Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Jan. 5: In 1923, Sam Phillips, owner of the legendary Sun Records in Memphis, was born in Florence, Ala. Many music historians say Sun was where rock 'n' roll began.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 5: Actor Robert Duvall is 93. Singer-bassist Athol Guy of The Seekers is 84. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 82. Actress Diane Keaton is 78. Actor Ted Lange ("The Love Boat") is 76.

Today in History for Jan. 5: In A.D. 459, St. Simeon Stylites, who, according to legend, lived at the top of an 18-metre pillar in the Syrian desert non-stop for 36 years, died on it.

Today in Music History for Jan. 4: In 1936, Billboard magazine published the first pop music chart based on record sales. The chart, a listing of the 10 most popular records, became a weekly feature in 1940.

Today in History for Jan. 4: In 1493, Columbus sailed for Spain from the New World on his ship, the "Nina.' In 1581, James Ussher, archbishop of Armagh, was born in Dublin, Ireland. He published a chronology which dated creation from 4004 BC.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 4: Actress Barbara Rush ("Peyton Place") is 97. Actress Dyan Cannon is 87. British jazz-rock guitarist John McLaughlin is 82. Country singer Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters is 69.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 3: Actor Dabney Coleman is 92. Singer-songwriter Van Dyke Parks is 81. Singer Stephen Stills is 79. Bassist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin is 78. Actress Victoria Principal is 74. Actor-director Mel Gibson is 68.

Today in History for Jan. 3: In 1661, female actors appeared on an English stage for the first time. In 1777, the United States adopted the Stars and Stripes as its official flag.

Today in Music History for Jan. 3: In 1917, Leon McAuliffe, one of the first country musicians to use an electric steel guitar, was born in Houston.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan 2: Country singer Dick Feller (a.k.a. Deena Kaye Rose) is 81. Chick Churchill, organist with Ten Years After, is 78. TV host Jack Hanna ("Jack Hanna's Into the Wild") is 77. Actress Wendy Phillips is 72.