Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 17: Filmmaker-artist Alejandro Jodorowsky is 95. Actress Christina Pickles (``The Wedding Singer,'' ''St. Elsewhere``) is 89. Actress Brenda Fricker is 79. Pop singer Dodie Stevens is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 15: Actress Claire Bloom is 93. Author Susan Brownmiller is 89. Songwriter Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland) is 83. Drummer Mick Avory of The Kinks is 80. Jazz saxophonist Henry Threadgill is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 11: Actress Tina Louise (``Gilligan's Island'') is 90. Musician Sergio Mendes is 83. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame track and field athlete Abby Hoffman is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 14: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is 82. Jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker is 81. Folk singer and songwriter Eric Andersen is 81. Journalist Carl Bernstein is 80.

Today in Music History for Feb. 21: In 1893, classical guitarist Andres Segovia was born in Spain. Through concerts and recordings, he was largely responsible for the resurgence of interest in classical guitar in the 20th century.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 16: Jazz/pop singer-actress Peggy King is 94. Actor William Katt (``Greatest American Hero'') is 73. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Lanny McDonald is 71. Actor LeVar Burton is 67. Rapper-actor Ice-T is 66.

Today in Music History for Feb. 23: In 1685, George Frideric Handel, one of the greatest masters of baroque music, was born in Halle, Germany. He is best known for his majestic oratorio, ``The Messiah,'' which was first performed in Dublin in 1742.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 13: Actress Kim Novak is 91. Actor Bo Svenson (``Walking Tall'') is 83. Actress Stockard Channing is 80. U.S. College basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is 77. Singer Peter Gabriel is 74. Actor David Naughton is 73.

Today in History for Feb. 21: In 1109, Anselm, founder of Scholasticism and the archbishop of Canterbury, died. His treatise ``Why Did God Become Man'' is recognized by scholars as the greatest medieval treatise on the atonement.

Today in History for Feb. 22: In 1630, colonists in America got their first taste of popcorn. In 1732, George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born. He died in 1799. In 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the United States.