September 11 Dateline

Birthdays

 

1862 - William Sydney Porter, American short story writer better known by his pen name O. Henry. Born in North Carolina, he moved to Texas in 1882, where he met his wife, Athol Estes, with whom he had two children. After the death of his wife in 1902, Porter moved to New York, where he soon remarried. It was while he was in New York that Porter's most intensive writing period occurred, writing 381 short stories. Porter's works include "The Gift of the Magi", "The Duplicity of Hargraves", and "The Ransom of Red Chief". His stories are known for their surprise endings and witty narration. Porter also wrote poetry and non-fiction. His legacy includes the O. Henry Award, an annual prize awarded to outstanding short stories. (The Gift of Love by O. Henry (1978 film). YouTube, uploaded by tainlor. Accessed September 11, 2020.)

 

1885 - D.H. Lawrence (born David Herbert Lawrence), English novelist, short story writer and poet. Notable books include: Sons & Lovers, The Rainbow, Women in Love and Lady Chatterley's Lover. His collected works represent, among other things, an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation. Some of the issues Lawrence explores are sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity, and instinct. (Brief Biography of D.H. Lawrence. Uploaded by Bahri Ancer. The Travels of D.H. Lawrence. Uploaded by Her Aeolian Harp. Access September 18, 2022) 

1935 -  Arvo Pärt or Paert, Estonian composer of classical and religious music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs his self-invented compositional technique, tintinnabuli.  Pärt's music is in part inspired by Gregorian chant. His most performed works include Fratres, Spiegel im Spiegel, and Für Alina. Perhaps being a chorister, aside from Spiegel, my personal favourite is Da pacem Domine (Give Peace, Lord), a choral composition by Arvo Pärt on the Latin prayer for peace, first composed in 2004 for four voices. From 2011 to 2018, Pärt was the most performed living composer in the world, and the second most performed in 2019. The Arvo Pärt Centre, in Laulasmaa, was opened to the public in 2018. (De profundis. (Latin: Out of the Depths, a cry of anguish) Arvo Pärt. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Accessed September 11, 2017. Arvo Pärt- Für Alina. YouTube, uploaded by playingmusiconmars. Accessed September 11, 2018. YouTube, uploaded by Sally Maer. Accessed September 11, 2025. (Spiegel im Spiegel)

1940 - Brian Russell de Palma, American film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the suspense, crime and psychological thriller genres. His prominent films include mainstream box office hits such as Carrie (1976), Dressed to Kill (1980), Scarface (1983), The Untouchables (1987), and Mission: Impossible (1996), as well as cult favorites. De Palma is often cited as a leading member of the New Hollywood generation of film directors. His directing style  at times bears the influence of filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard. 

1946 - Julie Covington, English singer and actress, best known for recording the original version of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" which she sang on the 1976 concept album Evita. She won the first Edinburgh Festival Fringe Best Actress Award. (Don't Cry for me Argentina, YouTube, uploaded by MrHaggis64. Accessed September 11, 2011.)

1962 - Kristy McNichol (born Christina Ann McNichol), retired American actress, comedian, producer, and singer. She is known for such roles as Angel in the film Little Darlings, Polly in the film Only When I Laugh, and Barbara Weston in the TV sitcom Empty Nest. She won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of teenage daughter Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence in the TV drama Family. McNichol retired from acting in 2001.

1967 - Harry Connick Jr. (born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr.), American singer, pianist, composer, actor, and TV host. He has sold over 28 million albums worldwide. He has had seven top 20 US albums, and ten number-one US jazz albums, earning more number-one albums than any other artist in US jazz chart history. Connick's best-selling album in the US is his Christmas album When My Heart Finds Christmas. His highest-charting album is his release Only You (2004), which reached No. 5 in the US and No. 6 in Britain. He has won three Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards.

Lefties:
Author D.H. Lawrence 
Actress Kristy McNichol

 

More birthdays and historical events, September 11 - On This Day 

 

Historical Events

1792 - The Hope Diamond, known as Louis XIV's French Blue, is stolen along with with other crown jewels. It now resides in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C..

1840 - Robert Schumann presents his fiancee Clara Wieck with his Liederkreis song cycle as a gift on the eve of their wedding.

September 10 Dateline

Birthdays

1588 - Nicolas Lanier, English composer/musician, sometimes known as Laniere (baptised at Greenwich 10 September 1588). He was the first to hold the title of Master of the King's Music from 1625 to 1666, an honour given to musicians of great distinction.

1929 - Arnold Daniel Palmer, American professional golfer regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport's history. He won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and the circuit now known as PGA Tour Champions. Nicknamed 'The King', he was one of golf's most popular stars and seen as a trailblazer, the first superstar of the sport's television age, which began in the 1950s. Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player were "The Big Three" in golf during the 1960s; they are widely credited with popularizing and commercializing the sport around the world.

1934 - Lazar "Larry" Sitsky AO, FAHA, Australian composer, pianist, and music educator and scholar. A grant from the Myer Foundation in 1965 enabled him to conduct research into the music of Ferruccio Busoni, on whom he has written extensively. In 2000 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to music as a composer, musicologist, pianist and educator; and in the same year he received the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through music. In 2017 Sitsky was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the arts as a composer and concert pianist, to music education as a researcher and mentor, and through musical contributions to Australia's contemporary culture.(Sorry this video is no longer available at YouTube, but I still have my favourite CD arranged by him, Russkaya Melodiya. YouTube, accessed September 10, 2025.)

1935 - Mary Oliver, American poet, winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Mary Oliver reads from "A Thousand Mornings", uploaded by 92nd Street Y. Accessed February 15, 2019. Quoted from her too:  "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?", "Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." and "Listen--are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?". (Song for Autumn - Poem: Mary Oliver. Music: Celtic Myst -- You Sing to Me. Quote - Rainer Maria Rilke.  KJV selected verses from Romans chpt 8. Uploaded by ErinLeigh. Accessed September 10, 2014.

1938 - Karl Otto Lagerfeld, German creative fashion designer, artist, photographer, and caricaturist who lived in Paris. He was known as the creative director of the French fashion house Chanel, a position held from 1983 until his death, and was also creative director of the Italian fur and leather goods fashion house Fendi, and of his own eponymous fashion label. Lagerfeld was recognized for his signature white hair, black sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and high, starched, detachable collars.

1945 - Jose Feliciano (born José Monserrate Feliciano García), Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer, best known for many international hits, including his rendition of The Doors' "Light My Fire" and the best-selling Christmas single, "Feliz Navidad." His music is known for its fusion of styles: Latin, jazz, blues, soul and even rock, created primarily with his unique, signature acoustic guitar sound.

1960 - Colin Firth CBE (born Colin Andrew Firth), English actor who has received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, two BAFTA Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. Firth's portrayal of King George VI in Tom Hooper's The King's Speech won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. It was his portrayal of Mr Darcy in the 1995 television adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that he received more widespread attention. This led to roles in more prominent films, such as The English Patient, Bridget Jones's Diary, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA Award, Shakespeare in Love, Conspiracy with Kenneth Branagh and Stanley Tucci, The Importance of Being Earnest, again with Judi Dench and Richard Curtis's Love Actually. In 2018, he co-starred in the musical fantasy Mary Poppins Returns and the following year he appeared in the war film 1917. Firth's films have grossed more than $3 billion from 42 releases worldwide. In 2011, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was also selected as one of the Time 100. 

 

Death: 

English actress Dame Diana Rigg (1938-2020), actress on stage, screen, and television. 
 

Lefties:
None known 

 

More birthdays and historical events, September 10 - On This Day 

 

Historical Events

1897 - The first British drink-driving conviction is handed out.  George Smith, driving a brand-new electric "Horseless Carriage" taxi with a top speed of 9 mph, is fined a pound for driving first on the pavement and then into the front of 165 Bond Street in London.

1963 - American Express, one of the biggest banks in the world, introduces its credit card in the U.K., and now begins the now-common method of credit.