35.2064° N, 90.0889° W

MEMPHIS

Most Famous People Born in Memphis, United States

Notable people
950
Peak decade
1940s
Median birth year
1953
Most distinctive
Rapper 16.4×

The 7.4× songwriter over-index is Stax and Sun Studio in one number — the city where Aretha Franklin was born and Elvis is buried still disproportionately manufactures the people who write American pop. The 16.4× rapper multiplier is a newer chapter, Three 6 Mafia and a generation of Memphis horror-rap running through the same neighborhoods that taught Morgan Freeman his accent.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Memphis during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1940s with 127 notable births.

What Memphis Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Football is Memphis's biggest profession — 15% of all notables (140).

Memphis over-indexes on rapper16.4× the global rate.

Memphis under-produces politician — only 0.6× the global rate.

  1. Football140
  2. Basket91
  3. Actor69
  4. Singer68
  5. Politician67
  6. Music61
  7. Baseball57
  8. Lawyer25
  1. Rapper1716.4×
  2. Basket917.6×
  3. Songwriter137.4×
  4. Baseball575.3×
  5. Music614.5×
  6. Pianist114.3×
  7. Singer683.5×
  8. Lawyer251.5×
  1. Politician670.6×
  2. Writer200.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Memphis's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

1700175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Music
  • Film & TV
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Other
All950
Sort By

950 notable people

0301 MUSIC

Bruce Crump

1957 - 2015

Preview
0302 RAPPER

Indo G

Born 1973

Preview
0303 BUSINESS

E. Hunter Harrison

1944 - 2017

Preview
0304 POLITICIAN

Thomas B. Turley

1845 - 1910

Preview
0305 SINGER

Booker T. Laury

1914 - 1995

Preview
0306 SINGER

Edmund Sylvers

1957 - 2004

Preview
0307 MUSIC

Red Saunders (musician)

1912 - 1981

Preview
0308 PLAYER

Dave Randall

Born 1967

Preview
0309 INVENTOR

Edith Mansford Fitzgerald

1877 - 1940

Preview
0310 BASKET

Latasha Byears

Born 1973

Preview
0311 COMPOSER

Mary Carr Moore

1873 - 1957

Preview
0312 POLITICIAN

W. W. Herenton

Born 1940

Preview
0313 FOOTBALL

David Johnson (running back)

Born 1991

Preview
0314 MUSIC

Jimmy Van Eaton

Born 1937

Preview
0315 BASKET

Reginald Becton

Born 1991

Preview
0316 ANTHROPOLOGIST

John Adair (anthropologist)

1913 - 1997

Preview
0317 JOURNALIST

Sarah Lacy

Born 1975

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0318 BASKET

Cory Bradford

Born 1978

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0319 FOOTBALL

Charles Bartliff

1886 - 1962

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0320 SINGER

Nervous Norvus

1912 - 1968

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0321 BASEBALL

Taylor Duncan

1953 - 2004

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0322 KEYBOARDIST

Marvell Thomas

1941 - 2017

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0323 PRIEST

J. Peter Sartain

Born 1952

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0324 BASKET

Johnathan Williams

Born 1995

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0325 RAPPER

Snootie Wild

Born 1985

Preview
0326 MUSIC

Chris Woods (musician)

1925 - 1985

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0327 BASKET

Al Henry

Born 1949

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0328 BASKET

Willie White (basketball)

Born 1962

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0329 MUSIC

Bill Cunningham (musician)

Born 1950

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0330 LAWYER

Jack Hightower

1926 - 2013

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0331 COMPOSER

Ellen Fullman

Born 1957

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0332 BASKET

McKinley Singleton

Born 1961

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0333 JUMPER

Mac Cone

Born 1952

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0334 SINGER

Paul Craft

1938 - 2014

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0335 ENGINEER

Lilia Ann Abron

Born 1945

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0336 FOOTBALL

Shon Coleman

Born 1991

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0337 HOCKEY

Jon Awe

Born 1980

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0338 MUSIC

Larry Lee (musician)

1943 - 2007

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0339 ACTOR

Sonny West (actor)

1938 - 2017

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0340 ACTOR

Stephanie Nadolny

Born 1972

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0341 BASEBALL

Tim Raines Jr.

Born 1979

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0342 WRESTLER

Charles Clapper

1875 - 1937

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0343 SINGER

Kim Yarbrough

Born 1961

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0344 RABBI

Abraham Klausner

1915 - 2007

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0345 ACTOR

Ainslie Pryor

1921 - 1958

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0346 FOOTBALL

John Jerry

Born 1986

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0347 COMPOSER

Sorrel Hays

1941 - 2020

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0348 SINGER

Kellye Cash

Born 1965

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0349 BASKET

Ed Gregory

Born 1931

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0350 MUSIC

Moses Allen (musician)

1907 - 1983

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0351 FOOTBALL

Barry Wilburn

Born 1963

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0352 LAWYER

D'Army Bailey

1941 - 2015

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0353 ACTOR

Ilunga Adell

Born 1948

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0354 POLITICIAN

James P. Walker

1851 - 1890

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0355 BASKET

David Jackson (basket-ball)

Born 1986

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0356 FOOTBALL

Dan Williams (defensive tackle)

Born 1987

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0357 BANDLEADER

Ben Branch

1924 - 1987

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0358 ACTOR

John West Sinclair

1900 - 1945

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0359 PHOTOGRAPHER

Ernest Withers

1922 - 2007

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0360 MUSIC

Bill Mobley

Born 1953

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0361 BASKET

Mike Butler (basketball)

1946 - 2018

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0362 SINGER

Dalton Rapattoni

Born 1996

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0363 FOOTBALL

Carey Talley

Born 1976

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0364 BASKET

Ashley Shields

Born 1985

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0365 ACTOR

Telisha Shaw

Born 1978

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0366 WRITER

Gwen Shamblin Lara

Born 1955

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0367 PAINTER

Alexandre Hogue

1898 - 1994

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0368 SINGER

Spencer Wiggins

Born 1942

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0369 CIVIL RIGHTS

Benjamin Hooks

1925 - 2010

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0370 BUSINESS

Jerry York (businessman)

1938 - 2010

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0371 RAPPER

MC Mack

Born 1975

Preview
0372 SINGER

Leon Sylvers III

Born 1953

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0373 GOLF

Casey Wittenberg

Born 1984

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0374 SINGER

Trenyce

Born 1980

Preview
0375 BASKET

Jimmie Hunter

Born 1977

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0376 BASKET

Rich Jones (basketball)

Born 1946

Preview
0377 MUSIC

James Alexander (musician)

Born 1949

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0378 MUSIC

Mwata Bowden

Born 1947

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0379 BASEBALL

Matt Palmer (baseball)

Born 1979

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0380 POLITICIAN

Bill Slavick

Born 1927

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0381 CHEMIST

Rodney J. Bartlett

Born 1944

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0382 BASEBALL

Vada Pinson

1938 - 1995

Preview
0383 ACTOR

Ellis Rabb

1930 - 1998

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0384 FILM

Robyn Bliley

Born 1970

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0385 WRITER

George Edward Stanley

1942 - 2011

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0386 BASKET

Steve Mitchell (basketball)

Born 1964

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0387 POLITICIAN

Robert B. Hawley

1849 - 1921

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0388 CHIEF EXECUTIVE

William Poduska

Born 1937

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0389 TELEVISION

Logan Guleff

Born 2002

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0390 JUMPER

Melanie Smith (equestrian)

Born 1949

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0391 ENGINEER

Kimberly Bryant (technologist)

Born 1967

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0392 WRITER

Bette Greene

1934 - 2020

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0393 FOOTBALL

Mike Hegman

Born 1953

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0394 ACTOR

Crawford Wilson

Born 1989

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0395 EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Hildrus Poindexter

1901 - 1987

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0396 SPRINT

Ramon Clay

Born 1975

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0397 BUSINESS

Susan Decker

Born 1962

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0398 SINGER

Allison Wolfe

Born 1969

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0399 FOOTBALL

Tommy Prothro

1920 - 1995

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0400 MUSIC

Vaneese Thomas

Born 1959

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0401 ACTOR

Valisia LeKae

Born 1979

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0402 FOOTBALL

Marlon Brown

Born 1991

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0403 HISTORIAN

Kenneth T. Jackson

Born 1939

Preview
0404 NOVELIST

Scott Sanders (novelist)

Born 1945

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0405 POLITICIAN

Charles Stewart (Texas politician)

1836 - 1895

Preview
0406 FOOTBALL

Ingle Martin

Born 1982

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0407 PIANIST

James Hurt

Born 1967

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0408 FOOTBALL

Cassius Vaughn

Born 1987

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0409 FOOTBALL

Keith Simpson (American football)

Born 1956

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0410 TRUMPET

Tiny Davis

1907 - 1994

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0411 BASKET

Andre Hollins

Born 1992

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0412 SINGER

Don Bryant (songwriter)

Born 1942

Preview
0413 ARCHITECT

Dwight H. Perkins (architect)

1867 - 1941

Preview
0414 HISTORIAN

J. H. Hexter

1910 - 1996

Preview
0415 DRUMMER

Jody Stephens

Born 1952

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0416 NOVELIST

Steve Stern

Born 1947

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0417 CHEF

Bryant Terry

Born 1974

Preview
0418 SINGER

Larkin Grimm

Born 1981

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0419 SINGER

Matt Lucas (singer)

Born 1935

Preview
0420 SCREENWRITER

Judy Freudberg

1949 - 2012

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0421 MUSIC

Evans Bradshaw

1933 - 1978

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0422 FOOTBALL

Cedrick Wilson Sr.

Born 1978

Preview
0423 SPORT

John Bramlett

1941 - 2014

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0424 SPORT

Lon McEachern

Born 1950

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0425 COMPUTER SCIENTIST

Lee Giles

-

Preview
0426 MATHEMATICIAN

Carolyn Mahoney

Born 1946

Preview
0427 WRITER

Lloyd Thaxton

1927 - 2008

Preview
0428 CONVICT

Kristin Rossum

Born 1976

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0429 SONGWRITER

Homer Banks

1941 - 2003

Preview
0430 ARTIST

Anthony Alofsin

Born 1949

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0431 ENTREPRENEUR

Pitt Hyde

Born 1942

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0432 POLITICIAN

John P. Newsome

1893 - 1961

Preview
0433 BASKET

Marvin Alexander

Born 1966

Preview
0434 FOOTBALL

Pat Jones (American football)

Born 1947

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0435 PLAYWRIGHT

Katori Hall

Born 1981

Preview
0436 MUSIC

Fred Robinson (musician)

1901 - 1984

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0437 BASKET

Toni Foster

Born 1971

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0438 JUDGE

Ronald Lee Gilman

Born 1942

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0439 FOOTBALL

Terry Greer

Born 1957

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0440 SINGER

Marcia Van Dresser

1877 - 1937

Preview
0441 WRITER

Daniel Friedman (author)

Born 1980

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0442 COMPOSER

Scott Bomar

Born 1974

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0443 FOOTBALL

Jerome Woods

Born 1973

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0444 ACTOR

Dominic Dierkes

Born 1984

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0445 FOOTBALL

Bernard Williams (gridiron football)

Born 1972

Preview
0446 BASEBALL

Joe Oliver (baseball)

Born 1965

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0447 SINGER

Little Jimmy King

1964 - 2002

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0448 BASKET

LaGerald Vick

Born 1997

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0449 BASKET

Courtney Pigram

Born 1985

Preview
0450 POLITICIAN

Ken A. Miller

Born 1966

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0451 RAPPER

iLoveMemphis

Born 1993

Preview
0452 PHOTOGRAPHER

Michael O'Brien (photographer)

Born 1950

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0453 ACTOR

John Laughlin (actor)

Born 1953

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0454 FOOTBALL

Spencer Pulley

Born 1993

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0455 EDITOR

Beverly Guy-Sheftall

Born 1946

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0456 BUSINESS

Howard Edward Butt Sr.

1895 - 1991

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0457 JOURNALIST

Ralph Wiley

1952 - 2004

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0458 PHYSICIAN

Spurgeon Neel

1919 - 2003

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0459 COACH

Marino Casem

1934 - 2020

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0460 FOOTBALL

George Wrighster

Born 1981

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0461 MURDER

Alice Mitchell

1872 - 1898

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0462 MUSIC

Johnny Williams (bassist)

1908 - 1998

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0463 SINGER

Snooky Lanson

1914 - 1990

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0464 FOOTBALL

Graig Cooper

Born 1987

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0465 MUSIC

Rozelle Claxton

1913 - 1995

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0466 JOURNALIST

John Herbers

1923 - 2017

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0467 SINGER

Mignon Dunn

Born 1931

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0468 BASKET

Mark Buford

Born 1970

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0469 FOOTBALL

Ken Hamlin

Born 1981

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0470 FOOTBALL

Daren Bates

Born 1990

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0471 ACTOR

Chuck Patterson

1945 - 2013

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0472 RAPPER

Mr. Del

Born 1978

Preview
0473 FOOTBALL

Duke Calhoun

Born 1987

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0474 SONGWRITER

Greg Cartwright

Born 1970

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0475 COMPOSER

Justin R. Durban

Born 1977

Preview
0476 ACTIVIST

Evelyn G. Lowery

1925 - 2013

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0477 SINGER

Matthew Melton

Born 1982

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0478 MUSIC

Syd Butler

Born 1972

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0479 WRITER

Sheree Thomas

Born 1972

Preview
0480 POLITICIAN

Janet Cowell

Born 1968

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0481 WRITER

Beverly Lowry

Born 1938

Preview
0482 FILM

Lynne Sachs

Born 1961

Preview
0483 SWIMMER

Samantha Roberts

Born 2000

Preview
0484 CARTOONIST

Cal Alley

1915 - 1970

Preview
0485 POLITICIAN

Lee Harris (politician)

Born 1978

Preview
0486 FOOTBALL

Bill Courtney (football coach)

Born 1968

Preview
0487 SINGER

Kris Thomas

Born 1984

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0488 ACTOR

Arthur Julian

1923 - 1995

Preview
0489 JOCKEY

George Klein (DJ)

1935 - 2019

Preview
0490 ACTOR

George Touliatos

1929 - 2017

Preview
0491 SINGER

John Roth (musician)

Born 1967

Preview
0492 BASEBALL

Phil Gagliano

1941 - 2016

Preview
0493 PIANIST

Joseph Scianni

Born 1928

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0494 SONGWRITER

Charles Hodges

Born 1947

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0495 FILM

Morgan Jon Fox

Born 1979

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0496 JUDGE

Harry W. Wellford

Born 1924

Preview
0497 LAWYER

Sylvan Gotshal

1897 - 1968

Preview
0498 FOOTBALL

Cameron Clear

Born 1993

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0499 POLITICIAN

Jim Kyle

Born 1950

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0500 ACTOR

Jason Dottley

Born 1980

Preview
0501 PUBLISHER

J. David Spurlock

Born 1959

Preview
0502 FOOTBALL

Josh Jasper

Born 1987

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0503 SOLDIER

Carlton W. Kent

Born 1957

Preview
0504 FOOTBALL

Anthony Miller (wide receiver, born 1994)

Born 1994

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0505 FOOTBALL

Donald Hawkins

Born 1992

Preview
0506 BASKET

James Wade (basketball)

Born 1975

Preview
0507 BASKET

Ronnie Robinson (basketball)

1951 - 2004

Preview
0508 PRIEST

Angelo Thomas Acerra

1925 - 1990

Preview
0509 TRANSLATOR

James A. Sanders

1927 - 2020

Preview
0510 ARCHITECT

Frank P. Gates

1895 - 1975

Preview
0511 FOOTBALL

Carlos Polk

Born 1977

Preview
0512 SAXOPHONIST

Floyd Newman

Born 1940

Preview
0513 MUSIC

Dywane Thomas Jr.

Born 1990

Preview
0514 FINANCIAL ADVISER

Harold Evensky

Born 1942

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0515 GOLF

Tom McGinnis

Born 1947

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0516 JOURNALIST

Dorothy Butler Gilliam

Born 1936

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0517 LITERARY

Arnold Weinstein (scholar)

Born 1940

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0518 BASEBALL

Walt Streuli

1935 - 2017

Preview
0519 BASKET

Sergio Kerusch

Born 1989

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0520 BASEBALL

Mike Paxton

Born 1953

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0521 RADIO

Marion Keisker

1917 - 1989

Preview
0522 POLITICIAN

Brian Kelsey

Born 1977

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0523 ARTIST

Minóy

1951 - 2010

Preview
0524 FOOTBALL

Louis Holmes (American football)

Born 1985

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0525 FOOTBALL

Darren Benson

Born 1974

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0526 ACTOR

Jeannie Wilson

Born 1947

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0527 FOOTBALL

Thomas Johnson (American football)

Born 1981

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0528 SINGER

Alicja Trout

-

Preview
0529 FOOTBALL

Michael Kraus (soccer)

Born 1984

Preview
0530 BASKET

Earvin Morris

Born 1994

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0531 BASKET

Rodney Hamilton

Born 1975

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0532 POET

Saeed Jones

Born 1985

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0533 FOOTBALL

Sam Walton (American football)

1943 - 2002

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0534 OFFICER

Nora W. Tyson

Born 1956

Preview
0535 LAWYER

Jon Phipps McCalla

Born 1947

Preview
0536 LAWYER

Teresa Wynn Roseborough

Born 1958

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0537 FOOTBALL

Will Redmond

Born 1993

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0538 BASEBALL

Ray Crone

Born 1931

Preview
0539 FOOTBALL

Gizmo Williams

Born 1962

Preview
0540 FOOTBALL

Steve White (American football)

Born 1973

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0541 SURGEON

Augustus A. White

Born 1936

Preview
0542 PHYSICIST

P. Buford Price

Born 1932

Preview
0543 POLITICIAN

Mary Flake de Flores

Born 1950

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0544 BASEBALL

Ike Brown

1942 - 2001

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0545 JOURNALIST

Stanley Waterloo

1846 - 1913

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0546 FOOTBALL

Pat Terrell

Born 1968

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0547 FOOTBALL

Andre Lott

Born 1979

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0548 LAWYER

Catherine Eagles

Born 1958

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0549 LAWYER

Kevin H. Sharp

Born 1963

Preview
0550 FOOTBALL

Lorenzo Carter (American football)

Born 1995

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0551 MUSIC

Howard Grimes

Born 1941

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0552 MUSIC

John Overton Williams

1905 - 1996

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0553 GENETICIST

Trey Ideker

Born 1972

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0554 DIPLOMAT

Margaret Scobey

Born 1949

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0555 FOOTBALL

Derrick Rodgers

Born 1971

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0556 DRUMMER

Danny Smythe

1948 - 2016

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0557 MILITAR

Clarence Adams (Korean War)

1930 - 1999

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0558 WRITER

Thomas McNamee

Born 1947

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0559 FILM

Richard Lang (réalisateur)

1939 - 1997

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0560 FOOTBALL

Paul Hofer

Born 1952

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0561 BASEBALL

Ben Johnson (outfielder)

Born 1981

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0562 MUSIC

Red Mack (musician)

1912 - 1993

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0563 SONGWRITER

Busta Jones

1951 - 1995

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0564 FOOTBALL

Rufus Mayes

1947 - 1990

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0565 FOOTBALL

Lonnie Ballentine

Born 1993

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0566 BASEBALL

Tucker Ashford

Born 1954

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0567 FOOTBALL

Tim Ryan (American football)

Born 1967

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0568 MODEL

Barbara Jo Walker

1926 - 2000

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0569 LAWYER

Charles Burson

Born 1944

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0570 POLITICIAN

James Pulliam

1863 - 1934

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0571 ACTOR

Whitney Dylan

Born 1976

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0572 LAWYER

Sheryl H. Lipman

Born 1963

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0573 BASKET

Scooter McFadgon

Born 1982

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0574 SCREENWRITER

Murray Valeriano

-

Preview
0575 PHOTOGRAPHER

Brian McCarty

Born 1974

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0576 SINGER

William Franklin (singer)

1906 - 1948

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0577 BASKET

Leron Black

Born 1995

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0578 LAWYER

D. Price Marshall Jr.

Born 1963

Preview
0579 WRITER

Mel Watkins (author)

Born 1940

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0580 FOOTBALL

John Hudson (American football)

Born 1968

Preview
0581 PRIEST

William Yancy Bell

1887 - 1962

Preview
0582 SINGER

Verna Mae Bentley-Krause

Born 1951

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0583 FOOTBALL

Cletidus Hunt

Born 1976

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0584 POLITICIAN

John Ford (Tennessee politician)

Born 1942

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0585 FOOTBALL

David Brandon (American football)

Born 1965

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0586 SINGER

Earnest Pugh

Born 1971

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0587 JUDGE

Bailey Brown

1917 - 2004

Preview
0588 FOOTBALL

Steve Moore (American football)

1960 - 1989

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0589 FOOTBALL

Dewayne Robertson

Born 1981

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0590 POLITICIAN

Lloyd Barbee

1925 - 2002

Preview
0591 OFFICER

Benedict J. Semmes Jr.

1913 - 1994

Preview
0592 MILITAR

Nathan Bedford Forrest III

1905 - 1943

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0593 BASEBALL

Chuck Smith (baseball)

Born 1969

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0594 FOOTBALL

Ross Paule

Born 1976

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0595 SINGER

Blues Boy Willie

Born 1946

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0596 DIPLOMAT

Robert McCallum Jr.

Born 1946

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0597 SPORT

Nick King (basketball)

Born 1995

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0598 ACTOR

Porsha Ferguson

Born 1989

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0599 JUDGE

Charles Clark (judge)

1925 - 2011

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0600 LAWYER

Jerome Turner

1942 - 2000

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