November 6, 2021 - National Saxophone Day | National Bison Day

Welcome to November 6, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate smooth solos and our national beast. The song “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty is instantly recognizable and it’s all thanks to the epic saxophone solo. This classic is a pretty good rock song, but could easily have been forgotten if not for that sax riff. Rafael Ravenscroft, who played the solo, was paid only about $36 for his work. He came up with the music on the spot and afterwards hated his performance, which he thought was off-key. Clearly no one else agreed. But don’t feel too bad for Mr. Ravenscroft. He went on to perform with Pink Floyd, ABBA, and even Daft Punk. It’s National Saxophone Day, when we celebrate the birthday of Adolfe Sax, the inventor of the instrument that gave so many pop songs smooth, memorable vibes. The majestic bison can weigh in at nearly 2000 pounds making it the largest land mammal in North America. According to Native American legend, there was a great famine long ago and the chief of the Lakota tribe sent out scouts to hunt for food. They encountered the White Bison Calf Woman, who taught them religious rituals and told them that when she returned, harmony would be restored to the world. As she left, herds of bison surrounded the camps and the animal became an important part of tribal culture. Though the bison was nearly extinct by the late 1800s, today it can be found in all 50 states. In 2016, it was declared America’s National Mammal and on National Bison Day we celebrate this essential part of our Nation's history. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices