Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Feb. 13: In 1867, Johann Strauss first conducted his ``Blue Danube Waltz,'' in Vienna. It is the most famous of the more than 400 waltzes that he composed.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 12: Movie director Costa-Gavras is 92. Actor Joe Don Baker is 89. Author Judy Blume is 87. Country singer Moe Bandy is 81. Actress Maud Adams (``Octopussy'') is 80. Actor Cliff DeYoung is 80. Actor Michael Ironside is 75.

Today in Music History for Feb. 12: In 1915, blind hymnwriter Fanny Crosby died at age 95 in New York City. She wrote more than 9,000 texts, including ``Safe in the Arms of Jesus'' and ``Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour.

Today in History for Feb. 12: In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, who had been queen of England for nine days, was beheaded after being charged with high treason. In 1793, Spain agreed to pay compensation for the seizure of British ships at Nootka, B.C.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 11: Actress Tina Louise (``Gilligan's Island'') is 91. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame track and field athlete Abby Hoffman is 78. Derek Shulman, of the British progressive rock group Gentle Giant, is 78.

Today in History for Feb. 11: In 1765, London wig-makers, dismayed that fewer men were wearing wigs, asked King George III to buy their products to spur sales. He declined.

Today in Music History for Feb. 11: In 1881, mezzo-soprano and actress Rosita del Vecchio, known as the Sarah Bernhardt of Canada, died of bronchial pneumonia at the age of 34.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 10: Opera singer Leontyne Price is 98. Actor Robert Wagner is 95. Singer Roberta Flack is 88. Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson is 86. Singer Jimmy Merchant of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers is 85.

Today in History for Feb. 10: In 3641 BC, according to the calculations of the Mayans, the world was created. In AD 60 (traditional date), the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked at Malta.

Today in Music History for Feb. 10: In 1939, singer Roberta Flack was born in Asheville, N.C. She had a half-dozen ballad hits in the 1970s, including three No.