Happy Birthday Count Basie!
William James “Count” Basie was born on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. One of America’s most notable Big Band leaders, he earned nine Grammy awards and made a permanent mark on American music.
Music
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Happy Birthday Judy Garland
American actress, singer, and dancer Judy Garland was born on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Best known as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, she received many awards during her life and was the first woman to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.
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Happy Birthday Cole Porter
American composer and songwriter Cole Albert Porter was born on June 9, 1891, in Peru, Indiana. He wrote over 800 songs in his career, including standards that became hits for multiple singers.
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Death of O. Henry
On June 5, 1910, American author O. Henry died in New York City. A prolific writer of short stories, he’s best known for his work, “The Gift of the Magi.”
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“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”
On May 2, 1908, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was submitted to the US Copyright Office. Neither of the men involved in its creation had ever seen a baseball game.
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Happy Birthday Duke Ellington
Jazz legend Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, DC. Better known as Duke Ellington, he was considered one of the most influential jazz composers.
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Birth of Henry Mancini
Enrico Nicola “Henry” Mancini was born on April 16, 1924, in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Considered the most successful film composer of his time, he scored more than 100 movies, including numerous beloved classics.
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Panama-Pacific Exposition
On February 20, 1915, the Panama-Pacific Exposition opened in San Francisco, California. The expo was a celebration of the city and the Panama Canal.
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Premiere of The Nutcracker Ballet
On December 18, 1892, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker premiered in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Despite initial poor reviews, today it’s a holiday staple for millions.
