After failing singing auditions for the bands of Benny Goodman and both Jimmy Dorsey and his brother Tommy Dorsey, Shore struck out on her own to become the first singer of her era to achieve huge solo success. She enjoyed a long string of over 80 charted popular hits, lasting from 1940 into the late ’50s, and after appearing in a handful of films went on to a four-decade career in American television, starring in her own music and variety shows in the ’50s and ’60s and hosting two talk shows in the ’70s.

Duke Ellington was known as one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music. His reputation increased when he died, and he received a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Ellington called his music “American Music” rather than jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as “beyond category.” These included many of the musicians who served with his orchestra, some of whom were considered among the giants of jazz and performed with Ellington’s orchestra for decades. While many were noteworthy in their own right, it was Ellington who melded them into one of the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz.

He often composed specifically for the style and skills of these individuals, such as “Jeep’s Blues” for Johnny Hodges, “Concerto for Cootie” (”Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me“) for Cootie Williams and “The Mooche” for Tricky Sam Nanton. He also recorded songs written by his bandsmen, such as Juan Tizol’s “Caravan” and “Perdido” which brought the “Spanish Tinge” to big-band jazz. After 1941, he frequently collaborated with composer-arranger Billy Strayhorn, whom he called his alter-ego.

One of the 20th century’s best-known artists, Ellington recorded for many American record companies, and appeared in several films. Ellington and his orchestra toured the United States and Europe regularly before and after World War II. Ellington led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974.

His son Mercer Ellington took over the band until his death from cancer in 1996. Paul Ellington, Mercer’s youngest son, took over the Orchestra from there and after his mother’s passing took over the Estate of Duke and Mercer Ellington.

Wilkerson’s widely distributed sermons, such as “A Call to Anguish,” are known for being direct and frank. He emphasizes Christian beliefs, such as: God’s holiness and righteousness, God’s love toward humans and especially Christian views of Jesus. Wilkerson tries to avoid categorizing Christians into distinct groups according to the denomination they belong to, and as such he is an evangelist with broad-based appeal.

1. All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.

2. Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

3. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

4. If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.

5. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

6. It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

7. Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.

8. There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.

9. We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

10. If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.

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More Quotes:

1. If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

2. In the end, the only people who fail are those who do not try.

3. The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.

From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group she later disdained. Following the breakup of that circle, Parker traveled to Hollywood to pursue screen-writing. Her successes there, including two Academy Award nominations, were curtailed as her involvement in left-wing politics led to a place on the infamous Hollywood blacklist.

Parker went through three marriages (two to the same man) and survived several suicide attempts, but grew increasingly dependent on alcohol. Dismissive of her own talents, she deplored her reputation as a “wisecracker”. Nevertheless, her literary output and her sparkling wit have endured.

More Quotes

1. I don’t care what is written about me so long as it isn’t true.

2. The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant–and let the air out of the tires.