Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for April 19: On this date: In 1529, eight years after the Diet of Worms was convened by the Holy Roman Emperor, a protestation was published against it by several cities including Strasbourg, Nuremberg and Ulm, and from that evolved

Today in History for April 14: On this date: In 73 AD, rather than face defeat at the hands of the Romans, Jews in the fortress of Masada committed mass suicide.

Today in Music History for April 18: In 1839, violinist Frantz Jehin-Prume, the first musician of international reputation to choose Canada as his home, was born in Spa, Belgium.

Today in Music History for April 14: In 1759, German composer George Frideric Handel died at age 74 in London. He worked mainly in England and Italy, and his most famous work is ``The Messiah.

Today in History for April 17: On this date: In 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted Christopher Columbus a commission to seek a westward ocean passage to Asia.

Today in Music History for April 20: In 1908, jazz percussionist, vibraphone virtuoso and bandleader Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville, Ky.

Today in Music History for April 15: In 1729, composer J.S. Bach conducted the premiere performance of his ``St. Matthew Passion'' at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany.

Today in Music History for April 19: In 1928, British bluesman Alexis Korner was born in Paris.

Today in Music History for April 17: In 1943, Canadian pop singer Bobby Curtola was born in Port Arthur, Ont. (now Thunder Bay).

Celebrity Birthdays for April 5: Horror filmmaker Roger Corman is 98. Opera singer Mary Costa is 94. Country singer Tommy Cash is 85. Actor Michael Moriarty ("Law and Order") is 83. Singer Allan Clarke of The Hollies is 82.