TODAY IN HISTORY – FEBRUARY 6th
1945 - Born this day, Bob Marley [Robert Nesta Marley], singer, songwriter, guitarist, 'The King of Reggae', born in Rhoden Hall, St Ann's, Jamaica. Formed as The Wailers in 1964. In 1982, a set of commemorative stamps in memory of Bob Marley were issued in Jamaica. His biggest hit was the 1975 classic single No Woman No Cry. Marley also had a 1983 UK No.4 single Buffalo Soldier. A 1984 compilation album Legend spent weeks at No.1 on the UK chart.
In 1974, Eric Clapton scored a US No.1 with his version of the Bob Marley song I Shot The Sheriff - UK No.9. In 1976, an attempt was made on Bob Marley's life when seven gunmen burst into his Kingston home injuring Marley, his wife Rita and manager Don Taylor. The attack was believed to be politically motivated.
During 1980, Bob collapsed while jogging in New York's Central Park and after hospital tests he was diagnosed as having cancer. He died of lung cancer and a brain tumour on 11 May 1981 aged 36. In 1998, a music industry poll was published by London Magazine Time out, naming the top Stars from the Past 30 years. 5th was Marvin Gaye, 4th James Brown, 3rd Bob Marley, 2nd The Beatles and 1st place went to David Bowie.
In 1990, the 6th February was proclaimed a national holiday in Jamaica to commemorate his birth.
1950 - Born this day, Mike Batt, songwriter, composer, arranger, The Wombles, 1974 UK No.3 single Remember Your A Womble, composer of Bright Eyes, a 1979 UK No.1 single for Art Garfunkel.
1958 - George Harrison joined Liverpool group The Quarrymen.
1960 - 27-year-old Jesse Belvin, who scored a 1956 hit with 'Goodnight, My Love', was killed in a car accident in Hope, Arkansas. His wife and the car's driver also died of their injuries. The three were trying to make a fast get-a-way from the first ever mixed race audience concert in the town of Little Rock, after threats had been made against Belvin's life.
1962 - Born on this day, Axl Rose, (born William Bruce Rose), singer with Guns N' Roses who had the 1987 US No.1 album 'Appetite For Destruction' which spent 158 week's on the UK chart and the 1988 US No.1 & 1989 UK No.6 single 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. Finally released the long delayed album 'Chinese Democracy' album in 2008 which had been recorded over many years.
1965 - The Rolling Stones second album 'Rolling Stones No.2' started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK charts. The album followed its predecessor's tendency to largely feature R&B covers. However, it did contain three compositions from the still-developing Mick Jagger/Keith Richards songwriting team.
1966 - Born on this day, Rick Astley, singer who had the 1987 UK & US No.1 single 'Never Gonna Give You Up', which became the UK biggest seller of 87. Astley scored 7 other UK Top 10 hits, and the 1987 UK No.1 album 'Whenever You Need Somebody' spent 34 weeks on UK chart..
1967 - Pink Floyd were photographed for the weekly British girls magazine Jackie. The magazine was the best-selling teen magazine in Britain for ten years. The best-ever selling issue was the 1972 special edition to coincide with the UK tour of American singer David Cassidy.
1981 - Former Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison teamed up once again to record a musical tribute to John Lennon. The result of that session became All Those Years Ago. The song went to No.2 on the US pop music charts for three weeks. It was recorded on Harrison’s own Dark Horse label.
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. It was a No.3 hit in the UK. The bands album Freeze-Frame started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart on the same day.
1982 - Kraftwerk were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Model / Computer Love', the first German act to score a UK No.1 single. The single spent 21 weeks on the UK chart.
1986 - Feargal Sharkey's mother and sister were held at gunpoint by terrorists in Londonderry.
1988 - Tiffany started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Could've Been', a No.4 hit in the UK. Tiffany had recorded the song 5 years ago when she was 13.
1989 - Jamaican sound engineer, and producer King Tubby died after being shot in the street outside his home. Worked with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Carlton Barrett.
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. Idol is hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, after fracturing his right leg and left wrist in a motorcycle accident after apparently running a stop sign and smashing into a car.
1990 - Steve Briers of Wales recited the entire lyrics of Queen's album A Night At The Opera in 9 minutes and 58.44 seconds - backwards!
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.
1996 - Ex Jam members Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler reached a high court settlement with Paul Weller after suing him for more than £100,000, after claiming they were owed royalties and group assets.
1998 - Died this day, Carl Wilson, the Beach Boys' lead guitarist and youngest of the Wilson brothers, at the age of 51 in Los Angeles. He'd been diagnosed with lung cancer which then spread to his brain. Despite chemotherapy, Wilson lost the battle. During the group's publicised ups and downs with drugs over the years, Carl's steady influence reportedly was responsible for keeping the group together. He sang lead vocal on 'God Only Knows', 'Good Vibrations,' and 'I Can Hear Music.' Wilson sang backing vocals on Elton John's 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
1998 - Died this day, Falco, Austrian singer, was killed in a car accident. He scored the 1986 UK and US No.1 single Rock Me Amadeus.
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 - The Rolling Stones performed a free concert in Los Angeles to draw attention to global warming.
2005 - Eminem was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Like Toy Soldiers', the rappers 6th No.1, taken from the album Encore. The track featured samples from 'Toy Soldiers' by Martika and '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' by Paul Simon.
2008 - A Los Angeles judge issued a restraining order against Britney Spears' manager, after her mother made the request to the court. Lynne Spears claimed Sam Lutfi, 33, had drugged the troubled pop star and interfered with her finances. In a six-page declaration, Lynne Spears said Mr Lutfi "moved into Britney's home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances". Her declaration focused on the night of 28 January, a few days before the Grammy-winning superstar was admitted to hospital for a mental evaluation.
2011 - Irish guitarist and singer Gary Moore died in his sleep of a heart attack in his hotel room while on holiday in Estepona, Spain. Moore had been a member of Skid Row, Thin Lizzy and Colosseum II, before going solo, scoring the 1979 UK No.8 single 'Parisienne Walkways'. Moore's greatest influence in the early days was guitarist Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, who was a mentor to Moore when performing in Dublin.
2014 - Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was named as the greatest song of all time by NME. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was one of the last songs written for Nirvana's breakthrough album, 'Nevermind', which was released in 1991. The rest of the top 5 tracks were: 5: 'Last Nite', The Strokes, 4: 'How Soon Is Now?', The Smiths, 3: 'I Feel Love', Donna Summer, 2: 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', Joy Division.
1945 - Born this day, Bob Marley [Robert Nesta Marley], singer, songwriter, guitarist, 'The King of Reggae', born in Rhoden Hall, St Ann's, Jamaica. Formed as The Wailers in 1964. In 1982, a set of commemorative stamps in memory of Bob Marley were issued in Jamaica. His biggest hit was the 1975 classic single No Woman No Cry. Marley also had a 1983 UK No.4 single Buffalo Soldier. A 1984 compilation album Legend spent weeks at No.1 on the UK chart.
In 1974, Eric Clapton scored a US No.1 with his version of the Bob Marley song I Shot The Sheriff - UK No.9. In 1976, an attempt was made on Bob Marley's life when seven gunmen burst into his Kingston home injuring Marley, his wife Rita and manager Don Taylor. The attack was believed to be politically motivated.
During 1980, Bob collapsed while jogging in New York's Central Park and after hospital tests he was diagnosed as having cancer. He died of lung cancer and a brain tumour on 11 May 1981 aged 36. In 1998, a music industry poll was published by London Magazine Time out, naming the top Stars from the Past 30 years. 5th was Marvin Gaye, 4th James Brown, 3rd Bob Marley, 2nd The Beatles and 1st place went to David Bowie.
In 1990, the 6th February was proclaimed a national holiday in Jamaica to commemorate his birth.
1950 - Born this day, Mike Batt, songwriter, composer, arranger, The Wombles, 1974 UK No.3 single Remember Your A Womble, composer of Bright Eyes, a 1979 UK No.1 single for Art Garfunkel.
1958 - George Harrison joined Liverpool group The Quarrymen.
1960 - 27-year-old Jesse Belvin, who scored a 1956 hit with 'Goodnight, My Love', was killed in a car accident in Hope, Arkansas. His wife and the car's driver also died of their injuries. The three were trying to make a fast get-a-way from the first ever mixed race audience concert in the town of Little Rock, after threats had been made against Belvin's life.
1962 - Born on this day, Axl Rose, (born William Bruce Rose), singer with Guns N' Roses who had the 1987 US No.1 album 'Appetite For Destruction' which spent 158 week's on the UK chart and the 1988 US No.1 & 1989 UK No.6 single 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. Finally released the long delayed album 'Chinese Democracy' album in 2008 which had been recorded over many years.
1965 - The Rolling Stones second album 'Rolling Stones No.2' started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK charts. The album followed its predecessor's tendency to largely feature R&B covers. However, it did contain three compositions from the still-developing Mick Jagger/Keith Richards songwriting team.
1966 - Born on this day, Rick Astley, singer who had the 1987 UK & US No.1 single 'Never Gonna Give You Up', which became the UK biggest seller of 87. Astley scored 7 other UK Top 10 hits, and the 1987 UK No.1 album 'Whenever You Need Somebody' spent 34 weeks on UK chart..
1967 - Pink Floyd were photographed for the weekly British girls magazine Jackie. The magazine was the best-selling teen magazine in Britain for ten years. The best-ever selling issue was the 1972 special edition to coincide with the UK tour of American singer David Cassidy.
1981 - Former Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison teamed up once again to record a musical tribute to John Lennon. The result of that session became All Those Years Ago. The song went to No.2 on the US pop music charts for three weeks. It was recorded on Harrison’s own Dark Horse label.
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. It was a No.3 hit in the UK. The bands album Freeze-Frame started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart on the same day.
1982 - Kraftwerk were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Model / Computer Love', the first German act to score a UK No.1 single. The single spent 21 weeks on the UK chart.
1986 - Feargal Sharkey's mother and sister were held at gunpoint by terrorists in Londonderry.
1988 - Tiffany started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Could've Been', a No.4 hit in the UK. Tiffany had recorded the song 5 years ago when she was 13.
1989 - Jamaican sound engineer, and producer King Tubby died after being shot in the street outside his home. Worked with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Carlton Barrett.
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. Idol is hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, after fracturing his right leg and left wrist in a motorcycle accident after apparently running a stop sign and smashing into a car.
1990 - Steve Briers of Wales recited the entire lyrics of Queen's album A Night At The Opera in 9 minutes and 58.44 seconds - backwards!
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.
1996 - Ex Jam members Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler reached a high court settlement with Paul Weller after suing him for more than £100,000, after claiming they were owed royalties and group assets.
1998 - Died this day, Carl Wilson, the Beach Boys' lead guitarist and youngest of the Wilson brothers, at the age of 51 in Los Angeles. He'd been diagnosed with lung cancer which then spread to his brain. Despite chemotherapy, Wilson lost the battle. During the group's publicised ups and downs with drugs over the years, Carl's steady influence reportedly was responsible for keeping the group together. He sang lead vocal on 'God Only Knows', 'Good Vibrations,' and 'I Can Hear Music.' Wilson sang backing vocals on Elton John's 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
1998 - Died this day, Falco, Austrian singer, was killed in a car accident. He scored the 1986 UK and US No.1 single Rock Me Amadeus.
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 - The Rolling Stones performed a free concert in Los Angeles to draw attention to global warming.
2005 - Eminem was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Like Toy Soldiers', the rappers 6th No.1, taken from the album Encore. The track featured samples from 'Toy Soldiers' by Martika and '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' by Paul Simon.
2008 - A Los Angeles judge issued a restraining order against Britney Spears' manager, after her mother made the request to the court. Lynne Spears claimed Sam Lutfi, 33, had drugged the troubled pop star and interfered with her finances. In a six-page declaration, Lynne Spears said Mr Lutfi "moved into Britney's home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances". Her declaration focused on the night of 28 January, a few days before the Grammy-winning superstar was admitted to hospital for a mental evaluation.
2011 - Irish guitarist and singer Gary Moore died in his sleep of a heart attack in his hotel room while on holiday in Estepona, Spain. Moore had been a member of Skid Row, Thin Lizzy and Colosseum II, before going solo, scoring the 1979 UK No.8 single 'Parisienne Walkways'. Moore's greatest influence in the early days was guitarist Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, who was a mentor to Moore when performing in Dublin.
2014 - Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was named as the greatest song of all time by NME. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was one of the last songs written for Nirvana's breakthrough album, 'Nevermind', which was released in 1991. The rest of the top 5 tracks were: 5: 'Last Nite', The Strokes, 4: 'How Soon Is Now?', The Smiths, 3: 'I Feel Love', Donna Summer, 2: 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', Joy Division.