
On this day in 1993, 33 years ago: Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton dies at 47. He kept the beat on "Born to Be Wild," written by his brother Mars Bonfire, which reached No. 2 in 1968. He died in a car crash in California.
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