Bizarro Files: 4 November 2009

Today is National Unity Day in Russia, Flag Day in Panama, and the Day of Love in Egypt. In Italy, today is variously Victory Day (marking the end of World War I), National Unity Day and Armed Forces Day.

Notable births on this date include American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935); news broadcasting legend Walter Cronkite (1916-2009); Barbie inventor Ruth Handler (1916-2002); actor Art Carney (1918-2003); actress Doris Roberts (born 1930); M*A*S*H TV star Loretta Swit (born 1937); musician Delbert McClinton (born 1940); and Karate Kid movie star Ralph Macchio (born 1961).

Deaths on this date include MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith (1949-1994); and American author Michael Crichton (1942-2008), who sadly sold his soul to the climate change denial camp in his final years, having apparently forgotten that line in the Hippocratic Oath about "doing no harm."

Stuff, Nonsense and No. 1 Hits:

Top singles on this day in history, kicking it old-school: "Ireland Must Be Heaven, for My Mother Came from There" by Charles Harrison (1916); "Stars Fell on Alabama" by Guy Lombardo (1934); "Only Forever" by Bing Crosby (1940); "Till the End of Time" by Perry Como (1945); "Buttons and Bows" by Dinah Shore (1948); and "Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You)" by Les Paul and Mary Ford (1953).

A 13-year-old feral child who would be dubbed "Genie" was found on this day in 1970 in Los Angeles, after having spent most of her life locked in her bedroom.

Top singles on this date in history: "Heartache Tonight" by The Eagles (1979); "'Miami Vice' Theme" by Jan Hammer (1985); "Amanda" by Boston (1986); and "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany (a Tommy James and the Shondells cover, 1987).

The Elton John single "Sacrifice" entered the UK charts 20 years ago today, his 50th hit on the UK charts. At that date (and maybe still today), only Cliff Richard and Elvis Presley had previously accomplished this feat.

The musical "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" opened on this day in 1990 at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway.

Prince and the New Power Generation topped the singles chart with "Cream" on this day in 1991.

Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, was assassinated on this day in 1995 by an Israeli right-winger for seeking peace in the Middle East.

"Lose Yourself" by Eminem topped the singles chart on this day in 2002.

Barack Obama became the first African American elected President of the United States, and the first American ELECTED president since Bill Clinton, on this day in 2008.

Sources for stuff I didn't just make up: Wikipedia, This Day in Music.com, JoshHosler.biz and This Day in Music History.