On this day in 1922, Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac was born to become Jack Kerouac, the most widely known writer of the Beat Generation & a man who set many a young person searching for whatever's out there. He was less successful convincing them what they found is what is. #OTD
Understandable.
On this day in 1953, Ronald Horvath was born to become Ronnie Earl, as far as I know the only bluesman to hail from Rego Park. I once saw Earl, during his Roomful days, start a solo, walk out the club, & head for Boylston St., playing all the way. #OTD
On this day in 1943, Robert James Fischer was born to become a chess grandmaster & World Chess Champion. Fischer was complicated: he won his first title at age 14, played a Cold War role, denied the Holocaust, invented a chess timing system, & disappeared--into madness? #OTD
On this day in 1923, John Leslie Montgomery was born to become Wes Montgomery, the jazz guitar player whose distinctive, melodic playing style earned him the nickname "The Thumb" and a bigger audience than most jazz musicians ever enjoy. #OTD
On this day in 1853, Howard Pyle was born to write & illustrate books for young people, creating an American style of illustration that influenced many artists, some of whom he schooled. Importantly, he gave us the wholly-invented, wildly impractical pirate garb of movies old & new. #OTD
On this day in 1901, Charles Henry Goren was born to give up a career in law to, literally write the books on bridge, driving its popularity and leading to his being known as "Mr. Bridge" at mid-century. #OTD
On this day in 1934, James Emory Garrison was born to play the double bass and become Jimmy Garrison, a man who played with many luminaries but who is most famous for being half the rhythm section in Coltrane's classic quartet. A giant slayed by cancer at too young an age. #OTD
On this day in 1950, Karen Anne Carpenter was born to sing and play the drums, becoming the lead singer of a duo she formed with her brother, Richard. Together, the had a string of hits until her eating disorder cut her life short. #OTD
On this day in 1916, Herbert Walton Gleason, Jr. was born to become Jackie Gleason, the man who cracked me up as Ralph Kramden but who was equally at home playing dramatic roles, composing music and even sharing a round of golf with a president or two. #OTD
On this day in 1966, Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni was born to drop several syllables & become Téa Leoni, an actor destined to bring a prep school sensibility to the small screen, most notably in Secretary of State for President. (I'm sorry, 'Madam Secretary,' that slipped out.) #OTD
On this day in 1836, Winslow Homer was born to draw and paint, starting out as a commercial and editorial illustrator and then moving to canvases, where the land- and seascapes for which he is best known gave him room to display his eye and hand in full. #OTD
On this day in 1951, Edward Lee Jones was born to become Too Tall Jones, the 6' 9" NFL defensive end (for, unfortunately, the Cowboys) who never played football before his senior year in high school and who took a year off to garner a 6-0 record as a heavyweight boxer. #OTD
On this day in 1884, Alice Lee Roosevelt was born to add Longworth to her name & be heard. TR's eldest child, she went on to push boundaries, write, & lacerate many a fool with her ever sharp tongue. "If you don't have anything nice to say about somebody...come sit by me." #OTD
On this day in 1962, Sheryl Suzanne Crow was born to make music, moving from singing jingles to stardom with guitar-based pop sings that stick in your head. Plus, like the song says, "he was her man/but he was doing her wrong." #OTD
On this day in 1944, Rufus Reid was born to become a master of the double bass, holding down the bottom end and keeping time for too many jazz luminaries to name. Reid is also an educator, influencing generations of players as they prepare for the world. #OTD
On this day in 1737, Thomas Paine was born to make the case that people could govern themselves better than those who would impose their will offering dubious, if any, justification. "A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody." #OTD
On this day in 1931, Elmore Rual Torn, Jr. was born to become Rip Torn, the Emmy-award winning, Academy Awared-nominated character actor who danced across our screens for 60 years or so. Fun fact: Torn is a cousin of Sissy Spacek. #OTD
On this day in 1878, André-Gustave Citroën was born to recognize the efficiency of double helical gears (which he bought the patent for at a steal) and build an automotive giant around them, one that produced some singular vehicles. In the long run, good ideas win out. #OTD
On this day in 1948, Vincent Damon Furnier was born to become Alice Cooper, the originator of shock rock & a man so committed to his creation he changed his name to that of his band when it broke up. A cross country runner in HS, Cooper is a low handicap 6-day-a-week golfer. #OTD
On this day in 1938, Victor Charles Buono was born to play villains, many times comic villains, in movies and on TV during the 60s and 70s. Children of that era may have shared my delight in his turning King Tut into a criminal mastermind tangling with Batman & Robin. #OTD
The Same Old Syncopation
Ragtime: The Musical at the Vivian Beaumont Theater
Whatever my misgivings about ticket prices, my oldest doesn't hold them. "It's an experience and I want to take you to it," she said.
On this day in 1754, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord was born to become 1st Prince of Benevento, Prince of Talleyrand & Bishop of Autun. Talleyrand served Louis XVI, the Directory, Napoleon, Louis XVIII, Charles X, & Louis Philippe I. C'est très flexible, non? #OTD
On this day, John Martin Feeney was born to become John Ford, the director who made more than 130 films, won 4 Academy Awards as Best Director & launched the careers of some of the biggest stars of the mid-20th century. He can be forgiven for amping up the Irish now & then. #OTD
On this day in 1922, Thomas Richard Martin was born to become Dick Martin, Dan Rowan's comic sidekick in a long stand-up career and then, most notably, on their NBC series 'Laugh-In,' a period piece if ever there was one. #OTD
The woman could sing anything! A treasure!
On this day in 1964, Roddy Frame was born to write, play and sing incredibly crafted pop songs, first as the front man of Aztec Camera and then in his solo career. Start with "Deep, and Wide and Tall" and keep listening. #OTD
Masters of American letters attacked. Psychiatric drugs questioned. The mind body dichotomy made real. Adm more. You either enjoy reading articles like these or you don’t.
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On this day in 1958, The Lego Group patented the design of its signature bricks, laying the foundation on which it would become the largest toy manufacturer in the world (sales). Fun fact: Lego produces ~36 billion parts/yr (1140 /sec). Hundreds of billions have been made. #OTD
