May 9: Birthdays 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 9 honorees:

Birthdays

Billy Joel - The popular musical icon, born in the Bronx, New York in 1949, ranks among the best-selling recording artists of all time...more than 150 million albums sold worldwide. It all began in 1973 with "Piano Man" and his fame has not faded since. Mr. Joel is a five-time Grammy Award winner and has been nominated an astounding 23 times. He's found a comfortable legacy as a member of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, and, of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Later in his career, he has broadened into classical music composition, and has toured with great success with fellow icon, Elton John.

Tony Gwynn - It is not overstatement to declare Tony Gwynn one of the best hitters in the history of baseball. In fact, he is universally considered so. He was born on this day in 1960 in Los Angeles, not terribly far from his baseball home of San Diego, where he played his entire career as a member of the Padres. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, he boasts a career batting average of .338, lead his league in hitting eight times, and batted .394 in 1994, the highest batting average in the National League since Bill Terry hit .401 in 1930 and the highest in the major leagues since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.

Mike Wallace - The quintessential journalist of our lifetime, Mike Wallace was born on this day in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1918. Feared by some and respected by all interviewees, Mr. Wallace enjoyed a nearly 40-year run as a correspondent for CBS' 60 Minutes, from its debut in 1968 until his semi-retirement in 2006. While there, he interviewed a litany of newsmakers from heads of state to prominent entertainers. Before diving head-long into news, Wallace served as the staff announcer for radio programs and for the CBS radio network. He also hosted a number of game shows early in his career.

Deaths

Alan King - He was among our most famous and celebrated comedians for decades, and his observational humor eventually served as inspiration for megastar comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal. He made a great living as a stand-up comic leading to many appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show," but he also was a gifted actor and writer. Mr. King, who passed away on this day in 2004 at the age of 76, emceed President Kennedy's inauguration in 1961, and hosted the Academy Awards in 1972. Perhaps his greatest legacy will be as a philanthropist as he championed many wonderful causes.
James Myers - Looking back, it seems like a fairly simple song, but at the time, it helped revolutionize the musical landscape in this country. Mr. Meyer, who passed away on this day in 2001 at the age of 82, co-wrote "Rock Around the Clock," performed by Bill Haley and the Comets, eventually to become first No. 1 record of the rock 'n roll era.