John Wayne (born Marion Robert Morrison; May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979) was an American film actor, director, and producer. An Academy Award-winner, Wayne was among the top box office draws for three decades. An enduring American icon, for several generations of Americans he epitomized rugged masculinity and is famous for his demeanor, including his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height. Wayne's career took off in 1939, with John Ford's Stagecoach making him an instant mainstream star. Wayne would go on to star in 142 pictures. In June 1999, the American Film Institute named Wayne 13th among the Greatest Male Screen Legends of All Time. (More from Wikipedia)
Country music and rockabilly artist Johnny Horton had a good streak of his own going with several "historical ballads", beginning with "The Battle of New Orleans" in 1959; the song won the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. Horton continuing the following year with two more hits, "Sink the Bismarck" and "North to Alaska" (the latter being the theme song for the John Wayne movie called North to Alaska). There is no telling how much further Horton might have been able to take this craze had it not been for his tragic death in November 1960.
(March 2013)
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More than a few British rock groups adopted band names in tribute to Buddy Holly. The Beatles in part took their insect-oriented name from that of his band the Crickets. One Manchester band of the British Invasion period simply called themselves the Hollies. Yet another British Invasion band, the Searchers took their name from the John Wayne movie of that name, The Searchers, where the Duke often said, "That'll be the day"; the catch phrase had been adopted by Buddy Holly as the name of one of his first hits, "That'll Be the Day".
Besides his long hit-making career and the requisite accolades – such as four Grammy Awards, three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards, and his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 – Glen Campbell also appeared in several major films, most famously the John Wayne movie True Grit (1969) that earned Campbell a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.
(February 2015)
