Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849)

On January 19, 1809, poet, author and literary critic Edgar Allan Poe
is born in Boston, Massachusetts. He is best known for his poetry
and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre
widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the U.S. and
of American literature as a whole, and he was one of the country’s
earliest practitioners of the short story. He is generally considered
the inventor of the detective fiction genre and is further credited
with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was
the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing
alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

No Tags

 
Painting of Francis Scott Key standing on boat, with
right arm stretched out toward the United States flag
flying over Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland.

Francis Scott Key penned a poem which is later set to music
and in 1931 becomes America’s national anthem, “The Star-
Spangled Banner.” The poem, originally titled “The Defense
of Fort McHenry,” was written after Key witnessed the
Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the
War of 1812. Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S.
flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected
in the now-famous words of the “Star-Spangled Banner”:
“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”

Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779 – January 11, 1843)

Francis S. Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet
from Frederick, Maryland. It has been speculated that the U.S. motto
"In God We Trust" was adapted from a line in the fourth stanza of
the "Star-Spangled Banner".

No Tags

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

On this day in 2001, President Bill Clinton escaped indictment by surrendering his Arkansas law license for five years and admitting
that he made false statements under oath about his affair with
Monica Lewinsky.

A twelve-year-old Dolly Parton.

       Dolly Parton at Sevier High School.  

Dolly Rebecca Parton is 73 years young today.

Country singer Dolly Parton has released twenty-six #1 Billboard hits,
including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," and "9 to 5." Parton’s music
includes 25 Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified
gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards.

She grew up alongside eleven brothers and sisters in a one-room cabin
in Appalachia, Tennessee where she learned to sing at church.

She received the nickname The Queen of Country Music after releasing
more #1 hits than any other country singer in U.S. history. Dolly is one
of only seven female artists to win the Country Music Association’s
Entertainer of the Year Award and has received 47 Grammy nominations.

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton in 1969.

No Tags

ROSS SIMPSON

The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore (" ‘Twas
the night before Christmas…") was published on this day in 1823.

No Tags

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch) is 102 years old today.

Legendary movie actor Kirk Douglas starred in 20,000 Leagues Under the
Sea (1954), Paths of  Glory (1957), Gunfight at the O.K Corral (1957), and
Spartacus (1960). Kirk Douglas became a legend on the silver screen,
receiving the Academy Honorary Award in 1996. He was a successful
competitive wrestler while in college and served in the U.S. Navy.

1956

No Tags