Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Oct. 24: In 1911, blues singer and harmonica player Sonny Terry, best known for his more than 30-year partnership with Brownie McGhee, was born in Greensboro, N.C. He died in 1987.

Today in Music History for Oct. 21: In 1851, soprano Jenny Lind, dubbed "The Swedish Nightingale," gave her first Canadian concert, at St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto. Her tour was organized by showman P.T. Barnum.

Today in Music History for Oct. 25: In 1918, Canadian trumpeter and songwriter Bobby Gimby was born in Cabri, Sask. Known as "The Pied Piper of Canada," he composed "Canada," the most popular song of the country's centennial celebration in 1967.

Today in Music History for Oct. 20: In 1828, American lawyer and hymnwriter Horatio Gates Spafford was born.

Today in Music History for Oct. 26: In 1813, English organist Henry Smart was born.

Today in Music History for Oct. 22: In 1883, the original Metropolitan Opera House in New York opened with a production of Gounod's "Faust." The building was heavily damaged by fire in 1892, but was rebuilt.

Today in Music History for Oct. 23: In 1851, pioneer Canadian conductor and composer Guillaume Couture was born in Montreal.

Today in History for Oct. 26: In 1774, the American Congress invited Canada to join the 13 colonies opposing Britain. In 1813, a small force of British and Canadian soldiers defeated an advance party of 1,500 Americans at the battle of Chateauguay.

Today in History for Oct. 24: In 1260, under Pope Alexander IV, Chartres Cathedral in France was consecrated. Completed in less than 30 years, the structure represents high Gothic architecture at its purest.

Today in History for Oct. 23: In 4004 BC, according to the sacred timeline worked out by Archbishop James Ussher, "the heavens and the earth" were created on this date at 9 a.m. (GMT).