Johnny Cash is a household name. Even if the music genre was not a person’s style, they would still enjoy Johnny Cash. He was a legend in his own time. Cash was born in 1932 and originally from Kingsland, Arkansas. He was famous for his black suit attire. Even though, Cash has had trouble with the law many years during his life and landed in prison. He still sung songs of hope. This brought joy to many people. Some of his more inspired works include “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire” and “A Boy Named Sue”. He died in 2003 from complications of diabetes. Cash was 71 years old.
Around 1997, Cash began experiencing health problems. He was having issues with autonomic neuropathy. This was a complication related to his diabetes. He was in and out of hospitals; this made Cash stop touring and focus on his family. His loving wife died a few months before he did. She made Cash promise to continue recording all the way to the end. Complications from diabetes have shortened the life of a number of celebrities. If Johnny Cash had not had diabetes, music lovers might have enjoyed his deep voice for a while longer.
Morgan Freeman has been admired through the ages. The native Memphis, Tennessee born actor entered the world in 1937. Freeman’s early life had its ups and downs. However, at the early age of 8 years old, he stole the show by playing the lead in a play at his school. When Freeman was 12, he won a state drama competition in Tennessee which led to his career. He has won various awards including Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild and Film Director. Other awards have been presented to Freeman, throughout the years as well. Some of his most celebrated films include “Driving Miss Daisy”, “The Shawshank Redemption” and “March of the Penguins”. The list of successful productions that he has been a part of go on and on.
Marlon Brando is one of the most renowned actors of all times. He was born in 1924 and native to Omaha, Nebraska. Brando had a turmoil childhood where he was in and out of different school. He excelled in theater and enjoyed performing. The young man has had several menial jobs and only a little family support before he became a star. Brando is famous for his work in “A Street Car Named Desire”, “Guys and Dolls”, and of course the most famous of them all, “The Godfather”. He has won several awards including an Academy Award and an Oscar. Sadly, Brando died in 2004 from pulmonary fibrosis. He was 80 years old.
Billie Jean King, formally Billie Jean Moffitt, is an American icon. She was born in 1943, native of California. She has had a successful career. King has won several titles including singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She also won the U.S Open on all four different surfaces—grass, clay, carpet and hard. However, King may be best remembered as the lady that defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes”. Riggs was one of the leading male talents in the 30s and 40s in tennis. Not only is King admired for her tennis skills, she is also an advocate in women’s rights from sports as well as in society. King was also famous for being the first athlete to admit she has had a lesbian relationship. She is 64 years old.
Arthur Ashe was the first African American to become a member of the U.S Davis Cup team. Ashe entered the world in 1943, native from Richmond, Virginia. He has had a successful career in the tennis field. Ashe began his journey at a young age. He left for Saint Louis because of the segregation of tennis in Richmond. Ache was portrayed in Sports Illustrated. He also won the U.S. Open in 1968 and 1975. In 1985 he was elected to the Tennis Hall of Fame. His life was not always about tennis, he was arrested twice for protesting for civil rights. Ache died in 1993 from 
Carol Channing was born in 1921, native from Seattle, Washington. Carol Channing was a diabetic who hid from the world her mixed heritage. Channing’s maternal grandfather had been a Nordic German, and her maternal grandmother had been an African American. Channing is a world renowned signer and actress. She began her career in New York City in a show off Broadway. Soon she moved up to Broadway shows which assisted in her acting and signing career. Some of her most famous pieces include “Hello Dolly”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Alice in Wonderland” in 1984. Channing has won 3 Tony Awards as well as a lifetime achievement award in 1995. She also has been nominated for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards.
Della Reese Patricia Early entered the world in 1931 from Detroit, Michigan. Reese is known for her jazz signing as well as her acting abilities. She began her career in entertainment by singing in Detroit. Later, after 20 performances on the Ed Sullivan Show, she began to get some TV roles. Her songs include “Time After Time”, “And That Reminds Me”, and “Don’t You Know”. Reese’s TV appearances included first African American women to guest host “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”, “The Royal Family”, as well as her most famous TV show “Touched by an Angle”. Reese is still going strong at 77 years old.
Bret Michael Sychak entered the world in 1963, native to Butler, Pennsylvania. Michaels’s career has been going strong since the 80s. His first band was called Paris which later became Poison. It was a hard rock sensation that lasted through the 80s. Some of there songs include “Nothin’ but a Good Time”, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Your Mama Don’t Dance”. Michaels has a reality TV show called, “Rock of Love”. He also has ventured into movie productions and began his own company.