Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for April 27: In 1278, St. Zita, patroness of servants, died. She was credited with many miracles in helping the poor in Italy.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 27: Actress Anouk Aimee is 92. Drummer Jerry Mercer (April Wine) is 85. Drummer Jim Keltner is 82. Opera singer Judith Blegen is 81. Country banjo player and singer Herb Pedersen is 80. Singer Ann Peebles is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 1: Singer Judy Collins is 85. Composer Victor Davies is 85. Actor Stephen Macht ("Suits," ''General Hospital") is 82. Singer Rita Coolidge is 79. Singer-bassist Nick Fortuna of The Buckinghams is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 4: Katherine Jackson, matriarch of the Jackson musical family, is 94. Jazz bassist Ron Carter is 87. Pulitzer Prize-winning political commentator George Will is 83. Singer Peggy Santiglia Davison of The Angels is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 2: Singer Englebert Humperdinck is 88. Country singer R.C. Bannon is 79. Actress-activist Bianca Jagger is 79. Actor David Suchet is 78. Country singer Larry Gatlin is 76. Singer Lou Gramm of Foreigner is 74.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 3: Singer Frankie Valli is 90. Bassist Peter Staples (The Troggs) is 80 Sports announcer Greg Gumbel is 78. Singer Mary Hopkin is 74. Singer Christopher Cross is 73. Drummer Cactus Moser (Highway 101) is 67.

Today in Music History for May 11: In 1888, American songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia. He wrote nearly 1,000 songs, and had his first hit in 1911 with "Alexander's Ragtime Band.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 30: Singer Willie Nelson is 91. Guitarist Johnny Farina of the instrumental duo Santo and Johnny is 83. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is 78. Actor Perry King ("Riptide") is 76. Movie director Allan Arkush is 76.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 29: Conductor Zubin Mehta is 88. Rock bassist Klaus Voorman is 86. Singer Bob Miranda of The Happenings is 82. Country singer Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys is 81. Singer Tommy James is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 28: Violinist Steven Staryk is 92. Actress-singer Ann-Margret is 83. Chef-author Alice Waters is 80. Singer Ginette Reno is 78. Actor Paul Guilfoyle ("CSI") is 75. Former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is 74.