Before the Fame: Part 1

Hi everyone I've been trying to get this post up for days (though it feels like a year) and I finally finished. Hope you like it!

The famous models, musicians, actresses, artists, and first ladies that have graced our world weren't always famous. There were the days before the fame when they were just themselves. Ordinary people who had to work hard like us. Some had trouble childhoods, some had glamorous ones, some had easy ones, and some had normal ones. Some worked hard for their fame, others were discovered one day with no trouble at all, and some gained fame for just being who they were. Anyway you look at it they became huge stars that people look up to, respect, love, and enjoy.

Penelope Tree: The Anglo-American model was born in 1950 and was the only child of Marietta Peabody Tree, a socialite and Democratic political activist and Ronald Tree, a bisexual journalist, investor and MP. She was first photographed when she was 13 by Diane Arbus. Her father objected to a modelling career and said he would sue if the pictures were published. In 1966 she went to the Black and White Ball and made a daring appearance in a black V-neck tunic with long slashes from the bottom, worn over black tights. She became a sensation and was described by John Lennon as, "Hot, Hot, Hot, Smart, Smart, Smart!" She started a successful modelling career and became the muse and girlfriend to photographer, David Bailey. She was photographed by Cecil Beaton and Richard Avedon. She appeared in Vogue and many other magazines. Late-onset acne ended her career in the early 1970s. She and Bailey broke up in 1974 and she moved to Sydney, Australia. She married South African rocker Ricky Fataar and had a child. They divorced and she had a relationship with Stuart McFarlane with whom she had another child with. She currently works for Lotus Outreach, a charity which works in Cambodia. Penelope Tree had beautiful looks, inspired many young American women, and was part of the Sixties movement. I personally regard her as style inspiration.

Andy Warhol: Andrew Warhola Jr. born 1928 was an American painter, print maker, and filmmaker. He was a leading figure in the pop art movement and had a mass following. Before gaining worldwide fame he was a somewhat normal boy. He was the fourth child born to Andrij and Julia Warhola. In third grade her had chorea, the nervous system disease that causes involuntary movements of the extremities. He became a hypochondriac, developing a fear of hospitals and doctors. Due to often being bedridden he became an outcast at school but developed a close bond with his mother. When he was confined to his bed he drew, listened to the radio and collected pictures of movie stars around his bed. According to Warhol this became an important step in his development. In 1952 Andy Warhol had his first one-man show exhibition in New York. Two years later he had an important group exhibition. He was steadily becoming famous because of his art. In the sixties Andy started painting objects in daily life. This led to the paintings of Campbell Soup cans and Coke bottles. He soon became a famous figure in the New York art scene. The famous "Factory" was opened up in 1962. It was an art studio and a hip hangout for artsy types. The Factory produced Warhol Stars and was famous for it's wild parties. Andy made many movies here and made Edie Sedgwick a star. She became his muse and was the subject of many of his movies and art. The Factory became a hangout for many A-Listers. He designed the Sticky Fingers album for The Rolling Stones and became the manger for The Velvet Underground. On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas shot Warhol and Mario Amaya at Warhol's studio. Solanas had appeared in one of Warhol's movie before the shooting. Amaya received only minor injuries and was released from the hospital that same day. Andy however was seriously wounded by the attack and barely survived. Surgeons had to open his chest and massaged his heart to help stimulate its movement again. The shooting had a profound effect on Andy's life because he suffered physical affects for the rest of his life but also had an effect on his art. Mr. Warhol stayed quiet during the 70s and he became more entrepreneurial. He died in 1987 at the age of 58. He created such amazing and inspiring art. Andy Warhol will always be known for his creative yet kooky mind.

Jackie Kennedy: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was born July 28, 1929. She grew up in New York, splitting her time between her divorced parents. She met then-U.S. Representative John Kennedy at a dinner party organized by mutual friends in 1952. (The two were in the same social circle.) They soon began dating and in 1953 they became engaged. They married September 12, 1953, at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island. The couple had four children, two of whom survived childhood. John ran for president and narrowly beat Richard Nixon in the 1960 election. Jackie rose to fame as first lady and became one of the most popular first ladies. She threw many social parties and and began a restoration of the White House. Mrs. Kennedy also became a style icon. Her clean suits, sleeveless A-line dresses, above-the-elbow gloves, low-heel pumps, and famous pillbox hats were an overnight sensation. Her iconic look became known as the "Jackie" look. Jackie brought many changes to the White House and could have brought more but her dear husband was assassinated November 22, 1963. Jackie became deeply depressed after his death but her children brought her back on her feet. In October 20, 1968 she married Aristotle Onassis. They remained married until his death in 1975. Jackie died on May 19, 1994 from cancer. Jackie has a legacy that can never be forgotten or overshadowed by any first lady.

Paul McCartney: James Paul McCartney was born in 1942 on June 18th to James "Jim" and Mary McCartney at Walton Hospital in Liverpool, England. The "cute" Beatle started his music career when he met John Lennon and the Quarrymen when he was 15 at a church festival. He hit it off with John and the two formed a close friendship and writing partnership. The Quarrymen became The Beatles with Paul on bass and vocals, John on guitar and vocals, George Harrison on guitar, and Richard Starkey a.k.a Ringo Starr on drums. After playing clubs in Hamburg for years they were discovered by Brian Epstein. They released their first single and Beatlemania started. They became the most famous music group and helped lead a revolution. After hundreds of singles and 13 albums they broke up and went on their own. Paul had a successful solo career with the band Wings and by himself. He continues to make amazing music and is the coolest musicians ever. He has become a famous figure in the music world. Paul is a genuinely nice guy who's love is music. He is the definition of creativity and awesomeness. With songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let it Be, Hey Jude, Band On the Run, and many many more he has become a living legend. He along with Ringo are the last two surviving Beatles.

George Harrison: Born in Liverpool, England, on 25 February 1943 he developed a love for music at an early age. His mother encouraged his musical development and became a huge source of support and love in his life. He met Paul McCartney when they were still in school. Paul told John Lennon about George but John considered him to young to join but he finally did join when he was 15. The band played the clubs in Hamburg but on the first trip he was deported for being underage. He and band got back on the road though and worked hard. Brian Epstein discovered them and molded them into, "The Beatles". The "quiet" Beatle grew and developed while in the group, writing songs and giving his input. He married model Pattie Boyd and she became inspiration for many of his songs. The Beatles broke up in 1970 and George was the first Beatle to have a number one song. He became very religious after The Beatles took a trip to India in 1968 and his songs reflected his feelings. But sadly this, along with infidelities broke up his marriage with Pattie. He was saddened by this and when he met his next wife, Olivia he made sure that this time he would treat her right. After John Lennon was murdered in 1980, Harrison became scared he could be killed and somewhat withdrew from the spotlight. He still had a successful music career and was immensely creative. In 2001, November 29 he died from cancer after a four year long battle. He left behind an amazing legacy and was an all around fun, creative, and normal guy. R.I.P! We love you Georgie!

Pattie Boyd: Patricia Ann Boyd, born 1944 in Taunton, Somerset, England to to Colin and Diana Boyd. Pattie was the older sister to her sibblings Colin, Helen Mary (nicknamed Jenny by Pattie after a favorite teddy bear), and Paula. The Boyds moved to Nairobi, Kenya, from 1948 to 1953. But the Boyd marriage which was troubled since the start, broke apart and they divorced in 1952. After the divorce Pattie was shipped off to boarding school. When she came back home during a school break she found out that her mother had remarried when Diana uttered the words, "Darling, this is your new father." Pattie was stunned and couldn't believed what had happened while she was gone. The marriage of Diana and Robert Gaymer-Jones proved to be unhappy for both her parents and the children. Her new father was abusive and mean. He didn't like children and treated them like dirt. He, Pattie's mother and sister Paula set sail to England, leaving behind the rest of the children in Africa. Pattie had no idea why. Nothing was ever explained in their childhood. The three left behind siblings had to depend on each other and as a result built a family unit around themselves. The sibling family was moved to England where they were met by their new half brother, David. The couple had another child, Robert. Pattie left the house after finishing school and moved to London to work at Elizabeth Arden's as a shampoo girl. While there, a women who worked for Honey Magazine asked if she ever thought about being a model. Pattie soon entered the world of modelling and had a very successful career. In 1964 while taking part in The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night film she met George Harrison. The first words he ever said to her were, "Will you marry me?" Pattie laughed. George then asked her to go out to dinner with him but she turned him down. Pattie realized after that she had made a mistake. When she went back to her second day on set she accepted George's invitation to dinner. They started dating in 1964, and in 1966 they married. They had a very happy and loving marriage full of adventures. In 1968 The Beatles went to India and George was changed forever. He became very religious after and paid almost no attention to Pattie. Along with that and infidelities the marriage collapsed and in 1977 Pattie divorced George. Waiting in the wings was George's good friend, Eric Clapton, who had fallen in love with Pattie. They married in 1979. They had a hectic marriage because of Eric having affairs and drug and alcohol abuse. Personally I think marrying Eric was a bad move. Though they had some great and loving moments in their marriage I never liked him and he treated Pattie like dirt. They divorced in 1988 after Pattie found out he had a secret child with Lory Del Santo. Pattie was in deep depression after her failed marriages and started to receive therapy. She soon rebuilt her life and became a photographer. She opened up an photo exhibition of pictures she had taken during her life with George and Eric entitled, Through the Eye of a Muse. In 2007 she released, Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me. Pattie is my role model and gives me inspiration. I love her, her story, and style.