Have you ever seen a name and thought, hmm, I know that person from somewhere only to find out it is the birth name for a famous person that you have seen on TV, the movies or performing a popular song.  Every morning, Monday through Friday at 7:35 am we do a “What’s Up” segment on 560 KMON AM that has celebrity birthdays as well as historical events based on the that particular day.

The following is a list of individuals that were born in January that we have honored on “What’s Up.” I thought it would be fun to compile the list and see how many of these names that you knew.  I didn’t know very many!

  • Ottis Dewey Whitman Jr. BKA Slim Whitman (1923 -2013)- Country Music Star
  • Ahmir Khalib Thompson BKA Questlove (born 1971) in the musical group The Roots, house band for the Tonight Show
  • Nathan Birnbaum BKA George Burns (1896-1996) Comedian and Actor
  • Archibald Alec Leach BKA Cary Grant (1904-1986) Actor
  • Robert James Ritchie BKA Kid Rock (born 1971) Musician
  • Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo BKA Tia Carrere (born 1967) Actress
  • Rose Hovick BKA Gypsy Rose Lee (1911-1970) American Burlesque Performer
  • Milton Hines BKA Soupy Sales (1926-2009) Comedian, Actor, Radio-Television Personality, and Jazz Aficionado
  • Robert Osbourne Denver BKA Bob Denver (1935-2005) He was Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island
  • Woodward Maurice Ritter BKA as Tex Ritter (1905-1974) Country Music Star
  • Maria Rosario Pilar Lorenza Emilia Eugenia Martinez Molina Baeza De La Osa Rasten BKA Charo (Born 1951) Singer, Comedian and Guitarist
  • Armando Christian Pérez BKA Pitbull (born 1981) Rapper
  • George Hegerman BKA Minnesota Fats (1913-1996) Entertainer in the World of Billards
  • Jeffrey Allen Townes BKA DJ Jazzy Jeff (born 1965) Disc Jockey best known for Fresh Prince of Belaire
  • Robert Stroud BKA Birdman of Alcatraz (1890-1963) Prisoner of Alzatraz
  • William Claude Dukenfield BKA W.C. Fields (1880-1946) Comedian, Actor, Juggler, Writer

How many other people are known by an alias? This is a list of just one month and only of names I recognized.  It is unfortunate that famous people need to change their name to protect their family, but I also understand why they do it.

Story written by Randy Bogden BKA Randy Bogden (born 1970)

If you have a story idea or something you want to learn more about, give Randy a call at 406-788-3003 or send me an email at randall.bogden@townsquaremedia.com

Since MAGIE has once again came and went- take a look at this  gallery of photos from the annual event:

A Look Inside Magie 23

A look inside at some of the booth and vendors making up the Magie 2023

More From 99.9 Big Sky Sports