Rick Nelson died today – 22 years ago

U.S. singer Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson was born on May 8, 1940 in Teaneck, New Jersey. He said, “You can't please everyone so you gotta please yourself." [Amen!]... Mr. Nelson died in 1985 in a plane crash in De Kalb, Texas.

Artie Shaw died today – 3 years ago

U.S. bandleader Artie Shaw was born as Arthur Jacob Arshawsky on May 23, 1910 in New York City, New York. He was married to Jane Cairns, Margaret Allen, Lana Turner, Betty Kern, Ava Gardner, Kathleen Winsor, Doris Dowling, and Evelyn Keyes. (Oh, my!) Enjoy his “Begin the Beguine” here. He said, “Shoot for the moon - if you miss you'll end up in the stars." [Or, in the path of a comet or meteor.]... Mr. Shaw died in 2004 in Thousand Oaks, California.

Richard Rodgers died today – 28 years ago

U.S. composer Richard Charles Rodgers was born on June 28, 1902 in New York City, New York. He said, “What's wrong with sweetness and light? It's been around quite awhile." [Amen!]... Mr. Rodgers died in 1979 in New York City, New York.

Alfred North Whitehead died today – 60 years ago

English mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead was born on February 15, 1861 in Ramsgate, Kent, England. He said, “Knowledge keeps no better than fish." [Does that mean to use it, not just to store it?]... Mr. Whitehead died in 1947 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Bob Monkhouse died today – 4 years ago

English comic Robert Allen Monkhouse was born on June 1, 1928 in Beckenham, Kent, England. He said, “The last time I was in Spain I got through six Jeffrey Archer novels. I must remember to take enough toilet paper next time." [Oh, my! Don’t tell Jeffrey.]... Mr. Monkhouse died in 2003 in Eggington, Bedfordshire, England.

Susan Sontag died today – 3 years ago

U.S. writer Susan Sontag was born as Susan Rosenblatt on January 16, 1933 in New York City, New York. She said, “Societies need to have one illness which becomes identified with evil, and attaches blame to its victims." [Amen!]... Ms. Sontag died in 2004 in New York City, New York.

Theodore Dreiser died today – 62 years ago

U.S. writer Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser was born on August 27, 1871 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He said, “Our civilization is still in a middle stage, scarcely beast, in that it is no longer wholly guided by instinct; scarcely human, in that it is not yet wholly guided by reason." [You have a mind. So use it.]... Mr. Dreiser died in 1945 in Hollywood, California.