Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for April 11: In 1506, construction began on the new St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican under the guidance of Pope Julius II, who enlisted the talents of Michelangelo and Raphael.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 28: Author Mario Vargas Llosa is 89. Country musician Charlie McCoy (``Hee Haw'') is 84. Movie director Mike Newell is 83. Filipino politician Rodrigo Duterte is 80. Actress Dianne Wiest is 78.

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.

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.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 27: Actor Julian Glover is 90. Actor Jerry Lacy is 89. Actor-director Austin Pendleton is 85. Actor Michael York is 83. Keyboardist Tony Banks (Genesis) is 75.

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.

Today in History for March 27: On this date: In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sighted present-day Florida. In 1613, Newfoundland's first English child was born. In 1625, King James I died.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 26: U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is 85. Biologist and author Richard Dawkins is 84. Author Erica Jong is 83. Journalist Bob Woodward is 82. Singer Diana Ross is 81. Singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is 77.

Today in History for March 26: On this date: In 1821, the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Company amalgamated under the name Hudson's Bay Company. In 1830, Joseph Smith first published ``The Book of Mormon.

Today in Music History for March 26: In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna at the age of 57. His works bridged the classical and romantic periods and brought a new depth and emotional intensity to music.