Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 24: Ray Perkins of the '50s vocal group The Crew Cuts is 91. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson is 86. Country singer Johnny Carver is 84. Author Eric Wilson is 84. Former Beatles drummer Pete Best is 83.

Today in Music History for Nov. 24: In 1868, Scott Joplin, the foremost composer of ragtime music, was born in Texarkana, Texas. Ragtime was the earliest form of jazz to become widely popular.

Today in History for Nov. 24: On this date: In 1639, astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks first observed the transit of Venus across the Sun.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 23: Actor Franco Nero is 83. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas ("Basic Instinct," ''Showgirls") is 80. Comedy writer Bruce Vilanch ("Hollywood Squares") is 76. Singer Bruce Hornsby is 70.

Today in History for Nov. 23: In 1621, poet John Donne was elected dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. In 1765, Frederick County, Maryland, became the first colonial entity to repudiate the British Stamp Act.

Today in Music History for Nov. 23: In 1889, the Pacific Phonograph Company, owned by Louis Glass, installed the world's first jukebox at his Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 25: Actor Matt Clark is 88. Actor Christopher Riordan is 87. Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs is 84. Singer Bob Lind is 82. Actor-game show host Ben Stein is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 28: Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. is 95. Gary Troxel of the '50s pop group The Fleetwoods is 85. Singer-songwriter Bruce Channel is 84. Singer Randy Newman is 81. Movie director Joe Dante is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 29: Actress Diane Ladd is 89. Musician Chuck Mangione is 84. Singer-keyboardist Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals is 82. Rock guitarist Barry Goudreau, formerly of the group Boston, is 73. Actor Jeff Fahey is 72.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 26: Impressionist Rich Little is 86. Singer Jean Terrell (replaced Diana Ross in the Supremes) is 80. Bassist John McVie of Fleetwood Mac is 79. Actress Marianne Muellerleile is 76. Actor Scott Jacoby is 68.