(Encyclopedia) Getz, Stan, 1927–91, American jazz tenor saxophonist, b. Philadelphia, as Stanley Gayetsky. As a mature musician he was especially known for his “cool” jazz style. He began playing as…
(Encyclopedia) Holiday, Billie, 1915–59, American singer, b. Baltimore. Her original name was Eleanora Fagan. She began singing professionally in 1930, and after performing with numerous bands—…
actorBorn: 3/13/1950Birthplace: Miami, Florida Macy's acting career began somewhat inauspiciously doing voice-overs for commercials. He had trained under David Mamet at Goddard College in Vermont…
CRANSTON, Henry Young, (brother of Robert Bennie Cranston), a Representative from Rhode Island; born in Newport, R.I., October 9, 1789; attended the public schools; engaged in mercantile…
(Encyclopedia) Lee, Peggy, 1920–2002, American singer and songwriter, b. Jamestown, N.D., as Norma Deloris Egstrom. Lee became famous for her singular voice—sexy, subtle, simultaneously smoky and…
(Encyclopedia) Hampton, Lionel, 1908?–2002, African-American vibraphonist and bandleader, b. Louisville, Ky. When his family moved to Chicago c.1916, the young Hampton began playing drums in a…
(Encyclopedia) Christian, Charlie (Charles Henry Christian), 1916–42, African-American jazz guitarist, b. Bonham, Tex. The son of a singer-guitarist father and pianist mother, he grew up in Oklahoma…
(Encyclopedia) ArafatArafatäräfätˈ [key] or ArafaArafaäräfäˈ [key], granite hill, Saudi Arabia, near Mecca. The hill was an ancient pagan sanctuary and is shrouded in many legends. It is a site for…
(Encyclopedia) vaudevillevaudevillevôdˈvĭl [key], originally a light song, derived from the drinking and love songs formerly attributed to Olivier Basselin and called Vau, or Vaux, de Vire. Similar…
