Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Jan. 8: In 1921, Canadian soprano Beatrice LaPalme, one of the most sought-after artists of her generation, died in Montreal at the age of 42.

Today in Music History for Jan. 6: In 1924, bluegrass legend and banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs was born in Shelby, N.C.

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 History for Jan. 8: In 1324, explorer Marco Polo died at age 70. In 1438, the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches met at the Council of Ferrara-Florence in an effort to form an alliance that would save Constantinople from the Turks.

Today in History for Jan. 6: In A.D. 548, the Jerusalem church observed Christmas on this date for the last time as the Western church moved to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25. In 1412, St.

Today in Music History for Jan. 7: In 1868, the most ambitious musical composition inspired by Confederation, "Cantate: la Confederation" by Jean-Baptiste Labelle, was performed at the city hall in Montreal.

Today in History for Jan. 11: In 1569, England's first state lottery was held to raise money for the construction of harbours. In 1693, an earthquake at Catania, Italy, killed 60,000. In 1759, America's first life insurance company was founded.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 27: Guitarist Mick Jones of Foreigner is 80. Singer Tracy Nelson is 80. Actress Tovah Feldshuh ("Law and Order") is 76. Actor Gerard Depardieu is 76. Jazz singer-musician T.S. Monk is 75. Singer Karla Bonoff is 73.

Today in History for Dec. 27: In 1571, Johannes Kepler, the German astronomer who confirmed Copernicus' theory that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits, was born.

Today in Music History for Dec. 27: In 1927, "Show Boat," one of the most influential works in the history of the American musical theatre, premiered in New York.