Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Dec. 18: In 1707, English hymn writer Charles Wesley was born. He wrote more than 6,500 hymns, including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Today in Music History for Dec. 17: In 1857, the Sacred Harmonic Choir, conducted by John Carter, performed Handel's Messiah in Toronto. It is thought to have been the first complete oratorio presented in Upper Canada.

Today in Music History for Dec. 20: In 1944, drummer Bobby Colomby of the big band rock group "Blood, Sweat and Tears" was born.

Today in Music History for Dec. 23: In 1893, the Engelbert Humperdinck opera "Haensel und Gretel" was first performed, in Weimar, Germany. In 1935, singer Little Esther Phillips was born in Galveston, Texas.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 8: Flutist James Galway is 84. Singer Jerry Butler is 84. Drummer Bobby Elliott of The Hollies is 82. Actress Mary Woronov is 80. Singer-songwriter Bertie Higgins is 79.

Today in History for Dec. 8: In 1694, a French Jesuit missionary in Canada, Noel Chabanel, was murdered by a renegade Huron. He was one of the group known as the Jesuit Martyrs of North America canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930.

Today in Music History for Dec. 8: In 1865, Finnish composer Jan Sibelius was born. A romantic composer, his works express an intense, mystical love of nature. Sibelius is best known for his orchestral works, such as "Finlandia.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 7: Academic and activist Noam Chomsky is 95. Actress Ellen Burstyn is 91. Soprano Heather Thomson is 83. Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Gerry Cheevers is 83. Broadcast journalist Carole Simpson is 82.

Today in History for Dec. 7: In AD 374, Ambrose, an early church father, was consecrated Bishop of Milan, Italy.

Today in Music History for Dec. 7: In 1877, the first successful gramophone was demonstrated. It was invented by Thomas Edison and built by his mechanic, John Kruesi. In 1916, French-Canadian fiddler Ti-Jean Carignan was born in Levis, Que.