Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for April 12: On this date: In 1065, pilgrims under Bishop Gunther of Bamberg (in Germany) reached Jerusalem. In 1204, the Fourth Crusade occupied and plundered Constantinople.

Today in Music History for April 11: In 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis' first wife, Jane Mitcham, filed for divorce. Lewis had already secretly married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown.

Today in Music History for April 9: In 1932, rock 'n' roll pioneer Carl Perkins was born in Jackson, Tenn. He wrote ``Blue Suede Shoes,'' which went to No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart and No. 1 on the country chart in 1956.

Today in History for March 29: On this date: In 1139, Pope Innocent II made the Templars an independent unit within the Catholic Church. The order of knights had been created to protect pilgrims from bandits in the Holy Land.

Today in Music History for March 29: In 1871, the Royal Albert Hall in London was opened by Queen Victoria. In 1909, country singer and pianist Aubrey ``Moon'' Mullican was born in Polk County, Texas.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 29: Author Judith Guest is 88. Comedian Eric Idle is 81. Singer-songwriter Terry Jacks is 80. Former Major League Pitcher Denny McLain is 80. Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Walt Frazier is 79.

Today in Music History for March 28: In 1915, songwriter Jay Livingston was born in McDonald, Penn. He collaborated with Ray Evans on three Oscar-winning songs -- ``Mona Lisa,'' ``Que Sera, Sera'' and ``Buttons and Bows.

Today in History for March 28: On this date: In 1380, gunpowder was first used in Europe in a battle between the Genoese and the Venetians. In 1515, Spanish mystic St. Teresa of Avila, founder of a reformed Carmelite order, was born.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 28: Author Mario Vargas Llosa is 88. Country musician Charlie McCoy (``Hee Haw'') is 83. Movie director Mike Newell is 82. Filipino politician Rodrigo Duterte is 79. Actress Dianne Wiest is 77.

Today in Music History for March 27: In 1905, blues pianist, singer and songwriter Leroy Carr was born in Nashville. With guitarist Scrapper Blackwell, Carr formed one of the greatest blues partnerships of all time.