[edit] Events
Perhaps the two most famous musical events of 1969 were concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hells Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event. In retrospect, some commentators have concluded that the violence signaled the end of the "hippie" movement, which espoused an ethos of free love and peace. Even more famous than the Altamont concert is Woodstock, which consisted of dozens of the most famous performers in the world at the time, playing together in an atmosphere of peace with nature and love, with many thousands of concert goers; it is still one of the largest concerts in the history of the world.
The 1967 musical Hair generated the same-named 1968 album, whose cuts include "Aquarius" and "Let The Sunshine In", "Hair", "Good Morning Starshine", "Easy To Be Hard" (covered, chronologically and respectively, by The 5th Dimension at #1, The Cowsills at #2, Oliver at #3, Three Dog Night at #4, on the Hot 100 in 1969), and others, and a London Cast album released in April 1969.
The Isle of Wight festival saw the return of Bob Dylan to live music after his motorbike accident in 1966.
Soul Shakedown was the debut album by Bob Marley & The Wailers, who would go on to become one of the most popular groups around the world. The album achieved very little popularity outside of the group's native country, Jamaica, but began establishing themselves as superstars there. Musically, Soul Shakedown is more ska than reggae, the style of music the Wailers would eventually make world-famous; the pioneering style of the music helped move ska and rocksteady towards reggae.
David Bowie's "Space Oddity" became a huge hit in this year, being released at the time that American astronauts first landed on the moon. The song, the story of an astronaut named Major Tom who goes into space and is entranced by the beauty of seeing Earth from such a great distance and consequently lets himself float off into space, never again to return, was chosen by the BBC as the theme song for the television coverage of the moon landing. The remainder of the album, Man of Words/Man of Music, was too eccentric for mainstream acceptance, though it established a devoted fanbase for Bowie, who would go on to become one of the most popular musicians in the world.
King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson King is a pioneering album in the development of progressive rock. The album drew upon influences like Procol Harum, The Moody Blues and The Nice to form an original sound melding rock and roll with classical influences in long, avant-garde pieces of music. Similar albums by The Moody Blues, Procol Harum and The Nice, as well as Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd were also released this year, expanding the range of prog rock and developing it into a full-fledged genre.
The Stooges' eponymous debut, The Stooges, was also released this year to little critical or popular acceptance. The album, however, went on to become one of the most important recordings in the early development of punk rock, as did Kick Out The Jams by Detroit protopunkers MC5.
Johnny Cash's At San Quentin included his only Top Ten pop hit, "A Boy Named Sue". The album was a sequel to last year's At Folsom Prison. Also in country music, Merle Haggard's Same Train, Different Time, a tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, was enormously popular and influenced the development of the Bakersfield sound into outlaw country within a few years.
Creedence Clearwater Revival cement their success from the previous year. Having had a single US #11 hit in 1968 with Suzie Q, they release not only their second, but also their third and fourth proper studio album in 1969 as well as drawing a total of four top 3 hits from these three albums. Starting with Bayou Country including the US #2 hit "Proud Mary" and continuing with Green River and finally Willy and the Poor Boys, which, during the year, transformed them from an up-and-coming underground act to bona fide rockstars. During 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival had #2 hits in the US with "Proud Mary", "Green River" and "Bad Moon Rising", and also have a #3 hit with "Down on the Corner"/"Fortunate Son".
Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso released enormously popular albums in Brazil, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, respectively. The pair's fusion of bossa nova, samba and other native Brazilian folk influences, melded with politically and socially aware lyrics, kickstarted what came to be known as Tropicalia. Both musicians moved to London after a period of imprisonment for anti-government activities in Brazil.
Family release their second album, Family Entertainment, in their native Britain. It is their first top ten album in the United Kingdom, hitting number six. "The Weaver's Answer", which opens the record, becomes their most popular song in their concert performances. By the end of the year, however, they lose and replace two members, and their first attempt to break through commercially in the United States backfires miserably.
Elvis Presley returns to live performances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas; 57 concerts. He breaks all attendance records in Vegas. He also enjoys a great success with his songs "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds".
- January 4 – Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is accused of arrogance by British television producers after playing an impromptu version of "Sunshine of Your Love" past his allotted timeslot on the BBC1 show Happening for Lulu.
- January 12 – Led Zeppelin's eponymous debut album released.
- January 18 – Pete Best wins his defamation lawsuit against The Beatles. Best had originally sought $8 million, but ended up being awarded much less.
- January 30 – The Beatles perform for the last time in public, on the roof of the Apple building at 3 Savile Row, London. The performance, which was filmed for the Let It Be movie, is stopped early by police after neighbors complain about the noise.
- February – Eric Burdon & The Animals disband.
- February 3 – John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr hire Allen Klein as The Beatles' new business manager, against the wishes of Paul McCartney.
- February 4 – Paul McCartney hires the law firm of Eastman & Eastman, Linda Eastman's father's law firm, as general legal counsel for Apple.
- February 15 – Vickie Jones is arrested for impersonating Aretha Franklin in a concert performance. Jones' impersonation was so convincing that nobody in the audience asked for a refund.
- February 17 – Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan record together in Nashville, Tennessee. Only one song, "Girl from the North Country", would be released from these sessions.
- February 18 – Lulu and Bee Gee Maurice Gibb are married in England
- March 1 – During a performance at Miami's Dinner Key Auditorium, Jim Morrison of the Doors is arrested for allegedly exposing himself during the show. Morrison is officially charged with lewd and lascivious behavior, indecent behavior, open profanity and public drunkenness.
- March 12
- March 20 – John Lennon marries Yoko Ono in Gibraltar.
- March 25-31 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono host a "Bed-In" for peace in their room at the Amsterdam Hilton, turning their honeymoon into an antiwar event. Lennon also learns from a morning newspaper that publisher Dick James has sold his shares of Northern Songs to Lew Grade's Associated Television (ATV).
- March 26 -Lotti Golden records her debut LP Motor-Cycle (Atlantic SD 8223) at Atlantic Studios in New York City, released in May to critical acclaim in Newsweek (July, 1969).
- March 29 – At the 14th annual Eurovision Song Contest held at the Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain, the final result is a four-way tie for first place between Spain ("Vivo cantando" – Salomé); United Kingdom ("Boom Bang-a-Bang" – Lulu); Netherlands ("De Troubadour" – Lenny Kuhr) and France ("Un jour, un enfant" – Frida Boccara). As there was no tie-break rule in force up to this time, the four entries involved, who each scored 18 points, are declared ex-aequo winners.
- April 1 – The Beach Boys file a lawsuit against their record label, Capitol Records, for $2,041,446.64 in unpaid royalties and producer's fees for Brian Wilson. Capitol retaliates by deleting most of its Beach Boys catalog, severely limiting the band's income.
- April 8 – Opening for Ten Years After at the Fillmore East in New York City, Family perform their first U.S. concert, and the show is an unmitigated disaster. Vocalist Roger Chapman, on his 27th birthday, throws a microphone stand into the audience, unintentionally in the direction of Fillmore East impresario Bill Graham.
- April 20 – The L.A. Free Festival in Venice, California ends early following a riot of audience members, 117 of which were arrested.
- April 22
- The first complete performance of The Who's rock opera Tommy during a performance in Dolton, England
- John Lennon officially changes his name from John Winston Lennon to John Winston Ono-Lennon.
- April 24 – The Beatles make a $5.1 million counter offer to the Northern Songs stockholders in an attempt to keep Associated TV from controlling the band's music.
- April 28 – Chicago releases its debut album, The Chicago Transit Authority.
- May 3
- Sly & the Family Stone release their breakthrough album, Stand!, which became one of the top-selling albums of the decade and made the band one of the most popular acts in rock and soul music.
- Jimi Hendrix is arrested by Canadian Mounties at Toronto's International Airport for possession of narcotics. Hendrix is released on $10,000 bail.
- May 6 – In London, representatives of Warner Brothers-Seven Arts discuss the purchase of fifteen percent of The Beatles' Northern Songs.
- May 10 – The Turtles perform at the White House. Singer Mark Volman falls off the stage five times.
- June 2 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono host a "Bed-In" at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada. The couple records the song "Give Peace a Chance" live in their suite with Tommy Smothers, Timothy Leary, and several others.
- June 13 – Mick Taylor joins the Rolling Stones.
- June 29 – Bass player Noel Redding announces to the media that he has quit the Jimi Hendrix Experience, having effectively done so during the recording of Electric Ladyland.
- July 3 – Brian Jones is found dead in the swimming pool at his home in Sussex, England, almost a month after leaving The Rolling Stones.
- July 5 – The Rolling Stones proceed with a free concert in Hyde Park, London, as a tribute to Brian Jones; it is also the band's first concert with guitarist Mick Taylor. Estimates of the audience range from 250,000 to 400,000.
- August 9 – Members of would-be folk singer Charles Manson's "family" murder film star Sharon Tate and others, in Tate's home.
- August 15-17 – The Woodstock Music and Art Festival is held at Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, near Woodstock, New York. Performers include Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Country Joe and the Fish, Ten Years After, and Sly & the Family Stone.
- August 28 – Elvis Presley returns to live performances in Las Vegas.
- September 13 – John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band perform at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival 12-hour music festival, backed by Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and Alan White. Other performers on the bill include Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and up-and-comers Chicago. It is Lennon's first-ever public rock performance without one or more of The Beatles since meeting Paul McCartney in 1957. He decides before returning to England to leave The Beatles permanently.
- September 24 – Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform the Concerto for Group and Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London, in the first elaborate collaboration between a rock band and an orchestra.
- October 14 – The final single by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Someday We'll Be Together", is released. The single becomes the final #1 hit of 1969 (and of the 1960s). After a farewell concert in January 1970, Diana Ross leaves the Supremes for a solo career.
- November – Simon & Garfunkel give live concert at Iowa State University, where they record the track "Bye, Bye Love" for their upcoming album, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
- November 1 – After seven years off the top of the charts, Elvis Presley hits No. 1 on the Billboard chart with "Suspicious Minds" (his last no. 1 during his lifetime).
- November 7 – The Rolling Stones open their US tour in Fort Collins, Colorado.
- November 8 – Simon & Garfunkel, on tour for the first time with a band, give live concert in Carbondale, Illinois, presumably at Southern Illinois University. The concert is not released until 1999 as part of a recording compiled by Head Records, called Village Vanguard.
- November 11 – Simon & Garfunkel give live concert at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The recording is later released in the 1990s as Back to College on Yellow Dog Records and A Time of Innocence on Bell Bottom Records.
- November 15 – Musik für die Beethovenhalle in Bonn, a multi-auditorium retrospective concert of the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen, with the world premiere of his Fresco presented in four different foyer spaces continuously over a span of four-and-a-half hours.
- November 29 – Billboard Magazine changes its policy of charting the A and B sides of 45 singles on its pop chart. The former policy charted the two sides separately, but the new policy considers both sides as one chart entry. The Beatles are the first beneficiary of the new policy as their current 45 single featuring "Come Together" on one side, and "Something" on the other, accrue enough combined points to make the single a #1 pop hit. Similarly, Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" and "Down On The Corner" accrue enough combined points to reach #3 three weeks later.
- November 30 – Simon & Garfunkel air TV special Songs of America, ostensibly an hour-long show that is anti-war and anti-poverty featuring live footage from their 1969 tour.
- December – The Jackson 5 release their debut album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.
- December 6 – Altamont Free Concert
[edit] Bands formed
[edit] Bands disbanded
[edit] Albums released
[edit] January
[edit] February
[edit] August
[edit] September
[edit] October
[edit] November
[edit] December
[edit] Release Date Unknown
[edit] Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1969.
| # |
Artist |
Title |
Year |
Country |
Chart Entries |
| 1 |
The Beatles |
Get Back |
1969 |
 |
UK 1 – Apr 1969, US BB 1 – May 1969, Canada 1 – Apr 1969, Holland 1 – Apr 1969, Switzerland 1 – Apr 1969, Norway 1 – May 1969, Germany 1 – May 1969, Éire 1 – May 1969, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Sep 1969, Australia Goset 1 – May 1969, RYM 6 of 1969, US CashBox 14 of 1969, US BB 21 of 1969, DDD 24 of 1969, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1969, POP 33 of 1969, Europe 38 of the 1960s, Italy 46 of 1969, Virgin 64, Scrobulate 91 of British, OzNet 115, Germany 217 of the 1960s, WXPN 566, Acclaimed 1367 |
| 2 |
The Rolling Stones |
Honky Tonk Women |
1969 |
|
UK 1 – Jul 1969, US BB 1 – Jul 1969, Switzerland 1 – Jul 1969, Éire 1 – Aug 1969, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Jan 1970, Australia Goset 1 – Aug 1969, US CashBox 2 of 1969, Canada 2 – Aug 1969, Norway 2 – Aug 1969, Germany 3 – Aug 1969, Holland 4 – Jul 1969, Australia 4 of 1969, RYM 4 of 1969, DDD 4 of 1969, US BB 8 of 1969, POP 8 of 1969, TheQ 27, Europe 50 of the 1960s, Italy 92 of 1969, Acclaimed 97, Rolling Stone 116, WXPN 189, Germany 209 of the 1960s |
| 3 |
Zager & Evans |
In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) |
1969 |
 |
UK 1 – Aug 1969, US BB 1 – Jun 1969, Canada 1 – Jul 1969, Holland 1 – Aug 1969, France 1 – Mar 1970, Switzerland 1 – Aug 1969, Norway 1 – Aug 1969, Germany 1 – Aug 1969, Éire 1 – Sep 1969, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Jan 1970, Australia Goset 2 – Aug 1969, US CashBox 11 of 1969, Australia 19 of 1969, US BB 39 of 1969, RYM 60 of 1969, POP 75 of 1969, Europe 77 of the 1960s, Germany 109 of the 1960s |
| 4 |
The Archies |
Sugar Sugar |
1969 |
|
UK 1 – Oct 1969, US BB 1 – Aug 1969, US CashBox 1 of 1969, Canada 1 – Jul 1969, Norway 1 – Nov 1969, Germany 1 – Jan 1970, Éire 1 – Nov 1969, Switzerland 2 – Oct 1969, Holland 4 – Sep 1969, Australia Goset 5 – Aug 1969, France 8 – Feb 1970, South Africa 8 of 1969, US BB 10 of 1969, POP 10 of 1969, TOTP 26, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1969, RYM 40 of 1969, Italy 70 of 1970, DDD 77 of 1969, Germany 157 of the 1960s, Acclaimed 1996 |
| 5 |
Elvis Presley |
Suspicious Minds |
1969 |
|
US BB 1 – Sep 1969, Canada 1 – Sep 1969, Australia 1 for 3 weeks Jun 1970, Australia Goset 1 – Nov 1969, South Africa 1 of 1969, UK 2 – Nov 1969, Holland 6 – Oct 1969, France 6 – Mar 1970, Germany 8 – Jan 1970, Norway 10 – Feb 1970, Australia 16 of 1969, RYM 19 of 1969, Scrobulate 19 of oldies, Europe 22 of the 1960s, DDD 23 of 1969, POP 26 of 1969, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1969, US BB 40 of 1969, Poland 40 – Aug 1999, US CashBox 43 of 1969, Acclaimed 60, Rolling Stone 91, WXPN 121, OzNet 156 |
[edit] Some top American and/or British hit singles
- "Albatross" – Fleetwood Mac
- "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" – The 5th Dimension
- "Atlantis" – Donovan
- "Baby Make It Soon" – The Marmalade
- "Bad Moon Rising" – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Badge" – Cream
- "Ballad of John and Yoko" – The Beatles
- "Behind a Painted Smile" – The Isley Brothers
- "Big Ship" – Cliff Richard
- "Blackberry Way" – The Move
- "Boom Bang-a-Bang" – Lulu
- "The Boxer" – Simon & Garfunkel
- "A Boy Named Sue" – Johnny Cash
- "Break Away" – The Beach Boys
- "Bringing On Back The Good Times" – Love Affair
- "But You Know I Love You" – The First Edition
- "(Call Me) Number One" – The Tremeloes
- "Cloud Nine" – The Temptations
- "Cold Turkey" – Plastic Ono Band
- "Come Back And Shake Me" – Clodagh Rodgers
- "Conversations" – Cilla Black
- "Crimson and Clover" – Tommy James & the Shondells
- "Curly" – The Move
- "Delta Lady" – Joe Cocker
- "Dizzy" – Tommy Roe
- "Don't Forget to Remember" – The Bee Gees
- "Don't Give In To Him" – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
- "Do Your Thing" – Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
- "Early in the Morning" – Vanity Fare
- "Everyday People" – Sly & the Family Stone
- "First of May" – The Bee Gees
- "For Once in My Life" – Stevie Wonder
- "Frozen Orange Juice" – Peter Sarstedt
- "Gentle on My Mind" – Dean Martin
- "Get Back" – The Beatles
- "Get Together" – The Youngbloods
- "Gimme, Gimme Good Lovin'" – Crazy Elephant
- "Give Peace a Chance" – Plastic Ono Band
- "Good Morning Starshine" – Oliver
- "Good Times (Better Times)" – Cliff Richard
- "Goodbye" – Mary Hopkin
- "Goodnight Midnight" – Clodagh Rodgers
- "Grazing In The Grass" – Friends Of Distinction
- "Hare Krishna Mantra" – Radha Krishna Temple
- "Hawaii Five-O" – The Ventures
- "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" – The Hollies
- "Hello Susie" – Amen Corner
- "Hello World" – The Tremeloes
- "Honky Tonk Women" – Rolling Stones
- "Hooked On A Feeling" – B.J. Thomas
- "Hot Fun In The Summertime" – Sly & The Family Stone
- "I Can Hear Music" – The Beach Boys
- "I Can't Get Next to You" – The Temptations
- "I Don't Know Why" – Stevie Wonder
- "I Started a Joke" – The Bee Gees
- "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" – Amen Corner
- "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" – Marvin Gaye
- "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" – Bobbie Gentry
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" – Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations
- "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" – Lou Christie
- "I'm Livin' in Shame" – Diana Ross & the Supremes
- "Indian Giver" – 1910 Fruitgum Company
- "In the Ghetto" – Elvis Presley
- "In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)" – Zager and Evans
- "Israelites" – Desmond Dekker and the Aces
- "It Miek" – Desmond Dekker and the Aces
- "It's Getting Better" – 'Mama' Cass Elliot
- "It's Your Thing" – The Isley Brothers
- "Je t'aime... moi non plus" – Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg
- "Lay Lady Lay" – Bob Dylan
- "The Liquidator" – Harry J All Stars
- "Listen to the Band" – The Monkees
- "Living In The Past" – Jethro Tull
- "Love Child" – Diana Ross & the Supremes
- "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" – Henry Mancini
- "Make Me An Island" – Joe Dolan
- "Man of the World" – Fleetwood Mac
- "Melting Pot" – Blue Mink
- "Mind,Body and Soul – The Flaming Ember
- "My Cherie Amour" – Stevie Wonder
- "My Sentimental Friend" – Herman's Hermits
- "My Way" – Frank Sinatra
- "Natural Born Bugie" – Humble Pie
- "Nobody's Child" – Karen Young
- "Oh Happy Day" – Edwin Hawkins Singers
- "Oh Well" – Fleetwood Mac
- "One Road" – Love Affair
- "The Onion Song" – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- "Pinball Wizard" – The Who
- "Proud Mary" – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)" – Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus
- "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" – B. J. Thomas
- "Reuben James" – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
- "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
- "Run Away Child, Running Wild" – The Temptations
- "Sanctus" – Les Troubadours du Roi Baudoin
- "Saved By The Bell" – Robin Gibb
- "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" – The Shadows
- "Someday We'll Be Together" – Diana Ross & the Supremes
- "Something/Come Together" – The Beatles
- "Something in the Air" – Thunderclap Newman
- "Something's Happening" – Herman's Hermits
- "Sorry Suzanne" – The Hollies
- "Soulful Strut" – Young-Holt Unlimited
- "Space Oddity" – David Bowie
- "Spinning Wheel" – Blood, Sweat & Tears
- "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" – Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "Suspicious Minds" – Elvis Presley
- "Sugar, Sugar" – The Archies
- "Surround Yourself With Sorrow" – Cilla Black
- "Sweet Caroline" – Neil Diamond
- "Sweet Dream" – Jethro Tull
- "That's The Way God Planned It" – Billy Preston
- "The Worst That Could Happen" – Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge
- "This Girl Is a Woman Now" – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
- "This Girl's In Love With You" – Dionne Warwick
- "This Magic Moment" – Jay and the Americans
- "Throw Down a Line" – Cliff & Hank
- "Time is Tight" – Booker T. & the M.G.'s
- "Time of the Season" – The Zombies
- "To Love Somebody – Nina Simone
- "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" – Marvin Gaye
- "Touch Me" – The Doors
- "Traces" – Classics IV
- "Twenty-Five Miles" – Edwin Starr
- "Two Little Boys" – Rolf Harris
- "Viva Bobby Joe" – The Equals
- "Wait A Million Years" – The Grass Roots
- "Westbound #9" – The Flaming Ember
- "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" – Peter Sarstedt
- "Where the Sour Turns to Sweet" – Genesis
- Who Do You Love? – Juicy Lucy
- "Whole Lotta Love" – Led Zeppelin
- "Winter World of Love" – Engelbert Humperdinck
- "With the Eyes of a Child" – Cliff Richard
- "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" – Stevie Wonder
- "You Gave Me a Mountain" – Frankie Laine
- "You Showed Me" – The Turtles
- "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" – Dionne Warwick
- "You've Made Me So Very Happy" – Blood, Sweat & Tears
[edit] Published popular music
- "The April Fools" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach from the film The April Fools
- "Bad Moon Rising" w.m. John C. Fogerty
- "The Brady Bunch theme", by Frank DeVol
- "Bridge over Troubled Water" w.m. Paul Simon
- "But, Mister Adams" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Cool, Cool Considerate Men" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Didn't We?" w.m. Jimmy Webb
- "Down On The Corner" w.m. John C. Fogerty
- "The Egg" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Everybody's Talkin'" w.m. Fred Neil
- "Hawaii Five-O" m. Mort Stevens
- "He Plays The Violin" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- If You Could Read My Mind" w.m. Gordon Lightfoot
- "In The Ghetto" w.m.Mac Davis
- "Is Anybody There?" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Is That All There Is?" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
- " Israelites" w.m. Desmond Dekker & Leslie Kong
- "Keem-O-Sabe" m. Bernard Binnick & Bernice Borisoff
- "Jean" w.m. Rod McKuen from the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
- "Just Leave Everything to Me" w.m. Jerry Herman, from the film version of Hello, Dolly!
- "Leaving on a Jet Plane" w.m. John Denver
- "The Lees of Old Virginia" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Marrakesh Express" w.m. Graham Nash
- "Molasses To Rum" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Momma, Look Sharp" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Odds And Ends (Of A Beautiful Love Affair)" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach
- "Piddle, Twiddle And Resolve" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "Proud Mary" w.m. John C. Fogerty
- "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" w.m. Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers & Jackie DeShannon
- "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" w.Hal David m.Burt Bacharach. Introduced by B. J. Thomas on the soundtrack of the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The song won the Academy Award.
- "Suspicious Minds" w.m. Fred Zambon
- "Sweet Caroline" w.m. Neil Diamond
- "Till Then" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" w. Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman m. Michel LeGrand
- "Yellow River" w.m. Christie
- "You Don't Love Me When I Cry" w.m. Laura Nyro
- "Yours, Yours, Yours" w.m. Sherman Edwards
- Benjamin Britten – Suite for harp, op. 83
- Gavin Bryars – The Sinking of the Titanic
- Sylvano Bussotti – Rara Requiem
- Gian Paolo Chiti - Violin concerto
- George Crumb – Night of the Four Moons for alto, alto flute/piccolo, banjo, electric cello, and percussion; Madrigals, Books III (for soprano, harp, and percussion) and Books IV for soprano, flute/alto flute/piccolo, harp, double bass, and percussion
- Mario Davidovsky – Synchronisms No. 5 for percussion players and tape
- Peter Maxwell Davies – St Thomas Wake
- Vagn Holmboe – String Quartet no. 10, op. 102
- György Ligeti – Ramifications for 12 solo strings (1968–69)
- Francis Jackson – Sonata for Organ No. 1
- Miklós Rózsa – Concerto for Cello
- Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 14, Op. 135, for soprano, bass, string orchestra and percussion
- Karlheinz Stockhausen –
- Dr. K Sextett, for flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello, percussion (tubular chimes and vibraphone), and piano
- Fresco. for four orchestral groups
- Hymnen, Third Region, electronic music with orchestra
- Momente (third and final version)
- Stop (Paris version, for 19 players)
- Leif Thybo – Concerto for violin and orchestra
[edit] Births
- January 4 – Boris Berezovsky, pianist
- January 5 – Marilyn Manson, rock singer
- January 14 – Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)
- January 27 – Cornelius, musician
- February 5 – Bobby Brown, (New Edition)
- February 21 – James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
- March 1 – Dafydd Ieuan, drummer (Super Furry Animals)
- March 11 – Pete Droge, folk musician
- March 25 – Cathy Dennis, singer
- April 11 – Cerys Matthews, singer
- April 27
- April 29 – Master P, rapper, record label owner
- May 14 – Danny Wood (New Kids on the Block)
- May 18 – Martika, singer
- May 24 – Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes)
- May 29 – Chandler Kinchla (Blues Traveler)
- June 5 – Brian McKnight, singer-songwriter
- June 13 – Søren Rasted, Aqua
- June 15 – Ice Cube, rapper
- June 16 – Bénabar, singer-songwriter
- July 5 – RZA, rapper, record producer
- August 6 – Elliott Smith (d. 2003)
- August 17 – Donnie Wahlberg (New Kids on the Block)
- August 18 – Everlast, singer
- August 19 – Clay Walker, country singer
- August 29 – Me'Shell NdegeOcello
- September 5 – Dweezil Zappa, guitarist and son of Frank Zappa
- September 6 – CeCe Peniston, singer
- September 16 – Marc Anthony, singer-songwriter
- September 17 – Lynette Diaz, singer-songwriter
- September 24
- October 3 – Gwen Stefani, vocalist (No Doubt)
- October 9 – PJ Harvey, singer-songwriter
- October 16 – Wendy Wilson, Wilson Phillips
- October 22 – Helmut Lotti, Belgian singer
- October 30 – Snow, reggae musician
- November 3 – Robert Miles, DJ
- November 4 – Sean Combs (P. Diddy), rapper
- November 9 – Scarface, rapper
- December 4
- December 9 – Jakob Dylan, The Wallflowers, son of Bob Dylan and Sara Lownds
- December 19 – Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician and singer
- December 24 – Mariko Shiga, Japanese singer (d. 1989)
- date unknown – Buckethead (born Brian Caroll), guitarist.
[edit] Deaths
- January 4 – Paul Chambers, jazz bassist (b. 1935) (tuberculosis)
- January 17 - Grażyna Bacewicz, Polish composer and violinist (b. 1909)
- February 15 – Pee Wee Russell, jazz clarinetist (b. 1906)
- February 20 – Ernest Ansermet, conductor (b. 1883)
- February 23 – Constantin Silvestri, conductor and composer (b. 1913)
- March 25 – Billy Cotton, bandleader (b. 1899)
- March 26 - Clara Dow, operatic soprano (b. 1883)
- April 2 – Fortunio Bonanova, baritone (b. 1895)
- April 4 - Fanny Anitùa, operatic contralto (b. 1887)
- April 10 – Fernando Ortiz, ethnomusicologist (b. 1881)
- April 20 – Benny Benjamin ("Papa Zita"), drummer (b. 1925) (stroke)
- April 22 - Amparo Iturbi, Spanish pianist (b. 1898)
- April 23 – Krzysztof Komeda, jazz musician and composer (b. 1931) (haematoma)
- April 29 – Julius Katchen, pianist (b. 1926) (cancer)
- May 1 – Ella Logan, actress and singer (b. 1913)
- May 17 - Maria Olszewska, operatic contralto (b. 1892)
- May 22 – Nicola Salerno, Italian lyricist (b. 1910)
- May 9 - Elias Breeskin, violinist, conductor and composer (b. 1896)
- May 23 – Jimmy McHugh, US composer and pianist (b. 1894)
- June 14
- June 17 – Rita Abatzi, rebetiko musician (b. 1914)
- June 22 – Judy Garland, singer and actress (b. 1922) (overdose of barbiturates)
- July 3 – Brian Jones, guitarist, founder member of The Rolling Stones (b. 1942) (drowned)
- July 5 – Wilhelm Backhaus, pianist (b. 1884)
- July 11 - Hina Spani, operatic soprano (b. 1896)
- July 26 – Frank Loesser, US songwriter (b. 1910)
- August 6 – Theodor Adorno, exponent of the "New Music" (b. 1903)
- August 11 - Miriam Licette, operatic soprano (b. 1885)
- August 13 – Jacob do Bandolim, mandolin player and composer (b. 1918)
- September 5 – Josh White, blues musician (b. 1914)
- September 14 - Alice Zeppilli, operatic soprano (b. 1885)
- October 3 – Skip James, blues musician (b. 1902)
- October 4 – Natalino Otto, Italian singer (b. 1912)
- October 22 – Tommy Edwards, singer (b. 1922)
- November 8 – Ricardo Aguirre, protest singer (b. 1939)
- November 18 – Ted Heath, bandleader (b. 1902)
- November 23 – Spade Cooley, swing musician and murderer (b. 1910) (heart attack)
- December 1 – Magic Sam, blues musician (b. 1937) (heart attack)
- December 5 - James "Stump" Johnson, blues pianist (b. 1902)
- December 6 – Walther Aeschbacher, Swiss conductor and composer (b. 1901)
- December 22 – Wilbur Hatch, pianist, composer and conductor (b. 1902)
- date unknown
- probable – Mississippi Joe Callicott, blues musician (b. 1900)
[edit] Awards
[edit] Further reading
[edit] External links
