(Fox News) – Iconic and celebrated American composer Cole Porter was born on this day in history, June 9, 1891, into a prestigious family in Peru, Indiana.
His mother, Kate Cole Porter, was the daughter of wealthy businessman J.O. Cole — and due to his upbringing, young Cole Porter enjoyed a privileged childhood, according to the Indiana Historical Society.
At the age of 6, Porter started playing both the violin and piano — and became quite good at both instruments.
At the age of eight, Les Paul began playing the harmonica. After learning the piano, he switched to the guitar. During this time he invented a neck-worn harmonica holder.
Les Paul (Lester William Polsfuss) (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009)
Paul, was a jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype, called the Log, served as inspiration for the Gibson Les Paul. Paul taught himself how to play guitar, and while he is mainly known for jazz and popular music, he had an early career in country music. In the 1950s, he and his wife, singer and guitarist Mary Ford, recorded numerous records, selling millions of copies.
His licks, trills, chording sequences, fretting techniques, and timing set him apart from his contemporaries and inspired many guitarists of the present day. (From Wikipedia)
Les (with wife, Mary Ford) in their home recording studio.
Norma Jeane Mortenson—who would later become better known around the world as the glamorous actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe—was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. She was later given her mother’s name, and baptized Norma Jeane Baker.
After a tumultuous childhood—both maternal grandparents and her mother were committed to mental institutions, and she lived with a string of foster families. Norma Jeane married one of her neighbors, James Dougherty, when she was 16. He later joined the Merchant Marines and was sent to the South Pacific during World War II. A photographer “discovered” the naturally photogenic Norma Jeane while she was working in a California munitions factory, and she was soon launched into a successful modeling career. She divorced Dougherty in June 1946 and soon after signed a film contract with 20th Century Fox.
Eastwood was drafted during the Korean War and stationed in California — and upon his discharge from the Army in 1953, Eastwood moved to Hollywood.
Likely best-known for portraying police Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker started his noteworthy career with a screen test with Universal in 1954 — which netted him a 40-week contract.
