Today's Famous Birthdays

[IceWizard]

William Keith Kellogg
(April 7, 1860 – October 6, 1951)

was an American industrialist in food manufacturing, best known as the founder of the
Kellogg Company, which produces a wide variety of popular breakfast cereals. He was a
member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and practiced vegetarianism as a dietary
principle taught by his church. He also founded the Kellogg Arabian Ranch, which breeds
Arabian horses. Kellogg was a philanthropist and started the Kellogg Foundation in 1934
with a $66-million donation.








Billie Holiday
(born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959)

was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music
partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her
vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating
phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills.









Joseph Gallo
(April 7, 1929 – April 7, 1972),

also known as "Crazy Joe", was an Italian-American mobster and Caporegime of the
Colombo crime family of New York City.

In his youth, Gallo was diagnosed with schizophrenia after an arrest. He soon became an
enforcer in the Profaci crime family, later forming his own crew which included his brothers
Larry and Albert. In 1957, Joe Profaci allegedly asked Gallo and his crew to murder
Albert Anastasia, the boss of the Gambino crime family; Anastasia was murdered on
October 25 at a barber shop in midtown Manhattan. In 1961, the Gallo brothers kidnapped
four of Profaci's top men: underboss Joseph Magliocco, Frank Profaci (Joe Profaci's brother),
caporegime Salvatore Musacchia and soldato John Scimone, demanding a more favorable
financial scheme for the hostages' release. After a few weeks of negotiation, Profaci and
his consigliere, Charles "the Sidge" LoCicero, made a deal with the Gallos and secured
the peaceful release of the hostages. This incited the First Colombo War.









Edmund Gerald Brown Jr.
(born April 7, 1938)

is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor
of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party,
he was elected Secretary of State of California in 1970; Brown later served as Mayor of
Oakland from 1999 to 2007 and Attorney General of California from 2007 to 2011. He
was both the oldest and sixth-youngest governor of California due to the 28-year gap
between his second and third terms. Upon completing his fourth term in office, Brown
became the fourth longest-serving governor in U.S. history, serving 16 years
and 5 days in office.








Michael Timothy Abrahams
(born 7 April 1943)

is an English guitarist and band leader, best known for being the original guitarist for Jethro Tull
from 1967 to 1968 and the frontman for Blodwyn Pig. Abrahams was born in Luton, Bedfordshire.
He played on the album This Was recorded by Jethro Tull in 1968, but conflicts between Abrahams
and Ian Anderson over the musical direction of the band led Abrahams to leave shortly after the
album was finished, but not before contributing guitar to one further non-LP single. Abrahams
wanted to pursue a more blues/rock direction, while Anderson wanted to incorporate more overt
folk and jazz influences. Abrahams suffered a heart attack in November 2009 and would have to
recuperate before resuming work. In April 2010 his website revealed that he had Ménière's disease,
which would hold him back from performing at least for another year. In December 2013, he posted
an update referring to his continuing health problems and mentioning that he hoped to
release an album in 2014.









John William Oates
(born April 7, 1948)

is an American musician, best known as half of the rock
and soul duo Hall & Oates, with Daryl Hall. He has played rock, R&B, and soul music, acting as a
guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer.

Although Oates's main role in the duo is being the guitarist, he also co-wrote many of the top 10
songs that they recorded, including: "Sara Smile" (referring to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen),
"She's Gone", and "Out of Touch", as well as "You Make My Dreams", "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)",
"Maneater", and "Adult Education". He also sang lead vocals on several more singles in the Hot 100,
such as "How Does It Feel to Be Back", "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (a remake of the 1965 song
performed by the Righteous Brothers), and "Possession Obsession". In 1986, Oates contributed the
song "(She's the) Shape of Things to Come" on the soundtrack to the 1986 film About Last Night.
He also co-wrote and sang backup on the song "Electric Blue", recorded by the Australian band
Icehouse, which was a Billboard top 10 hit.









Anthony Drew Dorsett Sr.
(born April 7, 1954)

is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the
National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. From Western Pennsylvania,
Dorsett attended the nearby University of Pittsburgh, where he led the Panthers to the national
title as a senior in 1976 and won the Heisman Trophy. He was the first-round draft choice of the
Cowboys in 1977, the second overall selection (from Seattle). Dorsett was the NFL Offensive Rookie
of the Year and played for the team for 11 seasons, through 1987. He played for Denver the
following year, then retired because of injuries. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1994)
and the College Football Hall of Fame (1994).








Kevin Rey Smith
(born April 7, 1970) Orange, Texas, U.S.

is a former professional American football player who played cornerback in the National Football League
(NFL) for nine seasons for the Dallas Cowboys. Smith help lead West Orange-Stark High School to back
to back 4A State Championships (1986–1987). He earned All-State on both sides of the ball his senior
year, after intercepting 12 passes and catching 9 touchdowns. Smith was also a letterman in baseball,
basketball and track and field. He was recruited to play wide receiver for University of Houston
and Louisiana State University.