Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 15: Singer Cindy Birdsong of The Supremes is 84. Drummer Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five is 84. Drummer Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge is 77. Actress Melanie Chartoff ("Rugrats," ''Parker Lewis Can't Lose") is 75.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 14: Singer-actress Abbe Lane is 91. Actor Hal Williams ("227," ''Sanford and Son") is 89. Singer Joyce Vincent-Wilson of Tony Orlando and Dawn is 77. Entertainment executive Michael Ovitz is 77. Actress Dee Wallace is 75.

Today in Music History for Dec. 14: In 1836, Frances Ridley Havergal, English devotional writer, was born. In frail health most of her life, Havergal nevertheless authored such hymns as "Take My Life" and "Let It Be" and "I Gave My Life for Thee.

Today in History for Dec. 14: In 1503, French physician and prophet Nostradamus was born. He remains famous today for his book “The Prophecies,” which was first published in 1555.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 13: Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke is 98. Country singer Buck White of The Whites is 93. Music/film producer Lou Adler is 90. Actor-singer John Davidson is 82. Trombonist, arranger and composer Russ Little is 82.

Today in Music History for Dec. 13: In 1835, Phillips Brooks, American Episcopal clergyman and hymn writer, was born.

Today in History for Dec. 13: In 304, St. Lucy is said to have cut out her eyes and sent them to a persistent but unwelcome suitor who said he was haunted by them.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 12: Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bob Pettit is 91. Singer Connie Francis is 86. Larry Mercey, lead singer with the Canadian country music trio The Mercey Brothers, is 84. Singer Dionne Warwick is 83.

Today in History for Dec. 12: In 1783, New Brunswick's first newspaper, the "Royal Saint John Gazette and Nova Scotian Intelligencer," was published. In 1787, Pennsylvania became the second U.S. state. In 1870, Joseph H.

Today in Music History for Dec. 12: In 1792, 22-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven paid the equivalent of 19 cents for his first lesson in music composition from Franz Joseph Haydn in Vienna.