Herbie Hancock was born in in Chicago in 1940 and showed promise on the piano at an early age. By age 11, his classical music training had led him to perform a Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Eventually, Hancock moved to New York after leaving college, quickly making a name for himself. In 1962, he recorded his first solo record, “Takin’ Off,” which is notable for the tune “Watermelon Man.” The record also put him on the radar of fellow Illinoisan Miles Davis, who recruited Hancock for the famed trumpeter’s so-called “Second Great Quartet.”

Davis exerted a profound influence on Hancock as a composer and bandleader, and following Davis’ foray into electric instrumentation, Hancock formed Headhunters. Hancock used electric pianos and early synthesizers with Headhunters, and that group pioneered the jazz-funk genre in the early 1970s, with such songs as “Chameleon” and a reworked version of “Watermelon Man.” He continued pushing musical boundaries during the next several years, and in the early 1980s, he scored a huge hit with “Rockit,”which was heavily influenced by the burgeoning hip-hop/breakdance scene.

Today, Hancock is still an active performer, performing with artists such as, The Roots, Flying Lotus and Kanye West.

Learn more:
Read his biography from Blue Note Records, his first record label.
Hancock has an extensive discography of more than 200 releases.

John Belushi was born on January 24, 1949, in Chicago.

Belushi, one of four children, was raised in Wheaton and attended Wheaton Central High School. Taking to acting early, Belushi started his own comedy group in 1971 and was promptly asked to join the cast at The Second City. It was here that he would meet fellow “Blues Brothers” actor Dan Akroyd. After his work in “National Lampoon Lemmings,” Belushi and his girlfriend Judith Jacklin moved to New York to work for “National Lampoon” magazine, and the couple married in December of 1976.

In 1975, he became a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” where he would eventually create characters like Samurai Futaba and the Blues Brothers. During his tenure with the show, Belushi developed a bad drug and alcohol addiction that affected his ability to perform, and caused him to be fired numerous times. In 1978, Belushi made the film Animal House where he played John Blutarsky, a drunken degenerate fraternity brother.

Eventually he left “Saturday Night Live” in 1981 to pursue a film career, and he created four movies of which three (“1941,” “Neighbors” and “The Blues Brothers”) co-starred fellow SNL-alum Dan Akroyd. Following these films, Belushi starred in the romantic comedy “Continental Divide” and pursued multiple other film projects. However, on March 5, 1982 John Belushi was found dead in his hotel room in Hollywood, California after overdosing on drugs the night before. Belushi was 33 years old.

Learn more:
John Belushi's IMDb profile
Soul Men: The Making of The Blues Brothers (Vanity Fair)

On this day in 1818, Illinois achieved full statehood, becoming the 21st state in the Union. At the time, Illinois was full of vast prairies and contained only around 35,000 people, most of whom lived in Southern Illinois.

Many of the first settlers to Illinois came from Kentucky and Tennessee. Familiar with forested areas, the new settlers did not believe Illinois’ prairies were good for cultivation. The advent of new farming tools encouraged growth to the north, and within just ten years, Illinois’ population would reach more than 150,000.

Illinois would continue attracting settlers for decades to come. As the state’s economy shifted from agrarian to manufacturing in the early 20th century, immigrants from all over the world came to Illinois to work in the ever-expanding manufacturing facilities across the state.

Today, Illinois’ economy continues its transition from traditional manufacturing-based to service-oriented industries. Boasting a population of nearly 13 million residents, Illinois continues to grow and be a worldwide destination for international immigrants and investment.

Learn more:
Illinois becomes the 21st state (The History Channel)

Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade grew up in Illinois. Before winning two National Basketball Association Championships, Wade played basketball at Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, a suburb of Chicago.

Wade played for the University of Marquette for two seasons before being drafted fifth by the Miami Heat in the 2003 NBA Draft. In 2006, he was named NBA Finals MVP after securing his first NBA Championship. Six years later, Wade obtained his second NBA Championship after teaming up with Lebron James and Chris Bosh in 2010.

Although Wade is prominently known for his success on the court, he has also become involved in the community through the Wade’s World Foundation which he established in 2004. Through his foundation, Wade helps out a number of communities throughout the country.

Learn more:
The official Dwyane Wade website

The idea of creating a formal national Thanksgiving Day holiday originated with Illinois born President Abraham Lincoln?
 
In an 1863 proclamation – amid the still-raging Civil War – Lincoln designated Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
 
"He was always looking for ways to unify the nation in a terrible time of war," said Lincoln biographer Ronald C. White Jr.

Learn more:
Official Thanksgiving Holiday - USA Today
Thanksgiving in the United States