This Day in Rock & Roll History for February 6

Reggae legend Bob Marley is born. (1945)

The Del-Vikings' first and biggest hit, "Come Go with Me," debuts on the pop chart. In four weeks, it peaks at #5 while on the R&B chart, it hits #3. (1957)

Jesse Belvin, an important figure in West Coast R&B during the Fifties, dies in an automobile accident in Los Angeles. He made his biggest impact as the co-author of "Earth Angel," the Peguins' classic from 1954. Belvin was 20 years old. (1960)

Axl Rose of Guns & Roses is born. (1962)

John Lennon's "Instant Karma" backed with Yoko ono's "Who Has Seen the Wind?" is released in the U.K. on Apple Records. (1970)

A New York Post headline reads "Surviving Beatles Plan New Album as Lennon Tribute." In fact, Ringo Starr was in Montserrat working with Paul McCartney on this "Tug of War" LP. George Harrison was not around. The album, however, did contain McCartney's elegy to his late partner John Lennon, "Here Today." (1981)

Van Halen's remake of Roy Orbinson's 1964 chart topper, "Oh, Pretty Woman," enters the Hot 100, where it will peak at #12, making it the band's biggest hit single thus far in their career. (1982)

Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" enters the pop chart at #63. The song will catapult the singer to the top of charts near the end of next month. (1982)

Joan Jett makes her acting debut, co-starring with Michael J. Fox in "Light Of Day." (1987)

The late Sonny Bono declares his candidacy for mayor of Palm Springs. (1987)

Billy Idol breaks several bones in a serious motorcycle accident. He had been scheduled to have a major role in Oliver Stone's "The Doors" but because of the accident he had to give it up. (1990)

Rapper Tupac Shakur is sentenced to 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in prison on a sexual assault charge. (1995)

Beach Boy Carl Wilson dies of lung cancer at age 51 in Los Angeles. (1998)

Singer Falco, who had a hit with "Rock Me Amadeus," is killed in a traffic accident in the Dominican Republic. (1998)

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