Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

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.

Today in History for April 5: In 1614, in Virginia, Indian chief Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, married English colonist John Rolfe. She was one of the first North American native converts to Christianity. She went by the name Lady Rebecca.

Today in Music History for April 5: In 1922, Canadian composer Harry Freedman was born in Lodz, Poland. In 1970, he became the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's first composer-in-residence.

Today in History for April 4: In 1507, Martin Luther was ordained a priest in Erfurt, Germany.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 4: Recording executive Clive Davis is 92. Author Kitty Kelley is 82. '60s pop singer Kris Jensen is 82. Actor Craig T. Nelson is 80. Dave Hill, lead guitarist with Slade, is 78.