Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Feb. 6)

Today's birthdays include Fabian (real name: Fabiano Forte), who was born in 1943 (age 60); Natalie Cole in 1950 (age 53); Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose in 1962 (age 41); and Rick Astley in 1966 (age 34).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1960, Jesse Belvin was killed in an auto accident. He was 26.

In 1971, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn made their debut as a duo on the U.S. country charts with "After The Fire Is Gone."

In 1981, Yoko Ono's "Walking On Thin Ice" -- the song she and John Lennon were mixing the night Lennon was murdered -- was released. The tune featured Lennon on guitar.

Also in 1981, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr recorded "All Those Years Ago," a tribute to John Lennon.

In 1995, Pearl Jam performed two free concerts in Seattle for fan club members only.

Also in 1995, Beach Boy Brian Wilson married auto saleswoman Melinda Ledbetter in Los Angeles.

And in 1995, Jamaica marked the 50th anniversary of reggae star Bob Marley's birth by issuing four special stamps and a commemorative coin.

In 1996, a judge in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, cleared the way for Michael Jackson to shoot a music video in a Rio shantytown. Local officials had objected because they thought it'd hurt investments and tourism.

Also in 1996, Madonna told reporters in Buenos Aires she was "hurt" by criticism of her portrayal of Argentine first lady Eva Peron in the film version of the musical "Evita."

In 1997, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers made the band's live Internet debut with a cybercast of a concert from the Fillmore in San Francisco.

In 1998, Beach Boys co-founder Carl Wilson died of complications from lung cancer. He was 51.

Also in 1998, Austrian-born techno-pop singer Falco was killed in a traffic accident in the Dominican Republic. He was 40.

Today's musical quiz:

Fabian was only 14 when he signed his first recording contract. What were the circumstances surrounding this? Answer: Fabian was waiting outside his Philadelphia home for an ambulance to take his father to the hospital when the executive approached him about a job. Fabian told the guy to "go to hell." Later, after his dad recovered, he got in touch with the executive and accepted his offer.