Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 29: Singer-actress Melba Moore is 84. Actor Richard Dreyfuss is 77. Actress Kate Jackson is 76. Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Denis Potvin is 71. Musician Roger O'Donnell (The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs) is 69.

Today in Music History for Nov. 9: In 1895, George D. Hay, the founder of the "Grand Ole Opry," was born in Attica, Ind. While he was an announcer at WLS in Chicago, Hay helped begin the "National Barn Dance" program.

Today in Music History for Nov. 5: In 1946, singer, songwriter and guitarist Gram Parsons was born in Winter Haven, Fla.

Today in Music History for Nov. 7: In 1920, accordionist Gaby Haas, once proclaimed as "Canada's Mr. Polka," was born in Czechoslovakia. He became a Canadian citizen in 1943.

Today in Music History for Nov. 6: In 1814, Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born in Belgium. In 1854, John Philip Sousa, the king of American march music, was born in Washington, D.C.

Today in Music History for Nov. 3: In 1936, harpist Judy Loman was born in Goshen, Ind.. She moved to Toronto in 1957, and two years later became the principal harp of the Toronto Symphony orchestra.

Today in Music History for Nov. 8: In 1887, the gramophone was patented by American Thomas Edison. In 1910, "The Dubois String Quartet" gave its first performance at Windsor Hall in Montreal.

Today in Music History for Nov. 4: In 1740, English clergyman Augustus Toplady, who wrote the hymn "Rock of Ages," was born. In 1847, composer Felix Mendelssohn died at Leipzig at age 38.

Today in History for Nov. 8 On this date: In 1308, medieval scholar Duns Scotus died. His given name led to the introduction of the word dunce.

Today in History for Nov. 6: In 1689, blacks arrived by ship to Quebec -- probably the first recorded use of black slaves in Canada.