Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Aug. 15: In 1925, jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was born in Montreal. Peterson began playing on Montreal radio stations and with local dance bands in the early 1940s.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 14: Broadway lyricist Lee Adams ("Bye Bye Birdie") is 100. Singer Dash Crofts of Seals and Crofts is 84. Country singer Connie Smith is 83. Actor-comedian Steve Martin is 79.

Today in History for Aug. 14: On this date: In 1040, King Duncan of Scotland was murdered by Macbeth, who became king and ruled for 17 years. In 1811, Paraguay declared its independence.

Today in Music History for Aug. 14: In 1810, Samuel S. Wesley, grandson of Methodist hymnwriter Charles Wesley, was born. Samuel Wesley penned over 130 original hymn tunes. The best remembered is "The Church’s One Foundation.

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.

Today in History for Aug. 13: On this date: In 1521, Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured present-day Mexico City from the Aztec Indians. In 1792, French revolutionaries imprisoned the royal family.

Today in Music History for Aug. 13: In 1820, engineer and musicologist Sir George Grove, compiler of "Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians," was born in London.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 12: Billionaire investor George Soros is 94. Actor George Hamilton is 85. Former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow is 85. Actress Jennifer Warren is 83. Actress Dana Ivey is 83.

Today in History for Aug. 12: On this date: In 1615, the first mass in Ontario was celebrated by Father Le Caron in a Huron village near Thunder Bay.

Today in Music History for Aug. 12: In 1838, Joseph Barnby, English organist and choirmaster, was born. He composed nearly 250 hymn tunes during his life. Of these the most enduring include "Now the Day is Over" and "We Give Thee But Thine Own.