Post by Frank Beacham

Feb. 3: Singer Melanie is 74 years old today; Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash on this day in 1959 — 62 years ago; art collector and writer Gertrude Stein was born 147 years ago today; blues and funk guitarist Johnny "Guitar" Watson was born 86 years ago today; Norman Rockwell, painter and illustrator, was born 127 years ago today; and French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau published his most famous and lasting work, The Silent World, on February 3, 1953 — 68 years ago today. www.beachamjournal.com