Very Important

The first coin-operated phonograph is installed in The Palais Royal Saloon, San Francisco, California, USA, by the Pacific Phonograph Company. This development is widely accepted as the birth of the jukebox. The increasing popularity of the jukebox over the years will inspire many songwriters to write songs about the machine, which will be recorded by numerous artists, including Jukebox Saturday Night [1939] by Glenn Miller and Jukebox Baby [1954] by Perry Como and Mr Jukebox [1963] by Ernest Tubb.

Mamie Smith records Crazy Blues and It's Right Here For You, If You Don't Get It, 'Tain't No Fault of Mine, for Okeh Records in New York City, USA. These are the first recordings of vocal blues by an African American singer - arguably the first blues recordings - and Crazy Blues will become an explosive best seller, selling a million copies in one year.

Elvis Presley is in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, re-shooting the ending of Wild In The Country, because pre-release screening audiences did not like the original ending in which Hope Lange committed suicide.

Death disc Johnny Remember Me by John Leyton is awarded a Silver Disc in the UK.

Jazz pianist, band leader and recording artist Sonny Clark dies, aged 31, in New York City, USA. The cause of his death is listed as a heart attack, but it is widely believed to have been caused by a heroin overdose.

Folksinger and folklorist Paul Clayton commits suicide, aged 36, by taking an electric heater into his bathtub with him in New York City, USA. It is said that the 1965 Bob Dylan song It's All Over Now Baby Blue and the 1970 Joni Mitchell song Blue are both said to have been inspired by Clayton.

With the Paul Is Dead conspiracy theory at its height, Dr. Oscar Tosi, assistant professor of audiology at Michigan State University, compares voice recordings of Paul McCartney of The Beatles from before and after his alleged 1966 death date. The results prove conclusively that both voice prints are identical and, therefore, McCartney is not dead.

In the largest anti-war rally in American history, over 500,000 peace protesters take part in the March Against Death in Washington DC., USA. Performers at the rally include Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul And Mary, Arlo Guthrie, John Denver, Mitch Miller, and the touring cast of Hair.

After suffering from a bleeding ulcer for months, Gene Vincent dies of a seizure in Newhall, California, USA. English rock artist Ian Dury, a lifelong Gene Vincent fan will, in due course, be inspired to write the song Sweet Gene Vincent (1979) about his life and death.

Pioneering British r'n'b bandleader Graham Bond dies aged 36 under the wheels of a Piccadilly line train at Finsbury Park station, London, England, UK, Europe. Most sources list Bond's death as a suicide.

Jackson Browne begins recording sessions for his fourth album, The Pretender, with producer Jon Landau. The sessions will, however, be abandoned on the 25th when Browne's wife Phyllis Major commits suicide.

Having checked into hospital with stomach pains, in New York City, USA, jazz organist Larry Young dies. He was said to be being treated for pneumonia, but the actual cause of his death is not clear.

Freddy Owens, a latterday bass and sax-playing member of The Rhondels, is robbed and shot dead by Jeremiah Carr at a Holiday Inn motel in Richmond, Virginia, USA, where the band has a show. Owens had attempted to stop Carr from escaping after Carr raped his wife.

The investigation into the causes of Elvis Presley's death is re-opened in the wake of allegations, in the tv show 20/20 in the USA, of malpractice by Presley’s doctor.

At The Jackson family home, 4641 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Encino, California, USA, Michael Jackson assists in the birth of a baby deer to his pair of pet deers, Prince and Princess. As the baby is born on Valentine's Day, he names it Valentino.

Hugh Cornwell plays his last gig with The Stranglers at Alexandra Palace, London, England, UK.

In Simi Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA, after seven days of jury deliberations, all five officers accused of the brutal battery of speeding suspect Rodney King are aquitted of assault and three of the five are aquitted of using excessive force. This is despite the existence of video footage clearing showing the battering. The jury's decision sparks off several days of rioting in Los Angeles. The attack on King and the subsequent riots will inspire several songs including We Had to Tear This Motherfucka Up by Ice Cube, April 29, 1992 [Miami] by Sublime, L.A.P.D. by The Offspring, The Day Tha Niggaz Took Over by Dr Dre, Livin' On The Edge by Aerosmith, We Shall Be Free by Garth Brooks, Like A King by Ben Harper, Rodney King by The Boo Radleys and Burn by Jughead's Revenge.

Oystein Aarseth, aka Euronymous, a member of Norwegian death metal band Burzum, is found dead in the stairwell of his building, with 23 knife wounds in his corpse.

Six year old Katherine Korzilius unexpectedly fails to return to her home in Elder Circle, Austin, Texas, USA. She is later found face down on the asphalt about six houses away from the family home. Late that night, Katherine dies from head injuries, but the precise cause of those injuries is never established and no-one is ever charged with having harmed Katherine. She was the daughter of Paul Korzilius, long-time tour manager of Bon Jovi, and in 1997 the band will release the song August 7, 4:15, inspired by the tragic events surrounding her mysterious death.

Anne Beverley, mother of Sid Vicious, bassist of The Sex Pistols, commits suicide at home in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, England, UK.

Country recording star Faron Young attempts suicide by shooting himself in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Alan Caddy, guitarist with UK instrumental hitmakers The Tornados, dies aged 60 in London, England, UK, Europe. The cause of his death is not released, but he was known to have been an alcoholic for much of his life. The band is best-remembered for their international hit single Telstar, written and produced by the controversial Joe Meek.

Lance Dickerson, who found success as the drummer with Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen, dies, having committed suicide, in Fairfax, California, USA.

Rapper Nelly and country performer Tim McGraw make music chart history when Nelly's new single, Over And Over, featuring McGraw, hits No1 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 Chart and debuts at Number 67 on the Hot RAndB/Hip-Hop Singles And Tracks Chart. No country artist had previously appeared on the Hot RAndB/Hip-Hop Singles And Track chart, and no country artist had ever previously been part of a chart-topping Mainstream Top 40 hit.

As a result of an investigation by the New York District Attorney's office, Sony BMG Music admit to using payola to get airplay for Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte and others.

Britney Spears, 23 years old, becomes a mum, giving birth to a baby boy, Preston, by Caesarean Section in UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, California, USA.

Celebrated record producer Hugh Mendl dies aged 88 in Torbay, Devon, UK, Europe. Mendl was responsible for Lonnie Donegan's first recordings, which launched the skiffle craze and led to the birth of British rock'n'roll. In the 1960s he was instrumental in bringing David Bowie and Genesis to Decca and produced The Moody Blues' album Days of Future Passed.

Singer and tv show host Charlotte Church becomes a mother for the second time, giving birth to a baby boy at her farmhouse in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, UK, with her rugby player boyfriend Gavin Henson at her side.

Cuban tv announces the death at 79 of Jorge Serguera, the former Cuban TV and radio boss who banned The Beatles' music from the country's airwaves, fearing the band's music could threaten the communist revolution.

Peter Lopez, the lawyer who represented music business clients including Michael Jackson, The Eagles, Andrea Bocelli and Michael Buble, is found dead at his home in Encino, California, USA, apparently having committed suicide by shooting himself. Lopez was married to the actress Catherine Bach.

Charlie Louvin, of country music singing duo The Louvin Brothers undergoes surgery for pancreatic cancer. He will die six months later.

Bob Weston, who played guitar with Fleetwood Mac in the early 70s, is found dead, aged 64, by police at his home in Brent Cross, London, England, UK, Europe. The cause of death is reported to have been a gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Polly Samson, wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, helps police to rescue a man attempting to commit suicide in freezing water near her beach-side home in Hove, East Sussex, UK. The man - who resisted being rescued - is then taken to the Royal Sussex Country Hospital, where he is arrested and sectioned.

Sony Music are heavily criticised for having increased the price of Whitney Houston's album The Ultimate Collection by 60% on Apple's iTunes Store just hours after the singer's death.

Following what appears to have been a suicide attempt, Paris Jackson, the 15-year-old daughter of deceased pop star Michael Jackson, is rushed to hospital in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Slipknot's three day long Knotfest begins at San Manuel Amphitheater And Campgrounds in San Bernardino, California, USA. Artists appearing over the three days include Danzig, Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat, Anthrax, Killswitch Engage and, er, Slipknot.

Rock drummer Johnny Toobad, aged 55, falls to his death from the top of a shopping centre in Bayswater, London, England, UK, Europe. Toobad (real name John Elichaoff) was best-known as the drummer for Stark Naked And The Car Thieves and The League Of Gentlemen. He had been talked down from the same ledge two weeks earlier by police officers.

Peter Green, founder of Fleetwood Mac and an influential British blues guitarist, dies, aged 73, in Canvey Island, Essex, England, UK, Europe. No cause of death is immediately released, but he had suffered extensive periods of mental ilness for many years.

Hilton Valentine, best-known as the guitarist of 60s band The Animals, dies aged 77, in Connecticut, USA. No cause of his death is released.

Several days after his death, the body of Johnny Rogan, among the most prolific and well-regarded music biographers of his generation, is found in his flat in London, England, UK, Europe.

David Crosby dies after a long illness, aged 81, in Santa Ynez, California, USA. He found fame as a singer and songwriter in bands including The Byrds and Crosby Stills, Nash And Young. He continuied actively working until his death.