Today in 1940, the first NFL championship game was broadcast nationally on Mutual radio. Before long, Mutual announcer Red Barber probably wondered why they’d bothered.

Today in 1963, Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped from a Lake Tahoe hotel. He was released two days later after his father paid $240,000 ransom. The kidnappers were arrested and sentenced to prison.

The top selling 8-track today in 1971:

The number one single today in 1984 …

… on the same day that Patrick Cavanaugh, former manager of the Coasters, was convicted of the murder of Coaster Buster Wilson, whose partially dismembered body was found in Modesto, Calif., four years earlier.

The number one British single today in 2003:

Birthdays begin with Bobby Elliot, drummer of the Hollies …

… who was born one year before Jim Morrison of the Doors:

Graham Knight of Marmalade …

… was born one year before Geoff Daking, drummer of the Blues Magoos …

… and Gregg Allman:

Dan Hartman was in the Edgar Winter Group before his solo career:

Phil Collen of Def Leppard:

Paul Rutherford of Frankie Goes to Hollywood:

Two deaths of note today: Gary Thain, bass player for Uriah Heep, today in 1975 …

… and Marty Robbins in 1982:

There is another music anniversary tonight.

• Music