10 ready-to-read segments for October 9, lead story first. Free to use on air; a quick credit to Today in Tunes is appreciated.
On this day in 1940, 86 years ago: John Lennon is born in Liverpool. His middle name, Winston, honored Prime Minister Churchill, and 35 years later to the day his son Sean was born on his birthday. Here's John Lennon with “Imagine.”
On this day in 1986, 40 years ago: The Phantom of the Opera opens in London's West End. Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman led the original cast at Her Majesty's Theatre; the Broadway transfer later became the longest-running show in Broadway history.
On this day in 1999, 27 years ago: Nine Inch Nails' The Fragile hits No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Selling nearly 229,000 copies in its chart week, it dethroned Eve's Ruff Ryders' First Lady before Creed's Human Clay took over.
On this day in 1999, 27 years ago: NetAid stages simultaneous concerts in London, New Jersey and Geneva. David Bowie, George Michael, Sting, Bono and Mary J. Blige were among the acts; Wembley was packed while Giants Stadium struggled to sell tickets.
On this day in 2009, 17 years ago: Springsteen plays the last-ever concert at Giants Stadium. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band closed the New Jersey stadium with the final show of a five-night stand.
On this day in 1835, 191 years ago: Composer Camille Saint-Saëns is born. A child prodigy who debuted publicly at ten, he banned performances of The Carnival of the Animals in his lifetime, fearing it would hurt his serious reputation.
On this day in 1920, 106 years ago: Multi-reed innovator Yusef Lateef is born in Chattanooga. Blending jazz with global sounds on flute, oboe and bassoon, he was said to play world music before it had a name, and won a Grammy in 1987.
On this day in 1948, 78 years ago: Jackson Browne is born in Heidelberg, Germany. He wrote 'These Days' as a teenager, and at his 2004 Rock Hall induction Springsteen said he wrote the songs the Eagles wished they had.
On this day in 1978, 48 years ago: Belgian chansonnier Jacques Brel dies at 49. 'Ne me quitte pas' has been recorded at least 1,400 times in 52 languages, and he is buried in the Marquesas just yards from painter Paul Gauguin.
On this day in 1999, 27 years ago: Vibraphonist Milt 'Bags' Jackson dies at 76. A founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet, he got his nickname from the bags under his eyes and immortalized it in 'Bags' Groove'.
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