February 10

Births

1937: Roberta Flack (Singer / Songwriter)

1949: Nigel Olsson (Drummer with the Elton John band)

1962: Cliff Burton (Original Bassist for Metallica)

1978: Don Omar (Reggaeton Artist)

Events

1942: 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' by Glen Miller and his Orchestra becomes the first recording to be awarded a Gold record. It was actually just a master copy of the disc sprayed with gold lacquer by RCA as a publicity stunt. The actual award recognized today as a Gold Record would not be initiated for another sixteen years when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) borrowed the idea and trademarked the Gold Record. The first Gold single was awarded to Perry Como in 1958 for "Catch A Falling Star" and the first Gold album was given to Gordon McRae for the soundtrack to Oklahoma.

1964: The American press reports that millions of teenage boys are suddenly sporting Beatle-style hairdos (or attempting to) after last night's historic appearance on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show. Meanwhile, the Beatles give yet another press conference, this time from the lobby of New York's Plaza Hotel, where the group is staying.

1965: Chad and Jeremy guest star on CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show.

1966: Bob Marley married Rita Anderson a singer in the group The Soulettes. The couple had three children together.

1971: Carole King's Album "Tapestry" was released.

1973: Liverpool's Cavern Club -- where the Beatles were born -- is given three months to close down by British Rail, who need the site to complete their new underground railway.

1974: Producer Phil Spector is seriously burned in a mysterious car crash while en route from Los Angeles to Phoenix, AZ, leading to extensive plastic surgery that furthers his reclusiveness.

1975: Dave Alexander, the original bassist for The Stooges died from pneumonia aged 28. He was fired from the band in August 1970 after showing up at a gig too drunk to play.

1976: Elvis Presley is made an honorary Captain in the Memphis Police Department.

1977: The Clash started recording their debut album at CBS studios in London, England.

1978: Van Helen’s debut Album is released and is a total of 35:13 minutes long and has sold over 10 Million copies in the US alone.

1993: ABC's prime-time Oprah Winfrey special features the first interview with Michael Jackson in 15 years. In it, Jackson makes his famous claim that he suffers from Vitiligo, a skin condition that accounts for his loss of pigmentation. The singer also claims he's only had two minor plastic surgery operations.

1997: Brian Connolly singer with the 1970's Glam rock group Sweet died of kidney and liver failure aged 47. Connolly replaced Ian Gillan (later of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath) in Wainwright's Gentlemen who became Sweetshop and then shortened to Sweet.

2004: Diana Ross was sentenced to two days in jail after pleading 'no contest' to a drink driving charge. She was allowed to enter her plea over the telephone from New York; her lawyer said the singer would serve her term at a prison near her Los Angeles home. Ross was arrested in December 2002 after tests indicated she was twice over the drink- drive limit.

February 9

Births

1914: Ernest Tubb (Country Singer / Songwriter)

1942: Carole King (Singer / Songwriter)

1943: Joe Pesci

1951: Dennis Thomas (Singer & Sax with Kool & The Gang)

1960: Holly Johnson (Singer for Frankie Goes To Hollywood)

1963: Travis Tritt (Country Singer)

1966: James "Rachel" Bolan (Bass for Skid Row)

Events

1958: Ratings show that ABC's American Bandstand is now America's top-rated daytime television program, with an average of 8,400,000 viewers per day.

1964: The Beatles made their US live debut on CBS-TV's 'The Ed Sullivan Show'; they performed five songs including their current No.1 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' watched by an estimated 73 million people. The show had received over 50,000 applications for the 728 seats in the TV studio.

1967: Canadian conductor Percy Faith died of cancer at age 67.

1974: Iggy Pop and his band, The Stooges, play a notorious gig at Detroit’s Michigan Palace. One of their last concerts, the show finds Pop verbally abusing and taunting the audience, who respond with barely restrained violence. The concert makes its way to record as Metallic KO.

1981: American singer Bill Haley was found dead, fully clothed on his bed at his home in Harlington, Texas from a heart attack.

2001: After being booted from the "reunion" lineup of the Eagles, guitarist and original member Don Felder files a lawsuit against the group.

February 8

Births

1932: John Williams (Composer)

1941: Tom Rush (Folk Singer / Songwriter)

1943: Creed Bratton (William Charles Schneider) (Guitar for The Grass Roots & Creed on The Office)

1944: Jim Capaldi (Drums for Traffic)

1948: "England" Dan Seals (Singer / Songwriter)

1948: Ron Tyson (Singer in The Temptations)

1961: Vince Neil (Singer for Motley Crue)

1961: Sammy Llanas (Vocals & Acoustic Guitar for The BoDeans)

1968: Tjinder Singh (Singer & Guitar for Cornershop)

1971: Will Turpin (Bass for Collective Soul)

1977: Dave 'Phoenix' Ferrell (Bass for Linkin Park)

1985: Jeremy Davis (Bass for Paramore)

Events

1956: Buddy Holley signs a recording contract with Decca Records, one which mistakenly drops the "e" from his last name. Buddy, knowing a good thing when he sees it, drops the letter from his name as well.

1964: In response to the public uproar over the "pornographic" nature of the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie," Max Firetag, the song's publisher, offers $1,000 to anyone who can find anything suggestive in the lyrics.

1965: Dave Clark Five begin filming their movie Catch Us if You Can.

1967: The duo Peter and Gordon announce their split.

1969: After jamming together for some time, Cream's Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker announce the formation of Blind Faith along with Traffic's Steve Winwood and Rick Grech of Family. One of the first "supergroups," their alliance would result in one album and an ill-fated tour before collapsing, in only six months, under intense scrutiny from the media and the public.

1972: The Beatles' official fan club disbands.

1980: David Bowie and wife Angela are divorced after nearly a decade of marriage, with custody of son Zowie (now known as Joe) going to David. Angela was the inspiration for the Rolling Stones' hit "Angie."

1981: R.E.M. made their first ever-recording sessions at Bombay Studios Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included 'Gardening At Night', 'Radio Free Europe' and '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville.

1988: The three remaining members of the Who reunite at Royal Albert Hall for the British Phonographic Industry awards, leading to a full-fledged 25th anniversary tour the next year.

1990: Suffering from depression American singer songwriter Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds.

1993: Tom Jones guest stars on an episode of NBC's The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air.

1996: Travis Tritt proposes to Theresa Nelson at home near Marietta, Georgia, a year after they first met. He gets down on one knee and offers a six carat diamond.

2000: It was announced that Stan "the Man" Lee would create a comic book of the Backstreet Boys.

2006: Kelly Clarkson won two Grammys. The awards were for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Since U Been Gone" and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Breakaway". She was the first "American Idol" participant to win a Grammy. She also performed "Because of You" at the show.

February 7

Births

1934: Earl King (Blues Guitarist & Singer)

1934: King Curtis (Sax Player)

1948: Jimmy Greenspoon (Keyboards for Three Dog Night)

1962: David Bryan (Keyboards for Bon Jovi)

1962: Garth Brooks (Country Artist)

1965: Chris Rock (Comedian)

1968: Sully Erna (Singer for Godsmack)

1974: J Dilla (Jay Dee) (James Dewitt Yancey) (DJ, Rapper and Producer)

1975: Wes Borland (Guitar for Limp Bizkit)

Events

1959: Buddy Holly's funeral is held at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX, drawing over a thousand mourners. Holly's widow did not attend. On the same day, Ritchie Valens is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

1963: Patsy Cline has what proves to be the last recording session of her career at Nashville's Columbia Recording Studio.

1964: The Kinks appear on ITV's Ready Steady Go! performing their version of "Long Tall Sally."

1964: Shortly after 1:00 p.m. EST, Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight number 101 lands at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Over 3,000 screaming fans, many in tears, are waiting to greet the Beatles as they arrive for their first American tour (and an appearance on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show). The Beatles are taken to the Plaza Hotel after a press conference at the airport. ("What do you think of the campaign in Detroit to stamp out the Beatles?" Paul: "We've got a campaign of our own to stamp out Detroit.") On the same day, Baskin-Robbins responds to the furor by introducing a flavor of ice cream called "Beatle-Nut."

1965: George Harrison is admitted to London's University College Hospital with an infected back molar, which has also infected his tonsils, necessitating their removal. The tonsils are destroyed so that they can't be sold to fans.

1969: Tom Jones' UK variety show This Is Tom Jones premieres on ABC after the network pays out over $20 million for the rights.

1969: Doors singer Jim Morrison was arrested for drunk driving and driving with no license in Los Angeles, California.

1976: Paul Simon started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with '50 Ways To Leave Your Lover', the singers first solo US No.1.

1979: The Clash kick off their first American tour at the Berkeley Community Theatre outside San Francisco.

1981: Kool & The Gang started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Celebration' the group's first No.1.

1985: Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" becomes the official anthem of New York City.

1989: The Georgia State Legislature sponsors a bill to make Little Richard's "Tutti-Frutti" the official state song. It doesn't pass.

1994: Blind Melon's lead singer Shannon Hoon was forced to leave the American Music Awards ceremony for his loud and disruptive behavior. Hoon was later charged with battery, assault, resisting arrest, and destroying a police station phone.

1995: Rapper Tupac Shakur was sentenced to 1 to 4 1/2 years in jail for sexual abuse.

2000:  Rapper Big Punisher (Big Pun) (Christopher Lee Rios) died of a heart attack, aged 28. The rapper had weighed 780 lb’s when he had the attack.

2003: Courtney Love arrived at a benefit concert at London's Old Vic Theatre dressed as Donald Duck. Courtney joined Elton John on stage for a version of 'The Bitch Is Back'.

2008: Amy Winehouse was told she could not perform at this year's Grammy awards ceremony because her US visa application has been rejected by the embassy in London. The singer was arrested for marijuana possession in Norway last year. Winehouse has been nominated for six Grammy awards.

2009: Toby Keith wades into the audience at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center in Pikeville to confront a concert-goer who threw a beer at the stage. The offender is evicted from the venue.

February 6

Births

1943: Fabian (Fabiano Anthony Forte) (Singer)

1945: Bob Marley (Reggae Singer)

1950: Natalie Cole (Singer)

1950: Punky Meadows (Guitarist for Angel)

1962: Axl Rose (William Bruce Rose) (Singer with Guns N' Roses)

1966: Rick Astley (Singer)

Events

1939: Elvis Presley's father Vernon is released from Parchment Penitentiary in McComb MS, after serving eight months of a 14-month sentence for check forgery.

1943: Having left his position as singer in the Tommy Dorsey Band four months earlier, Frank Sinatra makes his debut as vocalist on radio's Your Hit Parade.

1971: Richard Thompson leaves Fairport Convention for a solo career that would also include several highly-regarded duet albums with wife Linda.

1962: Decca Records rejects the Beatles.

1982: The J Geils Band started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Centrefold', the bands only US No.1. The bands album 'Freeze- Frame' started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart on the same day.

1989: Jamaican sound engineer, and producer King Tubby died after being shot in the street outside his home.

1990: Billy Idol suffered serious injuries when he failed to pull up at a stop sign and crashed from his Harley-Davidson motorbike into a car.

1990: Over 200 women filed court actions against Chuck Berry after it was alleged that he had been secretly filming them in the toilets of the restaurant he owned.

1998: Carl Wilson (Vocals & Guitar for Beach Boys) died from brain and lung cancer at age 51.

1998: Austrian singer Falco (Johann Holzel) was killed in a road accident after his car collided with a bus. He scored the 1986 No.1 single 'Rock Me Amadeus' making him the first-ever Austrian act to score a US No.1 hit single.

2001: Guitarist Don Felder was fired from The Eagles. He would later launch a $50 million law suit against drummer Don Henley and guitarist Glen Frey, alleging wrongful termination and breach of implied-in-fact contract. Henley and Frey then countersued Felder for breach of contract, alleging that Felder had written and attempted to sell the rights to a "tell-all" book. Both parties settled out-of-court for an undisclosed amount.

2003: ABC's 20/20 airs the British documentary Living With Michael Jackson which raises some "disturbing" questions about the singer.