Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 12: Magician-illusionist ``The Amazing Kreskin'' (born George Joseph Kresge) is 89. Country singer William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys is 85. Jim Gold, lead singer of the '70s pop group Gallery, is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 8: Former ``Sunday Morning'' host Charles Osgood is 91. Singer Shirley Bassey is 87. Game show host Bob Eubanks (``The Newlywed Game'') is 86. Fashion designer Carolina Herrera is 85.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 10: Opera singer Sherrill Milnes is 89. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Frank Mahovlich is 86. Movie director Walter Hill is 82. Actor William Sanderson (``Deadwood,'' ''Newhart``) is 80. Singer Sir Rod Stewart is 79.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 9: Actress K. Callan is 88. Singer Joan Baez is 83. Guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin is 80. Actor John Doman (``Gotham'') is 79. Singer David Johansen (a.k.a. Buster Poindexter) is 74. Singer Crystal Gayle is 73.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 13: TV personality Nick Clooney is 90. Actor Charlie Brill is 86. Actor Billy Gray (``Father Knows Best'') is 86. John Lees, lead guitarist with Barclay James Harvest, is 77. Guitarist Trevor Rabin of Yes is 70.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 11: Former prime minister Jean Chretien is 90. Olympic alpine skier Anne Heggtveit is 85. Director Joel Zwick (``My Big Fat Greek Wedding'') is 82. World Golf Hall-of-Famer Ben Crenshaw is 72.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 7: Singer-songwriter Leona Williams is 81. Magazine publisher Jann Wenner is 78. Singer Kenny Loggins is 76. Singer-songwriter Marshall Chapman is 75.

Today in History for Jan. 15: In AD 345, Paul of Thebes, traditionally considered the first Christian hermit and an inspiration for Antony of Egypt and later Christian monasticism, died.

Today in History for Jan. 18: On this date: In 1535, Francisco Pizarro, Spanish conquistador, founded Lima, Peru.

Today in History for Jan. 19: On this date: In 570, according to tradition, the Muslim Prophet Muhammad was born. In 1200, Zen Master Dogen, an important figure in Japanese Buddhism, was born.