Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Aug. 25: In 1817, Joseph Mohr began serving as pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria.

Today in History for Aug. 24: On this date: In 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, killing 20,000 people.

Today in Music History for Aug. 24: In 1841, cellist Henri Billet, who may well have been the first Russian musician to visit Canada, appeared at the Theatre royal in Quebec City.

Today in Music History for Aug. 27: In 1877, James P. Clarke, the first musician in English-speaking Canada to have written and published a sizeable number of compositions, died in Toronto.

Today in Music History for Aug. 29: In 1908, Lewis Redner, American Episcopal organist and composer, died at age 78. Redner composed "St. Louis," the tune to which is most commonly sung Phillips Brooks’ Christmas hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Today in History for Aug. 26: On this date: In 55 BC, Julius Caesar launched his first attempted invasion of Britain, but achieved limited success. In 1346, King Edward III defeated the French at the battle of Crecy.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 15: Actor Jim Dale is 90. Actress Pat Priest ("The Munsters") is 89. Nesbert (Stix) Hooper, drummer with The Crusaders is 87. Drummer Pete York of The Spencer Davis Group is 83. Author-journalist Linda Ellerbee is 81.

Today in History for Aug. 15: On this date: In 1057, Macbeth, King of Scots, was killed in battle by Malcolm, the eldest son of King Duncan, whom Macbeth had slain.

Today in Music History for Aug. 15: In 1925, jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was born in Montreal. Peterson began playing on Montreal radio stations and with local dance bands in the early 1940s.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 14: Broadway lyricist Lee Adams ("Bye Bye Birdie") is 101. Singer Dash Crofts of Seals and Crofts is 85. Country singer Connie Smith is 84. Actor-comedian Steve Martin is 80.