May 4: Births and Deaths

Birthdays are a wonderful daily occurrence in our lives. It is rare to weave through one's day without becoming privy to an announcement or celebration of a birthday or two, whether they belong to family, friends, or other eminent figures. Remembering those who have passed each day is, perhaps, just as noteworthy an endeavor, for if their memories are kept alive, one might argue, so too are their spirits.

Here is a sampling of May 4 honorees:

Birthdays

Mike Dirnt - You can't have a niftier last name as a musician than one than sounds like the instrument you play, but that's exactly what "Dirnt" signifies...the sound of his very profound bass that has helped distinguish the popular band, Green Day. Born in Rodeo, California on this day in 1972, Dirnt (originally Michael Pritchard) discovered a passion for music early in life and at the age of 17, founded Green Day with fellow band mates Billie Joe Armstrong and Al Sobrante in 1989.

Randy Travis - One of the iconic figures in country music, Mr. Travis was born on this day in 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina. Surviving a difficult, wild childhood, he won in a nightclub talent show, and it turned his life around. He didn't experience a number one hit until "On the Other Hand" topped the chart in 1986, but he then went on to a Grammy Award winning career that has featured sixteen number one songs.

Pia Zadora - One of the most critically dismembered entertainment names, Ms. Zadora was born on this day in 1954 in Hoboken, New Jersey. It's never a good sign to win the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress, but Ms. Zadora owns the distinction three times for her roles in "Butterfly," "Voyage Of the Rock Aliens," and "The Lonely Lady." Topping it off, she also won the Raspberry for Worst Actress of the 1980's. Fighting adversity, she went on to record many successful popular standard albums.

Deaths

David Hackworth - "Hack" was a prominent military journalist, author, and decorated United States Army colonel, receiving two Distinguished Service Crosses, 10 Silver Stars, four Legion of Merit awards among many others. He served in the military for more than 25 years, went on to become a contributing editor on defense issues for Newsweek, a weekly columnist for King Features, and popular television commentator. Controversy caught up with Mr. Hackworth when he investigated the validity of an Admiral Boorda's military decorations, perhaps leading to the latter's suicide. Mr. Hackworth passed away from bladder cancer on this day in 2005.

Bonnie Lee Bakley - On this date in 2001, actor Robert Blake took Ms. Bakley to Vitello's Restaurant in Studio City, California for an Italian dinner. Afterward, Bakley was killed by a gunshot to the head while sitting in the car, which was parked on a side street. Blake denied killing her, and was famously found not guilty of the murder, and of one of the two counts of soliciting a former stuntman to murder her. He was eventually found culpable in a civil trial.