Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for May 16: Jazz drummer Billy Cobham is 80. Actor Danny Trejo is 80. Rock guitarist and composer Robert Fripp, founder of King Crimson, is 78. Actor Bill Smitrovich is 77. Rock singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman is 73.

Today in History for May 19: On this date: In 804, the English medieval scholar Alcuin of York died. As an educator, he made beauty, goodness and truth the hallmarks of Charlemagne's Frankish empire.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 12: Hockey Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bucyk is 89. Actress Millie Perkins ("Knots Landing") is 86. R&B singer Jayotis Washington is 83. Country singer Billy Swan is 82. Actress Linda Dano ("Another World") is 81.

Today in Music History May 25: In 1893, Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman, leader of one of the most famous family groups in country music, was born in Monorat, Va.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 15: Actress-singer Anna Maria Alberghetti is 88. Counterculture icon Wavy Gravy is 88. Actress-singer Lainie Kazan is 84. Actress Gunilla Hutton ("Petticoat Junction," ''Hee Haw") is 82.

Today in Music History for May 19: In 1866, "When You and I Were Young, Maggie," which became one of the most popular ballads in North America, was published in Indianapolis, Ind., by James A. Butterfield. The song was based on a poem written by G.W.

Today in Music History for May 21: In 1738, Charles Wesley was converted to evangelical Christianity, becoming a co-founder of Methodism. He wrote hundreds of hymns such as "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 18: Actress Priscilla Pointer ("Dallas," ''Carrie," ''Blue Velvet") is 100. Actress Candice Azzara ("In Her Shoes," ''Caroline in the City," ''Rhoda") is 83. Bluegrass singer-guitarist Rodney Dillard of The Dillards is 82.

Today in Music History for May 22: In 1813, composer Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany. In 1836, Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio "St. Paul (Paulus)" was first performed in Dusseldorf at the Lower Rhine Festival to great enthusiasm.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 14: Photo-realist artist Richard Estes is 92. Actress Dame Sian Phillips is 91. Movie director-producer George Lucas is 80. Singer-actress Catherine McKinnon is 80.