Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 26: Impressionist Rich Little is 86. Singer Jean Terrell (replaced Diana Ross in the Supremes) is 80. Bassist John McVie of Fleetwood Mac is 79. Actress Marianne Muellerleile is 76. Actor Scott Jacoby is 68.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 27: Footwear designer Manolo Blahnik is 82. Rock and jazz saxophonist Randy Brecker is 79. Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") is 73.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 30: Country singer-record company executive Jimmy Bowen is 87. Director Ridley Scott is 87. Movie writer-director Terrence Malick is 81. Leo Lyons, bass guitarist with Ten Years After, is 81.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 24: Ray Perkins of the '50s vocal group The Crew Cuts is 91. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson is 86. Country singer Johnny Carver is 84. Author Eric Wilson is 84. Former Beatles drummer Pete Best is 83.

Today in Music History for Dec. 1: In 1884, Saskatoon’s first concert was presented by the Pioneer Society. It featured solos, duets, choruses, readings and recitations. In 1913, Broadway musical star Mary Martin was born in Weatherford, Texas.

Today in Music History for Dec. 2: In 1923, soprano Maria Callas, renowned for her dramatic intensity and versatility, was born in New York City. She moved to Greece at the age of 13, studying at the Royal Conservatory in Athens.

Today in History for Dec. 4: In 1619, a group of settlers from Bristol, England, arrived at Berkeley Hundred in present-day Charles City County, Va., where they held a service thanking God for their safe arrival.

Today in History for Dec. 1: In 1680, a comet appeared close to Earth and was clearly visible until the end of February. In 1841, the first copyright in Canada was issued for "A Canadian Spelling Book.

Today in Music History for Dec. 7: In 1877, the first successful gramophone was demonstrated. It was invented by Thomas Edison and built by his mechanic, John Kruesi. In 1916, French-Canadian fiddler Ti-Jean Carignan was born in Levis, Que.

Today in Music History for Dec. 3 In 1908, the Regina Orchestral Society, the forerunner to the Regina Symphony Orchestra, gave its first concert.