Happy Birthday

John Updike is one of America’s most beloved authors, known for “The Witches of Eastwick,” the “Rabbit” novel series and his final work, “The Widows of Eastwick,” published just months before his death on Jan. 27, 2009.

Nat King Cole’s musical upbringing forged a career that would delve the nuances of the jazz trio and fashion a more subtle approach to singing.  Although his life was curtailed, he managed to both treat and test his popular and critical audiences.

James Madison played a great role in defining, defending and establishing the United States as we know it. A major contributor to the Constitution, author of the Federalist papers and drafter of the Bill of Rights, Madison would come to lead the country he had philosophically and ideologically formed as its fourth president.

Blending southern poetry and a loose, all-encompassing handling of the guitar, Lightnin’ Hopkins brought a Texas accent to the masses with one of the most prolific blues careers in history.

Albert Einstein grew up in Munich, Germany and spent much of his life as a scholar in Berlin. He wrote several monumental papers that changed the study of physics, including his development of the theory of relativity. Einstein fled Europe in 1933 and spent the remainder of his life at Princeton University.

A naturally gifted mathematician, Percival Lowell shunned convention to pursue theories that walked the line between science fiction and scientific prophecy. He was compelled to explore uncharted territory, whether it be the Far East or outer space. The first to suggest life on Mars and the existence of a ninth planet, Lowell inspired researchers and writers for generations to come.

Jack Kerouac’s beatnik persona has reached near mythical levels. But the author of “On the Road” never enjoyed his celebrity status, and lived a life that was often lonely and tortured. His intriguing legacy continues to inspire restless writers and cross-country road trips alike.

Rupert Murdoch and his conglomerate News Corporation own divisions in every form of today’s media: book publishing, newspapers, television and the online social networking venture MySpace. Whether fan or detractor, few can dispute the power that Murdoch holds in the industry.

Violinist Pablo Sarasate is a figure of tremendous national and international regard. The distinctly Spanish flavor of his compositions, combined with his masterful technique and elaborate musical arrangements, have earned him a well-deserved place in the classical music hall of fame.

It's been more than 50 years since the blond-haired, blue-eyed, impossibly proportioned Barbie doll hit the market. She's held many jobs, lived in many homes, driven several cars and weathered her share of criticism, but she remains an extremely popular toy.

When he became the first man to orbit the Earth in 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin took the lead in the space race, shocking Americans, and making Russians proud. Years later, the world learned how dangerous his mission really was.

Joseph Lee dedicated his life to promoting recreation and play for children and adults alike, and is best known for transforming a fledgling playground association into a national recreation movement. He was the president of the National Recreation Association for almost 30 years, and many of the ideas he formed while at the post shaped the recreation field as it stands today.

Luther Burbank moved across the country to follow his horticultural dreams. Born on the East Coast, he relocated to California where he could pursue his life’s work of developing new breeds of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Today, Burbank’s contributions to horticulture and influence on bioengineering are still felt.

Gabriel García Márquez grew up in a home filled with storytelling and the supernatural. His seminal work of fiction, “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” transformed his birthplace of Aracataca, Colombia, into the magical town of Macondo. García Márquez ultimately won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his body of work.

Known for her political prowess and powerful husband, Madame Chiang Kai-shek led a somewhat transient life, spending significant portions of her 105 years in Georgia, Shanghai, Taiwan and New York City. Her husband, Chinese Nationalist Chiang Kai-shek, may be more prominent in the history books, but Madame has a fascinating story and fiercely ambitious personality all her own.

Miriam Makeba, widely known as “Mama Africa,” was exiled from her home of South Africa for her revolutionary words and songs, but was widely respected for speaking—and singing—the truth about racism in the country.  Among other accomplishments, including acting as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, she continued performing into her 70s and exposed many Westerners to African music.

Inventor and industrialist George Pullman literally raised Chicago from the sewer and built luxury railroad cars for the elite. The media praised his “utopian” company town, but in reality, the town’s residents lived in misery. His unwillingness to negotiate with strikers drew the ire of workers and railroad owners alike, and he died as one of the most hated anti-union figures in America.

Harry Belafonte‘s handsome looks and velvety voice, coupled with his talent as an actor and producer, have earned him fame and accolades.  But he has achieved nearly equal distinction for his humanitarian record and his fight to end poverty in Africa, and notoriety for his controversial stance on hot-button issues such as foreign policy.

Mary Lyon was a progressive educator and pioneer of women’s higher education. In 1837 she founded the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, Mass., and spent her life dedicated to the cause of advancing the education of women.

Elizabeth Taylor has spent her life on camera. She took her first screen test in 1939 at age seven and worked as an actress until 2003, winning two Academy Awards. Taylor has grabbed attention for dramas onscreen and off, fascinating the public with her turbulent love life and erratic health. Unlike contemporary 15-minute celebrities, Taylor’s stardom has truly endured.

Johnny Cash—the “Man in Black”—is an American legend. His music epitomizes the life and landscape of the American South, and has influenced generations of artists. His complex life inspired the 2005 critically acclaimed film “Walk the Line.”

John Foster Dulles was hailed as a “master craftsman” of foreign policy. Decades before his work as secretary of state under President Dwight Eisenhower, Dulles was an influential policymaker: In 1919 he was general counsel during the Treaty of Versailles, and in 1949 he traveled to Japan to broker a peace treaty.

Edward Bouchet was the first African-American graduate of Yale University. He later became the first African American to earn a doctoral degree, and only the sixth person in the Western Hemisphere to earn a doctorate in physics.

A tireless activist and scholar, W.E.B. Du Bois wrote “The Souls of Black Folk” and was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He remained committed to fighting racism and social injustice for his entire life.

A notoriously pessimistic philosopher who aspired to give meaning to the human condition through the appreciation and analysis of art, Arthur Schopenhauer challenged the depictions of the perceptual world put forth by Plato and Emmanuel Kant. A lonely and difficult man who lived a life that matched his own grim philosophy, he ultimately believed that art and sympathy could save man from suffering.

Jazz singer Nina Simone revolutionized popular music and emerged as one of the finest songwriters and musicians of her time. In addition to captivating audiences with her talent and passion, she remained a fierce advocate for the Civil Rights movement. FindingDulcinea provides a glimpse into the life and work of the woman who refused the term “jazz” in favor of “African-rooted classical music.”

Sidney Poitier was the child of tomato farmers in the Bahamas. He moved to New York as a teenager and worked as a dishwasher until a successful audition landed him a spot with the American Negro Theater. The 1949 film “No Way Out” launched his groundbreaking cinematic career. Poitier was the first black actor to win an Academy Award for a lead role. Throughout his life, Poitier has worked to bridge racial gaps both on and offscreen. 

A legendary track coach at the University of Oregon, Bill Bowerman coached 33 Olympians, including the talented Steve Prefontaine. He also designed lightweight running shoes and co-founded Nike.

Toni Morrison grew up in a house of African-American storytellers and loved books. After earning a masters degree in English, she taught for many years. At the age of 35, Morrison decided there was a book she wanted to read but had yet to find—so she wrote it herself. A prolific career ensued, with Morrison winning both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes for her fiction.

Michael Jordan was the most dominant player in NBA history, leading the Chicago Bulls to three straight NBA titles two different times. Electrifying on the basketball court and quietly dignified off it, Jordan’s image was marketed to a global audience and he retired as one of the most recognized figures in the world.