Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 5: Actor Robert Duvall is 94. Singer-bassist Athol Guy of The Seekers is 85. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 83. Actress Diane Keaton is 79. Actor Ted Lange ("The Love Boat") is 77.

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 Music History for Jan. 5: In 1923, Sam Phillips, owner of the legendary Sun Records in Memphis, was born in Florence, Ala. Many music historians say Sun was where rock 'n' roll began.

Today in Music History for Jan. 14: In 1790, the first operatic work to be performed in Canada, "Colas et Colinette ou le Bailli Dupe," premiered in Montreal. In 1900, Puccini's opera "Tosca" had its world premiere in Rome.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 4: Actress Dyan Cannon is 88. British jazz-rock guitarist John McLaughlin is 83. Country singer Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters is 70. Guitarist Bernard Sumner of New Order (and Joy Division) is 69.

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 Music History for Jan. 4: In 1936, Billboard magazine published the first pop music chart based on record sales. The chart, a listing of the 10 most popular records, became a weekly feature in 1940.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 8: Singer Shirley Bassey is 88. Game show host Bob Eubanks (``The Newlywed Game'') is 87. Fashion designer Carolina Herrera is 86. Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 85.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 7: Singer-songwriter Leona Williams is 82. Magazine publisher Jann Wenner is 79. Singer Kenny Loggins is 77. Singer-songwriter Marshall Chapman is 76.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 11: Former prime minister Jean Chretien is 91. Olympic alpine skier Anne Heggtveit is 86. Director Joel Zwick (``My Big Fat Greek Wedding'') is 83. World Golf Hall-of-Famer Ben Crenshaw is 73.