Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Aug. 21: In 1866, Civilla D. Martin, teacher and songwriter, was born in Nova Scotia. A pastor’s wife, she penned in 1904 the hymn, "Be Not Dismayed, Whate’er Betide" (a.k.a. "God Will Take Care of You"). She died in 1948.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 20: Boxing promoter Don King is 93. Jazz drummer Terry Clarke is 80. News anchor Connie Chung is 78. Trombone player Jimmy Pankow of Chicago is 77. Actor Ray Wise ("Reaper," ''Twin Peaks") is 77.

Today in History for Aug. 20: On this date: In 1691, Henry Kelsey of the Hudson's Bay Co. was the first white man to see what is now Saskatchewan. Kelsey was an explorer whose exact route into the Prairies is not known.

Today in Music History for Aug. 20: In 1920, the first commercial radio station in the United States, 8-MK in Detroit, began daily broadcasting. The station later became WWJ.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 19: Actress Debra Paget ("Love Me Tender") is 91. USTA Eastern Tennis Hall-of-Famer Renee Richards is 91. Actress Diana Muldaur ("Star Trek: The Next Generation") is 86. Actress Jill St. John is 84.

Today in History for Aug. 19: On this date: In 1099, the armies of the First Crusade defeated the Saracens at the "Battle of Ascalon," a historic Palestinian city on the Mediterranean coast, one month after they had captured Jerusalem.

Today in Music History for Aug. 19: In 1912, Jimmie Shields, one of the most popular Irish tenors in Canada during the 1930s, was born in St. Catharines, Ont. He rose to further fame in the U.S.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 18: Movie director Roman Polanski is 91. Actor Robert Redford is 88. Actor Henry G. Sanders ("Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman") is 82. Rock musician Dennis Elliott is 74. Comedian Elayne Boosler is 72.

Today in History for Aug. 18: On this date: In 1227, Mongol emperor Genghis Khan died. He became one of the most significant and successful military leaders in history.

Today in Music History for Aug. 18: In 1893, Canadian conductor and composer Sir Ernest MacMillan was born in Mimico, Ont., now part of Toronto.