# What "famous people" are you surprised other people haven't heard of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817 "2024-07-26T14:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/201 "2024-07-30T21:08:50Z")
Yeah, but the one episode that everybody remembers. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/202 "2024-07-30T21:13:24Z")
Not one particular person, but a couple. I attended a performance of “The Mikado” and later mentioned it to a student at university, in the music department no less. She did not know who Gilbert and Sullivan were. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/203 "2024-07-30T22:03:58Z")
I’m seeing quite a bit of online chatter from people who insist that J. D. Vance couldn’t possibly have been elected, etc. based on name recognition, because THEY had never heard of him, or “Hillbilly Elegy”, movie or book. Just because that’s YOUR experience doesn’t mean it’s everybody’s. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/204 "2024-07-30T22:13:48Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > She did not know who Gilbert and Sullivan were. Those are a couple of names I would expect most folk to have heard before. Especially ANYONE connected w/ a music dept. Seem like plenty of references in popular TV, when someone is going to a musical/play or something. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/205 "2024-07-30T22:18:16Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > > [@Baker](#): > > > > She did not know who Gilbert and Sullivan were. > > Those are a couple of names I would expect most folk to have heard before. I know who Gilbert and Sullivan were. However, perhaps we should make a distinction between names we recognize and names we’ve heard before. I’m very bad at remembering names. So, maybe I’ve _heard_ the name Beyonce before, but if asked now, I might say “never heard of her,” simply because I’ve forgotten. (Just an illustration. I actually do have some idea who she is) Maybe a lot of people who heard the names Gilbert and Sullivan in their lives have simply forgotten that. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/206 "2024-07-30T22:21:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > However, perhaps we should make a distinction between names we recognize and names we’ve heard before. I’m not sure I see the need for that distinction. For example, I had the Superbowl on last Feb. Probably heard the names of 50 players. No way I could tell you the backup kicker. But (if only someone would remind me who the teams were), I’m sure I would recognize the names of a couple of the stars. At least enough to say, “Football player, right?” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/207 "2024-07-30T22:25:35Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’m not sure I see the need for that distinction. You mentioned that it would be expected “most folk to have heard before” and referred to many of references in popular TV. I’m just saying that could all be true, and they could still say “never heard of them” when asked about Gilbert and Sullivan. That’s why I’ve “never heard of” many rappers, movie stars, and country music artists. It’s not literally true, as their names are everywhere, but it’s never registered enough to stick in my brain. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/208 "2024-07-30T22:34:35Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Not one particular person, but a couple. I attended a performance of “The Mikado” and later mentioned it to a student at university, in the music department no less. She did not know who Gilbert and Sullivan were. The music field is large enough that I can understand that someone could study some aspect of it quite deeply without ever learning of Gilbert & Sullivan. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/209 "2024-07-30T22:48:18Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > the backup kicker. No teams have a backup kicker. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/210 "2024-07-30T22:51:13Z")
Clarification: the punter usually is such. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/211 "2024-07-30T23:44:49Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Clarification: the punter usually is such. Along with an “emergency kicker.” Some position player who probably last kicked in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/212 "2024-07-31T02:22:01Z")
Yes, teams have an emergency kicker. No teams have a backup kicker that does nothing except wait until the #1 kicker cannot perform the kicking duties. Same with a backup punter, which also doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/213 "2024-07-31T03:32:07Z")
Ndamukong Suh was once an emergency kicker. I would have loved to have seen that in a game. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/214 "2024-07-31T16:04:37Z")
I agree… I have listened to John Prine since '75 … saw him a few times live, including his very last tour. He still had it, until he didn’t. I miss JP, a lot. John Fahey, Leo Kottke… David Lindley… there are a lot of peeps that fly low… but are great. and one of the masters is barley even know outside of is colleagues. Andre’ Segovia. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/215 "2024-07-31T19:37:05Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > John Fahey, Leo Kottke… David Lindley… there are a lot of peeps that fly low… but are great. > > and one of the masters is barley even know outside of is colleagues. Andre’ Segovia. Fahey not ringing a bell w/o looking it up. Leo Kottke had a couple of albums everyone who was “into music” had to have, but I never cared for them much. DL, likely more “anonymously famous” for the folk he played with. But he has a couple of albums which are on my short list of faves. The one I’d take exception with is Segovia. With many instruments, I expect many/most people to recognize the person generally accepted as the best/most influential. In fact, it is even somewhat common to hear folk say, “Well, they are no Segovia…” Pablo Casals, I dunno, maybe James Galway and a couple others. Certainly several classical fiddlers. Even if one has never heard them play, I think a reasonably well-informed person would be able to say, “Oh yeah. Classical musician, right? Guitar/cello/flute/violin?” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/216 "2024-07-31T19:59:50Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Pablo Casals He’s famous for sure, but the biggest “household name” cellist these days is probably Yo-Yo Ma. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/217 "2024-07-31T20:01:04Z")
Good call. Known best from Seinfeld, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/218 "2024-07-31T20:02:08Z")
And Sesame Street: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/89sFEuEuTYM/hqdefault.jpg "Classic Sesame Street - Yo Yo Ma and the Honkers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89sFEuEuTYM) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/219 "2024-08-01T05:48:22Z")
TBH, I’m surprised at who some of the people I have encountered are who had never heard of J. D. Vance. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817/220 "2024-08-03T16:01:26Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Not one particular person, but a couple. I attended a performance of “The Mikado” and later mentioned it to a student at university, in the music department no less. She did not know who Gilbert and Sullivan were. Many years ago, back at University, I mentioned liking Gilbert and Sullivan to a classmate. Her reply : Oh they played one of his songs on the radio this morning. After a bit of confusion on both sides I worked out that she was thinking of Gilbert O’Sullivan. She did not know that O’s name was an alias, and a pun, and had never heard of the originals. Speaking of which, I have heard of O’ but I wouldn’t recognize him if I saw him, and can’t name any of his songs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-people-are-you-surprised-other-people-havent-heard-of/1004817.md?page=12)