1 January:JOSEPH SADDLER bka GRANDMASTER FLASH = Bajan American hip hop musician and DJ
8 January:STEVE GARVEY = English bass guitarist, member of The Buzzcocks {1977-1981, 1989-1992} and The Teardrops {1978-1980}
9 January:HILLEVI MARTINPELTO = Swedish operatic soprano
11 January:VICKI PETERSON = American rock musician (lead guitar, vocals) and songwriter, member of The Bangles {1981–1989, 1998-}
24 January:JOOLS HOLLAND = English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and television presenter. He was an original member of the band Squeeze {1974-1982, 1985-1990} and is leader of Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra {1994-present}
16 February:TRACY LAUREN MARROW bka ICE-T = American rapper and actor
21 February:
JOHN BURNS bka JAKE BURNS = British singer and guitarist, member of Stiff Little Fingers {1977–1982, 1987–Present} and Jake Burns and the Big Wheel {1982–1987}
MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER = American singer, songwriter and musician
25 February:EVA JOHANSSON = Danish operatic soprano
5 March:ANDY GIBB = British/Australian singer, songwriter, performer, and teen idol = [died: 1988]
8 March:GARY NUMAN = English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer
9 March:MARTIN FRY = English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer, lead singer with ABC {1980–1991, 1997–present}
11 April:STUART ADAMSON = Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist of rock group Big Country {1981-2000} and before that Skids {1977-1980} = [died: 2001]
12 April:WILL SERGEANT = English guitarist, member of Echo & the Bunnymen {1978–1993, 1996–present}
14 April:APRILE MILLO = American operatic soprano
18 April:LES PATTINSON = English musician, best known for his work as the bassist and co-writer with Echo & the Bunnymen {1978-1998}
25 April:DEREK WILLIAM DICK bka FISH, Scottish singer-songwriter, member of Marillion {1981-1988}
2 May:MAYUMI HORIKAWA = Japanese singer-songwriter and model
18 May:TOYAH WILLCOX = English singer and actress
21 May:MIKE BARSON = Scottish-born English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer, member of Madness {1976–1984, 1992–present}
25 May:PAUL WELLER = English singer, songwriter and musician, member of The Jam {1972-1982} and The Style Council {1983-1989}
27 May:NEIL FINN = New Zealand singer/songwriter and musician. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz {1977-1984} and then frontman of Crowded House {1985–1996, 2006–present}
30 May:MARIE FREDRIKSSON = Swedish pop singer-songwriter and pianist, best known for forming one half of the pop rock duo Roxette {1986-present}
3 June:ROGER REDGATE = British composer-conductor
7 June:PRINCE = American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer = [died: 2016]
12 June:MEREDITH BROOKS = American singer-songwriter and guitarist
17 June:JELLO BIAFRA = American singer-songwriter, member of Dead Kennedys {1978–1986}
21 June:
JENNIFER LARMORE = American operatic mezzo-soprano
STEVE LIEBERMAN aka THE GANGSTA RABBI = Jewish-American punk musician
25 July:THURSTON MOORE = American musician, member of Sonic Youth {1981–2011}
30 July:KATE BUSH = English singer-songwriter, musician, dancer and record producer
31 July:
BILL BERRY = American musician and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. {1980–1997; guest performances in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007}
DEBORAH RIEDEL = Australian operatic soprano = [died: 2009]
3 August:ROBERT BUCK = American musician, founding member of 10,000 Maniacs {1981–1998, 1999–2000} = [died: 2000]
6 August:RANDY DeBARGE = American soul singer and guitarist, original member of family group DeBarge {1979-1991}
7 August:BRUCE DICKINSON = English singer, songwriter, musician, airline pilot, author and broadcaster, lead singer of Iron Maiden
16 August:MADONNA = American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman
17 August:BELINDA CARLISLE = American singer, member of The Go-Go's
22 August:
IAN MITCHELL = British musician, member of The Bay City Rollers {1976-1977}
VERNON REID = English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the rock band Living Colour {1984–1995, 2000–present}
29 August:MICHAEL JACKSON = American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, actor, and philanthropist = [died: 2009]
6 September:DOUGLAS TRENDLE bka BUSTER BLOODVESSEL = English singer and the frontman of the ska revival band Bad Manners {1976-present}
10 September:SIOBHAN FAHEY = Irish musician. She was a founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama {1979-1988}, and later formed the Brit Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical act Shakespears Sister {1988–1996, 2009–present}
19 September:LITA FORD = English-born American rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, member of The Runaways {1975-1979}
22 September:
ANDREA BOCELLI = Italian classical crossover tenor, recording artist, and singer-songwriter
JOAN MARIE LARKIN bka JOAN JETT = American rock singer, songwriter, composer, musician, record producer and occasional actress, member of The Runaways {1975-1979} and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts {1979-present}
9 October:AL JOURGENSEN = Cuban-American musician and music producer, best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry {1981–2008, 2011–2013, 2014-present}
10 October:TANYA TUCKER = American country singer
13 October:DERRI DAUGHERTY = American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir {1984-present} and The Lost Dogs {1991-present}
14 October:THOMAS MORGAN ROBERTSON bka THOMAS DOLBY, English rock musician and producer
20 October:
MARK KING = English musician. He is most famous for being the lead singer and bassist of the band Level 42 {1980–1994, 2001–present}
RICKY BYRD American musician, member of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts {1979-1992}
27 October:SIMON LE BON = English musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and musician of the band Duran Duran {1980-present} and its offshoot, Arcadia {1985–1986}
10 November:FRANK MAUDSLEY = English musician, member of A Flock of Seagulls {1980–1986, 2003, 2004}
22 November:JASON RINGENBERG = American musician and the lead singer of Jason & the Scorchers {1981–2007, 2010-present}. He is also a songwriter and guitarist
27 November:TETSUYA KOMURO = Japanese songwriter and music producer
7 December:TIMOTHY BUTLER = English songwriter and musician. He is the bass player, and co-founder of The Psychedelic Furs {1977–1991, 2001–present}
9 December:NICK SEYMOUR = Australian musician, painter, and record producer. He is the founding mainstay bass guitarist in the Australasian rock group Crowded House {1985–1996, 2006–present}
11 December:NIKKI SIXX = American musician, songwriter, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder, bassist, and primary songwriter of the band Mötley Crüe
14 December:
MIKE SCOTT = Scottish singer, songwriter and musician. He is the founding member, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of rock band The Waterboys {1983-present}
PETER RICHARD STACY bka SPIDER STACY = English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is best known for playing tin whistle and sometimes singing for The Pogues {1982–1996, 2001–2014}
17 December:MIKE MILLS = American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. {1980–2011}
23 December:VICTORIA WILLIAMS = American singer, songwriter and musician
Timeline of Musical Events
14 February: The Iranian government bans rock & roll, claiming that this form of music is against the concepts of Islam and is a health hazard. Iranian doctors warn of the risk of injuries to the hips from the "extreme gyrations" of rock & roll dances.
12 March:
BILLIE HOLIDAY is given a year's probation by a Philadelphia court following her arrest and guilty plea on narcotics possession charges in 1956.
In Hilversum, Netherlands, "Dors, mon amour" sung by ANDRÉ CLAVEAU (music by Pierre Delanoë, lyrics by Hubert Giraud) wins the third annual Eurovision Song Contest for France. Domenico Modugno is placed third for Italy with "Nel blu, dipinto di blu", retitled "Volare", which will reach No. 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100, and will win two Grammy Awards next year for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for 1958.
24 March:ELVIS PRESLEY enters the U.S. Army.
14 April: Gladys Presley, Elvis' mother dies.
30 May: Béla Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 1 is premiered in Basel, 50 years after it was composed
4 August: Billboard magazine launches its "Hot 100" singles chart, with Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" as the No. 1 record.
24 September: Italian singers Natalino Otto and Flo Sandon's scout the young, talented Mina
Cleo Laine marries John Dankworth.
The Festival dei Due Mondi is founded by Gian Carlo Menotti.
Marvin Gaye begins recording with his first group.
Otis Williams & the Distants begin their musical career. They will later join with The Primes and become The Temptations.
Phil Spector begins his recording career.
Dalida receives the Music Hall "Bravos" along with Yves Montand.
RCA introduces its first stereo LPs.
The major record labels begin to cease production of 78rpm records.
Kenny Rogers signs his first recording contract with a major record label and makes his first national TV performance on American Bandstand.
Fred Foster opens Monument Records in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Ernesto Bonino leaves the USA and returns to Italy.
Bob Bogle and Don Wilson founded the surf instrumental group The Ventures.
Published Popular Music
"16 Candles" = lyrics & music by LUTHER DIXON & ALLYSON R. KHENT
"All I Have to Do is Dream" = lyrics & music by FELICE and BOUDLEAUX BRYANT
"Am I That Easy to Forget" = lyrics & music by CARL BELEW, W. S. STEVENSON & SHELBY SINGLETON
"Any Way The Wind Blows" = lyrics & music by WILLIAM DUNHAM, JOSEPH HOOVEN & MARILYN HOOVEN
"Are You Really Mine?" = lyrics & music by AL HOFFMAN, DICK MANNING & MARK MARKWELL
"A Big Hunk O' Love" = lyrics & music by AARON SCHROEDER & SID WYCHE
"Bird Dog" = lyrics & music by FELICE and BOUDLEAUX BRYANT
"Broken Hearted Melody" = lyrics by HAL DAVID; music by SHERMAN EDWARDS
"A Certain Smile" = lyrics by PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER; music by SAMMY FAIN
"Chantilly Lace" = lyrics & music by JILES PERRY RICHARDSON
"C'mon Everybody" = lyrics & music by EDDIE COCHRAN & JERRY CAPEHEART
"Devoted to You" = lyrics & music by FELICE and BOUDLEAUX BRYANT
"Do You Want To Dance?" = lyrics & music by BOBBY FREEMAN
"Donna" = lyrics & music by RITCHIE VALENS
"Don't" = lyrics & music by JERRY LEIBER & MIKE STOLLER
"Enchanted Island" = lyrics by AL STILLMAN; music by ROBERT ALLEN
"Everybody Loves a Lover" = lyrics by RICHARD ADLER; music by ROBERT ALLEN
"French Foreign Legion" = lyrics by AARON SCHROEDER; music by GUY WOOD
"Hoots Mon" = by HARRY ROBERTSON
"If I Had A Hammer" = lyrics & music by PETE SEEGER & LEE HAYS
"It's Only Make Believe" = lyrics & music by CONWAY TWITTY & JACK NANCE
"Johnny B. Goode" = lyrics & music by CHUCK BERRY
"Kewpie Doll" = lyrics & music by SID TEPPER & ROY C. BENNETT
"Kumbayah" recorded by
JOE HICKERSON
PETE SEEGER
"Left Right Out Of Your Heart" = lyrics by EARL SHUMAN; music by MORT GARSON
"The Little Serenade" = lyrics & music by ANTONIO AMURRI, PAOLO ESPOSITO, GEOFFREY C. PARSONS & JAMES J. T. PHILLIPS
"Little Star" = lyrics & music by VITO PICONE & ARTHUR VENOSA
"Make Me A Miracle" = by AL HOFFMAN, DICK MANNING, MARK MARKWELL
"Maybe Baby" = lyrics & music by NORMAN PETTY & CHARLES HARDIN
"Moon Talk" = lyrics & music by AL HOFFMAN & DICK MANNING
"My True Love" = lyrics & music by JACK SCOTT
"Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again" = lyrics & music by AL HOFFMAN, DICK MANNING & MARK MARKWELL
"Once Upon A Summertime" (Original title "La Valse des Lilas") = by EDDIE BARCLAY, MICHEL LEGRAND, EDDY MARNAY, JOHNNY MERCER
"Only The Lonely" = by SAMMY CAHN, JAMES VAN HEUSEN
"Padre" = English lyrics by PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER, French lyrics by MARCEL ALGERON & JACQUES LARUE; music by ALAIN C. ROMANS
"Patricia" = lyrics by BOB MARCUS; music by PEREZ PRADO
"Peter Gunn" = music by HENRY MANCINI
"Poor Little Fool" = lyrics & music by SHARI SHEELEY
"The Purple People Eater" = lyrics & music by SHEB WOOLEY
"Raining In My Heart" = lyrics & music by FELICE and BOUDLEAUX BRYANT
"Rave On" = lyrics & music by NORMAN PETTY, BILL TILGHMAN & SUNNY WEST
"Rawhide" = lyrics by NED WASHINGTON; music by DIMITRI TIOMKIN. Title tune of the TV series performed by FRANKIE LAINE
"Secretly" = lyrics & music by AL HOFFMAN, DICK MANNING & MARK MARKWELL
"Splish Splash" = lyrics & music by BOBBY DARIN & JEAN MURRAY
"Stupid Cupid" = lyrics by HOWARD GREENFIELD; music by NEIL SEDAKA
"Sugartime" = lyrics & music by CHARLIE PHILLIPS & ODIS ECHOLS
"Summertime Blues" = by EDDIE COCHRAN, J. CAPEHART
"Sweet Little Sixteen" = lyrics & music by CHUCK BERRY
"Tears On My Pillow" = lyrics & music by SYLVESTER BRADFORD & AL LEWIS
"Tequila" = lyrics & music by CHUCK RIO
"There's Only One Of You" = lyrics by AL STILLMAN; music by ROBERT ALLEN
"Tom Dooley" = traditional arranged by DAVE GUARD
"Volare" = English lyrics by MITCHELL PARISH, Italian lyrics by DOMENICO MODUGNO & FRANCO MIGLIACCI; music by DOMENICO MODUGNO
"We Belong Together" = by S. WEISS, ROBERT CARR, JOHNNY MITCHELL
"When" = lyrics & music by JACK REARDON & PAUL EVANS
"Witch Doctor" = lyrics & music by ROSS BAGDASARIAN
"Yakety Yak" = lyrics & music by JERRY LEIBER & MIKE STOLLER
"You Are My Destiny" = lyrics & music by PAUL ANKA
"Young and Warm and Wonderful" = lyrics by HY ZARET; music by LOU SINGER
Other Notable Songs
"The Bells of Rhymney" = by PETE SEEGER and IDRIS DAVIES
"Devojko mala" = lyrics by B. TIMOTIJEVIC; music by D. KRALJIC, sung by VLASTIMIR "ÐUZA" STOJILJKOVIC in the film 'Ljubav i moda'
"Mera naam Chin Chin Chu" = lyrics by QAMAR JALALABADI; music by O.P. NAYYAR, sung by GEETA DUTT in the film 'Howrah Bridge'
"Pod sjajem zvezda" = lyrics by MIRJANA SAVIC; music by PREDRAG IVANOVIC
Classical Music
ERNEST BLOCH
Suite for Viola Solo (fragmentary)
JOHN CAGE
Aria
ALDO CLEMENTI
Episodi
MARIO DAVIDOVSKY
String Quartet No. 2
BENJAMIN FRANKEL
Symphony No. 1
FERDE GROFÉ
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D
DMITRI KABALEVSKY
In the Magic Forest
LEON KIRCHNER
String Quartet No. 2
GYÖRGY LIGETI
Artikulation
BOHUSLAV MARTINU
Piano Concerto No. 5 H. 366; The Parables H. 367; Estampes; Duo No. 2 for Violin and Cello
PETER MENNIN
Piano Concerto
DARIUS MILHAUD
String Sextet, Op. 368
THEA MUSGRAVE
String Quartet
NED ROREM
Symphony No. 3
EDMUND RUBBRA
Pezzo Ostinato and Violin Concerto, Opp. 102 and 103