Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 3: Actress Pauline Collins is 84. Singer-guitarist Al Jardine of The Beach Boys is 82. Actress Valerie Perrine is 81. George Biondo, bass guitarist with Steppenwolf, is 79.

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 4: Actress Mitzi Gaynor is 93. Actor Kenneth Kimmins ("Coach") is 83. Singer Merald "Bubba" Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips is 82. TV personality Dr. Jan Pol ("The Incredible Dr. Pol") is 82.

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 1: Attorney and law professor Alan Dershowitz is 86. Comedian-actress Lily Tomlin is 85. Actor Don Stroud is 81. Singer Archie Bell of Archie Bell and the Drells is 80. Conductor Leonard Slatkin is 80.

Today in Music History for Sept. 10: In 1819, Canadian hymnwriter Joseph Scriven was born.

Today in Music History for Sept. 9: In 1825, composer Ludwig van Beethoven made his final public appearance, two years before his death. In 1920, Canadian pianist, composer and conductor Neil Chotem was born in Saskatoon, Sask. He died Feb. 21, 2008.

Today in Music History for Sept. 14: In 1741, after working for 23 uninterrupted days, composer George Frideric Handel completed his famed "Messiah.

Today in Music History for Sept. 13: In 1925, singer-songwriter Mel Torme, nicknamed "The Velvet Fog," was born in Chicago. He was known as one of the great male jazz singers of his generation. He also composed the music for "The Christmas Song.

Today in Music History for Sept.

Today in Music History for Sept. 8: In 1897, Jimmie Rodgers, known variously as "The Singing Brakeman," "America's Blue Yodeler" and "The Father of Country Music," was born in either Meridian, Miss., or Geiger, Ala.

Today in Music History for Sept. 11: In 1850, soprano Jenny Lind, dubbed "The Swedish Nightingale," gave her first concert in the U.S., at Castle Garden in New York. Her tour was organized by showman P.T. Barnum.