MIKE GRACIA

Howard Hughes in the Spruce Goose pilots seat.

Don Wilson (above) continues to record with The Ventures, but 
retired from touring at the end of 2015. With Nokie Edwards’
death in 2018, Wilson is now the lone surviving member of the
original group.

The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band, formed in
1958 in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson (center) and Bob
Bogle (right) (January 16, 1934 – June 14, 2009). While their
popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group
remains especially revered in Japan, where they tour regularly
to this day. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson
(rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, switched to bass),
Nokie Edwards (front) ((May 9, 1935 – March 12, 2018) initially
bass, switched to lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums)
(September 24, 1933 – August 11, 1996).

Patsy Cline (Virginia Patterson Hensley)
(September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963)

Country singer who recorded “I Fall To Pieces” in 1961, as well as hits
like “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Sweet Dreams.” She was the first
female solo artist to become part of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Her mother Hilda introduced her to music and they sang together in
church. Cline had perfect pitch but could never read music.

Scottish actor Sean Connery is 90 years old today. He starred as secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1962 to 1983, including Dr. No, From Russia
With Love and Goldfinger. He earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actor for his role in the 1987 gangster film The Untouchables.

Singer-songwriter Elvis Costello ,who is 66 today, contributed to the proto-
new wave and punk movements with such songs as “Pump it Up” and
“Allison.”

Born Chaim Weitz, Gene Simmons is a hard rock singer who gained fame
after founding the commercially successful hard rock band Kiss, which
has sold over 100 million albums. He became 71 today.