Celebrity Birthdays, February 18: Dr. Dre and John Travolta

Music producer Dr. Dre and actor John Travolta are both celebrating their birthdays today, February 18.

Dr. Dre, 50

Record producer, rapper and entrepreneur Dr. Dre turns 50 today. Born Andre Romelle Young, Dre started his career as a DJ, performing in numerous night clubs and later joined the gangsta rap group N.W.A along with rappers Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. Their debut album, Straight Outta Compton, was a major success and has since been featured onto numerous "Greatest Albums" lists.

Dre started his solo career in 1992, releasing his debut album, The Chronic, which featured the hit singles "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang," "Let Me Ride," and "F**k wit Dre Day (and Everybody's Celebratin')." The album earned triple platinum status and the single "Let Me Ride" earned Dre a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

While continuing to work on his own career, Dre also served as a producer for numerous artists including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 2Pac, Mary J. Blige, Eve, Truth Hurts, 50 Cent and more. In 1999, He released his second solo album, 2001, which featured the singles "Still D.R.E." and "Forgot About Dre." He went on to win the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year in 2000.

Dre has since been working on a new album, formally titled Detox, but there is no release date set.

In July 2008, Dr. Dre released his first brand of headphones, Beats by Dr. Dre and has since released numerous variations including Beats Tour, Beats Solo and Solo HD, Beats Spin, Heartbeats by Lady Gaga and Diddy Beats. In 2014, Apple Inc. bought the brand for a reported $3 billion.

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John Travolta, 61

Actor, dancer and singer John Travolta turns 61 today. Travolta started his career on stage in New York before relocating to Los Angeles to continue his career. Travolta's first film role was in the 1976 Stephen King horror Carrie. He later earned recognition for his role as Vinnie Barbarino in the ABC series Welcome Back, Kotter. In 1976, Travolta recorded the hit single "Let Her In," which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Travolta gained international recognition for his roles as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever and Danny Zuko in Grease. His role in Saturday Night Fever earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

In 1989, Travolta starred with Kirstie Alley in Look Who's Talking and reprised his role for Look Who's Talking Too and Look Who's Talking Now. In 1994, he starred in the Quentin Tarantino hit Pulp Fiction, earning another Academy Award nomination. He went on to star in Get Shorty, Face/Off, A Civil Action, Primary Colors and The General's Daughter.

In 2007, Travolta starred in Wild Hogs and the remake of Hairspray. He provided his voice for the film Bolt and will do so again in another animated film, Gummy Bear The Movie 3D, scheduled to be released later in 2015.

Travolta is married to actress Kelly Preston, they have two children after loosing their first son, Jett, after he suffered a seizure while on vacation in The Bahamas. Travolta is also an experienced private pilot with multiple certifications.

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