Today in History

Today in Music History for Nov. 1: In 1847, Emma Albani, the first Canadian singer to distinguish herself in the international world of opera, was born in Chambly, Que.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 31: Actress Lee Grant is 92. Anita Kerr, director of the Anita Kerr Singers is 90. Retired NASA astronaut Michael Collins is 87. Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather is 86. Folk singer Tom Paxton is 80.

Today in History for Oct. 31: Today is Halloween. The word "Halloween," comes from a contraction of "All Hallows Eve," the night before a Catholic holiday in honour of saints. One Celtic story says that on Oct.

Today in Music History for Oct. 31: In 1937, folksinger Tom Paxton was born in Chicago. He was part of the early-1960s folk revival that also saw the emergence of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

Today in Music History for Oct. 30: In 1908, Patsy Montana, the first woman in country music to have a million-selling record, was born in Hot Springs, Ark. She accomplished the feat with her 1935 recording of "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart.

Today in History for Oct. 30: In 1536, Denmark adopted Lutheranism as its official state religion. In 1768, the first Methodist chapel in the New World was dedicated in New York City.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 30: Movie director Claude Lelouch is 80. Songwriter Eddie Holland of Holland-Dozier-Holland is 78. Singer Grace Slick is 78. Singer Otis Williams of The Temptations is 76. Actress Joanna Shimkus is 74.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 29: Banjo player Sonny Osborne of The Osborne Brothers is 80. Country singer Lee Clayton is 75. Guitarist Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues) is 73. Singer-actress Melba Moore is 72.

Today in History for Oct. 29: In 1618, Sir Walter Raleigh was executed in London on charges of treason against King James I.

Today in Music History for Oct. 29: In 1787, Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" premiered at the Tyl Theatre in Prague.