MIKE GRACIA

In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F.
Kennedy announces on October 22, 1962 that U.S. spy planes 
discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. These missile sites—
under construction but nearing completion—housed medium-
range missiles capable of striking a number of major cities in
the United States, including Washington, D.C.

Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval “quarantine”
of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more
offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United
States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites
currently in place. The president made it clear that America
would not stop short of military action to end what he called a “clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace.”

John Lennon  (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980)

John Lennon (right) was an English singer, songwriter,
musician and peace activist gained worldwide fame as
the founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm
guitarist of the Beatles.

Gene Autry, perhaps the greatest singing cowboy of all time, 
was born on September 29, 1907, in Tioga, Texas.

While still a boy, Autry moved with his family to a ranch in
Oklahoma where he learned to play the guitar and sing.

The young Autry was quickly attracted to a new style of music
that was becoming popular at the time, which combined the
traditional cowboy music popular in Texas and Oklahoma and
the folk songs, ballads, and hymns of southern-style country
music. Known as country-western.

Roger Whittaker, one of the UK’s most celebrated folk music
singers, has died.   

A family statement, reported by German media outlet Bild,
confirmed he died on September 13 in a hospital in southern
France.

Whittaker was best known for hits including Durham Town,
New World In The Morning and a version of Wind Beneath
My Wings – and being an expert whistler.

Charles Hardin Holley – known as Buddy Holly 
(September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959)  

If you took out a map of the United States and traced
a line beginning at New Orleans and running up the
Mississippi River to Memphis, the tip of your finger
would pass through the very birthplace of rock and
roll—a region where nearly every step in its early
development took place and where nearly every
significant contributor to that development was born.

Writing and performing under the name Buddy Holly,
this Lubbock, Texas, native would have an influence
on rock and roll that would far outlast his tragically
shortened career.

HISTORY