American singer-songwriter and poet (died 1971)

Jim Morrison

James Douglas Morrison was an American singer-songwriter and poet who was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band the Doors. Due to his charismatic persona, poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, and unpredictable performances, along with the dramatic circumstances surrounding his life and early death, Morrison is regarded by music critics and fans as one of the most influential frontmen in rock history. Since his death, his fame has endured as one of popular culture's top rebellious and oft-displayed icons, representing the generation gap and youth counterculture.

Born

1943

December 8

Died

1971

Era

1940s

Country

—

About

Jim, in brief

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Life timeline

Key dates

1943 Born
1971 Died

Also on December 8

What else happened on this day, through history

395 Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope.
757 The poet Du Fu returns to Chang'an as a member of Emperor Xuanzong's court, after having escaped the city during the An Lushan Rebellion.
877 Louis the Stammerer (son of Charles the Bald) is crowned king of the West Frankish Kingdom at Compiègne.
1504 Ahmad ibn Abi Jum'ah writes his Oran fatwa, arguing for the relaxation of Islamic law requirements for the forcibly converted Muslims in Spain.

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The world in 1943

When Jim arrived

april 13 World War II: The discovery of mass graves of Polish prisoners of war killed by Soviet forces in the Katyń Forest Massacre is announced, causing a diplomatic rift between the Polish government-in-exile in London and the Soviet Union, which denies responsibility.
april 13 The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., on the 200th anniversary of President Thomas Jefferson's birth.
april 16 Albert Hofmann accidentally discovers the hallucinogenic effects of the research drug LSD. He intentionally takes the drug three days later on April 19.
april 18 World War II: Operation Vengeance, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is killed when his aircraft is shot down by U.S. fighters over Bougainville Island.

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Same-day contemporaries

Also born on December 8

Charles III 1818–1375 Prince of Monaco (died 1889) Aaron Allston 1960–2014 American game designer and author (died 2014) Ann Coulter 1961– American political commentator and author Antonio de Benavides 1678–1762 colonial governor of Florida (died 1762) Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson 1832–1910 Norwegian-French author, poet, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1832) Chigusa Nagayo 1964– Japanese wrestler Eli Whitney 1765–1825 American engineer, invented the cotton gin (died 1825) Georges Méliès 1861–1938 French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (died 1938) Harold Hongju Koh 1954– American lawyer, academic, and politician

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Same-year contemporaries

Also born in 1943

Albano Carrisi 1943– Italian singer, actor, and winemaker Blythe Danner 1943– American actress Burt Rutan 1943– American engineer and pilot Davey Johnson 1943– American baseball player and manager (died 2025) Eddie Low 1943–2024 New Zealand country singer and musician (died 2024) Emerson Boozer 1943– American football player and sportscaster Florence Ballard 1943–1976 American singer (born 1943) Gamini Lokuge 1943– Sri Lankan politician (died 2025) Gary Wright 1943– American singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer (died 2023)

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More to explore

Jim's birthday December 8 Jim's zodiac Sagittarius When Jim arrived 1943