B-i-o-g-r-a-p-h-y F-a-m-o-u-s-e P-e-o-p-l-e: December 2012

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

ritchie valens -Bio

ritchie valens

Ritchie Valens biography Synopsis Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter influential in the Chicano rock movement. He recorded numerous hits during his short career, most notably the 1958 hit "La Bamba." Valens died at age 17 in a plane crash with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. Richardson on February 3, 1959, a day later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean in his song "American Pie." Early Life Born Richard Steven Valenzuela in 1941, Ritchie Valens made history as rock music's first Latino star. His promising career, however, was cut short by tragedy. Along with Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, he died in a 1959 plane crash while on tour. Growing in Pacoima, California, near Los Angeles, Valens developed a love of music early on and learned to play a number of different instruments. But the guitar soon became his passion. And he found inspiration from various sources, ranging from traditional Mexican music to popular R&B acts to innovative rock performers like Little Richard. At 16, Valens joined his first band, the Silhouettes. The group played local gigs, and Valens was spotted at one of these performances by Bob Keane, the head of the Del-Fi record label. With Keane's help, the young performer was about to have a career breakthrough. Career Highlights Valens auditioned for Keane's record label in May 1958. And before long, he had his first single out on Del-Fi. The song, "Come On, Let's Go," became a minor hit. Keane also encouraged the young singer to shorten his last name to "Valens" to make it more radio friendly. Valens had even greater success with his second single, which featured "La Bamba" and "Donna." "Donna," an ode to his high school girlfriend Donna Ludwig, became a popular ballad, eventually climbing as high as the number two spot on the pop charts. While not as big a hit, "La Bamba" was a revolutionary song that fused elements of a traditional Mexican folk tune with rock and roll. Valens was not a native Spanish speaker and had to be coached on the all-Spanish-language song. Riding the success of his latest single, Valens entertained a national audience on American Bandstand that December. He also appeared on Alan Freed's Christmas Show around that time. In January 1959, Valens went on the road with the Winter Dance Party tour. The tour featured such acts as Buddy Holly, Dion and the Belmonts, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Over three weeks, these performers were set to play 24 concerts in the Midwest. The Day The Music Died On February 2, 1959, the Winter Dance Party tour played the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. The tour was set to perform the next day in Moorhead, Minnesota. Holly had chartered a plane to get there after experiencing trouble with his tour bus. According to some reports, Valens won a seat on the plane in a coin toss with Holly's guitarist Tommy Allsup. J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson also traded places with another original passenger, Waylon Jennings. During a light snowstorm, the plane took off but it only traveled about five miles before crashing into a cornfield. All four passengers—Richardson, Holly, Valens and the pilot—were killed. As the news of the accident spread, many were shocked by the loss of these three talents. The tragedy was later memorialized in the Don McLean song "American Pie" as "The day the music died." Legacy Only 17 years old when he died, Valens left behind a few recordings. His first, self-titled album was released shortly after the accident and did well on the charts. A live recording was later released as Ritchie Valens in Concert at Pacoima Junior HIgh. And his life story was memorialized on the big screen in the 1987 hit La Bamba, which introduced a new generation of music fans to the pioneering Latino performer. Lou Diamond Phillips played Valens, and the band Los Lobos recorded the soundtrack. Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

ritchie valens

Quick Facts

NAME: Ritchie Valens
OCCUPATION: Songwriter, Singer
BIRTH DATE: May 13, 1941
DEATH DATE: February 03, 1959
PLACE OF BIRTH: Pacoima, California
PLACE OF DEATH: Clear Lake, Iowa
Originally: Ricardo Esteban Valenzuela Reyes

Best Known For

Mexican-American musician Ritchie Valens is best known for his hit "La Bamba." His successful career was cut short when he died in a plane crash at age 17.

ritchie valens

jane lynch -Bio

jane lynch

Jane Lynch biography Synopsis Jane Lynch is an American screen actress who started off in theater. She has played roles for both television and film. In 2009, she won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for her role as Sue in the TV series Glee. Her breakthrough role was that of a butch lesbian personal dog handler in the Christopher Guest directed mocumentary Best in Show. Lynch is openly lesbian and married to Lara Embry. Early Life Actress. Born on July 14, 1960, in Dolton, Illinois. Raised outside of Chicago, she discovered her love for acting in the third grade while playing a candle in a school production. In high school, Lynch participated in the choir. She loved singing and performing in school plays, but much of the time she preferred to keep a low profile. "I would step out occasionally and show what I had, and people would go, 'Wow, that's something.' And then I would kind of recede back," she explained to Time magazine. Socially, "I traveled within all the groups," Lynch explained to The New York Times. That "started that pattern of don't stay long enough for anyone to get to know you, to see the chinks in your armor." After graduating high school, Lynch studied acting at Illinois State University. She then continued to hone her craft at Cornell University's graduate program for acting. "I think learning how to act is pretty important," Lynch later told Curve. "I have some techniques and skills I learned when I was 21 that have been hammered into my consciousness, that are now second nature." After some time in New York, Lynch moved back to Illinois and immersed herself in the Chicago theater scene. She worked with such famous groups as the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Second City Touring Company. One of her most famous theatrical roles was playing TV mom Carol Brady in the underground sensation The Real Live Brady Bunch. Lynch enjoyed the experience, describing it as "a joy, it was a real gift and a lot of fun. Very little work. But I really learned how to nail the sitcom format and grew to love that," she told Curve magazine. Mainstream Success One of Lynch's first film roles was in the 1988 comedy Vice Versa with Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage. More small parts followed in such movies as Straight Talk and The Fugitive. On television, Lynch made guest appearances on a number of sitcoms, including 3rd Rock from the Sun and Married with Children. She also did some voice-over and commercials. For one ad, Lynch worked with director Christopher Guest to create a cereal commercial. Months later, the two met up again by accident at a Beverly Hills restaurant, and he asked her to stop by his office. At the time, he was casting his spoof of the dog show world, Best in Show (2000). Lynch signed on to play Christy Cummings, a tough dog trainer who gets involved with a dog owner (played by Jennifer Coolidge). The actors in Guest's films work in an improvisational style. "They give us a really good thumbnail sketch, and then we just take it from there," Lynch explained to The Advocate. "We improvise all the dialogue; there's no written dialogue." With the success of Best in Show, Lynch soon landed a leading role on television, playing a nurse in the 2002 medical drama MDs. The show only lasted for two months before being canceled. She also lent her voice to a recurring character on the animated comedy The Family Guy. Reuniting with Christopher Guest, Lynch appeared in the folk music comedy A Mighty Wind (2003) as a singer with a past in the adult film industry. Big and Small Screen While often tackling small parts, Lynch made the most out each role she took on. She made a number of memorable guest appearances on such shows as Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives, and Weeds. On the big screen, Lynch appeared as a raunchy store manager in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) with Steve Carell, stealing nearly every scene she appeared in. The following year, Lynch played the mother of a race car driver in the comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby starring Will Farrell. She also starred in her own sitcom, Lovespring International, which aired on the Lifetime television network. On the show, Lynch played the owner of a dating service. The series only lasted for 13 episodes. Lynch had better luck with her recurring role on the popular dramatic series The L Word, which followed the lives of several gay women. On the show she played Joyce Wischnia, a tough lawyer who falls for her client (Cybill Shepherd) while handling her divorce. As a lesbian herself, Lynch especially admired how the series depicted life in the lesbian community. On the show, "we just tell stories about people. That's what I love about The L Word. No one's tortured over their sexuality; it's just accepted," she told The Advocate. Glee Success Around this time, Lynch also had another, very different recurring role, playing Charlie Sheen's therapist on the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men. She then starred in the critically admired, but ratings deprived comedy Party Down in 2009, a show about a group of aspiring creatives who work for a Los Angeles catering company. That same year, Lynch got her most famous role to date: She began her run as Sue Sylvester, a super-intense cheerleading coach, on Glee. This musical comedy explores the ups and downs of a high school glee club run by teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison). Sylvester views Schuester as her archenemy, and continuously plots to ruin the club. Lynch relishes playing the role, saying that Sylvester "is so cold and ruthless." She utters some of the show's most memorable dialogue. "Jane's unparalleled at her one-liners," series creator Ryan Murphy told The New York Times. Glee has developed quite a following among television audiences, winning over fans with its catchy musical numbers. Many of these performances are done by glee club members, including Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), a latest-generation Barbra Streisand wanna-be. Lynch, however, has not missed out on all of the fun. She sang "Vogue" during a special episode that incorporated the songs of Madonna. For her efforts, Lynch received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2010. She also received a nomination for her guest appearance on Two and a Half Men. As her latest series has taken off, Lynch has started to settle down. She and her partner, clinical psychologist Lara Embry, married in June 2010. The couple met at a fundraiser in 2009. Lynch is thrilled about her new role as parent to Embry's 8-year-old daughter Haden. "I'm almost 50, and I thought that possibility was behind me, so this is a real delight," she told The New York Times.

jane lynch

Quick Facts

NAME: Jane Lynch
OCCUPATION: Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress
BIRTH DATE: July 14, 1960 (Age: 52)
EDUCATION: Illinois State University, Cornell
PLACE OF BIRTH: Dolton, Illinois
ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer

Best Known For

Jane Lynch is an American screen actress. Notably, she has played Sue Sylvester in the comedic TV series Glee.

jane lynch

leonard cohen -Bio

leonard cohen

Leonard Cohen biography Synopsis Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen was born on September 21, 1934. An early writer and guitarist, Cohen began to compose and release folk-rock and pop songs by the mid-1960s. One of his most famous compositions is "Hallelujah," a song released on 1984's Various Positions. Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, and he received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2010. Early Life Leonard Norman Cohen was born on September 21, 1934 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. As a teenager, Cohen learned to play guitar, and around the same time, he began writing poetry and novels. Not long after graduating from McGill University, in 1955, Cohen decided to move to New York City. By the mid-1960s, Cohen had become intrigued by the Greenwich Village folk scene and, with his background in music and writing, music composition was a natural step. He soon began to compose and release folk-rock and pop songs, and in 1967, made his musical debut at the Newport Folk Festival. The event spurred Cohen's fame, and he continued to perform publicly, at concerts in New York City, as well as on the television program Camera Three, a cultural affairs program that aired weekly on CBS at the time. Musical Career Also in the mid-1960s, Cohen began receiving praise for songs made popular by other singers. In 1966, folk singer Judy Collins released her album In My Life, which included two singles that were written by Cohen: "Suzanne" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag." In 1967, Noel Harrison released his own, pop rendition of Cohen's "Suzanne." By the end of that year, Cohen had released his first album, The Songs of Leonard Cohen, which included his version of the song "Suzanne." The album also included the popular songs "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" and "Master Song," among others. Two years later, Cohen released Songs from a Room (1969), featuring the now-famous single "Bird on a Wire." That album was followed by 1971's Songs of Love and Hate, which included the singles "Avalanche" and "Famous Blue Raincoat." Cohen produced three other albums before the end of the decade. After co-writing the soundtrack to the musical film Night Magic, with fellow songwriter Lewis Furey, Cohen released 1984's Various Positions. The album included one of Cohen's most popular songs to date: "Hallelujah." The song has been covered countless times, including by John Cale and Jeff Buckley, whose renditions—both considered to be smoother, vocally, than Cohen's—received wide acclaim. From the late 1980s to 2012, Cohen released a handful of albums, including I'm Your Man (1988), The Future (1992), Ten New Songs (2001) and Dear Heather (2004). In 2010, Sony Music released Songs from the Road, an album of songs that were performed live by Cohen in 2008 and 2009. In January 2012, at the age of 77, Cohen released Old Ideas. In his late 70s, Cohen continues to write music and tour, most recently with a 2012 concert series. Legacy Leonard Cohen—whose musical style has been deemed straightforward, prophetic and, at times, seemingly expressionless—has been compared to folk-rock musician Bob Dylan. Though some listeners have strayed away from Cohen's baritone voice and deadpan delivery, he has enjoyed wide critical and commercial acclaim. Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. He received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2010.

leonard cohen

Quick Facts

NAME: Leonard Norman Cohen
OCCUPATION: Songwriter, Singer, Poet
BIRTH DATE: September 21, 1934 (Age: 78)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Montreal, Canada
AKA: Leonard Cohen
ZODIAC SIGN: Virgo

Best Known For

Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen is known for his poetic lyrics and baritone voice. He's received acclaim for such songs as "Hallelujah" and "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye."

leonard cohen

mitt romney -Bio

mitt romney

Mitt Romney biography Synopsis Born in Michigan on March 12, 1947, Mitt Romney is the son of former Michigan Governor George Romney. He founded the investment firm Bain Capital and later ran for the Massachusetts Senate in 1994, losing to incumbent Ted Kennedy. Romney took over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and helmed a successful 2002 Olympic Games. He became governor of Massachusetts in 2003 and made a run for the Republican nomination in the 2008 election, losing to candidate John McCain. Romney made a second run for the U.S. presidency in 2012, with U.S. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate, but was ultimately defeated by President Barack Obama in a tight race. Early Life Born Willard Mitt Romney on March 12, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Mitt Romney attended the prestigious Cranbrook School before receiving his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in 1971. He attended Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, and received both a law degree and a Master of Business Administration degree in 1975. Romney married Ann Davies in 1969; they have five sons, Tagg, Matt, Josh, Ben and Craig. Mitt and Ann Romney are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. Their openness about their faith has brought Mormonism into the national spotlight, creating unique media attention for the Romneys and other famous Mormons. Entry into Politics The son of George Romney, a former governor of Michigan who ran for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 1968 (he was defeated by Richard Nixon), Mitt Romney began his career in business. He worked for the management consulting firm Bain & Company before founding the investment firm Bain Capital in 1984. A decade later, in 1994, he ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, but was defeated by longtime incumbent Ted Kennedy. Romney stepped into the national spotlight in 1999, when he took over as president of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. He helped rescue the 2002 Winter Olympic Games from financial and ethical woes, and helmed the successful Salt Lake City Games in 2002. In 2004, Romney authored the book Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games. Massachusetts Governor Romney parlayed his success with the Olympics into politics when he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2003. During Romney's term as governor, he oversaw the reduction of a $3 billion deficit. He also signed into law a health-care reform program to provide nearly universal health care for Massachusetts residents. 2008 Presidential Run After serving one term as governor, Romney declined to run for re-election and announced his bid for the U.S. presidency. He made it through Super Tuesday, winning primaries in Massachusetts, Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado and Utah before losing the Republican nomination to Senator John McCain of Arizona. According to reports, Romney spent about $110 million on his campaign, including $45 million of his own money. Romney continued to keep his options open for a possible future presidential run. He maintained much of his political staff and political action committees, and raised funds for fellow Republican candidates. In March 2010, Romney published the book No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, which debuted on The New York Times' best-seller list. 2012 Presidential Election At a farm in New Hampshire on June 2, 2011, Mitt Romney announced the official start of his campaign for the 2012 presidential election. During his campaign, Romney took many standard Republican positions on taxes, the economy and fighting terrorism, while consistently and vocally criticizing his opponent, Democrat President Barack Obama. Specifically, Romney denounced President Obama's health-care reform program—a stance that earned him criticism from the press, as the president's health-care plan is similar to the Massachusetts plan that Romney supported as governor. Additionally, throughout the 2012 presidential race, critics charged Romney with changing his position on several key issues, including abortion; Romney supported Roe v. Wade—the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a woman's right to an abortion—while campaigning for a Senate seat in 1994, but maintained an ardent pro-life stance throughout his 2012 campaign for the presidency. From the start of his campaign, Romney emerged as the front-runner for the Republican nomination. He showed more mainstream Republican appeal than Tea Party-backed competitors like Texas Governor Rick Perry. In January 2012, Romney scored a decisive victory in the New Hampshire Republican primary. He captured more than 39 percent of votes, way ahead of his competitors, including Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman. As the race has continued, Rick Santorum became his greatest competition, winning several states. However, Romney secured a substantial lead in the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination. In April 2012, Romney benefitted from a narrowing of the field when Santorum announced that he was suspending his campaign. Romney publicly paid tribute to his former rival, saying that Santorum "has proved himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation." Following Santorum's departure, Romney only had two opponents left—Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich. Gingrich threw in the towel that May. Romney's campaign met with negative publicity in July 2012, when President Obama's campaign ran ads claiming that Romney was the head of Bain Capital until 2001, not until 1999 as Romney had previously stated. Around that same time, news reports began to circulate regarding economy-stifling practices by Bain Capital; according to the reports, Romney's company had invested in several businesses that specialized in relocating jobs overseas. The reports, along with Obama's ads, were huge blows to the Romney campaign. But Romney's campaign fired back with its own political ads, which claimed that Obama was more interested in helping his donors than looking out for the American public. This was only the beginning of the slinging of barbs and arrows that would occur between the two candidates along the campaign trail. Later in July 2012, Romney made headlines again, this time for comments he made while attending the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London; in an interview with NBC, Romney stated that London's preparations for the Games were somewhat "disconcerting," spurring outrage from citizens of the city and viewers worldwide. According to The Guardian, following the NBC broadcast, David Cameron rebuked Romney's remarks, stating, "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities in the world. Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere," referencing Romney's leadership over the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. In response to the criticism, Romney later retracted, stating, "I am very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games. What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organisation and [I] expect the Games to be highly successful," according to The Guardian. In August 2012, Romney announced 42-year-old U.S. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate for vice president. The announcement ended months-long speculation over the potential vice-presidential candidates of the 2012 election, as media attention began to heavily focus on Ryan, a fiscal conservative and chair of the House of Representatives Budget Committee. On August 28, 2012, Romney became the Republican Party's official presidential nominee, receiving 2,061 delegate votes—nearly double the required 1,144—on the first day of the 2012 Republican National Convention, held in Tampa, Florida. During the convention, election candidates Romney and Ryan received support from several fellow Republican politicians, including Romney's competitor in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, John McCain. "For four years, we have drifted away," McCain said at the convention. "People don't want less of America, they want more. What they want to know is, whether we still have faith ... Mitt Romney has that faith, and I trust him to lead us." Romney made headlines after the first presidential debate with Barack Obama in early October 2012. He gave a strong performance, receiving praise for his speaking skills from citizens and critics alike. Most critics agreed that Romney won the debate, and that his performance significantly boosted his public perception and status in the presidential race. However, Obama was praised for his performance during the second and third debates, with many critics claiming that the president had won both. As each state announced its election results on November 6, 2012, many Americans clung to the edge of their seats. Just before midnight, the results were announced: In a tight race, Romney was defeated by Barack Obama, with the president receiving just over half of the popular vote and around 60 percent of the electoral vote.

mitt romney

Quick Facts

NAME: Willard Mitt Romney
OCCUPATION: Governor
BIRTH DATE: March 12, 1947 (Age: 65)
EDUCATION: Cranbrook School, Brigham Young University, Harvard Law School, Harvard Business School
PLACE OF BIRTH: Detroit, Michigan
AKA: Mitt Romney
ZODIAC SIGN: Pisces

Best Known For

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney made a run for the Republican nomination in the 2008 presidential election, losing to John McCain. He made another run for the presidency in 2012, but was defeated by President Barack Obama.

mitt romney

neil young -Bio

neil young

Neil Young biography Synopsis Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young arrived in the United States in the mid-1960s and co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield, jump-starting a musical career that has spanned more than 45 years. Young has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is known for writing and recording such time-transcending songs as "Old Man," "Harvest Moon," "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)," "The Needle and the Damage Done," "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Heart of Gold"—a No. 1 hit. Outside of music, Young is a strong advocate for environmental and disability issues, demonstrated in his co-founding of the Benefit for Farm Aid and Bridge School Benefit Concerts. Early Life Neil Young was born on November 12, 1945 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Rassy and Scott Young. Young grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Before becoming one of the best-known musicans of his generation, he formed his first band, the Jades, while in junior high school. During that time, he also developed his characteristic melodic guitar style and use of the "whammy bar," creating a vibrato effect to accompany his unique and mournful, untrained, yet singular voice. A few years later, in 1963, Young formed an instrumental and folk-rock band called the Squires. Never one for rigidity, he dropped out of high school and began performing in Fort William, and soon began recording demos with his four bandmates. It was during this time that Young first met Stephen Stills, who was touring with his band, the Company. Musical Career By the mid-1960s, Young decided to leave the Squires and begin touring the folk clubs in Winnipeg. While making his cafe rounds, he met fellow folk musician Joni Mitchell—who would later write the song "The Circle Game" in response to the Young's song, "Sugar Mountain." Also during this time, the rock band The Guess Who recorded one of Young's songs, "Flying on the Ground Is Wrong," which would become a Top 40 Canadian hit. In 1966, Young moved to the United States with friend and bass player Bruce Palmer; the two packed their possesions into Young's black hearse and drove the long road to Los Angeles, California. There, Young and Palmer co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield, which also included Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Dewey Martin. Their first album, Buffalo Springfield, which included the Stills-authored hit song "For What It's Worth," was a best-seller and introduced both the band and Young to America. The band grew to attract a large following, and was acclaimed for its experimental and skilled instrumental pieces, inventive songwriting, and harmony-focuses vocal composition. Although Buffalo Springfield fell apart after only a couple of years, the group managed to release two more albums, Buffalo Springfield Again and Last Time Around, in 1967 and 1968, respectively. Despite its short life, Buffalo Springfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. It was the first time that Young was enshrined—he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame again in 1995, for his solo work. By the late-1960s, Young had again embarked on a solo career, backed by a group called Crazy Horse. In 1969, while still working as a solo artist, Young joined former Springfield member Stephen Stills and two other musicians, David Crosby and Graham Nash, to form the band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Through a contractual agreement, Young was able to work as both a solo artist and a member of CSN&Y simulatenously. Just months after bringing Young into the mix, CSN&Y was invited to perform at the famous Woodstock Fesitval—their second live performance. The band's subsequent tour and album release, Déjà Vu, catapulted them to fame—so much so that they were often referred to as the "American Beatles." Perhaps due to pressure, or perhaps due to his own ambitions, Young's relationship with Crosby, Stills and Nash soon became contentious. Young and Stills were often at odds over the direction of the band, and Young eventually parted ways in the early 1970s. Crosby, Stills and Nash continued on as a trio, and each of the three remaining members, like Young, became two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees; CSN&Y remains the only band to have all of its members inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame twice, though not all with each other. After leaving CSN&Y, Young focused on his solo career, backed up again with Crazy Horse. He released several albums over the next three years, culminating with Harvest (1972), a hallmark work that contains the song "Heart of Gold," a No. 1 hit, and the only No. 1 song of Young's career, to date. CSN&Y reunited in 1974, and released a successful compilation album. In 1979, Young released the album Rust Never Sleeps, which included the anthem "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)," and was both a commercial and critical success. In the 1980s, Young experimented with various styles of music, from computerized sequencers to country music, and most were neither critially nor commercially well-received. In 1989, Young released the album Freedom, which includes the song "Rockin' in the Free World." The alternative song is often credited with starting grunge music, and earned Young the moniker "Godfather of Grunge," especially after the band Pearl Jam adopted the song and performed it with Young at the 1993 MTV Video Awards. The 1990s also found Young playing with Booker T., touring with Sonic Youth and Pearl Jam, and reuniting with Crazy Horse to record Harvest Moon. Young returned to his roots to create the album, which includes a compilation of folk-rock tunes. The 2000s found Young reflecting the souls of America, from the patriotic song, "Let's Roll," inspired by the heroism shown after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, to the antiwar-themed album Living with War. Other Projects In the 1980s, Young was heavily preoccupied with taking care of his son, Ben, who suffered from cerebal palsy, as did his older son, Zeke. Young, an avid model-train collector, created a 700-foot model train track within a barn on his property—an idea he developed as a way to interact with Ben. Young developed special controllers for the train set, allowing his son to control switching and power using a paddle system. The controls later formed the basis for a company called Liontech. In 1995, when the Lionel company was facing bankruptcy, Young put together an investment group to purchase the train company so that he might continue his research and development. Young's experience with cerebal palsy—as well as the epilepsy of his daughter, Amber Jean, which Neil also struggled with—resulted in Neil and his then-wife, Pegi, founding the Bridge School in San Francisco, a center for children with communication disabilities in the 1980s. The yearly concert benefit for the Bridge School, started in 1986, has attracted thousands of concertgoers and featured many major artists, including Eddie Vedder, Beck, Dave Matthews and Carlos Santana. Young also became heavily involved in advocating for environmental issues by participaing in the organization of yearly concerts for Farm Aid. Recent Years In June 2012, following a nine-year break from album-creation, Young released Americana—a collaboration with his longtime back-up band, Crazy Horse, and the 34th studio album of Young's career. Young's prior solo album with Crazy Horse was 2003's Greendale. Americana focuses on electric guitar riffs and features many standard and patriotic folk songs, including "Oh, Susanna," "Clementine" and "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain." Young seems to have always challenged himself musically, and challenged his audience emotionally, by experimenting with musical styles and genres. His musical versatility, as well as his refusal to stay in one place, or with one band, have bolstered his endurance in a culture that is often influenced by the newest fad. Young once said about his growth as a musician, "As I get older, I get smaller. I see other parts of the world I didn't see before. Other points of view. I see outside myself more."

neil young

Quick Facts

NAME: Neil Percival Young
OCCUPATION: Environmental Activist, Engineer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer, Philanthropist
BIRTH DATE: November 12, 1945 (Age: 67)
EDUCATION: Earl Grey Junior High School, Kelvin High School
PLACE OF BIRTH: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nickname: Bernard Shakey
Nickname: Joe Canuck
AKA: Neil Young
ZODIAC SIGN: Scorpio

Best Known For

Neil Young is one of the most influential songwriters and guitarists of his generation, known for writing and recording such time-transcending songs as "Old Man," "Harvest Moon" and "Heart of Gold."

neil young

joan baez -Bio

joan baez

Joan Baez biography Synopsis Joan Baez was born in Staten Island, New York on January 9, 1941. Baez first became known as a folk singer after performing at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival. She is known for topical songs promoting social justice, civil rights and pacifism. Baez also played a critical role in popularizing Bob Dylan, with whom she performed regularly in the mid-1960s. Profile Singer, songwriter, social activist. Born on January 9, 1941, in Staten Island, New York. Joan Baez, a singer in the folk tradition, was a crucial part of the genre's rebirth in the 1960s. She got her first guitar in 1956. After her family moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, two years later, Joan Baez delved into the city's burgeoning folk scene. Soon she became a regular performer at a local club.The 1960s were a turbulent time in American history, and Joan Baez often used her music to express her social and political views. Her self-titled first album was released in 1960 and not long after its release she met the then-unknown singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.In the early to mid-1960s, Joan Baez became an established folk artist as well as a voice for social change. She sang "We Shall Overcome" at the March on Washington in 1963 organized by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition to supporting civil rights, Baez also participated in the antiwar movement, calling for an end to the conflict in Vietnam. Beginning in 1964, she would refuse to pay part of her taxes to protest U.S. military spending for a decade. Baez was also arrested twice in 1967 in Oakland, California, for blocking an armed forces induction center. Near the decade's end, her autobiography, Daybreak (1968), was released.Baez continued to be active politically and musically in the 1970s. She helped establish the west coast branch of Amnesty International, a human rights organization, and released numerous albums, including the critically acclaimed Diamonds and Rust (1975). In addition to touring, she also performed at many benefits and fund-raisers for social and political causes around the world.Her most recent studio album was 2003's Dark Chords on a Big Guitar. She followed up with a collection of live tracks in 2005 on Bowery Songs, which featured songs by Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie as well as some traditional folk songs.Once married to David Harris, Joan Baez has a son named Gabriel from that union. She lives in California and continues to speak out for causes that are important to her.

joan baez

Quick Facts

NAME: Joan Chandos Baez
OCCUPATION: Children's Activist, Civil Rights Activist, Environmental Activist, Women's Rights Activist, Anti-War Activist, Guitarist, Singer
BIRTH DATE: January 09, 1941 (Age: 71)
EDUCATION: Boston University
PLACE OF BIRTH: Staten Island, New York City, New York
ZODIAC SIGN: Capricorn

Best Known For

Joan Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter and activist who is best known for her distinctive voice and for her role in popularizing the music of Bob Dylan.

joan baez

bob dylan -Bio

bob dylan

#EANF#

bob dylan

#EANF#

bob dylan

bob dylan -Bio

bob dylan

Bob Dylan biography Synopsis Folk rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota. While attending college, he began performing folk and country songs, taking the name "Bob Dylan." In 1961 Dylan signed his first recording contract. Showing no signs of slowing down, Dylan has continued to tour in recent years, and released his latest studio album in April 2009. Early Life Folk rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota. Driven by the influences of early rock stars like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard (whom he used to imitate on the piano at high school dances), the young Dylan formed his own bands, including The Golden Chords as well as a group he fronted under the pseudonym Elston Gunn. While attending the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, he began performing folk and country songs at local cafés, taking the name "Bob Dylan," after the late Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Folk Singing In 1960, Dylan dropped out of college and moved to New York where his idol, the legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie was hospitalized with a rare hereditary disease of the nervous system. Dylan visited with Guthrie regularly in his hospital room; he also became a regular in the folk clubs and coffeehouses of Greenwich Village; met a host of other musicians; and began writing songs at an astonishing pace, including "Song to Woody," a tribute to his ailing hero. In the fall of 1961, after one of his performances received a rave review in The New York Times, Dylan signed a recording contract with Columbia Records. Released early in 1962, Bob Dylan contained only two original songs, but showcased Dylan's gravelly-voiced singing style in a number of traditional folk songs and covers of blues songs.The 1963 release of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan marked Dylan's emergence as one of the most original and poetic voices in the history of American popular music. The album included two of the most memorable 1960s folk songs, "Blowin' in the Wind" (which later became a huge hit for the folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary) and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." His next album, The Times They Are A-Changin', firmly established Dylan as the definitive songwriter of the 60s protest movement, a reputation that only increased after he became involved with one of the movement's established icons, Joan Baez, in 1963. While his romantic relationship with Baez lasted only two years, it benefited both performers immensely in terms of their music careers—Dylan wrote some of Baez's best-known material, and Baez introduced him to thousands of fans through her concerts. By 1964 Dylan was playing 200 concerts annually, but had become tired of his role as "the" folk singer-songwriter of the protest movement. Another Side of Bob Dylan, recorded in 1964, was a much more personal, introspective collection of songs, far less politically charged than Dylan's previous efforts. Reinventing His Image In 1965, Dylan scandalized many of his folkie fans by recording the half-acoustic, half-electric album Bringing It All Back Home, backed by a nine-piece band. On July 25, 1965, he was famously booed at the Newport Folk Festival when he performed electrically for the first time. The albums that followed, Highway 61 Revisited (1965)—which included the seminal rock song "Like a Rolling Stone"—and the two-record set Blonde on Blonde (1966) represented Dylan at his most innovative. With his unmistakable voice and unforgettable lyrics, Dylan brought the worlds of music and literature together as no one else had. Over the course of the next three decades, Dylan continued to reinvent himself. Following a near-fatal motorcycle accident in July 1966, Dylan spent almost a year recovering in seclusion. His next two albums, John Wesley Harding (1968)—including "All Along the Watchtower," later recorded by guitar great Jimi Hendrix—and the unabashedly countryish Nashville Skyline (1969) were far more mellow than his earlier works. Critics blasted the two-record set Self-Portrait (1970) and Tarantula, a long-awaited collection of writings Dylan published in 1971, also met with a poor reception. In 1973, Dylan appeared in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, a feature film directed by Sam Peckinpah. He also wrote the film's soundtrack, which became a hit and included the now-classic song, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Touring and Religion In 1974, Dylan began his first full-scale tour since his accident, embarking on a sold-out nationwide tour with his longtime backup band, the Band. An album he recorded with the Band, Planet Waves, became his first No. 1 album ever. He followed these successes with the celebrated 1975 album Blood on the Tracks and Desire (1976), each of which hit No. 1 as well. Desire included the song "Hurricane," written by Dylan about the boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, then serving life in prison after what many felt was an wrongful conviction of triple homicide in 1967. Dylan was one of many prominent public figures who helped popularize Carter's cause, leading to a retrial in 1976, when he was again convicted. After a painful split with his wife, Sara Lowndes—the song "Sara" on Desire was Dylan's plaintive but unsuccessful attempt to win Lowndes back—Dylan again reinvented himself, declaring in 1979 that he was a born-again Christian. The evangelical Slow Train Coming was a commercial hit, and won Dylan his first Grammy Award. The tour and albums that followed were less successful, however, and Dylan's religious leanings soon became less overt in his music. Rock Star Status Beginning in the 1980s, Dylan began touring full time, sometimes with fellow legends Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Grateful Dead. Notable albums during this period included Infidels (1983); the five-disc retrospective Biograph (1985); Knocked Out Loaded (1986); and Oh Mercy (1989), which became his best-received album in years. He recorded two albums with the all-star band the Traveling Wilburys, also featuring George Harrison, the late Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. In 1994, Dylan returned to his folk roots, winning the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album for World Gone Wrong. In 1989, when Dylan was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Bruce Springsteen spoke at the ceremony, declaring that "Bob freed the mind the way Elvis freed the body ... He invented a new way a pop singer could sound, broke through the limitations of what a recording artist could achieve, and changed the face of rock and roll forever." In 1997, Dylan became the first rock star ever to receive Kennedy Center Honors, considered the nation's highest award for artistic excellence. Dylan's 1997 album Time Out of Mind re-established this one-time folk icon as one of the preeminent of rock's wise men, winning three Grammy Awards. He continued his vigorous touring schedule, including a memorable performance in 1997 for Pope John Paul II in which he played "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and a 1999 tour with Paul Simon. In 2000, he recorded the single "Things Have Changed" for the soundtrack of the film Wonder Boys, starring Michael Douglas. The song won Dylan a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Dylan then took time out from his music to tell the story of his life. The singer released Chronicles: Volume One, the first in a three-book memoir series, in the Fall of 2004. Dylan gave his first full interview in 20 years for a documentary released in 2005. Entitled No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, the film was directed by Martin Scorsese. Recent Work In 2006, Dylan released the studio album Modern Times. After hitting stores in late August, it reached the top of the album charts the next month. A mixture of blues, country, and folk, the album was praised for its rich sound and imagery. Several critics also remarked the album had a playful, knowing quality. Showing no signs of slowing down, Dylan continued to tour throughout the first decade of the 21st century, and released the studio album Together Through Life in April 2009. In 2010, he released a bootleg album called The Witmark Demos, followed by a new boxed set entitled Bob Dylan: The Original Mono Recordings. In addition, he exhibited 40 of his original paintings for a solo show at the National Gallery of Denmark. In 2011, he released yet another live album, Bob Dylan in Concert - Brandeis University 1963. He also announced tour dates in Taiwan, Vietnam and Australia. Dylan and Lowndes, who married in 1965 and divorced in 1977, had four children together: Jesse, Anna, Samuel, and Jakob. Dylan also adopted Lowndes' daughter, Maria, from a previous marriage. Jakob Dylan is now the lead singer of a popular rock band, the Wallflowers.

bob dylan

Quick Facts

NAME: Bob Dylan
OCCUPATION: Songwriter, Singer
BIRTH DATE: May 24, 1941 (Age: 71)
EDUCATION: University of Minnesota
PLACE OF BIRTH: Duluth, Minnesota
AKA: Bob Dylan
ZODIAC SIGN: Gemini

Best Known For

Bob Dylan is a folk rock singer-songwriter whose career began in the early 1960s with songs that chronicled social issues like war and civil rights.

bob dylan

harry chapin -Bio

harry chapin

Harry Chapin biography Synopsis Born in New York City in 1942, Harry Chapin had a brief career as a documentary filmmaker before becoming one of the most popular folk singers and songwriters of the 1970s. Chapin is famous for such songs as "Cat's in the Cradle" and "Taxi." He also worked to fight world hunger. Early Life Harry Foster Chapin, better known as Harry Chapin, was born on December 7, 1942 in Brooklyn Heights, New York City. A graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School, Chapin briefly attended the United States Air Force Academy and Cornell University before setting out to become a documentary filmmaker. His film Legendary Champions was nominated for a documentary Academy Award in 1968. Musical Career and Philanthropy In 1971, Chapin decided to switch gears and pursue a music career. His first album, 1972's Heads and Tales, was a universal success. His following grew with such popular records as Short Stories and Verities and Balderdash, released in 1973 and 1974, respectively. Chapin's most famous singles include "Taxi," "Circle" and "Cat's in the Cradle," the latter of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and catapulted him to wealth and stardom. "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's only No. 1 song. Chapin is also known for his work on Broadway productions. After writing and producing The Night That Made America Famous (1975), he wrote music and lyrics for the musical Cotton Patch Gospel (released in 1982). Outside of his musical career, Chapin was deeply committed to philanthropy, particularly fighting hunger in the United States and around the world. In 1975, he co-founded World Hunger Year (renamed to WhyHunger), along with friend and popular radio host Bill Ayres. After forming the organization, which is aimed at addressing the causes of hunger and poverty, Chapin frequently visited Washington, D.C. to lobby for hunger causes. Death and Legacy On July 16, 1981, in the early afternoon, Chapin was tragically killed in a car accident while driving on the Long Island Expressway (New York's Interstate 495). At the time of his death, he was working on several songs that were released posthumously in the album The Last Protest Singer (1988). He was survived by his wife, Sandy; their two children, Jen and Josh; and three stepchildren (who Chapin legally adopted), Jaime, Jonathan and Jason. In the months after Chapin's death, the Harry Chapin Foundation was founded in his honor. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded a Special Congressional Gold Medal, during a tribute concert that was held in his honor. An album of that event was released a few years later, in 1990. Today, Chapin's daughter, Jen Chapin, chairs the board of directors of WhyHunger, which annually honors individuals who work toward improving hunger issues with the Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award. Similarly, everal other activist organizations have created awards in honor of Chapin's work, including the National Association of Recording Merchandisers' Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award, which memorializes Chapin's efforts on behalf of the environment and other humanitarian causes; and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award, which honors humanitarian contributions.

harry chapin

Quick Facts

NAME: Harry Foster Chapin
OCCUPATION: Songwriter, Singer, Philanthropist
BIRTH DATE: December 07, 1942
DEATH DATE: July 16, 1981
EDUCATION: Brooklyn Technical High School, United States Air Force Academy, Cornell University
PLACE OF BIRTH: New York City, New York
PLACE OF DEATH: New York
AKA: Harry Chapin

Best Known For

Folk singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, famous in the 1970s for hits like "Cat's in the Cradle," was also a philanthropist dedicated to fighting world hunger.

harry chapin

kim basinger -Bio

kim basinger

Kim Basinger biography Synopsis Kim Basinger was born December 8, 1953 in Athens, Georgia, USA. She appeared in TV commercials and was a top model before making her feature film debut in Hard Country. Other films include Nine ½ Weeks, 8 Mile, and The Sentinel. In 1997 She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in L.A. Confidential. Kim Basinger's second marriage (1993–2001) was to actor Alec Baldwin. Profile Film actress, born on December 8, 1953 in Athens, Georgia, USA. She appeared in television commercials and was a top model before making her feature film debut in Hard Country (1981). Other films include Nine Weeks (1986), The Real McCoy (1993), I Dreamed of Africa (2000), 8 Mile (2002), Cellular (2004), and The Sentinel (2006). She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in L.A. Confidential (1997). Kim Basinger's second marriage (1993–2001) was to actor Alec Baldwin and they have a daughter, Ireland Eliesse.

kim basinger

Quick Facts

NAME: Kimila Ann Basinger
OCCUPATION: Animal Rights Activist, Film Actress
BIRTH DATE: December 08, 1953 (Age: 59)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Athens, Georgia
ZODIAC SIGN: Sagittarius

Best Known For

Film actress Kim Basinger won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in L.A. Confidential. She married actor Alec Baldwin in 1993.

kim basinger

dr phil mcgraw -Bio

dr phil mcgraw

Dr. Phil McGraw biography Synopsis Born in 1950, Dr. Phil McGraw was a college football player who got his Ph.D. in psychology. He quit private practice to start Pathways, a self-motivation seminar, as well as a company called Courtroom Sciences. He met Oprah Winfrey while helping her win a lawsuit in 1998. McGraw became a regular on her show, then launched his own in 2002. He also penned several bestselling self-help books. Profile Psychologist, life strategist, television host. Born in 1950 in Oklahoma, Dr. Phil was raised both there and in Texas. He grew up to become a 6-foot-4-inch linebacker and was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Tulsa. He finished his degree at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Later, in just four years, he picked up his master's and Ph.D. in psychology at the University of North Texas. In 1979, Dr. Phil opened a practice with his father, who earned his psychology degree at the age of 40.After going into private practice, Dr. Phil soon realized one-on-one therapy wasn't for him. He then launched a popular self-motivation seminar called Pathways. And in 1989, he built a company called Courtroom Sciences. The venture helped trial lawyers build cases using psychology by conducting mock trials, behavioral analysis, jury selection and mediation.It was through Courtroom Sciences that Dr. Phil met Oprah Winfrey. In 1996, she was being sued by cattlemen who claimed she defamed the beef industry on one of her shows, and Oprah hired Dr. Phil to assist during the trial. After helping her win the case in 1998, Dr. Phil became a regular expert on Oprah, dealing with life strategies and relationships. With his catchphrase, "Get real," the plain-spoken Texan served up common sense advice rather than self-help jargon. His tough demeanor made him a psychologist that even men felt comfortable listening to. In the fall of 2002, he launched his own nationally syndicated series, Dr. Phil. The one-hour talk show garnered the highest ratings of any new syndicated program since the launch of The Oprah Winfrey Show 16 years prior. Along with conducting motivational seminars across the country, he is the author of four New York Times bestsellers. His most recent book, Family First, was released in September 2004.Dr. Phil has been married to his wife, Robin, since 1976. They have two sons, Jay and Jordan.

dr phil mcgraw

Quick Facts

NAME: Dr. Phil McGraw
OCCUPATION: Talk Show Host
BIRTH DATE: September 01, 1950 (Age: 62)
EDUCATION: University of Tulsa, Midwestern State University, University of North Texas
PLACE OF BIRTH: Vinita, Oklahoma
ZODIAC SIGN: Virgo

Best Known For

Psychologist and life strategist Dr. Phil McGraw was a regular on The Oprah Winfrey Show before he launched his own TV series.

dr phil mcgraw

jimi hendrix -Bio

jimi hendrix

Jimi Hendrix biography Synopsis Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington. Learning to play guitar as a teenager, Hendrix grew up to become a rock guitar legend who excited audience in the 1960s with his innovative electric guitar playing. Hendrix died in 1970 from drug-related complications, leaving his mark on the world of rock music and remaining popular to this day. Early Life Guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Born Johnny Allen Hendrix (later changed to James Marshall) on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington. Learning to play guitar as a teenager, Hendrix grew up to become a rock guitar legend. He had a difficult childhood, sometimes living in the care of relatives and even acquaintances at times.His mother, Lucille, was only 17 years old when Hendrix was born. She had a stormy relationship with his father, Al, and eventually left the family after the couple had two more children together, sons Leon and Joseph. Hendrix would only see his mother sporadically before her death in 1958. Musical Aspirations In many ways, music became a sanctuary for Hendrix. He was a fan of blues music and taught himself to play guitar. At the age of 14, Hendrix saw Elvis Presley perform. He got his first electric guitar the following year and eventually played with two bands - the Rocking Kings and the Tomcats. In 1959, Hendrix dropped out of high school. He worked odd jobs while continuing to follow his musical aspirations. Hendrix enlisted in the United States Army in 1961 and trained at Fort Ord in California to become a paratrooper. Even as a soldier, he found time for music, creating a band named The King Casuals. Hendrix served in the army until 1962 when he was discharged due to an injury. After leaving the military, Hendrix pursued his music, working as a session musician and playing backup for such performers as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and the Isley Brothers. He also formed a group of his own called Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, which played gigs around New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood. Career Breakthrough In mid-1966, Hendrix met Chas Chandler, a former member of the Animals, a successful rock group, who became his manager. Chandler convinced Hendrix to go to London where he joined forces with musicians Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to create The Jimi Hendrix Experience. While there, Hendrix built up quite a following among England's rock royalty. Members of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Eric Clapton were all great admirers of Hendrix's work. One critic for the British music magazine Melody Maker said that he "had great stage presence" and looked at times as if he was playing "with no hands at all." Released in 1967, the band's first single, "Hey Joe" was an instant smash in Britain, and was soon followed by other hits such as "Purple Haze" and "The Wind Cried Mary." On tour to support his first album, Are You Experienced? (1967), Hendrix delighted audiences with his outrageous guitar-playing skills and his innovative, experimental sound. He won over American music fans with his stunning performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, which ended with Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire. Rock Superstar Quickly becoming a rock music superstar, Hendrix scored again with his second album, Axis: Bold as Love (1968). His final album as part of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Electric Ladyland (1968), was released and featured the hit "All Along the Watchtower," which was written by Bob Dylan. The band continued to tour until it split up in 1969. That same year, Hendrix performed at another legendary musical event: the Woodstock Festival. His rock rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" amazed the crowds and demonstrated his considerable talents as a musician. He was also an accomplished songwriter and musical experimenter. Hendrix even had his own recording studio in which he could work with different performers and try out new songs and sounds. Hendrix tried his luck with another group, forming Band of Gypsys in late 1969 with his army buddy Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles. The band never really took off, and Hendrix began working on a new album tentatively named First Rays of the New Rising Sun, with Cox and Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Unfortunately Hendrix did not live to complete the project. Tragic Death Hendrix died on September 18th, 1970, from drug-related complications. While this talented recording artist was only 27 years old at the time of his passing, Hendrix left his mark on the world of rock music and remains popular to this day. As one journalist wrote in the Berkeley Tribe, "Jimi Hendrix could get more out of an electric guitar than anyone else. He was the ultimate guitar player."

jimi hendrix

Quick Facts

NAME: Jimi Hendrix
OCCUPATION: Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer
BIRTH DATE: November 27, 1942
DEATH DATE: September 18, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH: Seattle, Washington
PLACE OF DEATH: London, United Kingdom

Best Known For

Guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Jimi Hendrix delighted audiences in the 1960s with his outrageous electric guitar playing skills and his experimental sound.

jimi hendrix

john gavin -Bio

john gavin

John Gavin biography Synopsis John Gavin was born on April 8, 1932 in Los Angeles, California. From 1958 to 1969, he starred in classic films, and from 1981 to 1986, he was ambassador to Mexico. He left his post in 1986 to become president of Univisa Satellite Communications. Gavin has likewise been the acting president of Gamma Services Corp., otherwise known as Gamma Holdings, since he founded the global capital and consulting company in 1968. Early Life John Gavin was born to parents Herald Ray and Delia Diana on April 8, 1932 in Los Angeles, California. Before college, he attended St. John Military Academy, and Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai, California.Gavin received his college education at Stanford University. The fact that Gavin had a Mexican mother and was himself fluent in Spanish fueled his interest in studying Latin countries. In 1952, he graduated Stanford with a bachelor's degree in the economic history of Latin America. After graduation, Gavin joined the U.S. Navy, serving as an air intelligence officer during the Korean conflict, and a Pan-American affairs officer from 1952 to 1955. Actor Gavin had long dreamt of pursuing a career in foreign service. After leaving service as an air officer, he was about to join the diplomatic corps when a friend suggested Gavin take up acting. Gavin approached show business casually at first, but soon found he was hooked. Gavin first own over audiences when, in 1958, he starred as a German soldier on the Russian front during WWII in A Time to Love and a Time to Die. The following year, he appeared in Imitation of Life opposite Lana Turner. From the late 1950s through the late 1960s, Gavin continued to star in a large body of classic films: Spartacus, A Breath of Scandal, Psycho, Midnight Lace, Back Street and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Though his film career lasted scarcely more than a decade, Gavin co-starred with a long lineup of powerful leading ladies, including Doris Day, Sophia Loren, Susan Hayward and Sandra Dee. He also managed to balance a successful acting career with a role in government service. From 1961 to 1974, Gavin served as special advisor to the secretary general of the Organization of the United States.In 1973 Gavin made his Broadway theater debut in the play Seesaw. Personal Life A year later, Gavin married his real-life leading lady, actress Constance Towers (his second wife). Gavin was previously married to Cecily Evans, with whom he had daughters Christina and Maria. Similarly, Towers had two daughters from her first marriage (Maureen Ardath and Michael Ford) when she and Gavin wed.In addition to being a husband and father, Gavin has dedicated his personal time to serving on the boards of numerous organizations. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1971 to 1973. In homage to his alma mater, Gavin is also a member of the Stanford Alumni Association and a trustee of the Villanova Preparatory School. His charitable efforts have extended to helping The National Park Foundation and the Hoover Institution. Ambassador In 1981, Gavin was nominated U.S. ambassador to Mexico by his friend and former fellow actor, President Ronald Reagan. Gavin spent the next five years in Mexico, leading one of America's biggest diplomatic missions abroad. An excess of 1,000 Mexican and American workers represented more than 12 government organizations positioned throughout Mexico. Gavin left his diplomatic post in May 1986 to return to the private sector. Businessman After he gave up his ambassador's position, Gavin became president of Univisa Satellite Communications, Inc., as subsidiary of Univisa, which operates a broad array of communications, entertainment and media firms. Gavin has likewise been the acting president of Gamma Services Corp., otherwise known as Gamma Holdings, since he founded the global capital and consulting company in 1968.

john gavin

Quick Facts

NAME: John Gavin
OCCUPATION: Film Actor, Television Actor, Entrepreneur, Diplomat
BIRTH DATE: April 08, 1932 (Age: 80)
EDUCATION: St. Johns Military Academy, Villanova Preparatory School, Stanford University
PLACE OF BIRTH: Los Angeles, California
ZODIAC SIGN: Aries

Best Known For

American actor and businessman John Gavin starred in such classic films as Psycho and Midnight Lace, and was also U.S ambassador to Mexico under Ronald Reagan.

john gavin

janet leigh -Bio

janet leigh

Janet Leigh biography Synopsis Janet Leigh was born in Merced, California, on July 6, 1927. Her first film was The Romance of Rosy Ridge in 1947. She was cast in a number of films in the late 1940s and early 1950s. For her performance in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), she won a Golden Globe Award. In the mid-1960s, she started acting in television movies and minor films. She died October 3, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California. Early Life Screen actress Janet Leigh was born Jeanette Helen Morrison in Merced, California, on July 6, 1927. Leigh attended grammar school and high school in Stockton, California, skipping several grades and graduating at age 15. She studied music and psychology at the College of the Pacific. She was married twice at a young age, first in 1942 to John Carlyle (annulled), and then to Stanley Reames in 1946 (they divorced in 1948). Acclaimed Actress Leigh was discovered by retired MGM actress Norma Shearer who saw a picture of her at a ski resort and recommended her for a screen test. Leigh landed an MGM contract, and her first film was The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947), with Van Johnson. Leigh was cast in ingenue roles in a number of films in the late 1940s and early 1950s and worked with many leading stars of the time. In 1951, she married actor Tony Curtis and had two daughters, Kelly Lee (1956) and Jamie Lee (1958). Leigh and Curtis appeared in five films together, most notably Houdini (1953). In 1962, she divorced Curtis and married director Robert Brandt. Leigh's most successful movies include Little Women (1949), Angels in the Outfield (1951), Scaramouche (1952), The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) and Orson Welles's film noir Touch of Evil (1958). However, she is best known for her shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960)—one of the most terrifying moments ever committed to film. For her performance, Leigh won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award (best supporting actress). Later Years Leigh's career began to wane in the 1960s. She co-starred opposite Frank Sinatra in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), and with Paul Newman in Harper (1966). She then appeared in a series of made-for-television movies and minor feature films. Leigh died at the age of 77 in her Beverly Hills home in October 2004 after suffering for a year from vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels.

janet leigh

Quick Facts

NAME: Janet Leigh
OCCUPATION: Film Actress
BIRTH DATE: July 06, 1927
DEATH DATE: October 03, 2004
EDUCATION: College of the Pacific
PLACE OF BIRTH: Merced, California
PLACE OF DEATH: Los Angeles
Originally: Jeanette Helen Morrison
AKA: Jeanette Morrison
AKA: Janet Leigh

Best Known For

Film actress Janet Leigh, once Tony Curtis’s wife, is best remembered for her shower scene as Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, Psycho.

janet leigh

victoria gotti -Bio

victoria gotti

Victoria Gotti biography Synopsis Born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 27, 1962, Victoria Gotti is a writer, reality television participant and daughter of the late Gambino crime family Mafia boss, John Gotti (a.k.a. "The Dapper Don" or "The Teflon Don"). From August 2004 until December 2005, she was the star of Growing Up Gotti, an American reality television on the A&E Network. Early Life Born November 27, 1962, in Brooklyn, New York to convicted mob-boss, John Gotti, and his wife, Victoria DiGiorgio. As a girl, Victoria Gotti was raised in a modest two-story house in Howard Beach, New York, with her four siblings. She was the shiest of the Gotti children; Victoria was so quiet that for several years her parents suspected their daughter was autistic. Despite claims otherwise, Gotti says her family lived a sheltered, lower middle-class life with old-fashioned family values. Her mother made all of the children's clothes, and cut the girls' hair. As a teenager, her father was a very strict enforcer of curfews and was insistent on screening Victoria's boyfriends. Gotti's father was also frequently in-and-out of jail during her childhood. Her mother told the family that their father was away on business as a plumbing supplier, helping to build a prison facility. "I was raised to believe...none of what you hear, and only half of what you see," Victoria has said of her early years with her father. The young Gotti daughter was an avid reader and devoted straight-A student. She skipped two grades in high school, entering St. Johns University in 1977, at the age of 15. While she was still attending St. Johns, Victoria was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, a condition that makes the heart race, causing dizziness and palpitations. Her condition meant that Gotti needed to watch her health carefully, take regular medication, and occasionally wear a heart monitor. Family Tragedy and Mob Convictions In March of 1980, Victoria's 12-year-old brother, Frank, was hit by a car after he steered his motorbike into traffic. The accident devastated Victoria, who referred to her brother as her "little doll." Soon after the incident, her mother reportedly hospitalized the driver of the car, John Favara, after she bludgeoned him with a baseball bat. Four months later, Favara was abducted and never seen again. Victoria says she knows nothing of the incident, or her family's relation to Favara's disappearance. Despite the tragedy, Gotti was determined to finish college and pursue a law degree, but she dropped out when she decided she was "too shy" to become a lawyer. In 1984, shortly after leaving school, she married her high school sweetheart and "first real boyfriend," scrap-metal dealer, Carmine Agnello. Together, the couple had three sons, Carmine, Frank and John, as well as a daughter, Justine, who was stillborn. In 1992, when Victoria was 30 years old, her father, John Gotti, was convicted of racketeering and five counts of murder. He was sentenced to life without parole. For Victoria, his imprisonment came as a shock. She denied the court's allegations, and remained devoted to her father. "They don't make men like him anymore," she has said of the alleged mob-boss, "and they never will." In 1995, Gotti wrote her first book, Women and Mitral Valve Prolapse. Inspired by her own struggle with the illness, the book documented her heart condition in relatable terms, and was critically acclaimed by patients and doctors alike. This non-fiction success led to her career in fiction writing, and in 1997, her mystery novel The Senator's Daughter hit bookstores to solid reviews. Husband's Imprisonment and Divorce In 1999, Gotti published her second work of fiction, I'll Be Watching You, which also received high praise. But this same year, Victoria's family faced more hardship when brother, John "Junior" Gotti, pled guilty to extortion and bribery. He was sentenced to 77 months in prison. The year 2000 was another emotional one for Gotti and her family. She published her third book, Superstar, and her husband was arrested for using extortion and arson to frighten a Queens business competitor. The "competitors" were actually undercover New York investigators, who had set up surveillance units to track Agnello. Victoria's husband faced up to 29 years in prison, and stood to lose his $4 million Long Island mansion, which he had put up in 1998 as bail for brother-in-law, Junior Gotti. In addition to catching the scrap-metal magnate's illegal behavior, the videos captured Agnello's numerous infidelities with his bookkeeper. Victoria, angered by her husband's public betrayal, still stood by him, posting the royalties from her most recent book and the other half of the couples' mansion as bail money. A federal judge denied bail, claiming Agnello was a "threat to the community." In 2002, Gotti's father passed away in a federal prison hospital after struggling with head and neck cancer. As the family's resident author, Victoria was asked by The New York Post to write an obituary for her father. The article hit papers on the same day as her father's funeral. Reality TV In 2003, Gotti and her husband finally reached their breaking point and Victoria filed for divorce, citing "constructive abandonment." Gotti received $12,500 a month in alimony and an additional $12,500 a month for her sons in a package worth an estimated $7 million. Agnello was released from prison in 2007, after serving a nine-year sentence. In 2004, Gotti and her teenage sons became the subjects of a reality show on A&E called Growing Up Gotti. The boys quickly became celebrity heart-throbs, and were commonly referred to as "the hottie Gottis." The show was filmed in the family's seven-bedroom mansion on Long Island, and remained on the air until 2005. In August of 2005, Victoria made headlines again when she announced she had breast cancer. The claim was later denied and her publicist, Matt Rich, whose mother passed away from the same disease, quit over the incident. Gotti later announced that tests had only discovered precancerous cells, and blamed media outlets for exaggerating her claims. A former New York Post columnist and channel 5 reporter, Gotti is the author of several books, including her recent memoir This Family of Mine: What It Was Like Growing Up Gotti. She has also served as editor-at-large for Star magazine. In December 2011, Gotti took on another media role. She became the editor-in-chief at large for Reality Weekly. As part of her new job, Gotti writes her own column. In February 2012, Gotti herself returned to reality television as a contestant on Donald Trump's business competition The Celebrity Apprentice. She faces off against the likes of actor George Takei, singer Clay Aiken, and fellow reality star Teresa Giudice to win money for her chosen charity, the Association to Benefit Children.

victoria gotti

Quick Facts

NAME: Victoria Gotti
OCCUPATION: Reality Television Star
BIRTH DATE: November 27, 1962 (Age: 50)
EDUCATION: St. Johns University
PLACE OF BIRTH: Brooklyn, New York
ZODIAC SIGN: Sagittarius

Best Known For

Victoria Gotti is a writer, reality television participant and daughter of the late Gambino crime family Mafia boss, John Gotti.

victoria gotti