February 8

Births

1931: James Dean (Actor)

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)

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 that 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.

1967: The duo Peter and Gordon announce that the will 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.

1969: George Harrison's tonsils were removed at London's University College Hospital. The tonsils were destroyed so they could not be sold.

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.

1994: Oasis were forced to cancel their first foreign tour after they were deported from Holland. The band were involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the ferry.

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.