Great Regulars: Gary Edward Keillor was born on August 7, 1942,

in Anoka, Minnesota, the third child of six. Since his parents belonged to the Plymouth Brethren, a fundamentalist Christian sect, Keillor and his siblings didn't listen to music, see movies or go to dances.

As a teenager, he was very shy but enjoyed writing. He changed his name to Garrison, thinking it would sound more literary to the magazines where he sent his poems. As a student at the University of Minnesota he edited a literary magazine and worked as a radio announcer. In his late 20s, Keillor would wander secluded Minnesota towns to hear conversations in local coffee shops, from which he could glean story material.

from findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: Garrison Keillor, Radio Host and Author

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