Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 17: Singer Gary Puckett of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap is 81. Actor Michael McKean is 76. Actor George Wendt is 75. Actor-singer Bill Hudson is 74. Singer-songwriter Shari Ulrich is 72.

Today in Music History for Oct. 17: In 1948, Montreal's "Pro Musica Society" presented its first chamber music concert, featuring the Stuyvesant String Quartet and clarinetist Clark Brody.

Today in History for Oct. 17: In 1483, Pope Sixtus IV launched the Spanish Inquisition, placing it under the joint direction of the Catholic Church and state.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 16: Actor-producer Tony Anthony is 86. Actor Barry Corbin ("One Tree Hill," ''Northern Exposure") is 83. Canadian bassist C.F. Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 80. Actress Suzanne Somers is 77.

Today in Music History for Oct. 16: In 1923, "The Societe Canadienne D'operette Inc.," one of the first opera companies in Quebec, presented its first production, "Offenbach's Les Brigands," at the Monument National in Montreal.

Today in History for Oct. 16: In 1555, in Oxford, England, bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake for heresy because of their Protestant beliefs.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 15: Singer Barry McGuire is 88. Canadian Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the N.H.L, is 88. Actress Linda Lavin ("Alice") is 86. Drummer Don Stevenson of Moby Grape is 82.

Today in Music History for Oct. 15: In 1932, the Winnipeg Auditorium, the city's main concert hall until 1968, was opened by Prime Minister R. B. Bennett. The building was remodeled in 1975 to house the Provincial Archives and Library.

Today in History for Oct. 15: In 1542, the great Mogul emperor Jalaluddin Akbar was born in India. In 1582, the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Catholic countries. As a result, 10 days were lost as the calendar jumped from Oct. 4 to Oct. 15.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 14: Classical pianist Gary Graffman is 95. Movie director Carroll Ballard is 86. Country singer Melba Montgomery is 85. Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is 84. Singer Sir Cliff Richard is 83. Actor Udo Kier is 79.