Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Feb. 17: In 1904, Puccini's opera ``Madame Butterfly'' made its premiere at La Scala in Milan. It was booed off the stage. In 1936, bluegrass pioneers Bill and Charlie Monroe made their first recordings.

Today in History for Feb. 20: In 1666, explorer Rene-Robert La Salle arrived in New France and settled at Montreal. In 1725, the earliest recorded scalps were taken in New Hampshire, when white bounty hunters killed 10 sleeping natives.

Today in Music History for Feb. 19: In 1938, Canadian blues legend Dutch Mason, known as ``prime minister of the blues,'' was born in Lunenburg, N.S.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 7: Author Gay Talese is 93. Soprano Lois McDonall is 86. Classical pianist Arthur Ozolins is 79. Comedian Robert Smigel (SNL, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) is 65. Actor James Spader is 65.

Today in Music History for Feb. 7: In 1944, the first Canadian Kiwanis Music Festival opened at the Eaton Auditorium in Toronto. There were about 7,000 competitors. One of the winners was a 10-year-old pianist -- Glenn Gould.

Today in History for Feb. 7: In 1478, Sir Thomas More, lord chancellor of England during the English Reformation, was born.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 6: Actress Mamie Van Doren is 94. Actor Mike Farrell is 86. Former NBC news anchorman Tom Brokaw is 85. Singer Fabian is 82. Actor Michael Tucker (``L.A. Law'') is 80. Producer-director-writer Jim Sheridan is 76.

Today in History for Feb. 6: In 1519, Sir Walter Raleigh left England to explore South America. In 1721, Christian Heinecker was born. At age 10 months, Heinecker was reported to have been capable of repeating every word said to him.

Today in Music History for Feb. 6: In 1945, Bob Marley, the first superstar of reggae music, was born in Rhoden Hall, Jamaica.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 5: Hockey commentator Don Cherry is 91. Tony-winning playwright John Guare is 87. Financial writer Jane Bryant Quinn is 86. Actor David Selby (``Dark Shadows,'' ''Falcon Crest``) is 84.