Famous Washingtonians

Bill Gates

• Born: October 28,1955

• Native City: Seattle, Washington

• Founder of Microsoft

• Family: wife, Melinda; daughter, Jennifer: son, Rory

• Dropped out of Harvard University his junior year to start a small computer company and became a computer giant

•  Net worth between $60-$90 billion

• Gates bought a system called QDOS in 1980 for $50,000. Then, he changed the name to MS-DOS and sold it to IBM.   

Jimi Hendrix

• Born: November 27,1942

• Native City: Seattle, Washington

• Taught himself how to play the guitar as an adolescent

• Began playing under the stage name "Jimmy James"

• Created a band called Jimi Hendrix Experience

• Died in London of drug related causes

Bob Barker

• Born Dec. 12, 1923, in Darrington, Washington
• Started THE BOB BARKER SHOW
• Became game show host on THE PRICE IS RIGHT, in 1972
• Starred in the movie HAPPY GILMORE
• Living today

Bing Crosby

• Born in Tacoma Washington, 1904
• Popular singer and actor whose most famous song and movie is "White Christmas" "1942"
• Sang with the Rhythm Boys for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra (1926-1930)
• 1931 he went solo
• Signed a recording contract and appeared in 8 Mack Sennett movie shorts
• Adopted the name "Bing"  from a comic strip character
• Borrowed from diverse styles including Jazz
• Inspired many singers
• Began a new career as the wisecracking companion of Bob Hope in the seven "Road Pictures"
• Won the Academy Award for his role in Going My Way in 1944
• He sang The Little Drummer Boy with David Bowie
• He joined Louis Armstrong in the film High Society (1956)
• Died in 1977 of old age