Today XXIV

Birthdays:

• Louis Moreau Gottschalk, composer and pianist, May 8, 1829 – December 18, 1869


• Harry S. Truman, 33rd president of the United States, May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972


• Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin, aka Fernandel, actor, May 8, 1903 – February 26, 1971


• Ernest Loring RED Nichols, jazz cornettist, May 8, 1905–June 28, 1965


• Roberto Rossellini, film director, May 8, 1906 - June 3, 1977


• Robert Leroy Johnson, blues musician, May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938


• Alexander Crichlow LEX Barker, Jr, actor [Tarzan #10], May 8, 1919 - May 11, 1973


• Sir David Frederick Attenborough, OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, broadcaster, humanist, and naturalist, 1926


• Archibald Donald DON Rickles, comedian and actor, 1926


• Charles SONNY Liston, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, May 8, 1932 – December 30, 1970


• Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr., , writer, 1937


• Eric Hilliard RICKY [or RICK] Nelson, singer, musician, and actor, one of the first American teen idols, May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985


• Peter Bradford Benchley, author, May 8, 1940 – February 11, 2006


• Toni Tennille, singer and keyboards player, one-half of the 1970's singing group Captain & Tennille, 1943


• Paul Francis Gadd, aka Gary Glitter singer and songwriter, 1944


• Keith Jarrett jazz pianist and composer, 1945


• Philip Bailey, R & B, soul and funk singer, one of the founding members of Earth, Wind & Fire, noted for his four-octave vocal range, 1951


• Melissa Ellen Gilbert, actress, 1964

RIP:

• Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry; because of his prominence in the pre-revolutionary government in France, he was beheaded at the height of the French Revolution - be proud, France, be very proud!, August 26, 1743 – May 8, 1794


• Mauro Giuliani, guitarist and composer, July 27, 1781 – May 8, 1828


• John Stuart Mill philosopher and political economist and political economist, May 20, 1806 – May 8, 1873


• Gustave Flaubert, novelist, December 12, 1821 – May 8, 1880


• Edward Hamilton Waldo, aka Theodore TED Sturgeon, science fiction author, February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985


• Robert Anson Heinlein, science fiction author, won four Hugo Awards for his novels following the year of publication; in addition, fifty years after publication, three of Heinlein's works were awarded "Retro Hugos" — awards given retrospectively for years in which no Hugos had been awarded; he also won the first Grand Master Award given by the Science Fiction Writers of America for lifetime achievement;
  Robert A. Heinlein is one of my personal heroes, and this short mention does not even scratch the surface of his life or accomplishments, July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988


• Rudolf Serkin, classical pianist, March 28, 1903 – May 8, 1991


• Avram Davidson, writer of fantasy fiction, science fiction, and crime fiction, and other works, who won a Hugo Award, and was three-time winner of the World Fantasy Award in the science fiction and fantasy genre, and a Queen's Award and an Edgar Award in the mystery genre; he edited The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction from 1962 to 1964, April 23, 1923 – May 8, 1993


• George Peppard, Jr., film and television actor, October 1, 1928 – May 8, 1994


• Dirk Bogarde, actor, March 28, 1921 - May 8, 1999


• Dana Michelle Plato, actress; her death was ruled a suicide, November 7, 1964 – May 8, 1999