Drewsky1211

Two people are 80 today: John Major (the oldest-living UK PM)... and Eric Idle.

57 No Doubt – Don’t Speak +1 45 Olive – You’re Not Alone 40 The Prodigy – Firestarter 36 Spice Girls – Wannabe +1 35 Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's 34 Mark Morrison – Return of The Mack 33 White Town – Your Woman 32 Aqua — Barbie Girl 30 Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger 29 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 29 Will Smith – Men in Black +2 28 Gina G – Ooh Aah … Just A Little Bit 27 Blur — Beetlebum 27 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 26 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 24 Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are 24 Various Artists – Perfect Day 22 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 21 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 21 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 21 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 20 The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun 17 Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dancefloor 16 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 16 Eternal & BeBe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One 14 Spice Girls – Too Much 14 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody 11 George Michael – Fastlove -3 11 Tori Amos ft. Armand van Helden – Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big) -1 6 The Prodigy – Breathe -2

Dwight D. Eisenhower died on this day 54 years ago, aged 78. - Eisenhower's first and middle names were switched during his childhood to avoid confusion with his father, David. Dwight and his brothers were all nicknamed Ike, intended to be an abbreviation of their last name. - Eisenhower was a member of the West Point football team at the same time as fellow WWII general Omar Bradley. He had to quit after tearing his knee, but returned to the field as a junior varsity coach and cheerleader. - One of Eisenhower's hobbies was oil painting, often painting landscapes: - Both the Republican and the Democratic parties attempted to get Eisenhower to run for them in 1948 due to his victories in World War II. He ran in 1952, and it was at this time that the first campaign commercials aired on TV: - Among the major events of Eisenhower's presidency were the end of the Korean War, the construction of the Interstate Highway System, the beginning of the Space Race, the admission of Alaska and Hawaii to the union, and the U2 incident of 1960 (nothing to do with Bono's birth). - Eisenhower was the first US president to release updates on his health while in office. Eisenhower had a serious heart attack in 1955, and a stroke in 1957 led to aphasia. - Eisenhower's health worsened after leaving office in 1961, with his gallbladder being removed in 1966. He survived seven heart attacks before he died of congestive heart failure. - Eisenhower's grandson David is the namesake of Camp David, and married Richard Nixon's (who was the senior Eisenhower's VP) daughter Julie- their marriage led to the writing of "Fortunate Son".

Neil Kinnock is 81.

50 No Doubt – Don’t Speak +1 36 The Prodigy – Firestarter 35 Oasis – Don’t Look Back in anger 32 White Town – Your Woman 31 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 31 Spice Girls – Wannabe +1 30 Olive – You’re Not Alone 30 Mark Morrison - Return of The Mack 29 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 28 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany´s 27 Will Smith — Men in Black +1 26 Aqua — Barbie Girl +1 24 Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are 24 Various Artists – Perfect Day 23 Blur – Beetlebum 23 Gina G — Ooh Aah … Just a little bit 23 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 22 Spice Girls – Too Much 22 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 22 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 21 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 21 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 20 The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun 20 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody 20 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 20 Eternal & BeBe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One 19 The Prodigy – Breathe 17 Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dancefloor 16 George Michael – Fastlove 14 Gary Barlow – Love Won´t Wait 12 Tori Amos ft. Armand van Helden – Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big) 11 Teletubbies – Teletubbies Say `Eh-Oh!´ -3 11 Gary Barlow – Forever Love 11 Boyzone – A Different Beat  8 Oasis – D´you Know What I Mean 8 Take That – How Deep Is Your Love 3 U2 – Discothèque -3

Milton Berle died on this day 21 years ago, aged 93. - Berle was born as "Mendel Berlinger", and took his stage name at the age of 16. - Berle's career began when he was 5; he won a children's Charlie Chaplin lookalike contest. He would soon become a model for children's clothing, and later appear in silent films (the first verifiable being Fanchon the Cricket in 1915, when he was 7). - Berle made his stage debut aged 12, and was on Broadway by the time he was 24. - Berle's first TV appearance was in an experimental broadcast in 1929. He began hosting The Texaco Star Theatre in 1948, and was so popular that television sales doubled. He is considered the first TV star because of this. - Besides from being an actor, Berle was also a songwriter- he wrote the Spike Jones song "Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma". - Berle's final role was as Uncle Leo in the series finale of Kenan & Kel in 2000. - Berle died after an 11-month battle with colon cancer. He appeared on the DeathList twice (2001 and 2002), and died on the same day as fellow hits Dudley Moore and Billy Wilder (three hits remains the one-day record).

Julian Glover, known for roles in The Empire Strikes Back, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is 88.

41 No Doubt – Don’t Speak +1 32 The Prodigy – Firestarter 32 Oasis – Don´t Look Back In Anger 30 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany´s 30 White Town – Your Woman 29 Spice Girls – Wannabe +1 28 Olive – You´re Not Alone 27 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 25 Blur – Beetlebum 25 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 24 Various Artists – Perfect Day 24 Mark Morrison – Return Of The Mack 23 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 22 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 22 Will Smith – Men In Black +1 21 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 21 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 21 George Michael – Fastlove 21 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 21 Tori Amos ft. Armand van Helden – Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) 21 Aqua – Barbie Girl +1 20 The Prodigy – Breathe 20 Gary Barlow – Forever Love 20 The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun 20 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody 20 Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are 20 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 20 Gary Barlow – Love Won´t Wait 20 Eternal & BeBe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One 20 Spice Girls – Too Much 19 Gina G. – Ooh Aah ... Just A Little Bit 17 Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dancefloor 17 Boyzone – A Different Beat 15 R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly -4 14 Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds – Three Lions 13 Teletubbies – Teletubbies Say `Eh-Oh!´ -2 12 U2 – Discothèque 11 Oasis – D´you Know What I Mean 08 Peter André – I Feel You 08 Take That – How Deep Is Your Love 08 Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans & 112 – I'll Be Missing You 08 Boyzone – Words 08 Peter André – Flava

Geraldine Ferraro died on this day 12 years ago, aged 75. - Ferraro was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1978, and quickly rose among the Democratic Party's ranks. Among the committees she served on included the House Budget Committee and the Steering and Policy Committee. - In 1984, Democratic nominee for president Walter Mondale selected her to be his running mate (other considerations included then-San Francisco mayor Dianne Feinstein and Kentucky governor Martha Collins); she was the first woman to be chosen as a VP for a major party ticket (and only until Sarah Palin was picked in 2008). The Mondale-Ferraro ticket only won 13 electoral votes. - Ferraro gave up her seat in Congress to run for VP- she would attempt to run for the Senate in 1992 and 1998, but came second in both primaries (losing to Chuck Schumer in the latter). - Ferraro would join the CNN show Crossfire in 1996, and become a political commentator for Fox News in 1999. - In 1998, Ferraro was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, surviving for over twelve years with the disease.

Martin Short is 73.

24 Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds – Three Lions 22 The Prodigy – Firestarter 22 Olive – You´re not alone 22 Spice Girls – Wannabe +1 22 No Doubt – Don´t speak +2 21 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 21 The Fugees – Killing me softly 21 Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack 21 Will Smith – Men in black +1 20 Oasis – Don´t look back in anger 20 Take That – How deep is your love 20 George Michael – Fastlove 20 Gina G. – Ooh aah ... just a little bit 20 Gary Barlow – Forever love 20 Peter André – Flava 20 The Fugees – Ready or not 20 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany´s 20 The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun 20 Boyzone – Words 20 Spice Girls – Say you´ll be there 20 Robson Greene & Jerome Flynn – What becomes of the broken hearted/Saturday night at the movies/You'll never walk alone 20 The Prodigy – Breathe 20 Peter André – I feel you 20 Boyzone – A different beat 20 Dunblane – Knockin´ on heaven´s door – Throw these guns away 20 Spice Girls – 2 become 1 20 Tori Amos ft. Armand van Helden – Professional Widdow (It's got to be big) 20 White Town – Your Woman 20 Blur – Beetlebum 20 L L Cool J – Ain´t nobody 20 U2 – Discothèque 20 Spice Girls – Mama / Who do you think you are 20 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 20 R. Kelly – I believe I can fly 20 Michael Jackson – Blood on the dancefloor 20 Gary Barlow – Love won´t wait 20 Eternal & BeBe Winans – I wanna be the only one 20 Hanson – Mmmbop 20 Oasis – D´you know what I mean 20 The Verve – The drugs don´t work 20 Spice Girls – Spice up your life 20 Aqua – Barbie Girl 20 Various Artists – Perfect Day 20 Spice Girls – Too much 14 Teletubbies – Teletubbies say `Eh-Oh!´ -6 14 Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans & 112 – I´ll be missing you 14 George Michael – Jesus to a crucifix 14 Elton John – Candle in the wind / Something about the way you look tonight (If Virtual Insanity peaked I'd give it +4)

90 Coolio ft. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise +4 58 Take That – Back For Good 56 Whigfield - Saturday Night 55 Livin’ Joy – Dreamer 0 Blur – Country House -6

Beverly Cleary died on this day 2 years ago, aged 104. - Cleary initially struggled with reading in elementary, and admitted to finding it boring at one point. It wasn't until she read The Dutch Twins that she changed her mind, and by middle school, her teachers recommended that she become a children's book author (based on her essays). - In 1950, she published her first children's novel, Henry Huggins. She would later create the spinoff Beezus and Ramona in 1955, and the Ralph S. Mouse series of books in 1965 with The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Her books have sold over 90 million copies worldwide, and are often read by elementary teachers in American schools. - Cleary was given the National Medal of Arts in 2003- the highest award that the US government gives to authors, artists, entertainers, and art patrons. - Cleary became a centenarian in 2016, and died less than three weeks before her 105th birthday.

(The legendary) Elton John is 76.

82 Coolio ft. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise +4 69 Livin’ Joy – Dreamer 55 Whigfield – Saturday Night 49 Blur – Country House 37 Take That – Back For Good 11 Baby D. — Let Me Be Your Fantasy -4 0 D:Ream – It Is Finished -2

Mary of Teck died on this day 70 years ago, aged 85. - Mary went by her second name- her first was Victoria. She was also nicknamed "May", which she also often went by. - Mary was born in the exact same room as Queen Victoria in Kensington Palace. - Mary was engaged to Prince Albert, the son of Edward VII, in 1891- he died six weeks after the engagement from the flu. She and Albert's younger brother George (V) fell in love while grieving. - During her time as the Princess of Wales, she and her husband would often tour British colonies and Commonwealth nations. Among the most-frequented place on these tours was Egypt. - Mary disapproved of her son Edward VIII's relationship with Wallis Simpson, outright refusing to meet her. - Mary was involved in a serious car crash in 1939, where it flipped over- she, however, came out of it with only minor injuries. - Mary died ten weeks before her granddaughter Elizabeth II's coronation.

Nena (whose song won the 80s Kill or Save) is 63.

83 Coolio ft. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise +2 66 Livin’ Joy – Dreamer +2 49 Whigfield – Saturday Night 46 Take That – Back For Good - 39 Baby D. – Let Me Be Your Fantasy 29 Blur – Country House 20 Pato Banton – Baby Come Back 16 D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better -6 16 Stiltskin – Inside

Peter Lorre died on this day 59 years ago, aged 59. - Lorre was born as Laszlo Lowenstein in what is now Slovakia. - Lorre's breakout role was in the 1931 film M, where he played the serial killer Hans Beckert. - Lorre was Jewish, and had to flee Germany when the Nazis came to power, first going to Paris and then to London, where he would learn English. It was during his time in London that Alfred Hitchcock cast him as the villain in The Man Who Knew Too Much. - Lorre settled in California in 1935 to star in Hollywood movies (he became a naturalized citizen in 1941). One film he planned to star in was a 1937 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame as Quasimodo, but it was cancelled before production began. - Lorre was the first person to portray a James Bond villain- Le Chiffre in a 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale. - Lorre's final role was as Morgan Heywood in Jerry Lewis' The Patsy. - Lorre had chronic gallbladder disease, and became addicted to the morphine prescribed to him, which he never fully recovered from. - After Lorre's death from a stroke, Vincent Price gave the eulogy at his funeral.

Damon Albarn (AKA 2-D from Gorillaz) is 55.

77 Coolio ft. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise +4 62 Livin’ Joy – Dreamer 55 Whigfield – Saturday Night 40 Take That – Back For Good 37 Baby D. – Let Me Be Your Fantasy 32 Pato Banton - Baby come back 29 Blur – Country House 24 Stiltskin — Inside 22 D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better -2 18 Toni di Bart – The Real Thing (If I Can't Have You) -4 12 Shaggy – Boombastic

Severus Alexander died on this day 1788 years ago, aged 26. - Alexander's full name was "Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander". - Alexander became emperor at the age of 13 following the assassination of his cousin Elagabalus; he was the youngest Roman emperor until Gordian III (who was a few months younger at accession) became emperor in 238. Due to his young age, he often sought out advice on how to rule from his mother. - Alexander was open to the idea of freedom of religion during his reign. He allowed a synagogue to be built in Rome, and gifted the rabbi a scroll taken by emperor Titus received following the fall of Jerusalem in 70. Alexander would also be tutored about Christianity during his later reign. - In 233, Alexander led an invasion against the newly-formed Sasanian Empire- he retook Mesopotamia from them, but had to retreat due to disease, inept soldiers, and extreme cold. - After Germanic barbarians invaded in 234, Alexander paid them to stop- this decision ruined his reputation, and he and his mother would be assassinated by his own generals, who deemed Maximinus Thrax a more worthy ruler. His assassination is seen as the catalyst of Rome's Crisis of the Third Century (which lasted until the ascension of Diocletian in 284).

William Shatner is 92.

73 Coolio ft. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise +4 58 Livin’ Joy – Dreamer 46 Whigfield – Saturday Night 44 Baby D. – Let Me Be Your Fantasy 44 Take That – Back For Good 40 Stiltskin – Inside 30 D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better 30 Pato Banton – Baby Come Back 25 Blur – Country House 24 Toni di Bart – The Real Thing (If I Can't Have You) 24 Shaggy – Boombastic 16 Mariah Carey – Without You 0 Take That – I Forgot -6

Pocahontas died on this day 406 years ago, aged 21. - Pocahontas had many names- she was born as Amonute, but this was changed to Matoaka. Pocahontas itself was a nickname given to her that means "little troublemaker" or "playful one" in the Algonquian language. - She likely did not save John Smith's life from her father- Smith did not mention her being there when he was captured, and stated that they were introduced sometime in 1608. Historians now believe that Smith decided to exaggerate his capture to improve his reputation (by 1616, he and the London Company were on unfavorable terms). - Pocahontas would often visit Jamestown, bringing food and equipment to Smith and playing with the children of the colony. She stopped going after a gunpowder explosion injured Smith and was told that he died (albeit she learned he was still alive when brought to England). - During the first Anglo-Powhatan War, the colonists formed an alliance with the Patawomeck tribe against the Powhatan. Its leader, Japazaws, tricked Pocahontas into boarding the ship of captain Samuel Argall, where she was held for a ransom of weapons and a prisoner exchange. - Pocahontas would remain a prisoner for a year, with the local minister Alexander Whitaker converted her to Christianity and gave her English lessons (she knew some English before she was captured). It was during this time she was baptized and took the name "(Lady) Rebecca". - It was also during her capture that she married John Rolfe. They had one son named Thomas, and they are distant ancestors of US First Lady Edith Wilson and astronomer Percival Lowell. The wedding led to a truce between the colonists and the Powhatan. - Pocahontas and her English family, as well as eleven converted Powhatans, went to England in 1616 to stimulate interest in the colony (and the outdated idea of the "tamed savage"). This was when the idea of her being a princess emerged- the English recognized the Powhatan tribe as an empire. - Pocahontas, John, and Thomas would attempt to return to Virginia in March of 1617- sadly, Pocahontas never returned to her home, as she died (possibly from dysentery, smallpox, or tuberculosis) while their boat was still in England. Her son Thomas also became gravely ill, but recovered. Her exact date of death remains unknown (as her original grave was destroyed by a fire), but her funeral happened on March 21 (and is often considered the day she died as well). - The Disney movie about her from 1995 is extraordinarily inaccurate- there were obviously no talking trees, and she had no romantic interest in Smith (she was 11 and Smith was 27- yikes).