Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 23: Nobel Prize-winning Toronto chemist John Polanyi is 96. Actor-director Lou Antonio is 91. Jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton is 82. Actor Gil Gerard is 82. Actor Richard Dean Anderson (``MacGyver'') is 75.

Today in Music History for Jan. 23: In 1893, Episcopal minister Phillips Brooks, bishop of Massachusetts and author of "O Little Town of Bethlehem," died. In 1940, country singer-songwriter Johnny Russell was born.

Today in History for Jan. 23: In AD 638, the Islamic calendar was created and first used. In 1492, the Jewish Pentateuch was first printed.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 22: Celebrity chef Graham Kerr (TV: ``The Galloping Gourmet'') is 91. Author Joseph Wambaugh is 88. Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Serge Savard is 79. Singer Steve Perry (Journey) is 76. Movie director Jim Jarmusch is 72.

Today in Music History for Jan. 22: In 1935, Sam Cooke, who provided the early foundations of soul music through his mixture of gospel music and secular themes, was born in Chicago.

Today in History for Jan. 22: In AD 304 (traditional date) -- Vincent of Saragossa, one of the most famous martyrs of the early church, was imprisoned and then killed for refusing to consign the scripture to the fire. According to St.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 21: World Golf Hall-of-Famer Jack Nicklaus is 85. Opera singer Placido Domingo is 84. Actress Jill Eikenberry is 78. Guitarist Jim Ibbotson (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 78. Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean is 75.

Today in History for Jan. 21: In 1525, the first Anabaptist baptismal service took place in Zurich, Switzerland, when Conrad Grebel re-baptized George Blaurock. In 1549, the British Parliament passed the first of four Acts of Uniformity.

Today in Music History for Jan. 21: In 1891, Calixa Lavallee, the composer of ``O Canada,'' died from tubercular laryngitis at his home in Boston. He was 48.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 20: Trumpeter and bandleader Ray Anthony is 103. Retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin is 95. Actor Tom Baker ("Doctor Who") is 91. Olympic gold medal figure skater Carol Heiss is 85.