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Jimmy Cliff (born Jimmy Chambers), singer, songwriter, actor, instrumentalist, was born on this day in 1948 in Jamaica. He is a pioneer of the reggae music, Jamaica’s major export.

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Wangari Muta Maathai, the founder of the Green Belt Movement, was the first African Woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her environmental activism. She was born on this day in 1940.

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Scott Joplin was a composer, pianist, and the king of Ragtime. He died on this day in 1917 in New York City.

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On this day in 1984, a day before his 45th birthday, the great Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father, the Reverend Marvin Gaye, Sr.