Leo Kottke Innovative acoustic guitar virtuoso Leo Kottke was born September 11, 1945 in Athens, Georgia. Raised in 12 different states, he absorbed a variety of musical influences as a child, flirting with both violin and trombone before trying his hand at the guitar at age 11. With 1975's "Chewing Pine", Kottke reached the Top 50 for the first time; he also gained an international cult following thanks to his performances at folk festivals the world over. Simultaneously, Kottke cut back dramatically on his live schedule, settling comfortably into his role as a cult figure. Leon Redbone Thought to have been born in Canada, this enigmatic, gravelly voiced singer resolutely declines to divulge his origins. He was first heard of in Toronto during the early 70s, and achieved some popularity on the US television show "Saturday Night Live". Even then he maintained an air of strict privacy, so much so that the contact number he gave to the legendary jazz and rock producer John Hammond turned out to be a "Dial-A-Joke" line. With his trademark fedora, dark glasses, and Groucho Marx moustache, Redbone celebrates a pre-World War II era of ragtime, jazz, blues, and minstrel shows. Lois Nettleton Lois Nettleton has appeared in regular roles in several series and been featured in movies. She may be best recalled for her guest appearances on some top TV series, such as the station manager with the "hots" for Lou Grant on an episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS), or Dorothy's lesbian friend who falls for Rose on an episode of "The Golden Girls" (NBC). Nettleton studied at the Goodman Theatre in her native Chicago and at the Actors Studio in New York. She made her Broadway debut in 1949 in "The Biggest Thief in Town". Mickey Rooney With parents who were actors, it comes as no surprise that the young Joe Yule Jr. made his debut on the stage at the age of only 15 months. He became well known for a series of some 50 silent comedies between 1927 and 1933 in which he played Mickey McGuire, a comic-strip character. He was drafted during the war, and when he returned to Hollywood, his fame and box-office draw had significantly decreased. In 1954 he had his own TV show, "The Mickey Rooney Show" and entered the nightclubs and theatres again in the 1960s. In 1983, following 60 years as an actor, he received the 'Lifetime Achievement Oscar'. Morey Amsterdam Born in Chicago, Morey started in Vaudeville at the age of 14, as a straight man for his piano playing brother. By 1947, Amsterdam had three different daily radio shows. In 1948 he hosted his own variety show, "The Morey Amsterdam Show". Although he had spent the last four decades in show business, his fame would come with his role as Buddy Sorrell in the Carl Reiner comedy classic "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961). On that show, Morey played the wise cracking co-worker, along with Rose Marie (Sally Rogers), to Dick Van Dyke (Rob Petrie). Orson Welles His father was a well-to-do inventor, his mother a beautiful concert pianist; he was gifted in many arts as a child. When both his parents died he became the ward of Chicago's Dr. Maurice Bernstein. In 1931 he graduated from the Todd School in Woodstock, Illinois. He began working with John Housman and formed the Mercury Theatre in 1937. In 1938 they produced "The Mercury Theatre on the Air", famous for its broadcast version of "The War of the Worlds". His first film to be seen by the public was "Citizen Kane" (1941), a commercial failure regarded by many as the best film ever made. In 1975 he received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 1984 the Directors Guild of America awarded him its highest honor, the D.W. Griffith Award. Osborne Brothers Bobby Van and Sonny formed this talented bluegrass duo. In 1963 they joined the Grand Ole Opry and after changing to the Decca Records label had several country chart successes, including "Rocky Top". They toured with major stars including Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard and also played non-country venues such as nightclubs and even a concert at the White House. In the mid-70's they began recording for the new CMH label and later recorded several albums, including one with Mac Wiseman with whom they charted "Shackles And Chains" in 1979. They continued recording and performing throughout the 80s and 90s. Paul Newman PAUL NEWMAN was born on January 26, 1925 in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After moving to New York, Paul began his professional career playing small television roles and he was eventually accepted to the Actor's Studio, an acting school famous for "The Method" acting of such new stars as Brando, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. He received his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". He would go on to be nominated six more times for films such as "The Hustler", "Hud" and "Cool Hand Luke", before finally winning in 1987 for his reprisal of Fast Eddie in "The Color of Money". Shelley Berman Shelley Berman started as a straight actor, receiving his training at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. He honed his acting skills in stock companies in and around Chicago and New York. In 1957, Berman landed his first job as a comedian at Mr. Kelly's in Chicago. His comedy albums would earn him three gold records and he'd win the first Grammy for a non-musical recording. He was the first standup comedian to appear in Carnegie Hall. In 2000, he was honored at the Chicago Festival of Comedy, which featured "Shelley Berman, A Body of Work". These days Shelley headlines in Las Vegas. Tom Bosley Tom was born October 1, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois. He is probably best known for his portrayal of Howard Cunningham in the hit 70's TV series "Happy Days". Tom's breakthrough stage part was as New York's Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia in the Broadway musical "Fiorello!" winning him a Tony Award. Bosley's first feature film was "Love with a Proper Stranger", followed by parts in such movies as "The World of Henry Orient", "Yours, Mine and Ours", "Gus", "O'Hara's Wife", and appearances on many TV shows. Woody Herman Born in 1931,Woody began playing the saxophone when he was 11, and 4 years later he became a professional musician. He recorded the theme "At the Woodchopper's Ball" in 1939 and it became his first hit. By 1943 the Woody Herman Orchestra was becoming the Herd. This band was later renamed the First Herd. By 1945 Herman band had transformed into an essentially new orchestra. During this period the band was considered the most exciting new big band in jazz. Back