MILESTONES: April 4, birthdays for Austin Mahone, Robert Downey Jr., David Blaine

April 4, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle

Austin Mahone. Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include magician David Blaine, who was born in Brooklyn in 1973; actor Robert Downey Jr., who was born in 1965; author Kitty Kelley, who was born in 1942; Emmy and Oscar Award-winning actress Christine Lahti, who was born in 1950; singer Austin Mahone, who was born in 1996; actress Nancy McKeon, who was born in 1966; actor Craig T. Nelson, who was born in 1944; actor Barry Pepper, who was born in 1970; former baseball player Scott Rolen, who was born in 1975; and musician and actress Jill Scott, who was born in 1972.

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MAYA ANGELOU WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1928. The acclaimed poet, civil rights activist and memoirist is best-known as the author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” She delivered the inaugural poem “On the Pulse of the Morning” in 1993 for incoming U.S. President Bill Clinton. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Angelou, who was also a Tony Award–nominated actress, died in 2014 in North Carolina.

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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAS ASSASSINATED ON THIS DAY IN 1968. The reverend was shot in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray was serving a 99-year sentence for the crime at the time of his death in 1998.

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THE BEATLES TOOK OVER THE MUSIC CHARTS ON THIS DAY IN 1964. The English group held the top five positions of the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Can’t Buy Me Love” was number one, followed by (in order) “Twist and Shout,” “She Loves You,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Please, Please Me.” The Beatles had made their first U.S. appearance barely two months before. In the same week, they held the top six places on the Australian music chart.

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ANTHONY PERKINS WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1932. The American actor was best-known for his movie role as homicidal innkeeper Norman Bates in the film “Psycho.” Perkins appeared in many Broadway plays in addition to his numerous film roles. He received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in “Friendly Persuasion.” Perkins died in 1992 in California.

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MUDDY WATERS WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1915. The American blues guitarist and singer played a significant part in developing the modern electric rhythm and blues that came to be known as Chicago, or urban, blues. It was predominantly from this music that later forms such as rock and roll and soul sprang. His songs include “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Mannish Boy,” “Got My Mojo Working” and many others. Waters died in Illinois in 1983.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — the late Maya Angelou, who was born on this day in 1928