Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Oct. 31: In 1937, folksinger Tom Paxton was born in Chicago. He was part of the early-1960s folk revival that also saw the emergence of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

Today in History for Oct. 31: Today is Halloween. The word "Halloween," comes from a contraction of "All Hallows Eve," the night before a Catholic holiday in honour of saints. One Celtic story says that on Oct.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 30: Movie director Claude Lelouch is 86. Songwriter Eddie Holland of Holland-Dozier-Holland is 84. Singer Grace Slick is 84. Singer Otis Williams of The Temptations is 82. Actress Joanna Shimkus is 80.

Today in Music History for Oct. 30: In 1908, Patsy Montana, the first woman in country music to have a million-selling record, was born in Hot Springs, Ark. She accomplished the feat with her 1935 recording of "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart.

Today in History for Oct. 30: In 1536, Denmark adopted Lutheranism as its official state religion. In 1768, the first Methodist chapel in the New World was dedicated in New York City.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 29: Singer-actress Melba Moore is 83. Guitarist Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues) is 79. Actor Richard Dreyfuss is 76. Actress Kate Jackson is 75. Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Denis Potvin is 70.

Today in Music History for Oct. 29: In 1787, Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" premiered at the Tyl Theatre in Prague.

Today in History for Oct. 29: In 1618, Sir Walter Raleigh was executed in London on charges of treason against King James I.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 28: Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 96. Actress Joan Plowright is 94. Player/coach Basketball Hall-of-Famer Lenny Wilkens is 86. Actress Jane Alexander is 84. TV writer and producer Susan Harris is 83.

Today in Music History for Oct. 28: In 1820, John H. Hopkins, the author and composer of the Christmas hymn "We Three Kings of Orient Are," was born. In 1936, country-rock musician and bandleader Charlie Daniels was born in Wilmington, N.C.