Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for March 5: In 1882, Canadian soprano Pauline Donalda was born in Montreal.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 4: Actress Paula Prentiss (1975's "The Stepford Wives") is 87. Movie director Adrian Lyne ("Fatal Attraction") is 84. Singer Dieter Meier (Yello) is 80. Saxophonist Jan Garbarek is 78.

Today in History for March 4: In 1561, Cardinal Carlo-Carafa became the last Roman Catholic prelate sentenced to death by a Pope. In 1678, composer Antonio Vivaldi was born. In 1789, the first U.S. Congress met in New York City.

Today in Music History for March 4: In 1678, composer Antonio Vivaldi was born. In 1948, "Yes" bass player Chris Squire was born in London.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 3: Singer-guitarist Mike Pender of The Searchers is 84. Movie producer-director George Miller ("Mad Max") is 80. Actress Hattie Winston ("Becker") is 80. Singer Jennifer Warnes is 78.

Today in Music History for March 3: In 1875, one of the most popular operas ever written, Georges Bizet's "Carmen," premiered in Paris. It unfolds a story of love, hate, jealousy and murder set in the world of Spanish gypsies and bullfighters.

Today in History for March 3: In 1801, David Emanuel, the first Jewish governor in the United States, took office in Georgia. In 1841, Sir George Simpson, governor of the Hudson's Bay Co., began a trip around the world. The trip would take 20 months.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 2: Actor John Cullum ("Northern Exposure") is 95. Actress Barbara Luna is 88. Author John Irving is 83. Canadian Songwriters Hall-of-famer Luc Plamondon is 83. Actress Cassie Yates is 74.

Today in History for March 2: In 1492, 800,000 Jews were banished from Spain by King Ferdinand V. In 1699, French explorer Sieur d'Iberville located the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Today in Music History for March 2: In 1942, Charlie Christian, the man responsible for making the guitar a lead instrument rather than just a part of the rhythm section, died in New York of tuberculosis. He was only 25.