Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for March 27: Actor Julian Glover is 90. Actor Jerry Lacy is 89. Actor-director Austin Pendleton is 85. Actor Michael York is 83. Keyboardist Tony Banks (Genesis) is 75.

Today in Music History for March 27: In 1905, blues pianist, singer and songwriter Leroy Carr was born in Nashville. With guitarist Scrapper Blackwell, Carr formed one of the greatest blues partnerships of all time.

Today in History for March 27: On this date: In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sighted present-day Florida. In 1613, Newfoundland's first English child was born. In 1625, King James I died.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 26: U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is 85. Biologist and author Richard Dawkins is 84. Author Erica Jong is 83. Journalist Bob Woodward is 82. Singer Diana Ross is 81. Singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is 77.

Today in History for March 26: On this date: In 1821, the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Company amalgamated under the name Hudson's Bay Company. In 1830, Joseph Smith first published ``The Book of Mormon.

Today in Music History for March 26: In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna at the age of 57. His works bridged the classical and romantic periods and brought a new depth and emotional intensity to music.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 25: Film critic Gene Shalit is 99. Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell is 97. Feminist activist and author Gloria Steinem is 91. Actor-director and AIDS activist Paul Michael Glaser (TV's ``Starsky and Hutch'') is 82.

Today in Music History for March 25: In 1942, Aretha Franklin, dubbed ``The Queen of Soul'' for her million-selling records in the 1960s, was born in Memphis. By age 14, Aretha was a featured performer with her father's gospel caravan.

Today in History for March 25: On this date: In 1409, rebel bishops met at Pisa and voted to excommunicate the two popes, Benedict XIII and Gregory XII.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 24: Scientist-broadcaster David Suzuki is 89. Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie is 86. Rock musician Lee Oskar is 77. Singer Nick Lowe is 76. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger is 74.