Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for July 5: Writer Barry Callaghan is 88. Singer Huey Lewis is 75. Guitarist Michael Monarch (Steppenwolf) is 75. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rich (Goose) Gossage is 74. Guitarist Jimmy Crespo is 71.

Celebrity Birthdays for July 4: Actress Eva Marie Saint is 101. Actor Ed Bernard ("Police Woman," ''White Shadow") is 86. Actress Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu in "It's A Wonderful Life") is 85. Singer Annette Beard of Martha and the Vandellas is 82.

Celebrity Birthdays for July 3: Playwright Tom Stoppard is 88. Writer-producer Jay Tarses is 86. Actor Kurtwood Smith ("That 70s Show") is 82. Country singer Johnny Lee is 79. Jazz saxophonist John Klemmer is 79. Writer Dave Barry is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for July 2: Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos is 96. Actor Robert Ito ("Quincy") is 94. Actress Polly Holliday ("Alice") is 88. Racing Hall-of-Famer Richard Petty is 88.

Today in Music History for July 2: In 1925, country singer Marvin Rainwater was born in Wichita, Kan. He became a star in the 1950s with several of his records becoming million-sellers.

Today in History for July 2: In 311, Miltiades was elected the 32nd pope of the Catholic Church. During his pontificate, Christianity was finally tolerated by Rome, following the Emperor Constantine's conversion to the Christian faith.

Today in History for July 1: In 1643, the Westminster Assembly first convened in England. From this emerged the Westminster longer and shorter catechisms, still used as doctrinal standards by many Presbyterian churches.

Today in Music History for July 1: In 1915, bluesman Willie Dixon, an important link between blues and rock 'n' roll, was born in Vicksburg, Miss.

Today in History for June 30: In 1859, French acrobat Blondin crossed the Niagara gorge on a tightrope. Before reaching the Canadian side, he stopped to drink champagne and perform other feats. A crowd of 25,000 watched.

Today in Music History for June 30: In 1917, jazz drummer Buddy Rich was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Beginning in the late 1930s, Rich drummed with a succession of big bands, including Bunny Berrigan, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey.