Today's Tune: "Sorcerers" By Angel Witch

I once dressed up as Severus Snape for Halloween.
Hey, I had the long hair and the black robe.
Never you mind why I had the robe!

Happy Birthday to J. K. Rowling! The author of the hugely successful 'Harry Potter' fantasy book series turns 45 years old today. Born Joanne Rowling, she started life in the town of Yate, near Bristol, England. When she married, her legal name became Joanne Murray.

There are seven books in the 'Harry Potter' series which, along with the subsequent movie adaptations, has made the charitable minded Rowling a very rich woman.

These books are centered around the make-believe world of wizards, also known as sorcerers. Whilst thinking about the books and their counterpart films, I came up with our 'Today's Tune'. I was especially mulling over the first novel 'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone', which was retitled 'Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone' for us in the States.

Staying with creatures of magical abilities, I've picked the song "Sorcerers" (1980) by British cult metal band Angel Witch.

Angel Witch - "Sorcerers"

Today's Tune: "The Wizard" By Black Sabbath

Happy Birthday Robbie Coltrane! Coltrane, born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950, is a Scottish actor, comedian and author. He is well known by many for his role as Dr Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald in the brilliantly done British TV crime drama series Cracker (1993–1996, 2006 one-off special). Coltrane is mostly thought of these days however, as Rubeus Hagrid, from his appearances throughout the entire magical series (2001–2011) of 'Harry Potter' films.

Before he worked in the 'Harry Potter' films, he had another role, where he actually had some magical power of his own. In the 1988 special holiday television episode of hilarious comedy series Blackadder, called Blackadder's Christmas Carol, he played the part of The Spirit of Christmas.

With this character in mind, as well as his taking part in movies (Harry Potter) about wizards, our 'Today's Tune' is "The Wizard" (1970) by England's Black Sabbath.

Black Sabbath - "The Wizard" (1970)

Today's Tune: "Oo-De-Lally" By Roger Miller

King John of England (Reigned April 6, 1199 to October 19, 1216) was married for the second time (First was annulled) on August 24, 1200. He earned himself the reputation of being a greedy and power hungry man through some very ruthless actions, including while he was still a prince and his brother King Richard I was away at "that crazy Crusade". He eventually signed the power limiting Magna Carta, though it took serious pressure to bring that about. With King John in mind, I've selected Roger Miller's "Oo-De-Lally" from Walt Disney's 'Robin Hood' for 'Today's Tune'.

August 12 birthdays: 1957 - English actor, comedian and author Stephen Fry (Blackadder, A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, Jeeves And Wooster), 1958 - American actor and comedian Steve Guttenberg ('Police Academy', 'Cocoon', 'Three Men And A Baby'), 1960 - American baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr. (Baltimore Orioles), 1988 - English actor Rupert Grint ('Harry Potter', 'Driving Lessons', 'Wild Target').

Roger Miller - "Oo-De-Lally" from Walt Disney's 'Robin Hood'