Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for May 15: In 1918, country crooner Eddy Arnold was born at a farm near Henderson, Tenn.

Today in History for May 15: In 1248, Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden laid the cornerstone for a cathedral in Cologne, Germany.

Today in History for May 14: In 347, St. Pachomius, who was born in Egypt and founded the first monastery, died. In 1565, German Protestant reform theologian Nicolaus von Amsdorf died.

Today in History for May 12: In 1534, Wurttemberg, in Germany, became Lutheran. In 1588, the Catholic League under Duke Henri de Guise occupied Protestant controlled Paris.

Today in History for is May 13: In 1110, Crusaders captured Beirut, causing a bloodbath. In 1607, the English colony at Jamestown, Va., was settled. In 1881, a revised New Testament went on sale. By day's end, 800,000 copies had been sold.

Today in History for May 17: In 1630, the belts of the planet Jupiter were first observed.

Today in Music History for May 16: In 1896, violinist Frantz Jehin-Prume, the first musician of international reputation to choose Canada as his home, gave his final concert in Montreal with pianist Victoria Cartier.

Today in Music History for May 14: In 1936, singer Bobby Darin, whose real name was Walden Robert Cassotto, was born in New York City. Darin's big break came in 1958 when he wrote and recorded "Splish Splash," which reached No. 3 on the U.S.

Today in History for May 16: In 587, Irish monk St. Bredan died. He's known for setting out in the Atlantic with two other monks in a skin boat and possibly travelling as far as North America.

Today in Music History for May 13: In 1919, the first Manitoba Music Competition Festival opened in Winnipeg. About 2,500 performers took part in the first festival, sponsored by the Men's Musical Club.