The ball player and the band

Q: In the 1990s, a professional basketball player had the nickname Pearl Jam. This was also the decade of the incredible rock band of the same name. Was there an association between the NBA player and the group? ‘ W.T., Temple Hills, Md. A: This is a bit of an involved answer. Daron Oshay ‘Mookie’ Blaylock (1967-), a highly rated player out of the University of Oklahoma, was the 12th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, going to the New Jersey Nets. In October 1990, a rock band first performed in Seattle, Wash. ‘ named Mookie Blaylock, after the ballplayer. The band soon signed a recording contract, but there were concerns about trademark issues, so the band members changed their name to Pearl Jam. In mid-1991, the group released its first album, titled ‘Ten’ ‘ a reference to Blaylock’s jersey number. Q: On a long list of historic places in Virginia, also called the ‘Birthplace of American Presidents,’ is the home of James and Dolley Madison. Madison, of course, was the fourth president of the United States, as well as the Father of the Constitution and the architect of the Bill of Rights. The couple lived on an estate named Montpelier. Was the estate named after the capital of Vermont? ‘ B.H., Reseda, Calif. A: No, it was not. I’ll get to that in a second. Originally called ‘Mount Pleasant,’ the estate was created in 1723 when Ambrose Madison, President Madison’s grandfather, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Chew, received 4,675 acres of land in Virginia. The name Mount Pleasant had disappeared by the 1750s, when the plantation became known as ‘Home House.’ By 1780, it was called ‘Montpelier’ (though James Madison preferred the French spelling, ‘Montpellier’). Why Montpelier? No one knows. It could be named after Montpellier, France, a famous resort town known for its healthy lifestyle. Q: When did the first TGI Friday’s open? Where? I have a menu that I got in California many years ago. It’s a black-and-white binder, and everything is handwritten. It’s dated 1976. ‘ A.M.S., Woburn, Mass. A: The Friday’s restaurant chain first opened in 1965 in New York City. Q: I was only a kid when the Big Bopper had a giant hit with the song ‘Chantilly Lace’ in 1958. What was his real name? What the heck is Chantilly lace anyway? ‘ M.Z., Roseburg, Ore. A: The Big Bopper’s real name was Jiles Perry Richardson; a DJ in Beaumont, Texas, he also wrote and recorded songs. ‘Chantilly Lace’ was his biggest hit. Several of his songs were recorded by other artists and did well on the charts. Of course, the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959. Don McLean remembered the date in his hit song ‘American Pie,’ calling it ‘the day the music died.’ Chantilly lace is homemade lace made in Chantilly, France, the manufacturing of which began in the 17th century. However, the most famous Chantilly lace, made from silk in the 18th century, displays naturalistic flowers and intricate patterns. Q: Was there a real person associated with music named Muddy Waters? I hear the name from time to time and often wonder who that person is. ‘ F.L.J., Los Angeles, Calif. A: McKinley Morganfield (1913-1983), an American blues musician, is often called the ‘Father of Chicago blues.’ His unusual nickname goes back to his childhood days, when he had a penchant for playing in the mud. Q: Can you explain exactly what a ‘Hoosier’ is? ‘ B.L., Queen Creek, Ariz. A: No, I can’t. But as far as that goes, no one can. I came across dozens of suggestions as to what the name might mean, but there is no definitive answer. (Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All, c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.)