A Day in the Life
Channel Details
A Day in the Life
Critical Karaoke is a monthly (hour-long) radio show about music and the ideas it inspires. We also produce daily (two-minute) music history segments titled "A Day in the Life."
Recent Episodes
733 episodes
Robert Moog's Birthday: "A Day in the Life" for May 23
On this day in 1934, American engineer and pioneer of electronic music, Robert Arthur Moog was born in New York City. On today's "A Day in the Life",...
Gustav Mahler's Funeral: "A Classical Day in the Life" for May 22
It was on this day in 1911 that the Austrian Composer Gustav Mahler was laid to rest Vienna. Though Mahler was a celebrated composer of stylized symph...
Fats Domino Cancelled: "A Day in the Life" for May 22
Today in 1955, a concert featuring Fats Domino was cancelled because law enforcement feared a riot would break out. Find out what the fuss was all ab...
Pac-Man Fever: "A Day in the Life" for March 20
Today in 1982 the singer-songwriting duo Buckner & Garcia appeared on the television show American Bandstand to perform their hit single “Pac-Man Feve...
Chopin's Birthday: "A Classical Day in the Life" for March 1
Today in 1810, composer and pianist Frederic Chopin was born in Warsaw, Poland. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life", we explore Chopin's career a...
Death of Chiquinha Gonzaga: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 28
It was on this day in 1935 that the Brazilian musician Chiquinha Gonzaga died at the age of 87. Gonzaga was a noted song composer and a significant pr...
Denver International Airport Opens: "A Day in the Life" for February 28
It was on this day in 1995 that Denver International Airport opened. A replacement for the Stapleton Airport, DIA opened sixteen months behind schedul...
First and Last Disco Category at The Grammys: "A Day in the Life" for February 27
It was on this day in 1980 that The Recording Academy issued the first and last Grammy for Best Disco recording. On today's "A Day in the Life", we pu...
Hammerstein's Cigar Rolling Machine: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 27
On this day in 1883, Oscar Hammerstein I was granted a patent for a cigar rolling machine. The profits from this invention provided him with the resou...
Mahler's Hemorrhage: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 24
It was on this day in 1901 that the composer Gustav Mahler, just over 40 years old, suffered a severe hemorrhage. On today's "A Classical Day in the L...
Laura Peverara marries Count Annibale Turco: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 22
Today in 1583, Laura Peverara married Count Annibale Turco of Ferrara. Peverara was a virtuosa Italian singer and a founding member of the famous Con...
Nixon Visits China: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 21
It was on this day in 1972 that President Richard Nixon arrived in the People’s Republic of China - marking the start of a momentous Cold War visit th...
The Flying V Guitar: "A Day in the Life" for February 21
Today in 1958, Gibson Guitars shipped its first Flying Vs to the Chicago Musical Instruments headquarters, its parent company and distributor. On toda...
Chris Thile's Birthday: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 20
It was on this day in 1981 that mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile was born. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life" we survey Thile's mandolin work from ...
John Singleton Nominated for Academy Award: "A Day in the Life" for February 20
It was on this day in 1992 that Boyz in the hood director John Singleton was nominated for a Best Director Academy Award. At age 24 he would be the yo...
Final Peanuts Cartoon Strip: "A Day in the Life" for February 13
It was on this day in 2000 that Lucy and Linus, Snoopy, and, of course, Charlie Brown made their final appearance. On today's "A Day in the Life", we...
Birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 7
On this day in 1867, Laura Ingalls Wilder was born near Pepin, Wisconsin. She is best known for her "Little House" series of 9 children’s books based...
The Beatles Land at JFK: "A Day in the Life" for February 7
Today in 1964, The Beatles landed at JFK Airport which proved an auspicious backdrop for the official start of the so-called “British Invasion". On to...
Maria Antonia Walpurgis Performs in her own Opera: "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 6
Today in 1760 in Munich, Maria Antonia Walpurgis performed the lead role in the debut of her own opera Talestri, Regina delle Amazzoni - or, Talestri,...
Bob Marley's Birthday: "A Day in the Life" for February 6
It was on this day in 1945 that international music Superstar Bob Marley was born in Kingston Jamaica. On today's "A Day in the Life", we explore Marl...
Schumann's "Liederjahr": "A Classical Day in the Life" for February 1
Today in 1841, romantic-era composer Robert Schumann began his so-called Liederjahr--or “year of song.” On today's "A Classical Day in the Life", we e...
Sullivan's "Ivanhoe" Premieres: "A Classical Day in the Life" for January 31
On this day in 1891, Sir Arthur Sullivan’s opera Ivanhoe — that’s right, opera, not operetta — had its first performance. On today's "A Classical Day...
Mozart's Piano Lessons: "A Classical Day in the Life" for January 23
Today in 1782, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote to his father about a solution to a problem he had been facing: “I no longer charge for 12 lessons, but m...
Death of George W. Johnson: "A Day in the Life" for January 23
It was on this day in 1914 that George W. Johnson, the first African-American recording star died in New York City. On today's "A Day in the Life", w...
Maddalena Casulana Performs at the Accademia Olimpica: "A Classical Day in the Life" for January 18
Today in 1583, Maddalena Casulana performed at the Accademia Olimpica--a cultural and social organization in the northeastern Italian city of Vicenza,...
Benjamin Franklin's Birthday: "A Classical Day in the Life" for January 17
On this day in 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life", we examine the confluence of the founding father's inventiv...
Danny Bonaduce vs. Donny Osmond: "A Day in the Life" for January 17
It was on this day in 1994 that Danny Bonaduce stepped into the ring with Donny Osmond in Chicago, IL for a boxing match. On today's "A Day in the Li...
Birthday of Lin-Manuel Miranda: "A Day in the Life" for January 16
Today in 1980, composer, actor, and hip-hop artist, Lin-Manuel Miranda was born in Manhattan, in Washington heights. On today's "A Day in the Life" w...
Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman: "A Classical Day in the Life" for January 10
Today in 1987, Joan Tower premiered her composition Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman. The work, by one of the foremost American composers at the end of...
Tea Arrives in the UK: "A Day in the Life" for January 10
It was on this day in 1839 that the first bulk shipment of tea from India arrived in England. On today's "A Day in the Life", we explore the role of t...
Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique English Premiere: "A Classical Day in the Life" for January 9
On this day in 1879, the British premiere of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique took place - almost 50 years after its premiere in Paris in 1830....
The Mermaids of Columbus and Songs of the Sea: "A Day in the Life" for January 9
It was on this day in 1493, while sailing near the Dominican Republic, that Christopher Columbus claimed to have seen three mermaids. On today's "A Da...
Bartok's Only Conducting Experience: "A Classical Day in the Life" for January 2
On this day in 1909, Bela Bartok conducted a performance of the scherzo from his second orchestral suite, marking the only time he ever conducted any...
The Number 2: "A Day in the Life" for January 2
It’s the day after New Year’s Day, a national holiday in Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukrai...
Westminster Abbey Consecration: "A Classical Day in the Life" for December 28, 2016
Today in 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life," we visit upon those luminaries who are buried or otherwise...
Manilow's "Mandy" Hits Number One: "A Day in the Life" for December 28, 2016
It was on this day in 1974 that Barry Manilow scored his first number one hit with "Mandy." Is the song really about Manilow's dog? Is Mandy any relat...
Oscar Levant's Birthday: "A Classical Day in the Life" for December 27, 2016
Today in 1906 American pianist, composer, and actor, Oscar Levant was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life", we e...
Peter Pan Premieres: "A Day in the Life" for December 27, 2016
It was on this day in 1904 that Peter Pan--a play by the Scottish writer JM Barrie--premiered at the Duke of York Theater in London. On today's "A Da...
The Mayflower Arrives: "A Classical Day in the Life" for December 26, 2016
On this day in 1620, the Mayflower arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, after a long transatlantic journey and an initial landing on Cape Cod more than...
St. Stephen's Day: "A Day in the Life" for December 26, 2016
It’s St. Stephen’s Day, the feast of Stephen, the same day when good King Wenceslas looked out and saw the snow laying deep and crisp and even. On tod...