Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for April 28: In 1220, Bishop Poore laid the first five stones of the famed Salisbury Cathedral in England, one each for himself, Archbishop Stephen Langton, Pope Honorius III, Earl William and Countess Ela of Salisbury.

Today in Music History for May 1: In 1786, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's comic opera "The Marriage of Figaro" had its world premiere in Vienna.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 18: Actor Robert Hooks is 88. Mike Vickers, saxophone player and guitarist of Manfred Mann, is 85. Music critic Robert Christgau is 83. Soprano Barbara Lowin (formerly Barbara Shuttleworth) is 81.

Today in History for April 18: In 1506, the foundation stone was laid during a celebration overseen by Pope Julius II to begin construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Today in Music History for April 18: In 1839, violinist Frantz Jehin-Prume, the first musician of international reputation to choose Canada as his home, was born in Spa, Belgium.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 17: Actor David Bradley ("Game of Thrones") is 83. Singer and actress Michele Richard is 79. Musician Jan Hammer is 77. Actor Clarke Peters ("Treme") is 73. Rock singer/guitarist/producer Michael Sembello is 71.

Today in History for April 17: In 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted Christopher Columbus a commission to seek a westward ocean passage to Asia.

Today in Music History for April 17: In 1943, Canadian pop singer Bobby Curtola was born in Port Arthur, Ont. (now Thunder Bay).

Celebrity Birthdays for April 16: Singer Bobby Vinton is 90. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is 85. Blues singer and guitarist Stefan Grossman is 80. Basketball Hall of Fame centre Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 78. Hall of Fame jockey Sandy Hawley is 76.

Today in Music History for April 16: In 1924, pianist, composer and orchestra leader Henry Mancini was born in Cleveland.