Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Aug. 11: On this date: In 1711, the first running at Britain's famous Ascot horse track was held.

Today in Music History for Aug. 11: In 1943, Jim Kale, the original bass guitarist with "The Guess Who," was born. He was also a member of "The Guess Who's" forerunner, "Chad Allan and the Expressions," a group formed in Winnipeg in the early 1960s.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 10: Hockey writer/former commentator Brian McFarlane is 93. Country singer Jonie Mosby is 84. Quebec singer-songwriter Louise Forestier is 81. Actor James Reynolds ("Days of Our Lives") is 78.

Today in History for Aug. 10: On this date: In 258, St. Lawrence was martyred in Rome. Traditional accounts say that he was slowly roasted on a gridiron. (Modern historians have disputed the account's likelihood.

Today in Music History for Aug. 10: In 1909, Leo Fender, the man who perfected the electric guitar, was born in Buena Park, Calif. His company manufactured the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar in 1948.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 15: Actor Jim Dale is 89. Actress Pat Priest ("The Munsters") is 88. Nesbert (Stix) Hooper, drummer with The Crusaders is 86. Drummer Pete York of The Spencer Davis Group is 82. Author-journalist Linda Ellerbee is 80.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 13: '50s and '60s R&B organist Dave "Baby" Cortez is 86. Actor Kevin Tighe ("Emergency," ''Murder One") is 80. Actress Gretchen Corbett ("The Rockford Files") is 79. Former U.S.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 16: Actress Ann Blyth is 96. Actor Gary Clarke ("Hondo," ''The Virginian") is 91. Actress Julie Newmar is 91. Actor John Standing is 90. '60s pop singer and actress Ketty Lester is 90. Actress Anita Gillette is 89.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 11: Mike Hugg, drummer with British group Manfred Mann, is 82. Songwriter Kenny Gamble of Gamble and Huff is 81. Bassist Jim Kale of the Guess Who is 81. Country singer John Conlee is 78.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 17: Actor Robert De Niro is 81. Movie director Martha Coolidge is 78. Guitarist Gary Talley of The Box Tops is 77. Actor/screenwriter/producer Julian Fellowes is 75. Actor Robert Joy ("CSI: NY") is 73.