Market1981 in music
Company Profile

1981 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in 1981.

Events
January–AprilJanuary – Nearly a year after the suicide of Ian Curtis, the surviving members of Joy Division plus Gillian Gilbert, now under the name New Order, release their debut single "Ceremony"; the single and its B-side, "In a Lonely Place", are both re-recordings of songs originally written and performed by Curtis. The single's release marks the band's first public use of the "New Order" moniker, which they retained for the remainder of their career. • 10 January – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith. • 11 January – Country singer Hank Williams Jr. releases his 32nd album, Rowdy. It is certified Gold by the RIAA. • 18 JanuaryWendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics is arrested in Milwaukee for simulating masturbation with a sledgehammer on stage. In a scuffle with the police Williams is pinned to the floor and receives a cut above the eye requiring twelve stitches. • 24 JanuaryAerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is injured in a motorcycle crash that leaves him hospitalized for two months. • 9 FebruaryPhil Collins releases his first solo album, Face Value, whose opening track "In the Air Tonight" popularizes the gated reverb drum sound that became ubiquitous for the next ten years; while the album ended up a smash success, Collins remained a member of Genesis until 1995. • 14 FebruaryUltravox reach number 2 on the UK Singles Chart with "Vienna", but despite huge radio play and massive sales it is subsequently held off the top position for two consecutive weeks by Joe Dolce's novelty song "Shaddup You Face". • Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career. • 25 February – The 23rd Annual Grammy Awards are presented in New York, hosted by Paul Simon. Christopher Cross, with his self-titled debut album and its single "Sailing", becomes the first artist to win all four General Field awards in a single ceremony, controversially beating Pink Floyd's The Wall for Album of the Year. • 14 March – Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Clapton's 60-city tour of the US is cancelled, and he remains in hospital for a month. • 21 MarchYellow Magic Orchestra release their fourth studio album, BGM; the album is the first to make use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which would go on to become an influential device in both electronic dance music and hip-hop. • 27 MarchOzzy Osbourne bites the head off a dove at a CBS record label gathering in Los Angeles. • 4 April – British pop group Bucks Fizz wins the 26th Eurovision Song Contest, held at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, Dublin, with the song "Making Your Mind Up". • 11 AprilVan Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli. • 12 April – Soviet orchestral conductor Maxim Shostakovich (son of Dmitri) defects while on tour in West Germany with his son. • 18 AprilYes announce that they are breaking up. (They reunited frequently in years to come). • 20 AprilThe Mamas & the Papas' John Phillips is sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to drug possession charges. Phillips' sentence was then suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours of community service. • 22 AprilEric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from bruised ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington. • 26 April/27 April/28 AprilGary Numan performs three sold out 'farewell concerts' at Wembley Arena, following his announcement to retire from live work at the height of his popularity. (He returned to live performance less than two years later.) • 27 AprilRingo Starr and Barbara Bach marry, in London, England. May–August2 May – British vocalist Sheena Easton hits No. 1 in the US with "Morning Train (9 to 5)" following a swift rise to fame as the result of a reality TV show. • 9 MayAdam and the Ants single "Stand and Deliver" enters the UK Singles Chart at number 1. It remains at number 1 for five consecutive weeks and will sell over one million copies, becoming the years third best selling single in the UK. • 4 JuneU2 appears on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television appearance. • 5 June – The TV series Night Flight, a variety show featuring music documentaries and videos, is premiered on the USA Network. • 6 JuneKerrang! magazine publishes its first issue. Angus Young of AC/DC is on the cover. • 30 JuneJerry Lee Lewis is rushed to hospital in Memphis for emergency surgery for a tear in his stomach. Despite being given less than a 50% chance of survival, he eventually pulls through. • 13 JulyDuran Duran release the single "Girls on Film". Accompanied by a highly controversial music video that is censored for airplay on MTV and banned by BBC the song becomes the band's first big hit, eventually peaking at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart during an 11-week chart run. • 27 JulyStevie Nicks releases debut solo album Bella Donna, which sold 4 million copies in the US alone. • 1 August • MTV broadcasts for the first time on cable television in the United States, playing music videos 24 hours a day. First to air is "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. • The success of Stars On 45 leads to a short-lived medley craze. The most successful imitator of the Stars On 45 format is, rather unexpectedly, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, whose "Hooked On Classics (Parts 1&2)" reaches number two in the charts. • 23 August – The Violent Femmes are discovered by members of The Pretenders busking outside a Milwaukee venue and are invited to play a 10-minute acoustic set as a second opening act in the Pretenders' show that night. September–December5 SeptemberSoft Cell tops the UK Singles Chart with "Tainted Love". The song also tops the chart the following week and becomes the second best selling single in the UK in 1981. and be certified platinum in the UK, and gold in the US. • 26 OctoberIron Maiden plays its first show with Bruce Dickinson as the new lead singer in Bologna, Italy. • 27 October – The British Phonographic Industry takes out newspaper ads unveiling its new slogan: "Home Taping Is Killing Music". The ads advocate a levy on blank cassette tapes. • 31 October – Punk band Fear makes a memorable appearance on Saturday Night Live. A group of fans storm the stage and damage TV equipment while moshing, resulting in the show cutting to commercial. • 18 November – While sitting in Tom's Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song "Tom's Diner". • 21 NovemberOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark hits number 3 on the UK Albums Chart with their third album Architecture & Morality. Including three UK top-5 singles, "Souvenir", "Joan of Arc" and "Maid of Orleans", it will remain on the chart for 37 weeks and be certified platinum in the UK. • 5 December – The 10th OTI Festival, held at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, Mexico, is won by the song "", written by Pablo Herrero and José Luis Armenteros, and performed by representing Spain. • 11 DecemberThe Human League reach number one on the UK Singles Chart with Don't You Want Me. The song remains at number one for five consecutive weeks and become the years best selling single in the UK. • 18 December – An estimated 35 million people around the world watch a live satellite transmission of a Rod Stewart concert at the Los Angeles Forum. It is the first broadcast of its kind since Elvis Presley's "Aloha from Hawaii" special in 1973. • 31 DecemberBenny Andersson, recently divorced from Anni-Frid Lyngstad, marries TV presenter Mona Nörklit. • The tenth annual New Year's Rockin' Eve special airs on ABC, with appearances by Four Tops, Rick Springfield, Barry Manilow, Alabama and Rick James. Also in 1981 • The organ at the famous Heinävesi Church in Finland is renewed, using locks from the original organ. • Alice Cooper drastically changes his appearance, leaving behind his trademark make-up and donning a military uniform. • Synthpop enjoys mainstream popularity in the UK, with groups such as Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and The Human League releasing hit singles and albums. The Human League's "Don't You Want Me" and Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" become the years best selling singles in the UK. • Menudo's golden era (1981–1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia. • Brad Whitford leaves Aerosmith and is replaced by Rick Dufay. • Hal Willner "invents" the modern tribute album with Amacord Nino Rota. ==Bands formed==
Bands formed
See Musical groups established in 1981 ==Bands disbanded==
Bands disbanded
See Musical groups disestablished in 1981 ==Albums released==
Albums released
January February March April May June July August September October November December Release date unknownAdventures in ClublandModern RomanceAlles ist gutDeutsch Amerikanische FreundschaftBegin the BeguineJulio IglesiasB.L.T.Jack Bruce, Bill Lordan & Robin Trower • ''Breakin' the Chains'' – Don DokkenCelebrationJohnny MathisChanging HeartsPolyrockChasanovaChaz JankelClaro Que SiYelloClassic Rock: Rock ClassicsLondon Symphony OrchestraCondition Red - Red RockersCool NightPaul DavisCowboy JubileeRiders in the SkyCuriosumClusterDeceitThis HeatDirectionsMiles DavisDrama of ExileNicoEscape ArtistGarland JeffreysThe Evil OneRoky Erickson and the AliensFire WindElectric SunFree LancingJames Blood UlmerGive the People What They WantJimmy CliffHits Right Up Your StreetThe ShadowsIndividuellosLa DüsseldorfInner City FrontBruce CockburnInsect and Individual SilencedNurse with WoundIntroducing The Winans - The WinansIs This a Cool World or What?Karla DeVitoJane SiberryJane SiberryJealousy - Nitty Gritty Dirt BandThe Judgement of ParisKevin Dunn and the Regiment of Women • Jump Up / What to Do AboutJimmy Lyons and Sunny MurrayLa voce del PadroneFranco BattiatoLet Them Eat Jellybeans! – Various Artists • Live in TasmaniaJohn FaheyThe Lounge LizardsThe Lounge LizardsLove Potion - Dr. JohnLustwandelHans-Joachim RoedeliusMacadam 3, 2, 1, 0RiffMagic ManHerb AlpertMinor ThreatMinor Threat – EP • MaterialMoebius & Plank • ''Mommy Don't Love Daddy Anymore'' – Resurrection BandMondo Mando - David GrismanNever Say DiePetraOdyshapeThe RaincoatsPenis EnvyCrassPeperinaSerú GiránPerformanceAshford & SimpsonPlay Me OutHelen ReddyPleasureGirls at Our Best!The PlimsoulsThe PlimsoulsPublic Service (EP) – Various Artists • The Punch LineMinutemenQuiero SerMenudoReflectionsGil Scott-HeronRepercussionThe dB's • ''Rock 'n' Roll Warriors'' – Savoy BrownSecret CombinationRandy CrawfordSelbstportraitHans-Joachim RoedeliusSky 3SkySpeechlessFred FrithStanding TogetherMidnight StarStick Figure NeighbourhoodSpoonsSunrise in Different DimensionsSun RaTrioTrioWünsche fliegen übers MeerDie FlippersYears AgoThe Statler Brothers • ''You're the Guy I Want to Share My Money With'' – Laurie Anderson, William S. Burroughs and John GiornoYouth of AmericaWipers ==Biggest hit singles==
Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1981. ==Chronological table of US and UK and Japan Number One hit singles==
Chronological table of US and UK and Japan Number One hit singles
US Number One singles and artist (Weeks at Number One) • "(Just Like) Starting Over" – John Lennon (4 weeks) • "The Tide Is High" – Blondie (1) • "Celebration" – Kool & the Gang (2) • "9 to 5" – Dolly Parton (2) • "I Love a Rainy Night" – Eddie Rabbitt (2) • "Keep on Loving You" – REO Speedwagon (1) • "Rapture" – Blondie (2) • "Kiss On My List" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (3) • "Morning Train (9 to 5)" – Sheena Easton (2) • "Bette Davis Eyes" – Kim Carnes (9) • "Stars on 45 Medley" – Stars On 45 (1) • "The One That You Love" – Air Supply (1) • "Jessie's Girl" – Rick Springfield (2) • "Endless Love" – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9) • "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" – Christopher Cross (3) • "Private Eyes" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (2) • "Physical" – Olivia Newton-John (6) UK Number One singles and artist (Weeks at Number One) • "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" – St Winifred's School Choir (1) • "Imagine" – John Lennon (4) • "Woman" – John Lennon (2) • "Shaddup You Face" – Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3) • "Jealous Guy" – Roxy Music (2) • "This Ole House" – Shakin' Stevens (3) • "Making Your Mind Up" – Bucks Fizz (3) • "Stand and Deliver" – Adam and the Ants (5) • "Being With You" – Smokey Robinson (2) • "One Day in Your Life" – Michael Jackson (2) • "Ghost Town" – The Specials (3) • "Green Door"- Shakin' Stevens (4) • "Japanese Boy" – Aneka (1) • "Tainted Love" – Soft Cell (2) • "Prince Charming" – Adam and the Ants (4) • "It's My Party" – Dave Stewart (the keyboardist) & Barbara Gaskin (4) • "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – The Police (1) • "Under Pressure" – Queen & David Bowie (2) • "Begin the Beguine" – Julio Iglesias (1) • "Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (3) Japanese Oricon Number One singles and artist (Weeks at Number One) • "" – Masahiko Kondō (2 weeks in 1980 + 3 weeks in 1981) • "" – Toshihiko Tahara (2) • "" – Seiko Matsuda (4) • "" – Chanels (3) • "" – Akira Terao (10) • "" – Seiko Matsuda (2) • "" – Masahiko Kondō (3) • "" – Chiharu Matsuyama (3) • "" – Seiko Matsuda (3) • "" – (7) • "" – Masahiko Kondō (6) • "" – Seiko Matsuda (1) • "" – Miyuki Nakajima (3) • "" – Hiroko Yakushimaru (2 weeks in 1981 + 3 weeks in 1982) ==Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit albums==
Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit albums
US Number One album and artist (Weeks at Number One) • Double FantasyJohn Lennon and Yoko Ono (7) • Hi InfidelityREO Speedwagon (15) • Paradise TheatreStyx (3) • Mistaken IdentityKim Carnes (4) • Long Distance VoyagerThe Moody Blues (3) • Precious TimePat Benatar (1) • 4Foreigner (7) • Bella DonnaStevie Nicks (1) • EscapeJourney (1) • Tattoo YouThe Rolling Stones (9) • For Those About to Rock We Salute YouAC/DC (1) UK Number One album and artist (Weeks at Number One) • Super TrouperABBA (3) • Kings of the Wild FrontierAdam and the Ants (12) • Double FantasyJohn Lennon & Yoko Ono (2) • Face ValuePhil Collins (3) • Stars on 45- Stars on 45 / Starsound (5) • ''No Sleep 'til Hammersmith'' – Motörhead (1) • Disco Daze and Disco Nites – Various Artists (1) • Love SongsCliff Richard (5) • The Official BBC Album of the Royal Wedding – Various Artists (2) • TimeElectric Light Orchestra (2) • Dead RingerMeat Loaf (2) • AbacabGenesis (2) • Ghost in the MachineThe Police (3) • DareThe Human League (1) • ShakyShakin' Stevens (1) • Greatest HitsQueen (4) • ''Chart Hits '81'' – Various Artists (1) • The VisitorsABBA (3) ==Top 40 Chart hit singles==
Top 40 Chart hit singles
Other Chart hit singles ==Notable singles==
Notable singles
Other Notable singles ==Published popular music==
Published popular music
• "9 To 5" w.m. Dolly Parton from the film Nine to Five • "All Those Years Ago" w.m. George Harrison • "Allentown" w.m. Billy Joel • "Allergies" w.m. Paul Simon • "America" w.m. Neil Diamond from the film The Jazz Singer • "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" w. Tom Eyen m. Henry Krieger from the musical Dreamgirls • "Arthur's Theme" w.m. Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross & Peter Allen from the film Arthur • "At This Moment" w.m. Billy Vera • "Baby, Come To Me" w.m. Rod Temperton • "Being With You" w.m. William "Smokey" Robinson • "Believe it or Not (Theme From The Greatest American Hero)" w. Stephen Geyer m. Mike Post • "The Best of Times" w.m. Dennis DeYoung • "Bette Davis Eyes" w. Donna Weiss m. Jackie DeShannon • "Black Limousine" w.m. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood • "Bruce" w.m. Rick Springfield • "Chariots of Fire" w. Jon Anderson m. Vangelis • "Dynasty theme song" m. Bill Conti • "The First Time it Happens" w.m. Joe Raposo, from the film The Great Muppet Caper • "Good Thing Going (Going Gone)"     w.m. Stephen Sondheim • "Hill Street Blues theme song" m. Mike Post • "Key Largo"     w.m. Bertie Higgins & Sonny Limbo • "Memory w. Trevor Nunn & T. S. Eliot m. Andrew Lloyd Webber. Introduced by Elaine Paige in the musical Cats. • "One of the Girls" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander introduced by Lauren Bacall in the musical Woman of the Year ==Classical music==
Classical music
Milton BabbittDon, for piano four-hands • Ars Combinatoria, for small orchestra • Leonard BernsteinOlympic Hymn, chorus and orchestra • Rob du Bois • String Quartet no. 3 • Sonata for solo viola • George CrumbGnomic Variations for piano • Peter Maxwell Davies – Piano Sonata • Joël-François Durand – String Trio • Morton FeldmanBass Clarinet and Percussion, for bass clarinet, cymbals and gongs • Triadic Memories, for piano • For Aaron Copland, for violin • Lorenzo FerreroBallettoArioso IIVariazioni sulla notte, for guitar • Cristóbal HalffterFantasia sobre una sonoridad de G. F. Haendel, for string orchestra • Ricercare, for organ • Bengt HambraeusVoluntary on a Swedish Hymn Tune from DalecarliaWojciech KilarExodus, a vocal-symphonic poem for mixed choir and orchestra • George Lloyd – Tenth Symphony (for brass) • Tome Mančev • Symphonic Poem, for large orchestra, Op. 16 • Dance, for piano and percussion, Op. 19 • The Year 1014, for mixed chorus, Op. 20 • March of the Bicyclists, for children's chorus • Miroslav Miletić • Sonatina for violin and guitar • Sonata for viola and piano • Three Popular Songs from Dalmatia for voice and guitar • Steve ReichTehillimRoger Sessions – Concerto for Orchestra (recorded by Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and for which the composer receives the Pulitzer Prize for Music) • Robert Simpson • Quintet for clarinet and strings • Symphony No. 8 • Stanislaw Skrowaczewski – Clarinet Concerto • Alfred SchnittkeSymphony No. 3Minnesang, for 52 voices • String Quartet No. 2 • Karlheinz StockhausenKlavierstück XIIITraum-Formel, for basset horn ==Opera==
Opera
Lorenzo FerreroLa figlia del magoConrad Susa and Richard StreetBlack RiverKarlheinz StockhausenDonnerstag aus Licht (March 15, La Scala, Milan, but without act 3, due to a choir strike; first full performance on April 3) ==Jazz==
[[Musical theater]]
BarnumLondon production opened at the London Palladium on June 11 and ran for 655 performances • Bring Back Birdie – Broadway production • Cats (Andrew Lloyd Webber) – London production opened at the New London Theatre on May 11 and ran for 8949 performances • Dreamgirls – Broadway production opened on December 20 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 1522 performances • March of the Falsettoes – off-Broadway production • Merrily We Roll Along – Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 16 and ran for 16 performances • The Pirates of Penzance – Broadway revival • Song and Dance – London production • Woman of the Year – Broadway production opened at the Palace Theatre on March 29 and ran for 770 performances ==Musical films==
Births
January 2 - JT Daly, American indie rock musician, producer, songwriter, and visual artist (K Flay, Demi Lovato) • January 3Sun Park, South Korean-Australian actress and singer (Hi-5) • January 4Silvy De Bie, Belgian singer • January 5Carmen Monarcha, Brazilian operatic soprano • January 7Ania, Polish singer-songwriter and composer • January 9Dean Saunders, Dutch singer • January 10Brian Joo, American-South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, and television host (Fly To The Sky) • January 11Jamelia, English-Jamaican R&B singer and actress • January 14Rosa López, Spanish singer • January 15Howie Day, American singer-songwriter • Pitbull, Cuban-American rapper • January 16Marta Roure, Andorran singer and actress • Mỹ Tâm, Vietnamese singer and songwriter • January 17Ray J, American rapper • January 19Thaila Zucchi, British singer and actress (allSTARS*) • January 21Andy Lee, South Korean singer and actor (Shinhwa) • Floor Jansen, Dutch singer, songwriter, and vocal coach. • Jung Ryeo-won, Australian-South Korean singer (Chakra) • January 22Willa Ford, American pop singer-songwriter, model, musician and actress • Ben Moody, American guitarist (Evanescence) • January 25Alicia Keys, American singer-songwriter, record producer, pianist, actress and activist • Toše Proeski, Macedonian singer and songwriter (d. 2007) • January 26Gustavo Dudamel, Venezuelan conductor • January 28Gen Hoshino, Japanese singer • January 29Jonny Lang, American blues artist • January 31Justin Timberlake, American singer (NSYNC), collaborator with Britney Spears (Married to Jessica Biel, Worked with JC Chasez) • February 1Jay R Sillona, Filipino singer • February 3 - Micah P. Hinson an American Americana singer and guitarist and recording artist • February 5Zameer Rizvi, Canadian singer/songwriter, composer and record producer • February 6Shim Eun-jin, South Korean singer and actress (Baby Vox) • February 9Tom Hiddleston, English actor, film producer and musician (Taylor Swift) • The Rev, American musician (Avenged Sevenfold) (d. 2009) • February 10Natasha St-Pier, Canadian singer • February 11Kelly Rowland American singer-songwriter, member of Destiny's ChildFebruary 12Lisa Hannigan, Irish singer-songwriter, musician and voice actress. • February 15Matt Hoopes, musician, guitarist and singer-songwriter, (Relient K) • Olivia, American singer-songwriter and actress • February 17Paris Hilton, American singer-songwriter, DJ, YouTuber and writer (Friend of Britney Spears) • John Hassall, British bassist (The Libertines) • February 18Kamasi Washington, American crossover jazz saxophonist • February 19Beth Ditto, American singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur (Gossip) • February 24Park Jung-ah, South Korean actress, singer, entertainer and radio DJ (Jewelry) • February 26Sharon Van Etten, American singer-songwriter and actress • February 27Josh Groban, American crossover singer-songwriter • March 1Adam LaVorgna, American actor • March 3Tobias Forge, Swedish musician • Shatha Hassoun, Iraqi singer • Cristina Scarlat, Moldovan singer • March 7Anna Leese, New Zealand operatic soprano • March 9Chad Gilbert, American musician, singer-songwriter (New Found Glory) • March 11Russell Lissack (Bloc Party) • LeToya Luckett (Destiny's Child) • Paul Wall, American rapper and DJ • March 14 - Katarína Knechtová, Slovak singer-songwriter and guitarist • March 15Young Buck, American rapper (G-Unit) • March 16 - Danny Brown, American rapper, singer and songwriter • March 18 - LP (singer), American singer and songwriter • March 18Jang Na-ra, South Korean actress and singer • March 19Kim Rae-won, South Korean actor • March 20Declan Bennett, English singer-songwriter • March 26Anaïs Mitchell, American singer-songwriter, producer and musician (Rachel Ries, Jefferson Hamer, Ani DiFranco, Justin Vernon, Greg Brown and Ben Knox Miller) • Jay Sean, British singer-songwriter • March 27JJ Lin, Singaporean singer • March 28 - Michael Sarver, American singer • March 29Megan Hilty, American singer • PJ Morton, American musician (Maroon 5) • Willie Taylor, American R&B singer (Day26) • April 1Theresa Sokyrka, Canadian Idol 2 runner-up • Hannah Spearritt, English singer and actress (S Club 7) • April 2Raghav, Canadian singer • April 5Mariqueen Maandig, Filipino-American musician and singer-songwriter (How To Destroy Angels, West Indian Girl, Trent Reznor) • April 6Aidonia, Jamaican dancehall artist • April 7Vanessa Olivarez, American singer • April 8Gummy, Korean singer • April 8Melanie Münch, German singer (Groove Coverage) • April 9 - Geneviève Castrée, a Canadian cartoonist, illustrator, and musician from Quebec. (D. 2016) (Married to Phil Elverum) • April 10Laura Bell Bundy, American actress and singer • Liz McClarnon, English singer (Atomic Kitten) • April 12Fahad Al Kubaisi, Qatari singer and activist • April 16Loulou Lamotte, Swedish singer-songwriter (The Mamas) • April 17Hanna Pakarinen, Finnish singer • April 21Mike Christie, English singer-songwriter, composer and baritone (G4) • April 26Ms. Dynamite, English rapper and singer • April 27Sandy Mölling, German pop singer • Fabrizio Faniello, Maltese pop singer • April 28Jessica Alba, American actress and businesswoman • April 29Tom Smith (Editors) • April 30Justin Vernon, American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer (Bon Iver, Taylor Swift's Folklore and Evermore) • May 3Farrah Franklin, American singer-songwriter, actress (Destiny's Child) • Father John Misty, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, drummer and record producer • May 4Dallon Weekes, American singer, songwriter, musician and producer (Of Bands: Panic! At The Disco, & I Dont Know How but They Found Me) • May 5Jesse Colburn, Canadian guitarist and songwriter • Craig David, British singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer • May 12Hannah Ild, Estonian singer-songwriter and pianist • Kim Tae-woo, South Korean singer (g.o.d) • May 13 - Mozella, American songwriter and singer • May 15Jamie-Lynn Sigler, American actress and singer • May 16 - Brooke McClymont, Australian singer-songwriter, musician and guitarist (sister of Samantha McClymont) • May 17R. J. Helton, American singer • Shiri Maimon, Israeli singer, television personality and actress • May 19 - Yo Gotti, American rapper • May 20Sean Conlon, English pop singer (5ive) • Rachel Platten, American singer-songwriter • May 21Stig van Eijk, singer, composer and lyricist • May 22Su-Elise Nash, English singer (Mis-Teeq) • May 23Dessa, American rapper, singer, spoken word artist, writer and record executive • Pierre Lapointe, Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboard player • Gwenno Saunders, Welsh singer and dancer (The Pipettes) • May 25 - Autumn Rowe, American singer-songwriter, TV personality, DJ and activist • May 26Eda-Ines Etti, Estonian singer and songwriter • Zakes Bantwini, South African singer, record producer and businessman • Issac Slade, American singer (The Fray) • May 28 - Victoria Legrand, French-American musician (Beach House) • May 30Devendra Banhart, Venezuelan American singer-songwriter and visual artist • May 31Yoon Mi-rae, American-South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter and producer (Uptown) • June 1Brandi Carlile, American folk rock and Americana singer-songwriter • June 2Brandon Jenner, indie pop musician (Brandon & Leah) • Catherine Manoukian, Canadian violinist • Seo Ji-young, South Korean singer (Sharp) • June 7Dave Catching, American guitarist, songwriter and producer (Earthlings? and Mondo Generator) • June 8Alex Band, American rock singer-songwriter (The Calling) • June 9Vic Chou, Taiwanese actor, singer and model • Anoushka Shankar, British Indian sitar player • June 10Hoku Ho, Hawaiian singer and musician • June 15Billy Martin (guitarist), American guitarist • June 17Ken the 390, Japanese rapper • June 20Alisan Porter, American singer, winner of season 10 of The Voice (US) • June 21Christina Cewe, American singer • Brandon Flowers, American singer-songwriter, musician, Multi-instrumentalist, advocate, member of (The Killers) • June 23Mikey Bustos, Filipino-Canadian singer and entertainer • Antony Costa (Blue) • Shi Xin Hui, Malaysian singer • June 28Michael Crafter, Australian singer-songwriter (Confession, I Killed the Prom Queen, Carpathian and Bury Your Dead) • Savage (AKA Demetrius Savelio) New Zealand born Samoan rapper • June 30Andy Knowles, English director and artist • July 1Clemency Burton-Hill, English classical music broadcast presenter • July 3Hayley Holt, New Zealand snowboarder, host and ballroom dancer • July 6Emily West, American singer-songwriter and guitarist • July 7Synyster Gates, American musician (Avenged Sevenfold) • Omar Naber, Slovenian singer, songwriter and musician • July 8Oka Antara, Indonesian rapper and actor • Dagmar Oja, Estonian singer • July 12Rebecca Hunter, English pop singer (allSTARS*) and actress • Maya Sar, Bosnian singer • July 14Milow, Belgian singer-songwriter • July 15OC Ukeje, Nigerian actor, model and musician • July 19Zolani Mahola, South African singer-songwriter and actress (Freshlyground) • July 20Lowkey, American rapper and producer • Dayang Nurfaizah, Malaysian singer • July 21Paloma Faith, English singer-songwriter • Blake Lewis, American Idol 6 runner-up • Claudette Ortiz, American singer and model (City High) • July 22Anthony Santos, American singer-songwriter and composer • July 25Kizito Mihigo, Rwandan gospel singer, organist and peace activist (d. 2020) • July 31Mesut Kurtis, British Turkish Islamic singer • Ira Losco, Maltese singer • M. Shadows, American singer-songwriter and musician (Avenged Sevenfold) • August 1Vaiko Eplik, Estonian singer-songwriter • August 3 - Scroobius Pip, English actor and podcaster as well as a spoken word poet and hip-hop recording artist from Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. (Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip) • August 4Florian Silbereisen, German singer and television presenter • Marques Houston, American R&B singer (IMx) • August 5Ko Shibasaki, Japanese singer and actress • August 6Leslie Odom Jr., American singer and actor • August 8Vanessa Amorosi, Australian singer-songwriter, musician, guitarist and rock star (Dave Stewart) • Bradley McIntosh, English pop singer (S Club 7) • Kaori Iida, Japanese singer and actress • August 10Natsumi Abe, Japanese singer (Morning Musume) • August 11Sandi Thom, Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist • Fiona Sit, Hong Kong singer and actress • August 21Jenilca Giusti, Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and actress • August 24Jiro Wang, Taiwanese actor and singer (Fahrenheit) • August 28Iracema Trevisan (Cansei de Ser Sexy) • September 4Beyoncé, American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress • Lacey Sturm, American singer-songwriter (Flyleaf) • September 6Yumiko Cheng, Hong Kong singer • September 7Do, Dutch singer • September 11Mark Rhodes, English singer and television presenter (Sam & Mark) • September 12Jennifer Hudson, American singer • September 13EJay Day, American singer • September 14Ashley Roberts American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress, model, presenter and television personality (The Pussycat Dolls) • September 16Nazril Irham, Indonesian singer • September 18Jesse Frasure, American music publisher, record producer, songwriter and DJ • September 20Keith Semple, English boy band (One True Voice) • September 23Natalie Horler, German singer, songwriter and television presenter (Cascada) • September 25Perfume Genius, American indie EDM musician, singer-songwriter and artist • Shane Tutmarc, American producer, songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist. (Jessica Lea Mayfield, Tristen Gaspadarek) • September 26Christina Milian, American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress • Aras Baskauskas, Yogi, musician and reality TV personality, worked musically under name: Odd Us • September 29Suzanne Shaw, English singer (Hear'Say) and actress • October 1Tom Donnelly, New Zealand rugby union • October 4Friðrik Ómar, Icelandic singer (Eurobandið) • October 5Breakbot, producer and DJ • October 8Ruby, Egyptian singer • October 10Una Healy, Irish singer (The Saturdays) • October 13Doveman, American singer, pianist and producer • Kele Okereke, Kele, English musician (Bloc Party) • October 14Ruslan Alekhno, Russian-Belarusian singer • October 15Nick White (Tilly and the Wall) • Keyshia Cole, American singer, songwriter, television personality and actress • October 19Christian Bautista, Filipino singer, actor, host and model • October 23Yoo Soo-young, South Korean singer (S.E.S.) • October 25Josh Henderson, American actor, singer and model • Jerome Jones, American R&B singer (IMx) • October 26Guy Sebastian, Australian singer-songwriter • October 29Angelika Dela Cruz, Filipina actress and singer • October 31Frank Iero, American rock guitarist (My Chemical Romance) • November 1Tommy Karevik, Swedish metal vocalist (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder, Ayreon) • LaTavia Roberson, American R&B singer-songwriter (Destiny's Child) • November 2 - Ai, a Japanese-American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, spokeswoman, and actress. • November 7Krystal Harris, American singer-songwriter • November 11Natalie Glebova, Canadian author • November 13Shawn Yue, Hong Kong actor and singer • November 16Kate Miller-Heidke, Australian crossover singer-songwriter and actress • November 17Sarah Harding, English pop singer-songwriter, dancer, model and actress (Girls Aloud) (d. 2021) • November 18Shin Ji, South Korean singer (Koyote) • November 20Scott Hutchison, Scottish singer-songwriter, guitarist and artist (d. 2018) • Kimberley Walsh, English pop singer-songwriter (Girls Aloud) • November 22Ben Adams, English pop singer-songwriter (A1) • Jenny Owen Youngs, American singer-songwriter • November 26Natasha Bedingfield, English singer-songwriter • November 30Mavado, Jamaican deejay and singer-songwriter • December 2Britney Spears, American singer-songwriter, dancer, performer, musician, author, activist, advocate, businesswoman, and clothes designer • December 9Camoflauge, American rapper (d. 2003) • December 10Paula Vesala, Finnish singer-songwriter • December 11Zacky Vengeance, heavy metal rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist (Avenged Sevenfold) • December 13Gary Innes, Scottish accordionist, shinty player and broadcaster • Amy Lee, American singer-songwriter, harpist, pianist, musician, multi instrumentalist and activist (Evanescence) • December 16Gaby Moreno, Guatemalan singer • Krysten Ritter, American musician and actress • December 17Wacław Kiełtyka, Polish musician and composer • Houari Manar, Algerian raï singer (d. 2019) • S3RL, Australian Hardcore DJ • December 18Aline Wirley, Brazilian actress and singer-songwriter • December 19Sam Bloom, English singer and actor • December 20MBrother, Polish DJ and music producer • December 21Lynda Thomas, Mexican musician, singer-songwriter, Eurodance and alternative rock musician • December 23Beth, Spanish singer and actress • December 26Seorak, South Korean singer and VJ • December 27Lise Darly, French singer • December 28Frank Turner, English punk and folk singer-songwriter • December 30K.Will, South Korean singer ==Deaths==
Deaths
January 1Hephzibah Menuhin, pianist and human rights campaigner, 60 • January 4Ruth Lowe, pianist and songwriter, 66 • January 23Samuel Barber, composer, 70 • January 25Adele Astaire, US dancer, actress and singer, 84 • February 1Frank Merrick, pianist • Geirr Tveitt, Norwegian composer, 72 • Ernst Pepping, composer, 79 • February 9Bill Haley, rock and roll pioneer, 55 (heart attack) • February 15Mike Bloomfield, blues guitarist, 37 (accidental drug overdose) • Karl Richter, German organist and conductor, 54 • February 19Olive Gilbert, actress and singer, 82 • February 21Ron Grainer, electronic music pioneer and composer, 58 • February 26Howard Hanson, composer, 84 • April 5Bob Hite, vocalist (Canned Heat), 38 (heart attack) • Maurice Zbriger, violinist, composer and conductor, 84 • April 7Kit Lambert, former manager and producer of The Who, 45 (fell downstairs) • April 8Burt Shevelove, librettist, 66 • April 14Ivan Galamian, violin teacher, 78 • April 28Steve Currie, bassist of T.Rex, 33 (car crash) • May 11Bob Marley, reggae musician, 36 (cancer) • May 25Roy Brown, blues singer, 55 • May 28Mary Lou Williams, jazz pianist, 71 • July 1Rushton Moreve, US bass player and songwriter (Steppenwolf), 32 • July 16Harry Chapin, US singer-songwriter, 38 (car crash) • July 29Sydney Kyte, British bandleader and violinist, 85 • August 18Robert Russell Bennett, composer and arranger, 87 • August 26Lee Hays, folk singer, 67 • September 2Tadeusz Baird, composer, 53 • September 8Master Venu, film composer, 65 • September 14Furry Lewis, country blues guitarist and songwriter, 88 • September 15Chick Bullock, US singer, 72 • September 22 – Henry Warren, film songwriter, 87 • October 2Hazel Scott, classical pianist and singer, 61 • October 5Sven Gyldmark, film composer, 77 • October 13Marius Casadesus, violinist and composer, 88 • October 15Elsie Randolph, English actress, dancer and singer, 77 • October 29Georges Brassens, singer-songwriter, 60 • November 27Lotte Lenya, actress and singer, wife of Kurt Weill, 83 • December 13Cornelius Cardew, avant-garde composer, 45 (road accident) • December 27Hoagy Carmichael, pianist, singer and songwriter, 82 ==Awards==
tickerdossier.comtickerdossier.substack.com