Born: May 21, 1916, Bronx, New York City, United States

Dennis Day was an American singer but of Irish descent. But he was a man of many talents! He was also well-known for presenting (radio), his TV personality and radio. His most famous songs include Clancy Lowered the Boom, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, Danny Boy, Dear Old Donegal, Mac Namara’s Band and I Promise I’ll Never Break Your Heart. And he released many more!

Charlie Christian

Born: July 29, 1916, in Texas, United States

Charlie Christian was an extremely talented American jazz guitarist. An interesting fact about Christian is that he was actually among the first musicians to ever use electrically amplified equipment for improvisation. He was a part of many famous songs! Such as Swing to Bop, Till Tom Special, Honeysuckle Rose, Six Appeal, Profoundly Blue, I Found a New Baby, Waitin’ For Benny and Guys’ Got to Go.

Charles Fowlkes

Born: February 16, 1916, in New York, United States

Charles Fowlkes was an American saxophonist that was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra for over 25 years! The other members included Joe Keyes (soloist), Oran ‘Hot Lips’ Page (Trumpeter), Buster Smith (alto saxophone), Earle Warren (alto saxophone), Lester Young (tenor saxophone), Dan Minor (trombone) Jo Jones (drummer), Walter Page (bass) and Basie (piano). He played the saxophonist in many famous songs during the 1900s. Such as When I Fall in Love, Corner Pocket, Are You Havin’ Any Fun?, Salty Papa, Struttin’ Down His Broadway and Home Come You Do Me Like You Do.

Dinah Shore

Born: February 29, 1916, in Winchester, Tennessee, United States

Dinah Shore was a talented vocalist whose voice became known all over the world. She was the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s! Her popular songs include Lavender Blue, Laughin’ on the Outside, Yes, My Darling Daughter, You Keep Coming Back Like a Song, Blues in the Night and Dear Hearts and Gentle People. And if you don’t know these songs, you’ll definitely know her collaboration with Buddy Clark – Baby it’s Cold Outside.

Ken Curtis

Born: July 2, 1916, in Lamar, Colorado, United States

Ken Curtis was an American singer who specialised in Country music. He was also a very well known actor, best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the CBS western television series Gunsmoke. His most famous songs include Ode To A Mule, What Makes A Man To Wander, Serenade Of The Cowboy, Six Shiny Black Horses, You’ll Live To See The Day and This Aint The Same Old Range.

John L. Nelson

Born: June 29, 1916, in Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States

John L. Nelson was an American jazz musician and songwriter! He was also known for his stage name, Prince Rogers. He wrote and produced many songs. And he was the father of the only and only super-star Prince! Which is what he’s most known for in history today. Some songs he produced include Don’t Play With Love, Runnin Through My Mind, Lucky Am I, Heart of Mine, Step Back and Christopher Tracy’s Parade.

M. S. Subbulakshmi

Born: September 16, 1916, in Madurai, India

M. S. Subbulakshmi was an Indian Classical Singer who was also known as ‘M.S, Queen of Music’ for her incredible voice and song releases. These include Oli Padaitha Kanninai, Kandu Kandu, Varuga Varugave, Maala Pozhuthinile, Jagadodharana, Bhavayami Ragamalika Rupakam Swati Tirunal and Suprabhatam. She won many awards throughout her career, including Bharat Ratna, Ramon Magsaysay Award, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Ray Ellington

Born: March 17, 1916, in Kennington, London, United Kingdom

Ray Ellington was an English singer, drummer and bandleader. He leads The Ray Ellington Quartet Musical Group into success, they were even nominated for NME Award For Small Band. The members included Ray Ellington, Dick Katz, Coleridge Goode and Lauderic Caton. His most famous songs include The Three Bears, Jump Over, Left Hand Boogie, The Madison, The Green Doctor, All’s Going Well, If You Can’t Say Something Nice and She’s a Home Girl.

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The U.S. acquires Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands were previously named ”Santa Úrsula y las Once Mil Vírgenes” Christopher Columbus in 1493. The U.S bought the islands off Denmark for $25 million and decided to call them the ”Virgin Islands” for short. Around 50 islands make up the Virgin Islands! Many were uninhibited for a long time, now only 16 are left uninhabited. The main and largest islands include Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.

Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to be elected for U.S. congress

Jeannette Rankin was born in Missoula County, Montana, United States and was the first-ever woman to be elected to the U.S congress! She was a well-known women’s rights advocate and American politician. This was a huge step in the right direction for equal rights for women in the United States! Since she was elected, the U.S saw a slow increase in the number of women members in the House of Representatives.

Louis Brandeis appointed to Supreme Court

Louis Dembitz Brandeis was born in Louisville, Kentucky in a strict Jewish family. He was not only a successful American lawyer but also an associate on the Supreme court. Brandeis worked hard to defend individual freedom and stood up for his beliefs. It was a huge breakthrough towards equality when he was appointed to the Supreme court in 1916. Due to the fact that he was labelled as a radical reformer and also subjected to anti-Semitism.

Adamson Railway Labor Act

Congress implemented the Adamson Railway Labor Act on September 2nd, 1916. This new law stated that a standard full day of work should consist of 8 hours. This was first created for railway workers but quickly became law for all industries. Also, any hours over these 8 were considered ”overtime” and workers should be paid more for these hours. It was a huge movement in the rights of workers.

Federal Farm Loan Act

The Federal Farm Loan Act became effective on July 17th, 1916. It was created with the purpose of giving more support to small farmers and ranchers. This act was to make it easier for farmers to take out small loans, credit and free enterprise. Woodrow Wilson signed this law with the vision of giving farmers more flexibility and a fair chance in the growing competitiveness in farming.

Germany agreed to limit Submarine warfare

Germany agreed to limit submarine warfare on May the 4th, 1916. Why? the U.S President Woodrow Wilson demanded them to. In fears of getting on the wrong side of the U.S, the German government agreed. This demand took place after the Germans mistakingly attacked a French passenger steamer in the English channel killing 50 people and injuring many. Amongst those on board were many Americans.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration started in 1916 and lasted until the 1970s. It involved the movement of 6 million African Americans from the rural Southern United States to urban Northeast, Midwest and West. The South saw a huge 40% decrease in blacks overall population during this migration.

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