10 ready-to-read segments for October 18, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1926, 100 years ago: Chuck Berry born in St. Louis, Missouri. "Johnny B. Goode" is the only rock and roll song on the Voyager Golden Record. Lennon said another name for rock and roll might be "Chuck Berry". Here's Chuck Berry with “Johnny B. Goode.”
On this day in 1887, 139 years ago: Brahms premieres his Double Concerto in Cologne. Brahms wrote his last orchestral work for Joseph Joachim after years of estrangement. Clara Schumann called it a work of reconciliation.
On this day in 1957, 69 years ago: Paul McCartney plays his first gig with the Quarrymen. He debuted with John Lennon's group at a Conservative Club social in Liverpool, then kept practicing the guitar intro to "Raunchy", which irritated his bandmates.
On this day in 1961, 65 years ago: West Side Story film opens in the US. The film of Bernstein and Sondheim's musical won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, the most for any musical film.
On this day in 1988, 38 years ago: Traveling Wilburys release Vol. 1. George Harrison needed a B-side, and "Handle with Care", cut with Dylan, Orbison, Petty and Lynne, was too good for one. So the five made a whole album.
On this day in 2008, 18 years ago: T.I. jumps from No. 80 to No. 1 with "Live Your Life." The Rihanna duet set a record for the biggest leap to No. 1. It replaced his own "Whatever You Like", and the two songs held the top two spots.
On this day in 1961, 65 years ago: Wynton Marsalis born in New Orleans. He is the only musician to win Grammys in jazz and classical in the same year. In 1997 he became the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
On this day in 1979, 47 years ago: Ne-Yo born in Camden, Arkansas. Before his own No. 1 "So Sick", he wrote Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable", which spent 10 weeks on top.
On this day in 1893, 133 years ago: Charles Gounod, composer of Faust, dies. His famous "Ave Maria" puts a new melody over the first prelude of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier.
On this day in 2007, 19 years ago: Reggae star Lucky Dube killed in Johannesburg. Africa's best-selling reggae artist started out in Zulu mbaqanga before switching to reggae. He was shot dead during an attempted carjacking in Johannesburg.
Every segment comes from a fact checked against the source linked with it. Spot a problem? Email hello@todayintunes.com.