On this Day June 5 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1934 – Emmy-winning journalist and commentator Bill Moyers 1956 – Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G, born Kenny Gorelick 1964 – Best-selling author Rick Riordan (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” “The Kane Chronicles,” “The Maze of Bones”) 1967 – Actor Ron Livingston, best known for his roles in the movie “Office Space” and TV’s “Band of Brothers,” “The Practice” and “Sex and the City” 1971 – Actor-producer Mark Wahlberg, whose career began as lead singer of the rap group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (“Boogie Nights,” “Planet of the Apes,” “The Italian Job,” “The Departed,” “Max Payne,” “The Fighter,” “Ted,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Deepwater Horizon,” “Patriots Day,” “Instant Family”) 1974 – Actor Chad Allen (“Our House,” “My Two Dads,” “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman”) History Highlights 1933 – The U.S. goes off the gold standard, a monetary system in which currency is backed by gold, when Congress enacts a joint resolution nullifying the right of creditors to demand payment in gold. 1967 – Israel responds to an ominous build-up of Arab forces along its borders by launching simultaneous attacks against Egypt and Syria. And so begins the Six-Day War. 1968 – Senator Robert Kennedy is fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. He is just 42, four years younger than his brother, President John F. Kennedy, when he was assassinated in November 1963. 1981 – The “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that five people in Los Angeles have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems, in what turns out to be the first recognized cases of AIDS. 1998 – More than 3,400 unionized General Motors (GM) workers at a Flint, Michigan plant begin a 54-day strike — the longest walkout at GM in nearly three decades. Later joined by more than 5,000 workers from a nearby plant, the strike causes parts shortages that force some 30 GM assembly plants to shut down. 2004 – Ronald Reagan, the Hollywood actor who became one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century and transformed the political landscape of an era with his vision of conservative government, dies at age 93 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 2012 – Prolific science fiction author Ray Bradbury, whose books include such classics as “The Martian Chronicles,” “Fahrenheit 451” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” dies at the age of 91. Musical Milestones 1956 – Elvis Presley introduces his new single, “Hound Dog,” on “The Milton Berle Show,” shocking a national TV audience with his suggestive hip movements. 1961 – Roy Orbison claims the top spot on the pop chart for a week with “Running Scared.” 1965 – The Beach Boys are at No. 1 on the singles chart for a second and final week with “Help Me, Rhonda.” 1976 – “Love Hangover,” by Diana Ross, begins its second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1983 – During a 48-date North American tour, U2 plays at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver. The show is recorded and released as “U2 Live At Red Rocks: Under A Blood Red Sky.” 1993 – Janet Jackson is midway through an eight-week ride atop the Billboard Hot 100 with “That’s The Way Love Goes,” off her album “janet.” 1999 – Ricky Martin enjoys his fifth and final week as king of the pop chart with “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” The track picks up four Grammy nominations and helps ignite the Latin pop explosion. 2005 – Topping the Billboard Hot 100 for a third straight week is Usher with “Burn.” READ MORE
On this Day June 11 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1913 – Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi (d. 1970) 1933 – Actor-comedian and author Gene Wilder, born Jerome Silberman (“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein”) (d. 2016) 1945 – Actress-author Adrienne Barbeau (“The Fog,” “Creepshow,” “Escape From New York”) 1956 – Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana, who played for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs 1959 – Golden Globe-winning actor-comedian and musician Hugh Laurie, best known for his starring role in the TV series “House” 1969 – Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Peter Dinklage (“Death at a Funeral,” “The Station Agent,” “Elf,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” “Pixels,” “Game of Thrones”) 1978 – Actor Joshua Jackson (“Dawson’s Creek,” “The Mighty Ducks,” Fringe”) 1986 -Emmy-winning actor Shia LaBeouf (“Even Stevens,” “Holes,” “Transformers,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”) History Highlights 1944 – Lieutenant John F. Kennedy receives the prestigious Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his heroic, life-saving actions as a gunboat pilot during World War II. Kennedy, who goes on to become America’s 35th president, also receives a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in battle. He is the only president to have earned either of those high honors. 1955 – Carnage at Le Mans, as an Austin-Healey and Mercedes-Benz collide, showering flaming wreckage onto spectators. Eighty-two people are killed and at least 100 injured in one of auto racing’s worst accidents. 1962 – Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin become the only prisoners to successfully escape from Alcatraz prison. No one ever saw or heard from them again, although there were multiple unconfirmed sightings over the years. 1967 – The Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors ends with a United Nations-brokered ceasefire. That November, the U.N. Security Council adopts a resolution establishing a formula for Arab-Israeli peace whereby Israel would withdraw from territories occupied in the war in exchange for peace with its neighbors. 1963 – An outspoken opponent of school desegregation, Alabama Governor George Wallace physically blocks two African American students from entering the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. President John F. Kennedy responds by federalizing the Alabama National Guard and ordering troops to escort the students to their classes. Wallace then steps aside, but that evening, Kennedy delivers a national address about segregation regarded by many historians as one of the turning points in the civil rights movement. 1977 – MLK assassin James Earl Ray escapes from Brushy Mountain State Prison in Tennessee, but is recaptured three days later. 1979 – Cancer claims the life of screen legend John Wayne (“El Dorado,” “Rio Bravo,” “True Grit,” “The Comancheros”) at the age of 72. 1982 – Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” opens in U.S. theaters and becomes a box office bonanza. The movie launches the career of actress Drew Barrymore, and in 1994, is selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” 1986 – “Bueller… Bueller…” The now-classic John Hughes film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck and Mia Sara, opens in U.S. theaters. Musical Milestones 1957 – Elvis Presley releases “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear,” which becomes a No. 1 hit a month later. 1960 – The Hollywood Argyles claim the top spot on the pop chart with “Alley-Oop,” based on the comic strip of the same name. 1966 – The Rolling Stones rule the Billboard singles chart with “Paint it Black,” which holds at No. 1 for two weeks. 1977 – “I’m Your Boogie Man” becomes the fourth chart-topping hit for KC and the Sunshine Band. 1983 – Irene Cara is in the middle of a six-week run on top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Flashdance…What a Feeling,” from the “Flashdance” movie soundtrack. 1988 – London’s Wembley Stadium hosts Freedomfest, a concert celebrating the 70th birthday of imprisoned anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. Performers include Whitney Houston, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, George Michael, Eric Clapton, UB40, The Eurythmics and Simple Minds. The concert is broadcast to about a billion people in 67 countries. 1994 – “I Swear,” by All-4-One is in the midst of an 11-week reign over the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 2011 – Pink Floyd’s 1973 album, “The Dark Side Of The Moon,” re-enters the Billboard album chart at No. 47 and reaches a milestone of 1,000 weeks on the charts. This classic contains such fan favorites as “Time,” “Money” and “Breathe (In the Air).” To date, more than 50 million copies have sold worldwide. READ MORE
On this Day June 10 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1895 – Hattie McDaniel, first African American actress to receive an Academy Award, which she won for her supporting role as Mammy in “Gone With the Wind” (d. 1952) 1922 – Actress-singer Judy Garland, best known for her role as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” (d. 1969) 1921 – Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms 1928 – Children’s author-illustrator Maurice Sendak (“Where the Wild Things Are,” “Little Bear”) (d. 2012) 1962 – Actress Gina Gershon (“Showgirls,” “Face/Off,” “The Insider,” “Killer Joe,” “House of Versace”) 1963 – Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn (“Basic Instinct,” “The Firm,” “Big Love,” “Criminal Minds”) 1965 – Model-actress Elizabeth Hurley (“Passenger 57,” the first two “Austin Powers” movies, “Bedazzled”) 1982 – U.S. Olympic champion figure skater Tara Lipinksi 1983 – Actress Leelee Sobieski (“Joan of Arc,” “The Glass House,” “Deep Impact”) History Highlights 1692 – Bridget Bishop, the first Massachusetts Bay colonist to be tried in the Salem witch trials, is hanged after being found guilty of the practice of witchcraft. 1752 – Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm and collects ambient electrical charge in a Leyden jar, enabling him to demonstrate the connection between lightning and electricity along with an understanding of positive and negative charges. His experiment leads to development of the lightning rod, which grounded buildings thereby helping prevent deadly fires. 1935 – Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, is founded by two recovering alcoholics — Bill W., a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob S., an Ohio surgeon. Today, the organization continues to fulfill the pair’s original mission to help alcoholics stop drinking and stay sober. 1943 – Hungarian Laszlo Biro patents the ballpoint pen. In many languages, the word for ballpoint pen is “biro.” 1967 – In the Middle East, the Six-Day War ends when Israel and Syria agree to a U.N.-brokered ceasefire. 1980 – A letter written by imprisoned anti-apartheid crusader Nelson Mandela and smuggled out of Robben Island prison, is shared publicly by the African National Congress (ANC). The letter is a call to arms against apartheid. 2007 – An estimated 12 million viewers tune in to “Made in America” — the final episode of HBO’s critically acclaimed, award-winning Mob family drama, “The Sopranos,” starring James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Lorraine Bracco and Steven Van Zandt. Musical Milestones 1967 – Aretha Franklin begins her second and final week on top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Respect.” 1972 – Sammy Davis, Jr. starts a three-week run with a No. 1 single — his only chart-topper. It’s “Candy Man,” from the movie “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” 1976 – The first concert ever performed at the Seattle Kingdome features Paul McCartney and Wings, and draws a crowd of more than 67,000 — beating the record attendance that The Beatles had a decade earlier at New York’s Shea Stadium. 1978 – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John conquer the singles chart with “You’re The One That I Want,” from the movie in which they co-star: “Grease.” 1989 – Bette Midler tops the singles chart with “Wind Beneath My Wings,” from the film “Beaches.” 1995 – Bryan Adams reigns over the pop chart with “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” The track, from the Johnny Depp movie movie “Don Juan DeMarco,” holds at No. 1 for five weeks. 2000 – The Grammy-winning single “Maria Maria,” by Santana featuring The Product G&B, begins its tenth and final week on top of the Billboard Hot 100. 2004 – Pioneering R&B/soul singer Ray Charles (“I Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Hit the Road Jack,” “What’d I Say,” “Georgia on My Mind”) — a 1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee — dies of complications from liver disease at the age of 73. READ MORE
On this Day June 5 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1934 – Emmy-winning journalist and commentator Bill Moyers 1956 – Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G, born Kenny Gorelick 1964 – Best-selling author Rick Riordan (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” “The Kane Chronicles,” “The Maze of Bones”) 1971 – Actor-producer Mark Wahlberg, whose career began as lead singer of the rap group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (“Boogie Nights,” “Planet of the Apes,” “The Italian Job,” “The Departed,” “Max Payne,” “The Fighter,” “Ted,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Deepwater Horizon,” “Patriots Day”) 1974 – Actor Chad Allen (“Our House,” “My Two Dads,” “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman”) History Highlights 1967 – Israel responds to an ominous build-up of Arab forces along its borders by launching simultaneous attacks against Egypt and Syria. And so begins the Six-Day War. 1968 – Senator Robert Kennedy is fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. He is just 42, four years younger than his brother, President John F. Kennedy, when he was assassinated in November 1963. 1981 – The “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that five people in Los Angeles have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems, in what turns out to be the first recognized cases of AIDS. 2004 – Ronald Reagan, the Hollywood actor who became one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century and transformed the political landscape of an era with his vision of conservative government, dies at age 93 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 2012 – Prolific science fiction author Ray Bradbury, whose books include such classics as “The Martian Chronicles,” “Fahrenheit 451” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” dies at the age of 91. Musical Milestones 1956 – Elvis Presley introduces his new single, “Hound Dog,” on “The Milton Berle Show,” shocking a national TV audience with his suggestive hip movements. 1961 – Roy Orbison claims the top spot on the pop chart for a week with “Running Scared.” 1965 – The Beach Boys are at No. 1 on the singles chart for a second and final week with “Help Me, Rhonda.” 1976 – “Love Hangover,” by Diana Ross, begins its second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1983 – During a 48-date North American tour, U2 plays at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver. The show is recorded and released as “U2 Live At Red Rocks: Under A Blood Red Sky.” 1993 – Janet Jackson is mid-way through an eight-week ride atop the Billboard Hot 100 with “That’s The Way Love Goes,” off her album “janet.” 1999 – Ricky Martin enjoys his fifth and final week as king of the pop chart with “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” 2005 – Topping the Billboard Hot 100 for a third straight week is Usher with “Burn.” READ MORE