Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Jan. 3: On this date: In 1661, female actors appeared on an English stage for the first time. In 1777, the United States adopted the Stars and Stripes as its official flag.

Today in History for Jan. 5: On this date: In A.D. 459, St. Simeon Stylites, who, according to legend, lived at the top of an 18-metre pillar in the Syrian desert non-stop for 36 years, died on it.

Today in History for Dec. 31: On this date: In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted the British East India Co. a monopoly on all trade to the East Indies.

Today in Music History for Jan. 1: In 1936, jazz guitarist Sonny Greenwich was born in Hamilton, Ont. Influenced by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, Greenwich developed a unique saxophone-like tone on the guitar.

Today in Music History for Jan. 6: In 1924, bluegrass legend and banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs was born in Shelby, N.C.

Today in Music History for Jan. 3: In 1917, Leon McAuliffe, one of the first country musicians to use an electric steel guitar, was born in Houston.

Today in Music History for Dec. 31: In 1776, the earliest cantata to be mentioned in Canadian historical documents was performed in Quebec City to mark the first anniversary of the repulsion of U.S. invaders.

Today in Music History for Jan. 2: In 1900, a company set up by Emile Berliner, inventor of the gramophone, began manufacturing seven-inch, single-sided records at a plant in Montreal.

Today in Music History for Jan. 4: In 1936, Billboard magazine published the first pop music chart based on record sales. The chart, a listing of the 10 most popular records, became a weekly feature in 1940.

Today in Music History for Jan. 5: In 1923, Sam Phillips, owner of the legendary Sun Records in Memphis, was born in Florence, Ala. Many music historians say Sun was where rock 'n' roll began.