Today in Music History - May 26 Today in Music History for May 26: In 735, Bede the Venerable, known as the father of English church history, Benedictine monk, priest, writer, hymn writer, died at about age 62. He was educated at Jarrow and spent the rest of his life in the monastery in Northumberland, in the north of England. In 1811, American Methodist clergyman William Hunter was born. The author of three collections of hymns, published during his lifetime, Hunter is best remembered for the hymn "The Great Physician Now is Near." In 1920, soulful singing legend Peggy Lee was born. Lee is best known for her rendition of "Fever" and in 1969 she won a Grammy award for best contemporary female vocal performance for the hit "Is That All There Is?" She died of a heart attack on Jan. 21, 2002, at her Bel Air, Calif., home.