10 ready-to-read segments for October 23, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 2015, 11 years ago: Adele says "Hello" and smashes digital records. It became the first song to sell over a million US downloads in a single week, debuted at No. 1 for ten weeks, and its video was the fastest to a billion YouTube views. Here's Adele with “Hello.”
On this day in 1961, 65 years ago: Dion's "Runaround Sue" takes over No. 1. Co-written with Ernie Maresca after Dion split from the Belmonts, it pushed Ray Charles's "Hit the Road Jack" off the top of the Hot 100.
On this day in 2006, 20 years ago: My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade lands in Europe. The concept album follows a dying cancer patient who imagines death as a marching band, and its title track became the band's first UK No. 1.
On this day in 2007, 19 years ago: Carrie Underwood releases Carnival Ride. It opened at No. 1 with over 527,000 copies sold, and its first four singles all topped the country chart, a feat no solo woman had managed since Shania Twain.
On this day in 1951, 75 years ago: Charly García, father of Argentine rock, born in Buenos Aires. A perfect-pitch child prodigy, he co-founded Sui Generis and later Serú Girán, writing songs that pushed back against Argentina's military regime.
On this day in 1956, 70 years ago: Dwight Yoakam, champion of the Bakersfield sound, is born. His debut Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. went to No. 1 on the country chart, and his rock-tinged honky-tonk won over both traditional country fans and alternative listeners.
On this day in 1959, 67 years ago: "Weird Al" Yankovic born in Downey, California. His accordion lessons started the day before he turned seven, and a tape he sent to Dr. Demento at 16 launched a parody career that later produced a No. 1 album, Mandatory Fun.
On this day in 1985, 41 years ago: R&B singer Miguel born in Lynwood, California. His Kaleidoscope Dream single "Adorn" topped the R&B/hip-hop chart, and "Sure Thing" returned to the Hot 100's top 11 in 2023 after going viral on TikTok.
On this day in 1978, 48 years ago: Mother Maybelle Carter, country guitar pioneer, dies. Her "Carter Scratch" playing, melody on the bass strings with rhythm on top, helped make the guitar a lead instrument; she was also June Carter Cash's mother.
On this day in 2016, 10 years ago: Dead or Alive frontman Pete Burns dies at 57. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" was the band's only UK No. 1 and the first chart-topper for producers Stock Aitken Waterman.
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