For decades, famous celebrities have graced Sesame Street and the Sesame Street audiences with guest appearances, bringing with them some wonderful singing, song, dance, comedy, encouragement, and more.

My love of Sesame Street started back in '71. Yes, way back then, almost 40 years ago. It was one of the most educational foundations available to children of every race, creed, and economic level. In fact it was one of the only children's shows period.

As some of you may know, my parents were immigrants from Greece. Language was a bit of a barrier, but they got by. Teaching me, however, was not so easy. They, themselves, were still trying to learn.

It was television that in large part got me there those early childhood years. Sesame Street was, of course a major blessing. It seems I was lucky to be born when I was. It was a new concept in educational television. I am here to say it was a most beneficial concept.

On Sesame Street, children are challenged in many different ways, on many different levels to learn the basics of language, math, geography, social, emotional, and environmental issues. It does so with routine, and with wonderful surprises mixed in.

As I was researching for my latest series, I came across memory after memory of... Sesame Street. One thing many of my favorite famous comediennes had in common, was their appearance on this beloved show. In fact it was on Sesame Street that I first encountered many of the great celebrities I later came to love and admire.

Now if you think the alphabet song is a simple song, that can only be said or sung one way, think again. The great celebrities that took their time out to grace Sesame Street, also graced us wih wonderful renditions of the alphabet. Some sang it. Some recited it. Some had fun with it. Some were very serious about it. Some had trouble with it (not really of course).

At any rate I doubt my memories of Sesame Street will ever leave me. Thought I'd bring back some memories or make some new ones for all of you, in appreciation of these beautiful people and this long loved show. Hope you all enjoy and share.

video clip url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpIhzFh0yw8

• Born January 17, 1931
• Best known for the Voice of Darth Vader (Star Wars series) and Moufasa (The Lion King)
• Career began on stage in 1950
• First film roll in Dr. Strangelove (1964) as Lt. Zogg
• Winner of two Emmy awards in 1991, one Golden Globe award in 1971, Life Achievement award in 2009, and winner of aTony Award in 1969 and 1987 consecutively.
• Made test films for Sesame Street in 1969 while it was still in testing stages. He was the first celebrity to appear on Sesame Street. Clips from the testing period were used.
• video clip url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxwrVw6Vsjw

• January 31, 1919 - October 24, 1972
• First African American Major League Baseball player to break the color line in Major League Baseball.
• Threw and batted right
• Brooklyn Dodgers 1947-1956
• This clip was filmed sometime in his last years. No readily availabe records to indicate exactly when, but when compared to James Earl Jones and others' clips, it seems it may have been taken during the testing stages of Sesame Street.
• video clip url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKSKQc9DmI4

A few small facts:

• December 1, 1940 - December 10, 2005
• Comedian
• Winner of five Grammy Awards for best comedy album, Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy 1993, one Emmy for his writing in Lily.
• Wrote for shows such as Sanford and Son, and The Flip Wilson Show in the 70's.
• He was a guest host for the first season of Saturday Night Live.
• Co-wrote Blazing Saddles.
• Was known for his profanity.
• Was in 50 films during his career
• Made own show similar to Sesame Street called Pryors Place, which was short lived.
• video clip url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJh_EUrEAZg

• Born July 12, 1937
• Still married to Camille Hanks since 1964
• 5 Children (with Camille)
• Creator and Host of Fat Albert (1970's), The Cosby Show (1980's), Little Bill (1999+)
• First black star of a dramatic television series, I Spy
• Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Has written 11 books
• video url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zOm8vhhrbw

• December 1, 1933 - January 6, 2006 (died of cancer)
• American Soul, Jazz, and Blues Singer from 1950's-2006
• Sang National Anthem at the Earnie Shavers-Muhammad Ali title fight at Madison Square Gardens. He would sing it many more times in the next 28 years.
• He recited the alphabet in a segmant of Sesame Street during its first season.
• video url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JywRNGU21a0

• Anita, Ruth, and Issa Pointer from Oakland, California.
• Debut album - The Pointer Sisters - debuted in 1973. Their first hit was off this album - Yes We Can Can.
• There were 5 sisters altogether. They started as a quarted but became a trio in 1977 when two dropped out and one joined.
• This clip was done after 1977
• Other popular songs: I'm So Excited (1982), Neutron Dance (1984), Slow Hand (1981), and Fire (1978)
• video url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfiF-JNHwHY

• Born June 30, 1917
• Singer of pop, opera, and Jazz.
• actress
• In 1933 Lena joined the chorus line of the Cotton Club, as the start of her career.
• She later went to Hollywood and had quite a film career.
• Lena also starred on television and loved her nightclub acts.
• In the '50's Lena Horne was blacklisted for her political views.
• In the '70's she played herself on shows such as Sanford and Son, The Muppet Show, and Sesame street.
• To hear Lena sing Stormy Weather, in the MGM movie of the same name, the movie which began her skyrocket to fame, go to Sunday Afternoon Classics - Lena Horne.
• video url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0TyUOJfpQo

• Born May 9, 1949
• Singer/musician of pop/ pop rock
• Had top 10 hits in 70's, 80's and 90's - 33 top 40 hits in US
• Was married to Model Christie Brinkley (1985-1994) and had one daughter. This was his second of three marriages.
• The songs "This Night" and "And So It Goes" were written about his relationship with Model/Actress Elle Macpherson.
• He appeared on Sesame Street in 1988.
• video url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YwBs7QrJDM

• Born October 28, 1944
• Began careen at the Organic Theater Company in Chicago.
• Because of his look, he was typecast as a police officer throughout his career.
• He guest starred in shows like the A-Team and later had a major role in Hill Street Blues.
• He won four Emmy's for his character Andy on NYPD Blue.
• video clip url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnHTQS5WLbM

Born May 24th 1944.

Singer-songwriter, actress. (She has been in seven movies, her first with Richard Pryor in 1979 - a documentary. Her scenes were deleted. The last movie she appeared in as of the time of this article was in 2009 entitled Mama, "I Want to Sing!"

Known for her wild hairdos.

For a funny story about Patti Labelle, read this article entitled Horror: Night of the Living LaBelle by Christopher Reilly

video url:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0hYxuDav0g

video clip url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCWkF6RpR7E

Ladysmith Black Mambazo formed by Joseph Shabalala (still the leader after all these years), in 1964 due to harmonies he heard in a series of dreams.

This choral group, made up of brothers, cousins, and close friends, had been singing together since the early 1950's.

There have been 30 people in this group at one time or other over the past 45 years (this 45 years does not include their pre Ladysmith Black Mamabzo days.

This incredibly talented male choral group (winners of 8 awards, including two Grammy's) has toured the world year after year, since 1985 when they hooked up with Paul Simon for his Graceland album and tour. (I was lucky enough to be at one of these concerts, so watching them on Sesame Street was a special treat for me.)

Paul Simon was born on October 13, 1941.

Well known amongst the older crown as the glory of Simon and Garfunkel; known for such songs as Mrs. Robinson; Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme; The 59th Street Bridge Song, and Kodachrome.

After the breakup, Paul Simon went his own way and was a great hit, with songs that are still favorites, like ; Call Me Al.

He came across Ladysmith Black Mambazo while looking for musicians for his next album, Graceland, released in May of 1986.

He is a member of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

*all videos courtesy YouTube

*all alphabet graphics by Frieda Babbley c 2009

THIS ARTICLE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTERS: F, B, AND BY THE NUMBER: 1