Jack Kerouac was born on March 12, 1922 (and died October 21, 1969). He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic spirituality, jazz, promiscuity, Buddhism, drugs, poverty, and travel. His writings have inspired other writers, including Ken Kesey, Bob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, Richard Brautigan, Curtis Meanor, Thomas Pynchon, Lester Bangs, Tom Robbins, Will Clarke, Ben Gibbard, Haruki Murakami, Jacquelyn Landgraf. Kerouac became an underground celebrity and, with other beats, a progenitor of the hippie movement, although he remained antagonistic toward some of its politically radical elements. In 1969, at age 47, Kerouac died from internal bleeding due to long-standing abuse of alcohol. His famous works include, On the Road, Doctor Sax, The Dharma Bums, Mexico City Blues, The Subterraneans, Desolation Angels, Visions of Cody, and Big Sur.
It’s Monday, March 12
The American Red Cross holds two blood drives tomorrow afternoon. The first will be at GravesCountyCentralElementary School from 1 to 6, and the second will be at SedaliaElementary School from 1:30 to 5:30. Donors must be healthy, at least seventeen years old, and at least 110 pounds. Schedule an appointment and find out more at redcrossblood.org.
A regular monthly meeting of the Alzheimer’s Support Group will be held tomorrow morning at 10 at the Pennyrile Area Development District Office in Hopkinsville. For more information, call James Patterson at 886-9484.
Southern Kentucky Independent Theater presents Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Our Town. Shows will be on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 PM and on Sunday afternoon at 2 in the Little Theater at TriggCountyHigh School. Purchase $5 tickets at the door or in advance at the JaniceMasonArt Museum. For more information, call the museum at 522-9056.
Learn how to financially support the programs you enjoy on WKMS by visiting wkms.org.
