Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 17: Singer Gary Puckett of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap is 82. Actor Michael McKean is 77. Actor George Wendt is 76. Actor-singer Bill Hudson is 75. Singer-songwriter Shari Ulrich is 73.

Today in Music History for Oct. 17: In 1948, Montreal's "Pro Musica Society" presented its first chamber music concert, featuring the Stuyvesant String Quartet and clarinetist Clark Brody.

Today in History for Oct. 17: In 1483, Pope Sixtus IV launched the Spanish Inquisition, placing it under the joint direction of the Catholic Church and state.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 16: Actor-producer Tony Anthony is 87. Actor Barry Corbin ("One Tree Hill," ''Northern Exposure") is 84. Canadian bassist C.F. Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 81. Guitarist Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead is 77.

Today in Music History for Oct. 16: In 1923, "The Societe Canadienne D'operette Inc.," one of the first opera companies in Quebec, presented its first production, "Offenbach's Les Brigands," at the Monument National in Montreal.

Today in History for Oct. 16: In 1555, in Oxford, England, bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake for heresy because of their Protestant beliefs.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 15: Singer Barry McGuire is 89. Canadian Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the N.H.L, is 89. Actress Linda Lavin ("Alice") is 87. Drummer Don Stevenson of Moby Grape is 83.

Today in Music History for Oct. 15: In 1932, the Winnipeg Auditorium, the city's main concert hall until 1968, was opened by Prime Minister R. B. Bennett. The building was remodeled in 1975 to house the Provincial Archives and Library.

Today in History for Oct. 15: In 1542, the great Mogul emperor Jalaluddin Akbar was born in India. In 1582, the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Catholic countries. As a result, 10 days were lost as the calendar jumped from Oct. 4 to Oct. 15.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 14: Classical pianist Gary Graffman is 96. Movie director Carroll Ballard is 87. Country singer Melba Montgomery is 86. Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is 85. Singer Sir Cliff Richard is 84. Actor Udo Kier is 80.