Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for April 30: Guitarist Johnny Farina of the instrumental duo Santo and Johnny is 84. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is 79. Actor Perry King ("Riptide") is 77. Movie director Allan Arkush is 77.

Today in History for April 30: In 311, Roman Emperor Galerius issued the first edict of toleration for Christianity, ending three centuries of persecution.

Today in Music History for April 30: In 1925, country singer Johnny Horton was born in Tyler, Texas. His "Battle of New Orleans" sold one million copies in 1959, as did his 1960 "North to Alaska," the title song from a John Wayne movie.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 29: Singer Willie Nelson is 91. Conductor Zubin Mehta is 89. Rock bassist Klaus Voorman is 87. Singer Bob Miranda of The Happenings is 83. Country singer Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys is 82. Singer Tommy James is 78.

Today in History for April 29: In 1429, Joan of Arc entered Orleans, France to score her great victory in driving out the English. In 1607, English settlers established the first Anglican church in the American colonies at Cape Henry, Va.

Today in Music History for April 29: In 1899, jazz musician, composer and bandleader Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington was born in Washington, D.C.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 28: Violinist Steven Staryk is 93. Actress-singer Ann-Margret is 84. Chef-author Alice Waters is 81. Singer Ginette Reno is 79. Actor Paul Guilfoyle ("CSI") is 76. Former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is 75.

Today in History for April 28: In 1220, Bishop Poore laid the first five stones of the famed Salisbury Cathedral in England, one each for himself, Archbishop Stephen Langton, Pope Honorius III, Earl William and Countess Ela of Salisbury.

Today in Music History for April 28: In 1932, violinist Steven Staryk, considered the leading Canadian-born virtuoso of his generation, was born in Toronto.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 27: Drummer Jerry Mercer (April Wine) is 86. Drummer Jim Keltner is 83. Opera singer Judith Blegen is 82. Country banjo player and singer Herb Pedersen is 81. Singer Ann Peebles is 78.