Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for March 3: Singer-guitarist Mike Pender of The Searchers is 84. Movie producer-director George Miller ("Mad Max") is 80. Actress Hattie Winston ("Becker") is 80. Singer Jennifer Warnes is 78.

Today in Music History for March 3: In 1875, one of the most popular operas ever written, Georges Bizet's "Carmen," premiered in Paris. It unfolds a story of love, hate, jealousy and murder set in the world of Spanish gypsies and bullfighters.

Today in History for March 3: In 1801, David Emanuel, the first Jewish governor in the United States, took office in Georgia. In 1841, Sir George Simpson, governor of the Hudson's Bay Co., began a trip around the world. The trip would take 20 months.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 2: Actor John Cullum ("Northern Exposure") is 95. Actress Barbara Luna is 88. Author John Irving is 83. Canadian Songwriters Hall-of-famer Luc Plamondon is 83. Actress Cassie Yates is 74.

Today in History for March 2: In 1492, 800,000 Jews were banished from Spain by King Ferdinand V. In 1699, French explorer Sieur d'Iberville located the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Today in Music History for March 2: In 1942, Charlie Christian, the man responsible for making the guitar a lead instrument rather than just a part of the rhythm section, died in New York of tuberculosis. He was only 25.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 1: Jazz pianist and guitarist Ralph Towner is 85. Singer Mike D'Abo of Manfred Mann is 81. Singer Roger Daltrey of The Who is 81. Actor Dirk Benedict ("The A Team") is 80.

Today in History for March 1: In 589 (traditional date): David of Wales, patron saint of Wales, died. In 1562, Roman Catholic troops killed Protestants at Vassy, France, in an incident that precipitated the Wars of Religion.

Today in Music History for March 1: In 1810, Polish composer Frederic Chopin, who brought romantic piano music to new heights, was born near Warsaw. He established the piano as a solo instrument, free from the influence of an orchestra or chorus.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 6: Dancer-actress Carmen de Lavallade is 94. Actress-writer Joanna Miles is 85. Actor Ben Murphy is 83. Jazz singer Flora Purim is 83. Opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is 81. Drummer Hugh Grundy of The Zombies is 80.