Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Feb. 28: In 1759, for the first time, Pope Clement XIII permitted the Bible to be translated and made available in the languages of all peoples in the Roman Catholic states.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 28: Architect Frank Gehry is 95. Singer Sam the Sham is 87. Actor-director-dancer Tommy Tune is 85. Hall of Fame auto racer Mario Andretti is 84. Singer Donnie Iris is 81. Actress Kelly Bishop ("Gilmore Girls") is 80.

Today in Music History for Feb. 28: In 1929, Montreal-born Wilfrid Pelletier became a regular conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, a position he held until 1950.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 27: Actress Joanne Woodward is 94. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader is 90. Actress Barbara Babcock is 87. Actress Debra Monk is 75. Guitarist Neal Schon of Journey is 70. Guitarist Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden is 67.

Today in Music History for Feb. 27: In 1924, Sir Henry Thornton, president of the CNR, opened radio station CNRO in Ottawa. It was one of a series of CNR operated studios that opened across the country.

Today in History for Feb. 27: In 380, Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official faith of the Roman Empire. In 425, Roman Emperor Theodosius II founded the first university in the western world in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 26: Actor-director Bill Duke is 81. Actress Marta Kristen ("Lost in Space") is 79. Singer Mitch Ryder is 79. British pop vocalist Sandie Shaw is 77. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain of Journey is 74. Singer Michael Bolton is 71.

Today in Music History for Feb. 26: In 1923, the Winnipeg Male Voice Choir performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The New York Post said the performance placed the choir in "the very front rank.

Today in History for Feb. 26: In 398, John Chrysostom, considered by scholars as the greatest preacher of the early church, was appointed bishop of Constantinople. His preaching earned him the name Chrysostom: "golden-mouth.

Today in History for Feb. 25: In 616 (traditional date): Ethelbert, first Christian English king and instigator of the first written code of British law, died.