On February third, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash in Iowa. Holly was 22, Valens was 17 and the Big Bopper was 28.
In 1967, Jimi Hendrix recorded "Purple Haze" in London. It was released in March in the U.K. as a follow-up to his first British single "Hey Joe."
In 1968, Paul McCartney recorded "Lady Madonna" at the Abbey Road studios. The record is credited to The Beatles, but McCartney played with unknown session musicians.
In 1969, The Beatles, over objections from Paul McCartney, hired manager Allen Klein to straighten out the band's financial affairs. The band's mismanagement and money problems eventually led to its breakup.
In 1978, Harry Chapin met with President Carter at the White House as Carter announced the establishment of a commission on hunger. Chapin spent months lobbying Congress for the creation of the commission.
In 1993, singer Gloria Estefan got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with about 400 fans and family members on hand.
In 1996, actress Audrey Meadows died of cancer in Los Angeles. She was 71.
In 2003, authorities arrested producer Phil Spector at his mansion in suburban Los Angeles. The body of actress Lana Clarkson had been found in the foyer.
In 2007, The Dixie Chicks won five Grammys, including album of the year for "Taking the Long Way." The album had been largely ignored by country music stations.
Today's birthdays: Comedian Shelley Berman is 87. Actress Blythe Danner is 69. Singer Dennis Edwards (The Temptations) is 69. Guitarist Dave Davies of The Kinks is 65. Singer Melanie is 65. Actress Morgan Fairchild is 62. Actor Nathan Lane is 56. Guitarist Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth is 56. Actor Thomas Calabro ("Melrose Place") is 53. Actress Michele Greene ("L.A. Law") is 50. Country singer Matraca Berg is 48. Actress Maura Tierney ("ER," "NewsRadio") is 47. Singer Daddy Yankee is 36. Singer Jessica Harp (The Wreckers) is 30. Rapper Sean Kingston is 22.
Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.
