The 40th President of the United States. Born on this day in 1911, Reagan is famous for his “Reaganomics” policies and for escalating the Cold War with an arms race, including his vision of Star Wars technology. As president, he survived an assassination attempt, took a hard line against labor unions and declared more militant policies in the War on Drugs. He also bombed Libya, suffered the Iran-Contra affair and ultimately ended the Cold War.
Note: This is 8-bit U.S. president #10 of 43.
An American rhythm and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He was known as “The Originator” because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock & roll. His driving rhythms and hard-edged guitar sound were highly influential. His trademark rectangular guitar is one example of his technical innovations. He was born on this day in 1928.
Walt Disney is an American film producer, animator, entrepreneur and international icon, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. He co-founded The Walt Disney Company, which has become one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. He died on this day in 1966.
A prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. Mozart composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers. He died on this day in 1791.
An American professional wrestler known by his ring name “Macho Man” Randy Savage. He was recognizable for his distinctively deep and raspy voice, his ring attire and his signature catchphrase (“Oooh yeah!”). He was the spokesman for Slim Jim snack foods in the 1990s. Savage was born on this day in 1952. He died of a sudden heart attack on May 20, 2011.
An American rapper popularly known as Biggie Smalls and Big Poppa. He was a focal point of the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry and became a central figure in the East Coast hip hop scene. In March 1997, at age 24, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Sometimes your words just hypnotize me.
An American rapper and actor known by the stage name 2Pac. Themes of his songs include violence and hardship in inner cities, racism and other social problems. He was a focal point of the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry and died on this day in 1996, after being shot four times in a drive-by shooting following a Mike Tyson boxing match in Las Vegas. No changes.
An American singer-songwriter and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although primarily remembered as a country music artist, his songs spanned many genres, including rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, folk and gospel. The Man in Black died on this day in 2003 at age 71. By the way, I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.
An American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur born on this day in 1958. Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is the world’s top-selling female recording artist of all time. The Queen of Pop is known for reinventing her image and her music. One trend was the Gaultier cone-bra corset from her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour.
An American professional wrestler, actor and television personality. He was born on this day in 1953 as Terry Bollea. In the 1980s, the Hulk Hogan character led the expansion of professional wrestling’s popularity across North America. This period of time in the history of the World Wrestling Federation is now referred to as the Hulkamania Era.
An American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s TV series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. He is also known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle and his gold jewelry. This dude has been pitying fools for 30 years now.
An Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince. In 1992, she controversially tore a photo of Pope John Paul II to pieces on Saturday Night Live to protest sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church and was vilified by the media.
Today MTV is celebrating its 30th birthday. Remember when MTV mattered? You can watch the first 20 minutes of the original August 1, 1981 broadcast.
A Hong Kong American actor, martial arts instructor and founder of the Jeet Kune Do movement. He is widely considered the most influential martial artist, and a cultural icon. While doing work for the movie Enter the Dragon, he suffered a cerebral edema. Two months later, on this day in 1973, he died at age 32 from a mysterious allergic reaction to medication.
A Chicago-based American television host, best known for her self-titled talk show, which became the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011. The Oprah Winfrey Show concluded one month ago, on May 25, 2011.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week. This is the second of three Chicago-related characters.
A singer-songwriter and guitarist from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known as the frontman (and sole permanent member) of The Smashing Pumpkins. I think “The Aeroplane Flies High” might be my favorite Pumpkins song. This is the final character of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week. In celebration, two more Chicago-related characters are next.
The King of Pop was the most successful entertainer of all time, from his beginnings with The Jackson 5 to his solo career. His 8-bit outfit is based on the “Smooth Criminal” video. He died on this day in 2009 at age 50. His personal physician was charged with involuntary manslaughter. This is character #7 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week.
A musician from Aberdeen, Washington. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana, which destroyed 1980s hair metal and put the Seattle music scene on the map. He became famous, married Courtney Love and died at age 27 (of apparent suicide, though some evidence points to the possibility of homicide). Also, where did you sleep last night? This is character #6 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 starting today.
An English musician and actor who has created a number of alter egos for himself, such as Ziggy Stardust and The Thin White Duke. This 8-bit version of him is based on the cover of his 1973 album Aladdin Sane, which Bowie described as “Ziggy goes to America.” This is character #5 of my eight-day Music Week.
Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered the greatest electric guitarist in music history. Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27 from “barbiturate intoxication and inhalation of vomit.” Watch the original “All Along the Watchtower” music video. This is character #4 of my eight-day Music Week.
Bob Marley – No. 203
A Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers (1963-1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.
The Bob Marley is my favorite American Dream Pizza combo. Toppings: Jamaican jerk chicken, mushrooms, black olives and red onions.