Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Aug. 24: In 1841, cellist Henri Billet, who may well have been the first Russian musician to visit Canada, appeared at the Theatre royal in Quebec City.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 28: John Perkins of the 1950s vocal group the Crew Cuts is 93. Actor Sonny Shroyer ("The Dukes of Hazzard") is 89. Former prime minister Paul Martin is 86. Actor Ken Jenkins ("Scrubs") is 84. Actress Barbara Bach is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 27: Author Lady Antonia Fraser is 92. Actor Tommy Sands is 87. Phil Shulman, saxophonist with Gentle Giant is 87. Actress Tuesday Weld is 81. Actor G.W. Bailey ("MASH," ''The Closer") is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 30: Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is 94. Actress Elizabeth Ashley is 85. Actor-turned-politician Ben Jones ("The Dukes of Hazzard") is 83. Cartoonist Robert Crumb is 81.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 26: Singer Vic Dana is 82. Musician Moe Tucker (The Velvet Underground) is 80. Singer Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson is 78. Singer Bob Cowsill of The Cowsills is 75. Broadcast journalist Bill Whitaker is 73.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 25: Actor Tom Skerritt is 91. Author Frederick Forsyth is 86. Movie director John Badham is 85. Filmmaker Marshall Brickman is 85. Jazz bassist Michel Donato is 82. Actor Anthony Heald ("Boston Public") is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 31: Actor Jack Thompson is 84. Singer Van Morrison is 79. Violinist Itzhak Perlman is 79. Guitarist Rudolf Schenker of Scorpions is 76. Actor Richard Gere is 75.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 29: Actor Elliott Gould is 86. Singer-songwriter Tom Northcott is 81. Chris Copping, bass guitarist and organist with Procul Harum, is 79. Actress Deborah Van Valkenburgh ("Too Close For Comfort") is 72.

Today in Music History for Sept. 7: In 1926, Canadian jazz saxophonist Nick Ayoub was born in Trois-Rivieres, Que. He died May 2, 1991. In 1934, Blues singer Little Milton (Campbell) was born in Iverness, Miss. He died Aug. 4, 2005.

Today in Music History for Sept. 5: In 1899, Canadian folk song collector Helen Creighton was born in Dartmouth, N.S.