Today in History

Today in Music History for Oct. 7: In 1832, Charles Converse, American lawyer and sacred composer, was born. He penned the hymn tune for "What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 14: Classical pianist Gary Graffman is 89. Country singer Melba Montgomery is 80. Movie director Carroll Ballard is 80. Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is 78. Singer Sir Cliff Richard is 77. Actor Udo Kier is 73.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 13: Singer Nana Mouskouri is 83. Gospel singer Shirley Caesar is 80. Actress Melinda Dillon ("A Christmas Story") is 78. Jazz tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders is 77. 1960s British rock vocalist Chris Farlowe is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 12: Actress Antonia Rey is 90. Singer Sam Moore of Sam and Dave is 82. "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace is 70. Actress-singer Susan Anton is 67. Donnie Dacus, guitarist with Chicago, is 66.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 11: Actor Earle Hyman ("The Cosby Show") is 91. Actor Ron Leibman is 80. English soccer legend Bobby Charlton is 80. Actor Amitabh Bachchan is 75. Country singer Gene Watson is 74.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 10: Actor Peter Coyote is 76. Alan Cartwright, bass guitarist with Procul Harum, is 72. Actor Charles Dance ("Game of Thrones") is 71. Singer John Prine is 71. Actor-dancer Ben Vereen is 71.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 9: Pat Burke, saxophonist/flutist with The Foundations, is 80. R&B singer Nona Hendryx (LaBelle) is 73. Singer Jackson Browne is 69. Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams is 67. Actor Gary Frank is 67.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 8: Entertainment reporter Rona Barrett is 81. Walter Gretzky, father of NHL great Wayne Gretzky, is 79. Actor Paul Hogan is 78. Singer Fred Cash of The Impressions is 77. Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson is 76.

Today in Music History for Oct. 21: In 1851, soprano Jenny Lind, dubbed "The Swedish Nightingale," gave her first Canadian concert, at St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto. Her tour was organized by showman P.T. Barnum.

Today in Music History for Oct. 20: In 1828, American lawyer and hymnwriter Horatio Gates Spafford was born.