American Famous Names Starting with Letter W

Was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Widely regarded as one of the most

Was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Widely regarded as one of the most important jazz bandleaders of his time, Basie led his popular Count Basie Orchestra for almost 50 years. Many notable musicians came to prominence under his direction, including tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison and singers Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams. Basie's theme songs were "One O'Clock Jump" and "April In Paris".

Was a Democratic politician from New York. He served as the first United States Secretary of Commerc

Was a Democratic politician from New York. He served as the first United States Secretary of Commerce from 1913 to 1919 after the division of the Department of Commerce and Labor. Previously, Redfield served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 191

Was chief commissioner of the Canadian Wheat Board from 1958 to 1970 and then a member of the Canadi

Was chief commissioner of the Canadian Wheat Board from 1958 to 1970 and then a member of the Canadian Senate. He joined the Canadian Wheat Board in 1942 and was appointed commissioner in 1955 becoming assistant chief commissioner in 1947 and then chief commissioner in 1958. He held that position until 1970 when he was appointed to the Senate where he sat as a Liberal representing Manitoba. He retired from the upper house in 1979.

Born August 16, 1960, in Livermore, California) is a former major league baseball pitcher for the Oa

Born August 16, 1960, in Livermore, California) is a former major league baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.

Was an American astronomer, and the first director of Harvard College Observatory.In 1806, when he w

Was an American astronomer, and the first director of Harvard College Observatory.In 1806, when he was seventeen years old, Bond saw a solar eclipse. Soon thereafter, he became an avid amateur astronomer. When he built his first house, Bond made its parlor an observatory, complete with an opening in the ceiling out of which his telescope could view the sky.In 1839, Bond was allowed to move his personal astronomical equipment to Harvard and serve as its (unpaid) "Astronomical Observer to the University." Later, in 1843, a sun-grazing comet aroused enough public interest in astronomy that Harvard was able to raise $25,730 towards the construction of a state-of-the-art observatory. Bond designed the building and the observing chair (both of which are still in working order today), and Harvard bought a fifteen-inch German-built refracting telescope,

A professor of linguistics at the University of New Mexico, United States. From 1994 to 2005 he was

A professor of linguistics at the University of New Mexico, United States. From 1994 to 2005 he was successively research fellow, lecturer, reader and professor in Linguistics at the University of Manchester, UK.He is inventor of and advocate for radical construction grammar, which among other things uses box-diagrams to compare and contrast the grammatical features of different natural languages.William Croft is a member of Save-the-Redwoods League's Board of Councilors and an ancient tree aficionado.

Was a lawyer, judge, politician, and soldier from Georgia. He was elected Clerk of the Georgia House

Was a lawyer, judge, politician, and soldier from Georgia. He was elected Clerk of the Georgia House of Representatives in 1821 and served twelve years in that post. From 1828, he compiled Dawson's Digest of Laws of Georgia, published in 1831. From 1834 t

(October 21, 1909 - June 15, 1977) was a Major League Baseball player from 1934 to 1947 for the Chic

(October 21, 1909 - June 15, 1977) was a Major League Baseball player from 1934 to 1947 for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Braves.

Was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.Bryant

Was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.Bryant was born on November 3, 1794, in a log cabin near Cummington, Massachusetts; the home of his birth is today marked with a plaque. He was the second son of

(born April 24, 1958 in Waukegan, Illinois), is a former professional baseball player who played pit

(born April 24, 1958 in Waukegan, Illinois), is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1983-1995.

Is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA.A 6'11" center from Temple Univer

Is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA.A 6'11" center from Temple University, Cunningham played in 16 games for four different NBA teams from 1998 to 1999, averaging 0.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He has played for the Utah Jazz (1998), Philadelphia 76ers (1998), Toronto Raptors (1999) and New Jersey Nets (1999). He was not drafted by an NBA team but was taken in the 1996 USBL Draft.[1] He has also played professionally in Uruguay for Atletico Arenas in 2006.[2]

Is an American former professional basketball player.A 5'10" guard, Keller spent his entire basketba

Is an American former professional basketball player.A 5'10" guard, Keller spent his entire basketball career in Indiana. After being named Indiana's Mr. Basketball while at George Washington Community School, he played collegiately for the Purdue Boilermakers (1965–1969) and then professionally for the ABA's Indiana Pacers (1969–1976). Keller would become one of the most successful shooters in ABA history, making 506 three-point field goals during his seven-year career (second in league history behind only Louie Dampier's 794) while leading the lead in free throw accuracy two times (in 1973 and 1976).

Is a Canadian politician. He is a former Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. He w

Is a Canadian politician. He is a former Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. He was first elected, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, to represent the riding of Cumberland—Colchester in the 1988 election. In common with almost every other PC Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1993 election he lost his seat, in his case being defeated by Liberal candidate Dianne Brushett. In the 1997 election, he retook the seat, defeating Brushett, and represented it until April 30, 2009.

Was an American pianist and teacher.He was born in Dallas, Texas. He had a sister, Beverley, and a b

Was an American pianist and teacher.He was born in Dallas, Texas. He had a sister, Beverley, and a brother, the pianist, conductor and composer Robert Black. He studied at Oberlin College; with Rosina Lhévinne and Beveridge Webster at the Juilliard School in New York, earning a master's degree in 1976 and a doctorate in 1979; and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.[1]He gave recitals and concerts at such venues in the United States as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and in many overseas countries. He was a longtime consulting editor for Keyboard Classics/Piano Today.

Was a professional ice hockey player who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1976,

Was a professional ice hockey player who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, 1977, and 1978.During his first pro season with the American Hockey League's Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1974–1975, he played with the stability of a seasone

Is a Major League baseball center fielder for the San Diego Padres. In the 2005 Major League Basebal

Is a Major League baseball center fielder for the San Diego Padres. In the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, he was selected by the Padres in the seventh round. Venable made his Major League debut on August 29, 2008, against the Colorado Rockies. In that game, he had four at-bats, collecting his first hit.He is the son of former Major League outfielder Max Venable. He also played basketball for Princeton University, as well as San Rafael High School. He is the twenty-fifth Princeton alumnus to play in the Major Leagues, but he is the first African-American alumnus.[1] He was the second athlete to earn first-team All-Ivy League honors in both baseball and basketball.

(March 22, 1926 - October 1, 1984) was an infielder and left-handed batter who played Major League B

(March 22, 1926 - October 1, 1984) was an infielder and left-handed batter who played Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox (1947-57), Baltimore Orioles (1957), Chicago White Sox (1958-61) and Houston Colt .45's (1962).

Was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from

Was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1881 until 1885, serving as House Speaker in 1885.Bynum was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1885-M

Is an American inventor, entrepreneur, and author. He co-founded Thinking Machines Corporation, a co

Is an American inventor, entrepreneur, and author. He co-founded Thinking Machines Corporation, a company that developed the Connection Machine, a parallel supercomputer designed by Hillis at MIT. He is also co-founder of the Long Now Foundation, Applied Minds, Metaweb, and author of The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work.

A former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Washington Senators in 1932. He play

A former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Washington Senators in 1932. He played in only one game in his entire career, collecting one hit in two at-bats.

Is an African-American blues singer and harmonica player from the small cotton-growing town of Memph

Is an African-American blues singer and harmonica player from the small cotton-growing town of Memphis, the seat of Hall County in the southern Texas Panhandle located east of Amarillo. McFalls is attempting to revive the historical popularity which blues

American physicist. He is of Italian and Welsh extraction and a Methodist.

American physicist. He is of Italian and Welsh extraction and a Methodist.

Is an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild (from 1999 to 2001). He is know

Is an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild (from 1999 to 2001). He is known for his performances as John Adams in 1776, as Mr. Feeny in ABC's Boy Meets World, the voice of KITT in Knight Rider, and winning two Emmy Awards for the role of Dr. Mark Craig in St. Elsewhere.

Is a Canadian businessman and former politician. He is a member of the board of Hydro One and is cha

Is a Canadian businessman and former politician. He is a member of the board of Hydro One and is chairman of McKeough Investments and McKeough Supply, and former CEO of Union Gas.He was later a candidate in the 1971 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership convention and was Minister of Energy and then Treasurer of Ontario and Minister of Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Cabinet of Premier William Davis. He left politics in 1978 to enter the private sector and has had a number of positions, particularly in the energy sector.

Is a former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues for 3 years. He pla

Is a former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues for 3 years. He played for the Oakland Athletics in 1986 and for the San Francisco Giants from 1989–1990.In his MLB career, Bathe had 8 home runs, 29 RBIs, and had a career batting average of .213. He played for the Giants when they reached the 1989 World Series against Oakland. He also played for the Nippon Ham Fighters in 1991 and 1992.