Beijing – Time Rewind

On This Day April 18

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On This Day April 7

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Celebrity Birthdays

1915 – Legendary jazz and blues singer-songwriter Billie Holliday, born Eleanora Fagan (d. 1959)

1920 – Indian musician-composer Ravi Shankar, who popularized the sitar and Indian classical music in Western culture (d. 2012)

1928 – Golden Globe-winning actor James Garner (“The Rockford Files,” “Maverick,” “The Notebook”) (d. 2014)

1939 – British TV talk show host David Frost, most remembered for his revealing interview series with U.S. President Richard Nixon (d. 2013)

1939 – Oscar-winning director-producer-screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola (“The Godfather” series, “Apocalypse Now,” “Cotton Club,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”)

1954 – Actor, martial artist, stuntman and choreographer Jackie Chan (“Rumble in the Bronx,” “Rush Hour” series, “Shanghai Knights”,”Kung-Fu Panda” franchise)

1964 – Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe (“L.A. Confidential,” “The Insider,” “Gladiator,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Cinderella Man,” “American Gangster,” “Les Misérables”, “Man of Steel”)

History Highlights

1776 – U.S. Navy Captain John Barry (a.k.a. “Father of the American Navy”), commander of the warship Lexington, achieves the first American naval capture of a British vessel when he seizes the British warship HMS Edward off the coast of Virginia. The capture of the Edward and its cargo turns Barry into a national hero and boosts the morale of the Continental forces.

1948 – The United Nations establishes the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote “the highest possible level of health” around the globe. A major cornerstone of WHO is the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. World Health Day is observed internationally every April 7.

1954 – President Dwight Eisenhower coins one of the most famous Cold War phrases when he suggests the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a “domino effect” in Southeast Asia. The so-called “domino theory” guided U.S. strategy toward Vietnam for the next decade.

1961 – President John F. Kennedy lobbies Congress to fund the preservation of historic monuments in Egypt’s Nile Valley threatened by construction of the Aswan High Dam.

1969 – The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down laws prohibiting private possession of obscene material (Stanley v. Georgia).

1970 – At the 42nd annual Academy Awards, screen legend John Wayne ropes his first and only Oscar: Best Actor for his role in the Western “True Grit.”

1978 – President Jimmy Carter cancels the planned production of the neutron bomb.

1994 – Violence in Rwanda fuels the launch of what becomes the worst episode of genocide since World War II: the massacre of an estimated 500,000 to 1 million innocent civilian Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Musical Milestones

1962 – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet Brian Jones at the Ealing Jazz Club in London and begin laying the groundwork for formation of The Rolling Stones.

1973 – Comedian Vicki Lawrence finds success as a vocalist, claiming the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” which holds at No. 1 for two weeks.

1984 – This day marks a second British Invasion, as an unprecedented 40 singles by British artists hold sway on the Billboard Hot 100. Two are in the Top-10: “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins (No. 3) and “Here Comes the Rain Again” by The Eurythmics ( No. 4).

1984 – Kenny Loggins holds the top position on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Footloose,” from the movie of the same name, starring Kevin Bacon.

1985 – Wham! becomes the first Western pop group to play in China when they perform at the Worker’s Gymnasium in Beijing. Footage from their trip appears in the video for their song “Freedom.”

1990 – “Love Will Lead You Back,” by Taylor Dayne, lands on top of the singles chart for a week.

2001 – “Butterfly,” by Crazy Town, returns to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for a second week.

2007 – Akon begins two weeks on top of the singles chart with “Don’t Matter.”

On this Day June 4

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Celebrity Birthdays

1907 – Golden Globe-winning actress Rosalind Russell (“His Girl Friday,” “Auntie Mame,” “Gypsy”) (d. 1976)

1924 – Actor Dennis Weaver (“Gunsmoke,”McCloud,” “Duel”) (d. 2006)

1928 – Sex therapist-talk show host Dr. Ruth Westheimer

1936 – Oscar-winning actor Bruce Dern (“They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” “Coming Home,” “Nebraska”)

1944 – Singer-songwriter-actress Michelle Phillips, a member of the 60s folk/pop band The Mamas and the Papas

1971 – Actor Noah Wyle, best known for his role as Dr. John Carter in the hit NBC medical drama “ER”

1975 – Comedian-actor Russell Brand (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Get Him to The Greek”)

1975 – Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress-director and humanitarian Angelina Jolie

History Highlights

1919 – Congress passes the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, and sends it to the states for ratification. The measure takes effect about a year later. On November 2, 1920, more than 8 million women across the U.S. vote in elections for the first time.

1942 – The Battle of Midway begins, becoming one of the most decisive U.S. victories against Japan during World War II.

1967 – At the Emmy Awards, Bill Cosby, the first black performer to star in a dramatic series, is crowned best actor for his role in “I Spy.”

1977 – The first personal computer, the Apple II, goes on sale, retailing for about $1,300.

1989 – Chinese troops storm through Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators. The brutal Chinese government assault shocks the West and brings denunciations and sanctions from the United States.

2003 – Domestic guru and media mogul Martha Stewart is indicted for securities fraud and obstruction of justice.

Musical Milestones

1966 – Percy Sledge marks the second and final week at No. 1 on the pop chart with “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

1977 – Supertramp releases “Give a Little Bit,” which becomes a No. 15 Billboard single.

1984 – Bruce Springsteen releases the album “Born In The U.S.A.,” which goes on to top the album chart for seven weeks and spawns seven Top 10 singles, including the title track. It becomes the best-selling album of 1984 and the best-selling record of Springsteen’s career.

1988 – Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut album hits the top of the U.S. album chart, delivering hits like “Fast Car” and “Talkin’ ’bout a Revolution.” It paves the way for Chapman to capture Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (“Fast Car”).

1994 – “I Swear,” by All-4-One,” is in the middle of an 11-week domination of the pop chart.

2005 – Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” kicks off 14 non-consecutive weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100.

2011 – Adele rules the pop chart with “Rolling in the Deep,” which goes on to capture Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video Grammys.

On this Day May 20

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Celebrity Birthdays

1908 – Oscar-winning actor Jimmy Stewart (“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “Vertigo”) (d. 1997)

1944 – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Joe Cocker (“With a Little Help From My Friends,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Up Where We Belong”) (d. 2014)

1946 – Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe-winning singer-actress Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere and nicknamed the “Goddess of Pop”

1965 – Emmy-winning TV host, “Iron Chef America” and “Top Chef” judge and author Ted Allen (“Queer Eye,” “Chopped”)

1966 – Actress Mindy Cohn, best remembered for playing Natalie in the sitcom “The Facts of Life”

1971 – NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, nicknamed “Smoke”

1972 – Rapper-producer Busta Rhymes, born Trevor George Smith, Jr. (“Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check,” “Dangerous”)

History Highlights

1873 – Blue jeans enter the fashion world as San Francisco businessman Levi Strauss and Reno, Nevada tailor Jacob Davis receive a patent to produce work pants reinforced with metal rivets.

1927 – Charles Lindbergh begins the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight, departing from Long Island, New York aboard the Spirit of Saint Louis and touching down in Paris late the next day.

1932 – Amelia Earhart takes off from Newfoundland to begin the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot, landing in Ireland the next day.

1956 – The arms race heats up as the United States proves it can deliver a hydrogen bomb from the air by dropping one from a B-52 bomber on the small Pacific Ocean island group known as the Bikini Atoll. At approximately 15 megatons, this bomb was more powerful than those previously tested.

1989 – Chinese authorities declare martial law and send troops into Beijing in an unsuccessful bid to stop pro-democracy demonstrators.

1996 – In a victory for the gay and lesbian civil rights movement, the U.S. Supreme Court (Romer v. Evans) votes 6 to 3 to strike down an amendment to Colorado’s state constitution that would have prevented any city, town, or county in the state from taking any legislative, executive, or judicial action to protect the rights of gays and lesbians.

Musical Milestones

1967 – “Groovin’,” by The Young Rascals, begins four non-consecutive weeks as the most popular single in the U.S. The track is on the album of the same name.

1970 – The Beatles film “Let It Be,” originally entitled “Get Back,” premieres in the U.K., one week after premiering in New York.

1978 – “With a Little Luck,” by Wings featuring Paul McCartney, is No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart and holds there for two weeks. The track is from the band’s “London Town” album.

1989 – Paula Abdul tops the Billboard Hot 100 with “Forever Your Girl,” the second of four No. 1 hits off her album of the same title.

1995 – For the sixth week in a row, Montell Jordan holds the top spot on the pop chart with “This Is How We Do It.”

1998 – Some 400 celebrities pay their final respects to entertainer Frank Sinatra during funeral services at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California.

2000 – “Maria Maria,” by Santana featuring The Product G&B, is midway through a 10-week domination of the Billboard Hot 100. The track is off the “Supernatural” album, which sweeps the 2000 Grammy Awards with eight trophies, tying Michael Jackson for most Grammys in a single ceremony.

2006 – Rihanna rules the pop chart with “SOS,” which holds the top spot for three weeks. The dance track samples Soft Cell’s 1981 recording of “Tainted Love.”