Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for May 20: Actor-author James McEachin is 95. Actor Anthony Zerbe is 89. Former world champion figure skater and federal cabinet minister Otto Jelinek is 85. Actor David Proval ("The Sopranos") is 83. Singer-actress Cher is 79.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 23: Actress Barbara Barrie is 93. Actress Joan Collins is 92. International Tennis Hall-of-Famer John Newcombe is 81. Actress Lauren Chapin ("Father Knows Best") is 80. Country singer Misty Morgan is 80.

Today in Music History for May 31: In 1809, composer Franz Josef Haydn died in Vienna, Austria, at age 77. In 1913, Edward Fisher, founder of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, died at age 65.

Today in History for May 25: In 585 B.C., the first known prediction of a solar eclipse occurred. In 1085, Alfonso VI of Castile captured Toledo, Spain, and brought the Moorish centre of science into Christian hands.

Today in Music History for May 26: In 735, Bede the Venerable, known as the father of English church history, Benedictine monk, priest, writer, hymn writer, died at about age 62.

Today in History for May 31: In 1578, Italian archeologist Antonio Bosio became the first man in modern times to rediscover the Christian catacombs in Rome. Researchers who followed him dubbed Bosio "the Columbus of the Catacombs.

Today in History for May 30: In 339, Eusebius, the father of early church history, died at age 74.

Today in History for May 29: In 526, Antioch, in present-day Turkey, was struck by an earthquake, killing about 250,000 people. In 1453, the Turks captured Constantinople, bringing the Eastern Roman Empire to an end.

Today in Music History for May 29: In 1837, Charles W. Fry, the English musician who, along with his three sons, formed the first Salvation Army brass band, was born. Fry also authored the hymn, "Lily of the Valley.

Today in Music History May 25: In 1893, Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman, leader of one of the most famous family groups in country music, was born in Monorat, Va.