10 ready-to-read segments for October 12, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 2013, 13 years ago: Lorde's 'Royals' knocks 'Wrecking Ball' from No. 1. At 16, she became the youngest artist to top the Hot 100 with a song she wrote herself, and the first New Zealander to do so as lead artist. Here's Lorde with “Royals.”
On this day in 1971, 55 years ago: Jesus Christ Superstar opens on Broadway. Unable to fund a stage show at first, Lloyd Webber and Rice released it as a concept album, whose success carried it to the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
On this day in 1979, 47 years ago: Fleetwood Mac release the double album Tusk. At about $1.4 million it was the costliest rock album yet, and the USC Trojan Marching Band played on the title track.
On this day in 1991, 35 years ago: Mariah Carey's 'Emotions' reaches No. 1. It made her the first act whose first five singles all reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, and it shows off her whistle register.
On this day in 2009, 17 years ago: Michael Jackson's posthumous 'This Is It' premieres. The song, co-written with Paul Anka, dated back to a 1980 demo called 'I Never Heard'; his brothers added backing vocals.
On this day in 1872, 154 years ago: Ralph Vaughan Williams is born in Gloucestershire. He collected English folk songs in the countryside, and his The Lark Ascending has topped Classic FM listener polls.
On this day in 1935, 91 years ago: Luciano Pavarotti is born in Modena. The son of a baker with a fine tenor voice, he turned 'Nessun dorma' into a pop hit as the BBC's 1990 World Cup theme.
On this day in 1935, 91 years ago: Sam Moore of Sam & Dave is born in Miami. The voice behind 'Soul Man' and 'Hold On! I'm Comin'' was called the greatest soul singer on the planet by Bruce Springsteen.
On this day in 1971, 55 years ago: Rockabilly star Gene Vincent dies at 36. The 'Be-Bop-a-Lula' singer had survived the 1960 taxi crash in England that killed Eddie Cochran.
On this day in 1997, 29 years ago: John Denver dies in a plane crash off California. Flying his homebuilt aircraft alone over Monterey Bay, he lost control while trying to reach an awkwardly placed fuel selector.
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