March 23: Notable Births and Deaths, with Quotes

Let’s explore notable birth and death anniversaries for March 23.

Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter (March 23, 1953–present)

“Well, surprise, surprise—I am actually shy. I still dry-heave sometimes when I go onstage. Yes, I’m scared to death. Are they going to like me?” —Chaka Khan
Sullivan, Jazmine. “Chaka Khan Tells Jazmine Sullivan Her Secrets to Longevity.” W, May 18, 2021, https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/chaka-khan-jazmine-sullivan-interview.

“I’m not style driven; I’m about comfort. It’s too much to do up there. Either you want me to walk a catwalk, or you want me to perform. Make up your mind. Because it’s one or the other.” —Chaka Khan
Sullivan, Jazmine. “Chaka Khan Tells Jazmine Sullivan Her Secrets to Longevity.” W, May 18, 2021, https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/chaka-khan-jazmine-sullivan-interview.

“Sleep is a magical place where your body can heal.” —Chaka Khan
Sullivan, Jazmine. “Chaka Khan Tells Jazmine Sullivan Her Secrets to Longevity.” W, May 18, 2021, https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/chaka-khan-jazmine-sullivan-interview.

Joe Garagiola, Sr, baseball player and announcer (February 12, 1926–March 23, 2016)

“You can call anything a sport if you want.” —Joe Garagiola
Kagan, Daryn. “Announcer Joe Garagiola Discusses Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.” CNN.com Transcripts, February 12, 2001, http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0102/12/mn.11.html.

“Baseball is a game that unfolds. It really does. And it gives you a chance to manage.” —Joe Garagiola
Conan, Neal. “Garagiola: Setbacks Aside, Baseball Still Swinging.” NPR, September 25, 2008, https://www.npr.org/transcripts/95031367.

“I remember when I was playing back when the dinosaurs were running around, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musial were fighting who was going to be the first $100,000-a-year player. My first year in the big leagues is 1946, believe it or not. We won the World Series, beat the Red Sox. My salary for the year was $2,800, and don’t tell me that that money went a long way in those days. No, no.” —Joe Garagiola
Conan, Neal. “Garagiola: Setbacks Aside, Baseball Still Swinging.” NPR, September 25, 2008, https://www.npr.org/transcripts/95031367.

Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore (September 16, 1923–March 23, 2015)

“We decided, we discovered then that however well-meaning you can get a British administrator or a British Government to be, in the last analysis a colonial government must act in accordance with the interests of the metropolitan power. If Singapore is not worth holding, or Malaysia is not worth holding, we can’t expect the British to bleed themselves to death for our freedom.” —Lee Kuan Yew
Ashbolt, Alan. “Transcript of an Interview….” National Archives of Singapore, March 24, 1965, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/lky19650317.pdf.

“The concept of Malaysia, the idea of the Borneo territories together with Singapore and the Peninsula Malaya, coming together; well, many people have talked about it.” —Lee Kuan Yew
Ashbolt, Alan. “Transcript of an Interview….” National Archives of Singapore, March 24, 1965, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/lky19650317.pdf.

“First, as a Malaysian, I would like to be able to live my own life, in my own country, build my own prosperity to the best of my people’s ability, and by myself. I don’t want to be absorbed by Indonesia, let alone domination or conquered by her.” —Lee Kuan Yew
Ashbolt, Alan. “Transcript of an Interview….” National Archives of Singapore, March 24, 1965, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/lky19650317.pdf.

Elizabeth Taylor, actor (February 27, 1932–March 23, 2011)

“The theatre is like a Polaroid photo—instant gratification.” —Elizabeth Taylor
Funke, Phyllis. “Read Elizabeth Taylor’s 1981 Interview Held in the Back of a White Rolls-Royce.” Playbill, May 7, 2020, https://www.playbill.com/article/read-playbills-interview-with-elizabeth-taylor-upon-her-broadway-debut.

“I learned very, very young that the minute you start believing your own publicity, you’re in a world of trouble. So I take the hubbub surrounding my life with a dose of salts, a big dose.” —Elizabeth Taylor
Funke, Phyllis. “Read Elizabeth Taylor’s 1981 Interview Held in the Back of a White Rolls-Royce.” Playbill, May 7, 2020, https://www.playbill.com/article/read-playbills-interview-with-elizabeth-taylor-upon-her-broadway-debut.

“I love to go back to places. It would break my heart if I thought I would never see Venice again.” —Elizabeth Taylor
Funke, Phyllis. “Read Elizabeth Taylor’s 1981 Interview Held in the Back of a White Rolls-Royce.” Playbill, May 7, 2020, https://www.playbill.com/article/read-playbills-interview-with-elizabeth-taylor-upon-her-broadway-debut.

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