Today in Music History for Sept. 2:

In 1651, Martin Boutet was appointed director of the children's choir in the parish church at Quebec City. He was the first choirmaster in the new colony.

In 1924, Rudolf Friml's operetta "Rose Marie" opened on Broadway. Set in Canada, the operetta helped perpetuate the American view of Canada as a land of Mounties, mountains and snow. Friml composed 33 operettas, most of them fairy-tale-like stories, some of which were made into movies.

In 1934, Canadian jazz saxophonist Lee Gagnon was born in Matane, Que. His quartet -- later a quintet -- was the most popular jazz group in the province in the late 1960s. In 1972, Gagnon disbanded his jazz group to work as a studio arranger and composer.

In 1934, singer Russ Columbo, who rivalled Bing Crosby and Rud

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