Most people born on February 29 learn to celebrate “odd birthdays” on February 28 or March 1. So I figured it’d be worth a quick roundup to recognize the leaplings on this specialest of days. After all, they are one in a thousand.
Musicians: Ja Rule was a leading figure in 2000s hip-hop and is still a household name today, though some of his ventures are more respectable than others; The wine label, clothing line, and streaming app? Great. The Fyre Festival and the NFT business? Less “rule,” more “fail.” Other musical luminaries with February 29 birthdays include the 19th-century composer Gioachino Antonio Rossini, Freddie Bunz, Jimmy Dorsey, Mark Foster, Dinah Shore, Dave Williams, Korede Bello, Khaled, and industry dealmaker Sir Lucian Grainge.
Inventors: John Byrom was a British poet and hymnist, best remembered as the inventor of a shorthand system that was standard in the UK for over a century. Other inventors with February 29 birthdays include Herman Hollerith, whose tabulating machine anticipated the personal computer, and Samuel Pepert, who co-created the Logo programming language.
Thespians: Rakhee Thakrar is an actress who played the shy telephone operator in Wonka, as well as having roles in TV’s Sex Education and the TV version of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Other acting figures with the birthday include Joss Ackland, Ken Foree, Joey Greco, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Peter Scanavino, Tempest Storm, Max Torina, and Jessie Usher.
Sports figures: Tyrese Haliburton is the point guard for the Pacers. Others: hockey hall-of-famer Henri Richard, Chris Conley, Eric Kendricks, and Ferrán Torres.
Mathematician: Gene H. Golub, a pioneer in mathematical analysis, created algorithms and software that made computers capable of scientific simulations. His “singular value decomposition” algorithm is the backbone of much calculation today.
Swimmers: Jessica Long is a 29-time Paralympic medalist, a swimmer with amputated legs. Cullen Jones and Lydia Jacoby are Olympians and world record holders, with Jacoby’s career just a few years old.
Social-media stars: Edward Avila is a YouTuber who focuses on (K-)beauty tips. Others who report February 29 birthdays include Amelia KidsToys&Adventures, Angry Prash, Biffa, Caspersight, Danielle Aaliyah, Dasia Temia, Deelodoitall, FlyBorg, Giovanni Rivera, Jake Bar, Jana SevenPerfectAngels, MellowMaddy ASMR, Nickolas Ray, Olivia Yang, Paladin Amber, TheTerrain, and Yana Azlee. The youngest such star is Sierra Idrees, 4 this year. However, the hazards of giving out personal info online may lead some of these stars to obscure their real birthdays, and the statistical improbability of February 29 makes it appealing to use as a “fake birthday.” So take their bios with a grain of salt.
Founders: Ann Lee was founder of the Shakers. Ronald V. Myers, Sr. was founder of several groups that promoted the holiday Juneteenth. Leonard Shoen was the founder of U-Haul. Herman Hollerith (mentioned above) founded a company that would evolve into IBM. Raenell Dawn is the founder of the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies.
Fictional figures: Superman is said to have a February 29 birthday, partly as a jokey “explanation” for why he still looks like he’s in his twenties. One of the best Superman tales, “For The Man Who Has Everything,” revolves around the special day. So does the Parks and Recreation episode “Sweet Sixteen,” so-called because semi-competent office drone Garry “Jerry” Gergich turns 64.
Leaders: Pedro Sánchez is current prime minister of Spain. Carlos Humberto Romero was preisdent of El Salvador. Pope Paul III was, uh, pope.
Tomorrow: a little fun with chords…
One important way to celebrate February 29th is to read T. Campbell's wonderful reseaech about
this slightly rare day. Thank you.
Now -- Have there been important historical events that have occurred on Feb. 29th? Curious readers want to know.