February 21 is the birthday of French composer LÉO DELIBES (1836-1891).

A much underrated composer, Delibes is best known for his opera "Lakmé," which includes the famous Flower Duet, and the ballets "Coppélia" and SYLVIA, a marvelously tuneful work set in ancient Arcadia filled with gods, goddesses, shepherds, fauns, goats, peasants and dryads. Describing "Sylvia," Tchaikovsky said: "What charm, what elegance, what richness of melody, rhythm, harmony."

February 21 is the birthday of French composer CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844-1937).

Widor "was a French organist, composer and teacher of the late Romantic era. As a composer he is known for his ten organ symphonies, especially the toccata of his fifth organ symphony, which is frequently played as recessional music at weddings and other celebrations." (Wikipedia)

February 21 is the birthday of "The British March King," KENNETH J. ALFORD (1881-1945).

Alford is best known for THE COLONEL BOGEY MARCH, which was featured so memorably in the film THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI.

February 21 is the birthday of the great Spanish guitarist ANDRES SEGOVIA (1893-1987).

"The guitar is a small orchestra. It is polyphonic. Every string is a different color, a different voice."

"I've had three wives and three guitars. I still play the guitars."

Segovia's "contribution to the modern-romantic repertoire included not only commissions but also his own transcriptions of classical or baroque works. He is remembered for his expressive performances: his wide palette of tone, and his distinctive musical personality, phrasing and style." (Wikipedia)

February 21 is the birthday of French-American-Cuban author ANAÏS NIN (1903-1977).

"Life is truly known only to those who suffer, lose, endure adversity and stumble from defeat to defeat."

"Nin wrote journals prolifically from age eleven until her death. Her journals, many of which were published during her lifetime, detail her private thoughts and personal relationships. Her journals also describe her marriages to Hugh Parker Guiler and Rupert Pole, in addition to her numerous affairs, including those with psychoanalyst Otto Rank and writer Henry Miller, both of whom profoundly influenced Nin and her writing.

In addition to her journals, Nin wrote several novels, critical studies, essays, short stories, and volumes of erotica. Much of her work, including the collections of erotica Delta of Venus and Little Birds, was published posthumously amid renewed critical interest in her life and work. Nin spent her later life in Los Angeles, California, where she died of cervical cancer in 1977." (Wikipedia)

February 21 is the birthday of English-American poet W.H. AUDEN (1907-1973).

"A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language."

"Death is the sound of distant thunder at a picnic."

Auden's "poetry is noted for its stylistic and technical achievement, its engagement with politics, morals, love, and religion, and its variety in tone, form, and content. Some of his best known poems are about love, such as 'Funeral Blues'; on political and social themes, such as 'September 1, 1939' and 'The Shield of Achilles,' on cultural and psychological themes, such as The Age of Anxiety; and on religious themes, such as "For the Time Being" and 'Horae Canonicae.'" (Wikipedia)

February 21 is the birthday of American film director SAM PECKINPAH (1925-1984).

"There is a great streak of violence in every human being. If it is not channeled and understood, it will break out in war or in madness.:

Peckinpah's "1969 Western epic The Wild Bunch received two Academy Award nominations and was ranked No. 80 on the American Film Institute's top 100 list. His films employed a visually innovative and explicit depiction of action and violence as well as a revisionist approach to the Western genre.

Peckinpah's films deal with the conflict between values and ideals, as well as the corruption and violence in human society. His characters are often loners or losers who desire to be honorable but are forced to compromise in order to survive in a world of nihilism and brutality. He was given the nickname "Bloody Sam" owing to the violence in his films." (Wikipedia)

February 21 is the birthday of American singer, songwriter and pianist NINA SIMONE (1933-2003).

“Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.”

“Once I understood Bach’s music, I wanted to be a concert pianist. Bach made me dedicate my life to music, and it was that teacher who introduced me to his world.”

“Sometimes I sound like gravel, and sometimes I sound like coffee and cream.”

Simone "was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop. Her piano playing was strongly influenced by baroque and classical music, especially Johann Sebastian Bach, and accompanied expressive, jazz-like singing in her contralto voice." (Wikipedia)