Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Feb. 17: In 1904, Puccini's opera ``Madame Butterfly'' made its premiere at La Scala in Milan. It was booed off the stage. In 1936, bluegrass pioneers Bill and Charlie Monroe made their first recordings.

Today in Music History for Feb. 16: In 1865, English clergyman Sabine Baring-Gould first published the hymn, ``Now the Day is Over.'' It was based on the text of Prov 3:24: ``When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid...

Today in Music History for Feb. 12: In 1915, blind hymnwriter Fanny Crosby died at age 95 in New York City. She wrote more than 9,000 texts, including ``Safe in the Arms of Jesus'' and ``Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour.

Today in Music History for Feb. 15: In 1918, country singer Hank Locklin was born in McLellan, Fla.

Today in Music History for Feb. 13: In 1867, Johann Strauss first conducted his ``Blue Danube Waltz,'' in Vienna. It is the most famous of the more than 400 waltzes that he composed.

Today in History for Feb. 14: In AD 270 (traditional), Valentine, a priest in Rome during the reign of Claudius II, was beheaded.

Today in History for Feb. 15: In 399 B.C., Socrates, the Greek philosopher, is thought to have been sentenced to death. In 1386, Lithuanian king Jagiello was baptized.

Today in History for Feb. 13: In 1542, the fifth wife of England's King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard, was executed for adultery. In 1633, Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before the Inquisition.

Today in History for Feb. 11: In 1765, London wig-makers, dismayed that fewer men were wearing wigs, asked King George III to buy their products to spur sales. He declined.

Today in History for Feb. 16: In 1838, an act of the British Parliament suspended the constitution in Lower Canada. In 1872, the first session of the British Columbia legislature opened. In 1878, the silver dollar became legal currency in the U.S.