February 7

Gay Talese

Gay Talese (born February 7, 1932) U.S. journalist, novelist

Read the biography of Gay Talese here

An excerpt of an article by Gay Talese, "Frank Sinatra has a cold"

Sinatra was ill. He was the victim of an ailment so common that most people would consider it trivial. But when it gets to Sinatra it can plunge him into a state of anguish, deep depression, panic, even rage. Frank Sinatra had a cold.
Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint, Ferrari without fuel -- only worse. For the common cold robs Sinatra of that uninsurable jewel, his voice ...

Watch Gay Talese talk 'background'on his reportage here


Dee Rees

Dee Rees (Diandrea Rees) (born February 7, 1977) U.S. film director and screenwriter - The Last Thing He Wanted (2020)

Dee Rees talks about how she got into making films in this 2011 interview

Listen to "Sundance Interview: Dee Rees on The Last Thing He Wanted" here


Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (born February 7, 1812) British novelist, journalist, short story writer – Bleak House

Read about the dark side of Charles Dickens

Illustration by John Leech from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, showing Scrooge and Marley's ghost.

John Leech illustration from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Illustration by George Cruikshank from Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, showing Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Corney.



Eubie Blake

Eubie (James Hubert) Blake (born February 7, 1883) U.S. jazz composer, lyricist - Shuffle Along (Broadway Musical, 1921)

Read about Eubie Blake here

Watch Eubie Blake perform Charleston Rag and more of his ragtime jazz compositions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21SMdsr-i78