Today in 1929 Walt Disney Productions released the first of 75 short films from its "Silly Symphony" series. Titled, "Skeleton Dance," this first short black and white animated film begins with two cats fighting on top of a gravestone. Soon skeletons emerge from the graves and start to dance around. On today's "A Day in the Life" we meet the man responsible for the music, Carl Stalling.

Today in 1812--as part of the War of 1812--an American ship named the USS Constitution defeated the British HMS Guerriere, some 175 leagues due east of Boston in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life" we explore music inspired by this naval battle and other tunes inspired by armed conflict in 1812.

Today is the birthday of former President Bill Clinton. When did he first become interested in music and when did he first pick up the saxophone? And how might that saxophone have swayed his 1992 presidential victory? Find out on today's "A Day in the Life."

On this day in 1572, Queen Margaret of Valois and Henry of Navarre got married in Paris. The interdenominational marriage — Marguerite was Catholic, and Henry was a Huguenot — should have helped bridge the gap between Protestants and Catholics in France. It did not. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life", we explore the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and the opera it inspired Giacomo Meyerbeer to write.

Today in 1997 Patrick Swayze received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the anniversary of Dirty Dancing. Learn about the film's music and Swayze's own contributions to the soundtrack on today's "A Day in the Life."

Today, in 1883, "Himno Nacional", the national anthem of the Dominican Republic, made its debut. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life", we explore the origins of the anthem and its content, which champions the non-colonial indigenous tradition of the island and rebukes the occupation of foreign powers.

The first commercial compact disc was made on this day in 1982. Who was featured on this first recording and what was next for this new technology? Find out on this episode of "A Day in the Life."

On this day in 1328, the Gonzagas took over the duchy of Mantua in Northern Italy, inaugurating a nearly 400-year period of dominance there for the Gonzaga family that featured some of the most important figures in music. On today's "A Classical Day in the Life", we explore the musical output of Mantua from Marchetto Cara to Claudio Monteverdi.

It was on this day in 1974 that the Ramones took the stage for the first time at CBGB in Manhattan's East Village. On today's "A Day in the Life", find out what Paul McCartney had to do with the naming of the band.

Today in 1939, the film musical The Wizard of Oz had its Hollywood premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theater. This classic American story about Dorothy and Toto's journey from Kansas to Oz and back, and all the characters they encounter along the way, has its origins in the books authored by L. Frank Baum.