Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 9: Soprano Mary Morrison is 98. Lee Graziano, drummer with The American Breed, is 81. Actor Robert David Hall ("CSI") is 77. Movie director Bille August is 76.

Today in Music History for Nov. 9: In 1895, George D. Hay, the founder of the "Grand Ole Opry," was born in Attica, Ind. While he was an announcer at WLS in Chicago, Hay helped begin the "National Barn Dance" program.

Today in History for Nov. 9 On this date: In 1674, the great English poet John Milton died in London. His most famous work was "Paradise Lost," an epic poem about man's fall from God's grace.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 16: Journalist Elizabeth Drew is 89. Country singer-songwriter Troy Seals is 86. Actress Joanna Pettet ("Knots Landing") is 82. World champion figure skater Maria Jelinek is 82. Actor Steve Railsback is 79.

Celebrity Birthday for Nov. 10: Blues singer Bobby Rush is 91. Jazz saxophonist Houston Person is 90. Actor Albert Hall ("Ally McBeal," ''Beloved") is 87. Country singer Donna Fargo is 83. Lyricist Tim Rice is 80. Actor Jack Scalia is 74.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 12: Playwright-actor Wallace Shawn ("The Princess Bride") is 81. Singer Brian Hyland is 81. Keyboardist Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG's is 80. Sportscaster Al Michaels is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 11: Former Canadian politician/diplomat Stephen Lewis is 87. Country singer Narvel Felts is 86. Americana roots singer/songwriter Chris Smither is 80. Guitarist Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge is 79.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 13: Journalist-author Peter Arnett is 90. Folksinger Bonnie Dobson is 84. Blues singer John Hammond is 82. Country singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard is 78. Actor Joe Mantegna is 77. Country singer J.C. Crowley is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 14: Actress Kathleen Hughes ("Babe") is 96. Composer Wendy Carlos is 85. King Charles III is 76. Guitarist James Young of Styx is 75. Singer Stephen Bishop is 73. Pianist Yanni (Yiannis Chryssomallis) is 70.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 15: Singer Petula Clark is 92. Actor Sam Waterston ("Law and Order") is 84. Classical conductor Daniel Barenboim is 82. Singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA is 79. Actor Bob Gunton is 79.