Paul, a jazz musician, decided to get more sound out of his guitar by putting a log in the middle. In the process, he invented the solid-body guitar. source
Paul experiments with a tape recorder in his garage. He layers his guitar’s tone on one song, “Lover,” and invents multi-track recording. source
Paul divorces his first wife and marries Mary Ford, his music partner. The two spend much of the early 1950s as major musical stars, notching hits until 1955. source
Gibson asks Paul to promote its new solid-body guitar; Paul influenced the guitar’s design only a little, but the guitar’s name helped build Paul’s legend. source
Paul never gave up his craft and continued to be a musical icon late in life, playing NYC clubs well into his 90s. Paul died Thursday at 94. His legacy is insane. source
She died early Tuesday at 88. Beyond being known as a member of the Kennedy family, Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968 just weeks after her brother Robert’s assassination. It was a profound idea – during an era where physical activity was unheard of for the mentally disabled, she started an event to encourage it. She learned about it from her sister Rosemary, who grew up in Kennedy household during an era where many with mental disabilities were institutionalized. Her victories may not have been as loud as those of her famous brothers, but in their own way they were just as profound. source
She really put into practice defending not only the rights of her friends but even those who would oppose you, relinquishing her power as fast as possible with adoption of the 1987 constitution. And, then, I can go on and on.
Filipino Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III • On his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, who died Saturday after a long bout with colon cancer. Aquino’s role in a quiet revolution that overtook the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos was considered one of the most impressive political feats of the 20th century. • source
After her husband was assassinated, Aquino started a march to become president of the Philippines, successfully leading the country through turmoil.
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Most. Annoying. News. Story. Ever. Nothing against Michael Jackson or his fans or his memory, but this thing needs to go away. Hopefully, after this memorial, we can all get on with our lives.source
McNamara, the secretary of defense in an era defined by one of the nation’s deadliest wars, is dead at 93. Beyond his most noted accomplishment (which stretched during the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson), he also spent tenures leading the World Bank (before Vietnam) and Ford Motor Co. (after Vietnam). But really, his pushing of the often-unpopular Vietnam War is what he’ll be remembered for.source