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MILESTONES: April 16, birthdays for Chance the Rapper, Akon, Martin Lawrence

April 16, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle
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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Hall of Fame basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was born in 1947; singer Akon, who was born in 1973; actress Ellen Barkin, who was born in 1954; former Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was born in 1927; rapper Chance The Rapper, who was born in 1993; actor Jon Cryer, who was born in 1965; basketball player Luol Deng, who was born in 1985; actress Claire Foy, who was born in 1984; actor Lukas Haas, who was born in 1976; comedian and actor Martin Lawrence, who was born in 1965; former soccer player Freddie Ljungberg, who was born in 1977; actor Jay O. Sanders, who was born in 1953; singer Bobby Vinton, who was born in 1935; and former Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, who was born in 1951;

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CHARLIE CHAPLIN WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1889. The actor, comedian, director, producer, screenwriter and composer suffered through extreme poverty as a child but escaped the workhouses as a touring music hall dancer and comic. He joined Mack Sennett’s Keystone film company and with Keystone and on his own created funny and poignant film masterpieces beginning in 1914 — many featuring his “Little Tramp.” The derby-hatted Little Tramp — a bit of a dreamer and a bit of a scamp — was a worldwide sensation. Chaplin was knighted in 1975 and died in 1977 in Switzerland.

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THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL KARAOKE WEEK. Karaoke has grown by leaps and bounds in the US. Though it was once thought to be a fad, more and more people are recognizing the benefits of karaoke — increased self-esteem, confidence and stress release.

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HENRY MANCINI WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1924. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Mancini made his mark in Hollywood composing film scores and songs. He won 20 Grammy Awards and four Oscars (song “Moon River” and score for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”; song “Days of Wine and Roses” for the same-titled film; score for Victor/Victoria). He also composed “The Pink Panther,” “Peter Gunn” and “Mr. Lucky” themes. Mancini died in 1994 in California.

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SELENA WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1971. The popular Grammy Award–winning Tejana singer is known for her hits “Como La Flor,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and “Dreaming of You.” The “Queen of Tejano Music” died in 1995, at Corpus Christi, Texas. She was murdered by the president of her fan club. Selena was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1995.

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

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“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” — Charlie Chaplin, who was born on this day in 1889.

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