Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthday for March 31: Actor William Daniels (``St. Elsewhere'') is 98. Actor Richard Chamberlain is 91. Actress Shirley Jones is 91. Musician Herb Alpert is 90. Actor Christopher Walken is 82.

Today in Music History for March 31: In 1732, composer Franz Joseph Haydn, known as the ``Father of the Symphony,'' was born in Austria. One of his greatest contributions to church music was his 1798 oratorio ``The Creation.'' He died in 1809.

Today in History for March 31: In 1492, Spain issued a royal edict advising Jews to either become Catholics, leave the country, or be executed. In 1596, French mathematician and philosopher Rene Descartes was born.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 30: Actor John Astin is 95. Actor Warren Beatty is 88. Country singer Bobby Wright is 83. Rock n' Roll Hall-of-Famer Eric Clapton is 80. Actor Justin Deas is 77. Singer Jim ``Dandy'' Mangrum (Black Oak Arkansas) is 77.

Today in History for March 30: On this date: In 1135, Moses Maimonides, the renowned medieval Jewish scholar, was born.

Today in Music History for March 30: In 1913, Frankie Laine, whose jazz-influenced singing style produced dozens of hit records in the '40s and '50s, was born in Chicago.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 29: Author Judith Guest is 89. Comedian Eric Idle is 82. Singer-songwriter Terry Jacks is 81. Former Major League Pitcher Denny McLain is 81. Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Walt Frazier is 80.

Today in History for March 29: On this date: In 1139, Pope Innocent II made the Templars an independent unit within the Catholic Church. The order of knights had been created to protect pilgrims from bandits in the Holy Land.

Today in Music History for March 29: In 1871, the Royal Albert Hall in London was opened by Queen Victoria. In 1909, country singer and pianist Aubrey ``Moon'' Mullican was born in Polk County, Texas.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 3: Conservationist Dame Jane Goodall is 91. Actor William Gaunt is 88. Songwriter Jeff Barry is 87. Actor Eric Braeden is 84. Actress Marsha Mason is 83. Singer Wayne Newton is 83. Singer Tony Orlando is 81.