Birthdays
1619 - Barbara Strozzi (also called Barbara Valle; baptised 6 August 1619), Italian composer and singer of the Baroque Period. During her lifetime, Strozzi published eight volumes of her own music, and had more music in print than any other composer of the era. This was achieved without any support from the Church and with no consistent patronage from the nobility. Her life and career have been overshadowed by the claims of her being a courtesan, which cannot be completely confirmed as at the time female music making was often assumed to be an intellectual asset of a courtesan. (Barbara Strozzi, Che si puo Fare, Mariana Flores. YouTube, uploaded by Cappella Meditteranea. The aria “Che si può fare?” translation to English, by Christ DiMatteo. Accessed July 1, 2021.)
1888 - Lawrence of Arabia (born Thomas Edward (T.E.) Lawrence), British archaeologist, diplomat, linguist, writer, soldier, pilot and adviser to young Winston Churchill. At the age of 46, he dies in a motorcycle accident and buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.
1901 - Olav Kielland, Norwegian conductor and composer.
1923 - Shimon Peres (born Szymon Perski), Israeli politician, the ninth President of Israel (2007–2014), the prime minister of Israel (twice), and the interim prime minister, in the 1970s to the 1990s. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. He was a member of twelve cabinets and represented five political parties in a political career spanning 70 years. At the time of his retirement in 2014, he was the world's oldest head of state and was considered the last link to Israel's founding generation.
1928 - Ann Blyth, American actress and singer (Some of her famous films include musicals: Kismet, "Stranger in Paradise" and "And This is My Beloved", based on music by Alexander Borodin and Student Prince, "Come Boys, Let's All Be Gay, Boys" music by Sigmund Romberg.)
1929 - Bill Evans (born William John Evans), American jazz pianist and composer. He mostly played in trios. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block chords, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines continue to influence jazz pianists today.
1940 - Bruce Beresford, Australian film director. He has made more than 30 feature films over a 50-year career. Notable films he has directed include Breaker Morant, Tender Mercies, Crimes of the Heart and Driving Miss Daisy.
1901 - Olav Kielland, Norwegian conductor and composer.
1923 - Shimon Peres (born Szymon Perski), Israeli politician, the ninth President of Israel (2007–2014), the prime minister of Israel (twice), and the interim prime minister, in the 1970s to the 1990s. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. He was a member of twelve cabinets and represented five political parties in a political career spanning 70 years. At the time of his retirement in 2014, he was the world's oldest head of state and was considered the last link to Israel's founding generation.
1928 - Ann Blyth, American actress and singer (Some of her famous films include musicals: Kismet, "Stranger in Paradise" and "And This is My Beloved", based on music by Alexander Borodin and Student Prince, "Come Boys, Let's All Be Gay, Boys" music by Sigmund Romberg.)
1929 - Bill Evans (born William John Evans), American jazz pianist and composer. He mostly played in trios. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block chords, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines continue to influence jazz pianists today.
1940 - Bruce Beresford, Australian film director. He has made more than 30 feature films over a 50-year career. Notable films he has directed include Breaker Morant, Tender Mercies, Crimes of the Heart and Driving Miss Daisy.
1946 - Lesley Ann Warren, American actress and singer. She received wide recognition for her role in the TV musical production of Cinderella. She later starred in the Disney musical films. Warren received a Golden Globe nomination for playing Dana Lambert in the CBS drama series Mission: Impossible (1970–71). In 1978, she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the NBC miniseries Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue. Warren was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Norma Cassidy in Victor/Victoria. She also received two additional Golden Globe nominations for Songwriter and Family of Spies.
1954 - James (Frances) Cameron, Canadian filmmaker and environmentalist. He is best known for making science fiction and epic films. He gained recognition for directing The Terminator. His other big-budget productions include Titanic and Avatar, with the former earning him Academy Awards in Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing. Avatar, filmed in 3D technology, also garnered him nominations in the same categories.
1958 - Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone), American singer-songwriter, actress, author, and record executive. Having been referred to as the "Queen of Pop" since the 1980s, she is regarded as one of the most impactful figures in popular culture. Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation.
1960 - Timothy (Tarquin) Hutton, American actor and film director. American actor and director. He is the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he won at age 20 for his performance as Conrad Jarrett in Ordinary People.
Leftie:
1958 - Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone), American singer-songwriter, actress, author, and record executive. Having been referred to as the "Queen of Pop" since the 1980s, she is regarded as one of the most impactful figures in popular culture. Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation.
1960 - Timothy (Tarquin) Hutton, American actor and film director. American actor and director. He is the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he won at age 20 for his performance as Conrad Jarrett in Ordinary People.
Leftie:
Film director James Cameron
More birthdays and historical events today, 16 August - On This Day.
1868 - An earthquake of density 8.5 occurs off the coast of Arica, Peru, creating a tsunami that kills up to 70,000 South Americans.
1876 - Richard Wagner's opera Siegfried is first staged at Bayreuth, Germany. Hans Richter conducting.
1954 - The first issue of Sports Illustrated magazine is published.
1997 - Elvis Presley, popularly regarded as the King of Rock and Roll is pronounced dead in his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, aged 42. He is considered the most recording artist in history by a huge margin.
2001 - Paul Burrell, a former butler to Princess Diana, is charged with stealing more than 300 items worth $US 10 million, from the English royal's household.
Resources:
Historical Events
1868 - An earthquake of density 8.5 occurs off the coast of Arica, Peru, creating a tsunami that kills up to 70,000 South Americans.
1876 - Richard Wagner's opera Siegfried is first staged at Bayreuth, Germany. Hans Richter conducting.
1954 - The first issue of Sports Illustrated magazine is published.
1997 - Elvis Presley, popularly regarded as the King of Rock and Roll is pronounced dead in his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, aged 42. He is considered the most recording artist in history by a huge margin.
2001 - Paul Burrell, a former butler to Princess Diana, is charged with stealing more than 300 items worth $US 10 million, from the English royal's household.
Resources:
1. Asiado, Tel. The World's Movers and Shapers. New Hampshire: Ore Mountain Publishing House (2005)
2. Britannica. www.britannica.com
3. Chambers Biographical Dictionary, 19th Ed. London: Chambers Harrap, 2011
4. Dateline. Sydney: Millennium House, (2006)
5. Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History, New 3rd Revised Ed. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (1991)
6. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
3. Chambers Biographical Dictionary, 19th Ed. London: Chambers Harrap, 2011
4. Dateline. Sydney: Millennium House, (2006)
5. Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History, New 3rd Revised Ed. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (1991)
6. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
(c) June 2007. Updated August 16, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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