The monologue "What it Was, Was Football" was recorded in 
Raleigh, NC for the Colonial label in 1953. Soon, Colonial had 
sold nearly 50,000 copies of the record and then sold the 
masters to Capitol Records. Capitol released the record in 
the same year, and soon had sold nearly 800,000 copies
and was instrumental in launching Griffith’s career in TV,
stage, and film. The record is still one of the biggest
selling comedy records of all time. On the original single,
(below) the monologue is credited to "Deacon Andy Griffith."

    Andrew Samuel "Andy" Griffith (June 1, 1926–July 3, 2012) 

Andy Griffith was a television icon, best known as the sage town
sheriff in the ’60s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show and as a defense
attorney on 1980s-’90s drama Matlock. He died today in Roanoke
Island, N.C.

1958

Tom Cruise (Thomas Cruise Mapother IV) has been nominated for three
Academy Awards and has won three Golden Globe Awards for the same
movies: Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Jerry Maguire (1996),
Magnolia (1999).

“Risky Business” (1983) launched Cruise to stardom

Tom Cruise (holding flag) played Vietnam war veteran Ron Kovic

James Douglas "Jim" Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971)

Morrison was the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band The Doors from
1965 to 1971. Following the groups rise to fame in 1967, Morrison developed
a severe alcohol and drug dependency that culminated in his death at the age
of 27 in Paris. He is alleged to have died from an overdose of heroin, but as
no autopsy was performed, the exact cause of his death is still disputed. After
Morrison’s death, the remaining members continued as a trio until finally
disbanding in 1973.

"Light My Fire" was recorded in August 1966 and released
the first week of January 1967 on the Doors’ debut album 
and was released as a single in April. It spent three weeks
at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and one week
on the Cash Box Top 100.