10 ready-to-read segments for November 29, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1982, 44 years ago: Michael Jackson releases Thriller. With around 70 million copies sold, no album in history has outsold it. It also took a record eight Grammys, including Album of the Year. Here's Michael Jackson with “Billie Jean.”
On this day in 1963, 63 years ago: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" comes out in the UK. Over a million copies were ordered before it even hit shops. By February 1964 it was No. 1 in America, where it stayed for seven weeks.
On this day in 1994, 32 years ago: Mary J. Blige releases My Life. Her second album spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the R&B albums chart and was added to the National Recording Registry in 2025.
On this day in 2010, 16 years ago: Adele releases "Rolling in the Deep." The lead single from 21 spent seven weeks at No. 1 in the US and swept Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video.
On this day in 1915, 111 years ago: Composer Billy Strayhorn is born. Duke Ellington's closest musical partner wrote the band's signature tune, "Take the 'A' Train," and the haunting ballad "Lush Life."
On this day in 1917, 109 years ago: Guitar innovator Merle Travis is born. His thumb-and-finger style is still called Travis picking. He also wrote "Sixteen Tons," a country No. 1 for Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955.
On this day in 1946, 80 years ago: Cuban songwriter Silvio Rodríguez is born. The leader of Cuba's Nueva Trova movement wrote poetic songs like "Ojalá" and "Unicornio" that became standards across Latin America.
On this day in 1951, 75 years ago: Talk box funk master Roger Troutman is born. His band Zapp made funk that West Coast rappers sampled heavily. He also featured with Dr. Dre on 2Pac's "California Love," a Hot 100 No. 1.
On this day in 1924, 102 years ago: Opera composer Giacomo Puccini dies in Brussels. He left Turandot unfinished; Franco Alfano completed the last two scenes from his sketches. The opera includes "Nessun dorma," one of several memorable arias that work as stand-alone pieces.
On this day in 2001, 25 years ago: George Harrison dies at 58. The Beatles' quiet guitarist wrote "Something," which Frank Sinatra called the greatest love song of the past fifty years.
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