What Happened This Year 1924

Born in 1924

Rita Reys

Jazz singer and renowned performer
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
July 28th, 2013 11 years ago — 89 years old

A prominent jazz singer, gained recognition for vocal performances across numerous genres, particularly in jazz. Released multiple albums throughout career, showcasing unique interpretation of jazz standards. Performed at international festivals and collaborated with notable musicians, contributing to the jazz scene. Achieved significant acclaim, including winning the prestigious Edison Award.

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Erik Balling

Danish director, producer, screenwriter
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
November 19th, 2005 19 years ago — 81 years old

Directed and produced numerous films and television series in Denmark. Contributed significantly to the Danish film industry from the 1950s to the early 2000s. Created the popular television series 'Matador', which became a cultural phenomenon. Worked on various productions that showcased Danish storytelling and garnered both national and international acclaim.

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Norman Alden

American Actor in film and television
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
July 27th, 2012 12 years ago — 88 years old

An accomplished actor active from the 1950s through the 2000s, contributed to both television and film. Worked extensively in voice acting, lending talent to animated series and films. Featured in significant roles across various platforms, including guest appearances on popular television shows. Made notable contributions to the cinema as well, including appearances in films that achieved cult status.

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Max van der Stoel

Dutch politician and Minister of State
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
April 23rd, 2011 13 years ago — 87 years old

Focusing on human rights and international relations, served as a member of the Dutch parliament and later as Minister of State. Played a significant role in the development of Dutch foreign policy and was involved in various international organizations. Contributed to peace processes in the Balkans and served as the Special Representative for the former Yugoslavia. His work emphasized diplomatic efforts for human rights advocacy throughout Europe.

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John Backus

Computer Scientist, Designed Fortran
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
March 17th, 2007 18 years ago — 83 years old

A mathematician and computer scientist contributed significantly to computer programming. Developed Fortran, the first high-level programming language, which was widely adopted for scientific and engineering applications. Led a team at IBM that created the language, revolutionizing how developers wrote code. Worked on various other projects including functional programming concepts, impacting the evolution of programming languages.

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Mohammed Rafi

Indian playback singer with timeless songs
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
July 31st, 1980 44 years ago — 56 years old

A prominent playback singer in Indian cinema, contributed to over 5,000 songs in multiple languages including Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. Gained recognition for exceptional vocal range and ability to convey emotion through music. Collaborated with renowned composers and artists, becoming a staple voice in films from the 1940s to the 1970s. Received the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1968 and was honored with the Padma Shri in 1967 for contributions to the arts. His songs remain popular in Indian film music.

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Antonio Maccanico

Italian banker and politician
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
April 23rd, 2013 11 years ago — 89 years old

A prominent Italian figure in banking and politics, held influential positions throughout a significant career. Served as the Minister for Public Administration and Innovation and as the Minister of Treasury during the 1990s. Was involved in the establishment of the fiscal and regulatory framework of Italy during the transition to the Euro. Contributed to various legislative initiatives aimed at economic reform and modernization of public services.

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Ivan Minatti

Slovene poet and translator
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
June 9th, 2012 12 years ago — 88 years old

A Slovene poet and translator contributed significantly to Slovene literature. Published several collections of poetry and translated works from various languages into Slovene, enriching the literary landscape. Worked to promote Slovene language and literature through public readings and literary events. Garnered recognition within literary circles and received several awards for contributions to poetry and translation.

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Francisco Sionil Jose

Philippine novelist and literary figure
Born
1924 101 years ago
Died
January 6th, 2022 3 years ago — 98 years old

A prolific Philippine novelist and essayist, contributions centered around social justice and national identity. Wrote the Rosales Saga, a five-novel series exploring the life and struggles of Filipinos throughout history. Worked as a journalist and editor, advocating for literature and education in the Philippines. Received numerous awards for literary achievements and was recognized for efforts in promoting Filipino literature both locally and internationally.

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