Music

Poet and writer Dorothy Parker (born Dorothy Rothschild) was born on August 22, 1893, in Long Branch, New Jersey.

On August 6, 1974, the USPS issued the Chautauqua Institution stamp, the second in the Rural America series, honoring the organization’s centennial.

On July 22, 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful.

The father of American musical comedy, George Michael Cohan was born on July 3, 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island. The son of traveling Vaudeville performers, Cohan joined his parents on stage when he was just a baby. Cohan learned to dance and sing shortly after learning to walk and talk. Along with his parents and sister, the family toured under the name The Four Cohans, with George writing skits and songs in his teens.

American composer and songwriter Cole Albert Porter was born on June 9, 1891, in Peru, Indiana.

On June 5, 1910, American author O. Henry died in New York City.

Jazz legend Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, DC.

American musician and songwriter Tito Puente was born on April 20, 1923, in New York City, New York.

Composer and musician W.C. Handy died on March 28, 1958, in New York City.