Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for June 18: Philosopher Jurgen Habermas is 96. Musician Sir Paul McCartney is 83. Actress Constance McCashin ("Knots Landing") is 78. Actress Linda Thorson ("The Avengers") is 78. Keyboardist John Evans (The Box Tops) is 78.

Today in Music History for June 18: In 1830, Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane, an orphaned Scottish poet, was born. Two of her most notable hymns were "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" and “The Ninety and Nine.

Today in History for June 18: In 1464, Roman Catholic Pope Pius II organized a crusade against the Turks, but died before he could meet up with his allies. Soon after, the crusading mentality died out. In 1812, the U.S.

Celebrity Birthdays for June 17: Actor Peter Lupus (TV's "Mission: Impossible") is 93. Movie director Ken Loach is 89. Singer Barry Manilow is 82. Rock singer and keyboardist Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey) is 78. Comedian Joe Piscopo is 74.

Today in Music History for June 17: In 1872, composer Johann Strauss conducted a 987-piece orchestra and a 20,000-member choir in a performance of "The Blue Danube" in Boston.

Today in History for June 17: In 1616, Sir William Vaughan bought the Avalon Peninsula, which forms Newfoundland's southeastern corner, from the London and Bristol Company.

Celebrity Birthdays for June 16: Actress Eileen Atkins ("The Crown," ''Doc Martin") is 91. Country singer Billy "Crash" Craddock is 87. Author Joyce Carol Oates is 87. Singer Eddie Levert of The O'Jays is 83. Actress Joan Van Ark is 82.

Today in Music History for June 16: In 1929, 62-year-old Otto Funk completed a 183-day, 6,600-km walk from San Francisco to New York. He was said to have played his violin every step of the way.

Today in History for June 16: In 1502, the Sainte-Chapelle in Chambery, France was completed for the Duke of Savoy to house the much disputed, but often venerated Shroud of Turin, a cloth in which Jesus Christ was reputedly wrapped following His Cruc

Celebrity Birthdays for June 15: Singer Ruby Nash Garnett of Ruby and the Romantics is 91. Muff Winwood, bass player with the Spencer Davis Group, is 82. Funk guitarist Leo Nocentelli of The Meters is 79. Singer Noddy Holder (Slade) is 79.