February 6, 1960 — Singer Jesse Belvin ("Goodnight My Love") dies at age 27 in an automobile accident in Hope, Arkansas, on his way to a performance. The mishap ends a promising career just as he is beginning with RCA Victor Records, which had the resources to groom him as the next black superstar crooner a la Nat "King" Cole.
 

February 7, 1959  — About 1,000 mourners (including Phil Everly) attend Buddy Holly's funeral in Lubbock, Texas, as Ritchie Valens is buried in San Fernando, California.

                          1963  — Weeks before her death in a plane crash, Patsy Cline finishs a three-day studio session in Nashville in which she makes her final recordings, including a rendition of the 1925 pop ballad "Always" and a cover of the prophetically titled country song "Sweet Dreams."

                          1964 — The Beatles are met by an estimated 25,000 screaming fans when they arrive at Kennedy Airport in New York for their first U.S. tour.
                          1989 — A bill is introduced into the Georgia legislature to make the state's official rock song "Tutti-Frutti," waxed in 1955 by Macon native Little Richard. The proposal fails. (A decade earlier, "Georgia On My Mind" becomes the official state song, which native son Ray Charles performs before the lawmakers when they enact it.)
February 8, 1956 — Buddy Holly signs with Decca Records, his first recording contract, two weeks after his first studio session with the label in Nashville. The document omits the "e" in his surname, so he drops it from his stage name as well.                          1990 — Struggling with depression, Del Shannon   ("Runaway," "Hats Off To Larry," "Keep Searchin'") dies of a self-inflicted gunshot in his Santa Clarita, California, home at age 55. February 10, 1942 — RCA Victor presents the first gold record to Glen Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo" as a promotional gimmick for the sale of one million discs. The idea catches on with other labels and the Recording Industry Association of America makes it official in 1958, certifying gold records for singles and albums that earn over $1 million.

                            1950 — Ray Charles has his first chart hit under his own name when "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" enters the R&B hit list, rising to #5. He previously recorded with the Maxin Trio.
                             1958 — The Apollo label issues the debut record by the Chesters ("The Fires Burn No More"). They later become Little Anthony & The Imperials.
                                         — The Shirelles' maiden single, "I Met Him On A Sunday," is released on the Tiara label and rises to #49 pop after Decca reissues it, the first of the group's 26 hits over the next nine years.
                             1967 — After seven years at Columbia Records, Aretha Franklin releases her first single on Atlantic, "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)." It becomes a chart topper (#1 R&B, #9 pop) and her first gold record, clearing her path to the throne as the Queen of Soul.

February 12, 1961 — "Shop Around" by the Miracles led by Smokey Robinson on the Tamla label is certified a gold record, becoming the first million-selling hit for Berry Gordy's Motown Records Corporation, whose name replaces Tamla. 
 

Sources:
Eight Days a Week (Ron Smith)
On This Day in Black Music History (Jay Warner)
Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000 (Frank Hoffman)
calendar.songfacts.com
onthisday.com/music