Sr. Elton John takes his “Greatest Hits” to #1 - This Day in History – Nov 30th

Back in 1974, Reginald Dwight who is known to the music world as (and legally changed his name to) Elton John scored a 10-week rise on top of Billboard 200 pop chart with his “Greatest Hits” album.

Mr. John is well known for songs such as: 

• Your Song
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 
• Rocket Man
• Benny and the Jets
• Daniel

According to history.com, “Over the subsequent decades of his phenomenal career, Elton John would release two further volumes of greatest hits, sell tens of millions of albums worldwide and establish an American chart record that may never be equaled by placing at least one hit on the Billboard Top 40 in each of 30 consecutive years from 1970 through 1999.”

Future writer and humorist, Mark Twain is born

Back in 1835, Florida, MO, Samuel Clemens who would later take the name of Mark Twain was born on this day.  Clemens started off his writing career doing a series of comic travel letters and would later become a steamboat captain and a steamboat pilot.  After two years on the water Mr. Clemens gained his famous “Mark Twain,” name. 

According to history.com, “Clemens piloted boats for two years, until the Civil War halted steamboat traffic. During his time as a pilot, he picked up the term "Mark Twain," a boatman's call noting that the river was only two fathoms deep, the minimum depth for safe navigation. When Clemens returned to writing in 1861, working for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, he wrote a humorous travel letter signed by "Mark Twain" and continued to use the pseudonym for nearly 50 years.”

Mr. Twain would later write the following legendary novels:

• Tom Sawyer
• Life on the Mississippi
• Huckleberry Finn
• Pudd'Nhead Wilson

Mr. Twain would later move to Italy with his family in 1903.  He would later become a sad and bitter man after the death of his spouse Olivia, which reflected in his writing's dark humor.  Mr. Twain died at the age of 74 in 1910.

Jeopardy contestant Ken Jennings sets winnings record

Back in 2004, a 74 game winning streak and $2.5 million earning would make Jeopardy Ken Jennings not only a household name but also included in Barbara Walter’s list of the 10 most fascinating people of the year.

Mr. Jennings who grew up watching Jeopardy in Seattle, WA, is a 2000 graduate from Brigham Young University who participated in his school’s national quiz bowl team.

According to history.com, “Propelled by his Jeopardy! fame, Jennings went on to become a pitchman for various products and write several books.  At the time of Jennings' appearance, Jeopardy! was well-established as one of the top-rated game shows in American history.”

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-refuses-to-rule-out-atomic-weapons?catId=9