Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 28: Singer-keyboardist Edgar Winter is 78. Drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste of The Meters is 76. Pianist Richard Clayderman is 71. Actor Denzel Washington is 70. Contemporary Christian singer Twila Paris is 66.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 24: Dr. Anthony Fauci is 84. Recording company executive Mike Curb is 80. Comedian Steve Smith ("Red Green Show") is 79. Guitarist Jan Akkerman is 78. Actor Grand L. Bush is 69.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 23: Actor Ronnie Schell ("Gomer Pyle, USMC") is 93. Emperor Akihito of Japan is 91. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) is 84. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer ("This Is Spinal Tap", "The Simpsons") is 81.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 26: Hockey Hall of Fame forward Norm Ullman is 89. "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh is 79. Keyboardist Bob Carpenter with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 78. Bassist George Porter Jr. of The Meters is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 22: Actor Hector Elizondo is 88. Country singer Red Steagall is 86. Former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard is 86. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton is 80. Former TV news anchor Diane Sawyer is 79.

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.

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Today in Music History for Dec. 31: In 1776, the earliest cantata to be mentioned in Canadian historical documents was performed in Quebec City to mark the first anniversary of the repulsion of U.S. invaders.

Today in Music History for Dec. 30: In 1672, the first public concert was held in London. The musicians performed behind a curtain while patrons ate cakes and drank ale.

Today in Music History for Jan. 1: In 1936, jazz guitarist Sonny Greenwich was born in Hamilton, Ont. Influenced by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, Greenwich developed a unique saxophone-like tone on the guitar.