MILESTONES: March 25 birthdays for Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Howard Cosell

March 25, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle History

Aretha Franklin. AP Photo/Mario Surani

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actress Bonnie Bedelia, who was born in 1948; singer Anita Bryant, who was born in 1940; actor Paul Michael Glaser, who was born in 1943; actress Mary Gross, who was born in 1953; musician-singer Elton John, who was born in 1947; basketball coach Avery Johnson, who was born in 1965; actor Lee Pace, who was born in 1979; actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who was born in 1965; and feminist author Gloria Steinem, who was born in 1935.

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SINGER ARETHA FRANKLIN, known as the “Queen of Soul,” was born on this day in 1942. Originally a gospel singer, she turned to R&B in the 1960s and eventually received 18 Grammys for her work. In 2011, she sang at the Seaside Concert Series in Coney Island. She died in 2018.

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THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE occurred on this day in 1911 in Manhattan. Fire broke out at the factory building around 4:45 p.m., minutes before the seamstresses were scheduled to go home. Partially because of a locked door and not enough fire-escape access, 146 workers, mainly Italian and Jewish immigrants, died. The fire led to enhanced safety laws.

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JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO’s “Bed-in for Peace” began this day in 1969. In the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam, Lennon and Ono gave interviews in pajamas, sang and talked about the importance of world peace.

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SPORTSCASTER HOWARD COSELL, familiar to generations of New Yorkers, was born on this day in 1918. He achieved prominence for his support of Muhammad Ali’s stand against the Vietnam War and later as co-host of ABC’s “Monday Night Football.”

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

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“Being a queen is not about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people”
— Singer Aretha Franklin, who was born on this day in 1942