LOS ANGELES, June 10 (UPI) -- Hollywood's Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation said they are working on a big-screen adaptation of the beloved animated series "Smurfs."

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. and British rabbis participating in a Beirut conference on Palestinians' right of return said they did not recognize Israel, founded on Palestinian land.

Composer and pianist Hall Overton was born this day in 1920 in Bangor, Mich. He played with Stan Getz, Oscar Pettiford, Teddy Charles and Jimmy Rainey, and wrote arrangements for Thelonious Monk's historic orchestral concert at Town Hall in 1959.

Cornetist Rex Stewart was born this day in Philadelphia in 1907. He succeeded Louis Armstrong in Fletcher Henderson's orchestra where he quickly proved himself a highly charged and energetic soloist.

Pianist and composer Tadd Dameron was born this day in 1917 in Cleveland. Under-acknowledged during his career, he is considered today to have been one of the first great jazz arrangers.

Saxophonist and flute player Bobby Jaspar was born this date in 1926 in Liege, Belgium. He developed his jazz reputation in Paris in the early 1950s before moving to New York, where he soon performed or toured with J.J. Johnson, Miles Davis, Donald Byrd a

Tenor saxophonist David Murray was born this day in 1955 in Berkeley, Calif. He began his career as a free player, sitting in with Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry and Anthony Braxton. By the early 1980s, his music moved back into a more structured swing format.

Tenor saxophonist Harold Land was born this day in 1928 in Houston. He came to national prominence as a member of the Max Roach-Clifford Brown quintet in 1954 and 1955.

Guitarist John Pisano was born this day in 1931 in New York. He spent nearly 10 years as an accompanist to singer Peggy Lee, toured the world as a member of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, and wrote songs for the Sergio Mendes group, Brazil '66.