Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Aug. 12: On this date: In 1615, the first mass in Ontario was celebrated by Father Le Caron in a Huron village near Thunder Bay.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 11: Mike Hugg, drummer with British group Manfred Mann, is 83. Songwriter Kenny Gamble of Gamble and Huff is 82. Bassist Jim Kale of the Guess Who is 82. Country singer John Conlee is 79.

Today in Music History for Aug. 11: In 1943, Jim Kale, the original bass guitarist with "The Guess Who," was born. He was also a member of "The Guess Who's" forerunner, "Chad Allan and the Expressions," a group formed in Winnipeg in the early 1960s.

Today in History for Aug. 11: On this date: In 1711, the first running at Britain's famous Ascot horse track was held.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 10: Hockey writer/former commentator Brian McFarlane is 94. Country singer Jonie Mosby is 85. Quebec singer-songwriter Louise Forestier is 82. Actor James Reynolds ("Days of Our Lives") is 79.

Today in History for Aug. 10: On this date: In 258, St. Lawrence was martyred in Rome. Traditional accounts say that he was slowly roasted on a gridiron. (Modern historians have disputed the account's likelihood.

Today in Music History for Aug. 10: In 1909, Leo Fender, the man who perfected the electric guitar, was born in Buena Park, Calif. His company manufactured the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar in 1948.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 9: Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy is 97. Tennis Hall-of-Famer Rod Laver is 87. Jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette is 83. Comedian-director David Steinberg is 83. Actor Sam Elliott is 81.

Today in History for Aug. 9: On this date: In 1535, French explorer Jacques Cartier discovered the Mingan Islands, between Anticosti Island and the Quebec mainland.

Today in Music History for Aug. 9: In 1914, Canadian fiddler King Ganam was born Ameen Sied in Swift Current, Sask., to Syrian-English parents. He formed "The Sons of the West" in Edmonton in 1942.