On this day: February 7, 1987

Paul Simon flew to London on February 7, 1987. All in all, not that notable of an event. However, once he landed he was immediately forced to defend his choice of music for his latest album, Graceland.

Simon had chosen to use local black musicians from South Africa on the album, a decision that rubbed many the wrong way due to an international political boycott of the country due to racial segregation.

Unfazed, Simon defended his choice saying music can never have political frontiers- the end justifies the means, especially when great musicians are provided with a wider international platform on which to perform. In the end, Simon was proven right as Graceland became one of his most successful albums.

Other notable events for February 7:
-1,000 mourners attend the funeral of Buddy Holly on Feb. 7, 1959. The funeral took place at Lubbock City Cemetery in Texas
-George Harrison undergoes surgery for a tonsillectomy on Feb. 7, 1965 at London's University College Hospital
-Pink Floyd premiers their live version of The Wall on Feb. 7, 1980 in LA
-Axl Rose is born Feb. 7, 1962
-Beatlemania ensues as the Fab Four touch down at New York's Kennedy Airport on Feb. 7, 1964. A riot almost occurs in the excitement of 10,000 fans seeing the supergroup land in America for the first time