Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for March 18: Composer John Kander (``Chicago'') is 97. Novelist Joy Fielding is 79. Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Guy Lapointe is 76. Actor Brad Dourif (``Lord of the Rings,'' ''Chucky`` movies) is 74.

Today in Music History for March 18: In 1902, Italian opera singer Enrico Caruso recorded 10 songs on wax to become the world's first recording star.

Today in History for March 18: In 1314, 39 Knights Templar were burned at the stake in Paris. Created to protect pilgrims going to the Holy Land, the military order had grown wealthy after the Crusades.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 17: Singer-songwriter John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful is 80. Former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is 80. Percussionist Harold Ray Brown of War is 78. Rock singer Ian Gomm is 77. Actor Patrick Duffy is 75.

Today in History for March 17: In 461, tradition says St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, died. In 1233, millions of mice invaded the area of Freising, Germany, forcing the evacuation of entire towns.

Today in Music History for March 17: In 1899, the classic Neopolitan song "O Sole Mio!" was published. The composer was E. di Campna with words by G. Capurro.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 16: Country singer Ray Walker (The Jordanaires) is 90. Game show host Chuck Woolery is 83. Actor Victor Garber (``Alias'') is 75. Actor Erik Estrada is 75. Actress Kate Nelligan is 74.

Today in Music History for March 16: In 1918, "K-K-K-Katy," subtitled "The Stammering Song," written by Chatham, Ont., composer Geoffrey O'Hara, was published.

Today in History for March 16: In AD 37, Roman emperor Tiberius died. He was succeeded by Caligula. In 1521, the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippine Islands.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 23: Movie director Mark Rydell is 96. Singer Chaka Khan is 71. Actress Amanda Plummer is 67. Actress Catherine Keener is 65. Canadian country singer George Fox is 64.