Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Jan. 12: In 1905, cowboy singer Tex Ritter was born in Texas. Most people remember him singing the title song for the Academy Award-winning film "High Noon" in 1952.

Today in History for Jan. 10: On this date: In A.D. 236, Fabian was elected pope of the early Christian Church.

Today in Music History for Jan. 11: In 1848, Edward Fisher, founder of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, was born in Jamaica, Vt. He directed the conservatory from its opening in 1887 until his death in 1913.

Today in Music History for Jan. 9: In 1939, producer Alfred Lion recorded boogie-woogie pianists Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons at a session in New York.

Today in Music History for Jan. 10: In 1917, legendary record producer Jerry Wexler was born in The Bronx, N.Y.

Today in Music History for Jan. 8: In 1921, Canadian soprano Beatrice LaPalme, one of the most sought-after artists of her generation, died in Montreal at the age of 42.

Today in History for Jan. 11: On this date: In 1569, England's first state lottery was held to raise money for the construction of harbours. In 1693, an earthquake at Catania, Italy, killed 60,000.

Today in History for Jan. 9: On this date: In 1788, Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1793, Frenchman Jean Pierre Blanchard, using a hot-air balloon, flew between Philadelphia and Woodbury, N.J.

Today in History for Jan. 7: On this date: In 1450, in Scotland, the University of Glasgow was founded. In 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo discovered the four satellites of Jupiter and named them Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

Today in Music History for Jan. 7: In 1868, the most ambitious musical composition inspired by Confederation, "Cantate: la Confederation" by Jean-Baptiste Labelle, was performed at the city hall in Montreal.