Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 29: Feminist author Germaine Greer is 86. Actress Katharine Ross is 85. Feminist author Robin Morgan is 84. Actor Tom Selleck is 80. Singer Bettye LaVette is 79. Actor Marc Singer is 77. Actress Ann Jillian is 75.

Today in Music History for Jan. 29: In 1925, Lois Marshall, one of Canada's leading sopranos in the 1950s and '60s, was born in Toronto. She died of cancer on Feb. 19, 1997.

Today in History for Jan. 29: In 993, Ulric, bishop of Augsburg in present-day Germany from 923 to 973, was formally canonized by Pope John XV. It was the first recorded canonization by a Catholic pontiff.

Today in Music History for Dec. 29: In 1849, the Christmas hymn by Edmund Sears, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," was first published in "The Christian Register." In 1939, Radio Luxembourg was given government permission to begin broadcasting.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 28: Bluegrass musician Vic Mullen is 92. Actor Alan Alda is 89. Actress Susan Howard (``Dallas'') is 83. Former NHL player and 1972 Summit Series star Paul Henderson is 82. Actress Marthe Keller (``Marathon Man'') is 80.

Today in History for Jan. 28: In 814, Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, died. In 1547, Henry VIII, who split the church of England from Rome and presided over the founding of the Anglican church, died.

Today in Music History for Jan. 28: In 1834, Sabine Baring-Gould, Anglican clergyman and author, was born. He published numerous books on history, biography, poetry and fiction.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 27: Actor James Cromwell (``Murder in the First,'' ''Babe``) is 85. Drummer Nick Mason of Pink Floyd is 81. Singer Nedra Talley of The Ronettes is 79.

Today in Music History for Jan. 27: In 1731, Italian harpsichord manufacturer Bartolomeo Cristofori died. He is generally credited with inventing the piano.

Today in History for Jan. 27: In AD 398, John Chrysostom, the greatest preacher of his age, was consecrated bishop of Constantinople.