Tuesday

Apr. 25, 2000

April 25th, California

by Tom Clark

Broadcast Date: TUESDAY: April 25, 2000

Poem: " April 25th, " by Tom Clark, from Easter Sunday (Coffeehouse Press).

It's the birthday of novelist PADGETT POWELL, born in Gainsville, Florida (1952). His book, Edisto (1984) is the story of a 12 year old boy growing up in a rural, backwater section of South Carolina's Coastline. He says, " My interest remains with those who fail deliberately and those who can't help it."

It's the birthday of author J(ay) ANTHONY LUKAS, born in New York City (1933). He's best known for reporting on controversial issues and social unrest. As a correspondent in the late 60s and early 70s, he produced several critically acclaimed books, including Don't Shoot--We Are Your Children, and Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade In The Lives of Three American Families.

It's the birthday of American blues musician ALBERT KING, born in Indianola, Mississippi (1923). He created a unique string-bending guitar style because he was left-handed and taught himself how to play a right-handed guitar upside down by pulling the strings down. This technique would influence three generations of musicians. He made his first record in 1953, Bad Luck Blues, and later joined Stax Records in Memphis where he released Born Under a Bad Sign (1967), and Live Wire/Blues Power (1968).

It's the birthday of radio and television broadcaster EDWARD R. MURROW, born in Greensboro, North Carolina (1908), but reared in the lumber community of Blanchard, Washington. After college, Murrow went to work for the CBS radio network and was appointed " Director of Talks" for all 100 of its stations. Two years later, he was sent to Europe as European Director to transmit special events to America. His crisp, measured, and detailed eyewitness reports of Hitler's arrival in Vienna established Murrow's style.

It's the birthday of Italian physicist and inventor of a successful system of radio telegraphy, GUGLIELMO MARCONI, born in Rome, Italy (1874). In 1900, Marconi filed his now famous patent No. 7777 for " Improvements in Apparatus for Wireless Telegraphy." Then, a year later, he succeeded in receiving signals transmitted from Cornwall, England, at St. Johns, Newfoundland. This event was the beginning of the expansion of radio communications and broadcasting.

It's the birthday of British poet and novelist WALTER de la MARE, born in Charlton, Kent, England (1873).

On this day in 1816, LORD BYRON LEFT ENGLAND for permanent exile in Europe amid rumors about his relationship with his half-sister Augusta Leigh, and his bisexuality.

It's the birthday of English soldier OLIVER CROMWELL, born in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England (1599). He led parliamentary forces during the English Civil Wars, helping to overthrow the Stuart monarchy, and became lord protector of England from 1653 to 1658 during the republican era. Cromwell strongly believed in religious toleration, and permitted all Christians to practice their own religion. He loved music, was known to smoke, to drink sherry and small beer, and permitted dancing at the marriage of his youngest daughter.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®

 

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