1970 : Jimi Hendrix opens Electric Ladyland Studios in New York City. He dies a few months later, but the studio lives on, with many major acts recording there over the years.

1970 : Elton John plays his first live show in the United States, opening for David Ackles at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. It’s the first show of a 17-night run in which Quincy Jones and Leon Russell see him perform. Elton gets great reviews and a big career boost in America.

1994 : Jimmy Buffett crashes his seaplane while trying to take off in Nantucket. He swims to safety.

1994 : Billy Joel is officially divorced from model Christie Brinkley. Their marriage lasted nine years.

2009 : Chris Brown is sentenced to five years probation and six months hard labor for beating Rihanna when he was arrested for the assault earlier in February 2009, the night of the Grammy awards. He and Rihanna, who had been dating, were in Los Angeles for the event. Chris Brown is also ordered to stay away from her for the next five years. He is also ordered to undergo a full year of domestic violence counseling. According to the Associated Press, the sentencing judge told Brown that he could be sent to state prison if he violated any terms of the sentence.