Anna "Annie" Edson Taylor (October 24, 1838 – April 29, 1921)

On October 24, 1901, a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie
Edson Taylor became the first person to successfully take the
plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

After her husband died in the Civil War, the New York-born
Taylor  moved all over the U. S. before settling in Bay City,
Michigan, around 1898. In July 1901, while reading an article
about the       


Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, she learned of the growing popularity of two enormous waterfalls located on the border of
upstate New York and Canada. Strapped for cash and seeking
fame, Taylor came up with the perfect attention-getting stunt:
She would go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

Her motives were financial but she never made much money
from her adventure. She died penniless and her funeral was
paid for by public donations. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)   

TIM MAGUIRE

   
JOHN BELMONT

John Winston Lennon
(9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980)

Lennon was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace
activist who achieved worldwide fame as the founder, co-
songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the
Beatles. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney
remains the most successful in history,

MIKE GRACIA

Singer John J. (Cougar) Mellencamp is 71 years old today. 

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, followed by an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
in 2018.

Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry

Gene Autry, the cowboy crooner and Hollywood hitmaker who
helped popularize country-western music and became one of
the most celebrated performers in American history, was born
in Tioga, Texas, on this day in history, Sept. 29, 1907.

"In addition, his success as a singing cowboy launched an entire
genre of movies and paved the way for successful rivals such as
Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter."  (FOX NEWS)