1980 in music

See also: 1979 in music, other events of 1980, 1981 in music, 1980s in music and the list of 'years in music'

Table of contents

1 Events
2 Albums released
3 Top hits
4 Published popular music
5 Musical theater
6 Musical films
7 Births
8 Deaths
9 Awards

9.1 Grammy Awards
9.2 Country Music Association Awards
9.3 Eurovision Song Contest

Events

January 1 - Cliff Richard is awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. The only other pop music acts to be awarded the MBE are the Beatles and Elton John
January 2 - At the age of 45, songwriter Larry Williams is found dead in his Los Angeles, California home of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators are never able to determine whether his death was a murder or suicide.
January 13 - The Grateful Dead, The Beach Boys and Jefferson Starship perform at a benefit concert at Oakland Coliseum for the people of Kampuchea.
January 16 - Paul McCartney is arrested in Tokyo for possession of a half pound of marijuana. The remaining part of McCartney's tour had to be canceled.
January 25 - Paul McCartney is released from a Tokyo jail and is kicked out of the country by Japanese authorities.
January - Daniel Amos and Randy Stonehill wrap up the first part of the Amos and Randy Tour in Toronto. Both artists are joined on stage by Larry Norman for an encore. The event makes the news on local television and newspapers.
February 8 - David Bowie and his wife of nearly 10 years, Angie, file for divorce. Bowie gets custody of their 9 year old son, Zowie
February 14 - Lou Reed marries Sylvia Morales in New York City's Greenwich Village
February 21 - Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, dies in London after choking on his own vomit following an all-night drinking binge.
February 29 - Buddy Holly's trademark glasses and the Big Bopper's wristwatch are "rediscovered" in old police files by the Mason City Sheriff. Holly and the Big Bopper were killed in a plane crashed on February 3, 1959.
March 1 - Patti Smith marries former MC5 member Fred Sonic Smith
March 3 - Sotheby's Auction house in London auctions off a Rivera Hotel, Las Vegas napkin signed by Elvis Presley for 500 pounds. Other items auctioned included four American dollar bills autographed by the Beatles, for 220 pounds and a collection of personal letters belonging to the Rolling Stones, also for 220 pounds
March 14 - Record producer Quincy Jones receives a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame
March 19 - Elvis Presley's autopsy is subpoened during the trial of Dr. George Nichopoulous, who would later be found guilty of overprescribing drugs to Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and other clients.
March 29 - Ronald Selle, wins a lawsuit filed against the Bee Gees, Paramount Pictures and Polygram Records. Selle alleged that the Bee Gees' song "How Deep is Your Love" plagiarized two sections of a song he wrote called "Let it End." The Bee Gees claim they never heard Selle's song. (The Bee Gees successfully appeal the decision in 1983.)
April 13 - The Broadway musical Grease closes its run of 3,883 performances, making it the longest running show on Broadway up until that time.
April 14 - A member of the New Jersey State assembly introduces a resolution to make Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" the official state song.
April 17 - As the "official guests of State", Bob Marley and the Wailers perform at Zimbabwe's Independence festival. Marley calls the event the "greatest honor of my life."
April 30 - The Roger Daltrey film, McVicar, opens in London.
November 21 - The Eagles' Don Henley is arrested when cocaine, Quaaludes, and marijuana were found in his hotel room after a nude 16 year old prostitute had drug-related seizures. Henley is also subsequently charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
December - Duran Duran signs with EMI after finalizing its lineup and touring as a support act for Hazel O'Connor
December 8 - John Lennon is shot and killed outside of his apartment building in New York City.
The single "Groovy Ghost Show" by Casper is the first recorded hip hop music from Chicago
Hee Bee Gee Bees release cutting parody of Bee Gees' disco-style single and help greatly to cut short the disco craze in the UK and encourage Gibb brothers to diversify stylistically
Network Riddum Band's Breaking Out is the first occurrence of the term rapso as the musical genre continues its popularization
Seals & Crofts break up
Mercyful Fate forms
Minor Threat forms
The Sisters of Mercy forms
Phil Collins signs a contract with Atlantic Records after leaving Genesis
H�sker D� forms, and signs a contract with SST Records

Albums released

Back in Black - AC/DC
Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
Autoamerican - Blondie
Eat to the Beat - Blondie
Kurtis Blow - Kurtis Blow
Hold Out - Jackson Browne
Catholic Boy - Jim Carroll Band
Panorama - The Cars
XIV - Chicago
Humans - Bruce Cockburn
Get Happy - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Christopher Cross - Christopher Cross
Group Sex - The Circle Jerks (debut)
London Calling - The Clash (2-record set)
Sandanista - The Clash
Stations of the Crass - Crass
Freedom of Choice - Devo
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Lightning to the Nations - Diamond Head
Making Movies - Dire Straits
Live - The Eagles (2-record set)
The Long Run - The Eagles (last recording until 2003)
The Inside Story - Robben Ford
Head Games - Foreigner
Peter Gabriel III - Peter Gabriel
After Dark - Andy Gibb
Voices - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Roses in the Snow - Emmylou Harris
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Sound Affects - The Jam
A - Jethro Tull
Glass Houses - Billy Joel
21 at 33 - Elton John
Departure - Journey
Dream After Dream - Journey
Closer - Joy Division
British Steel - Judas Priest
Double Fantasy - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Uprising - Bob Marley and the Wailers
Xanadu (soundtrack by Olivia Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra)
Mekons - The Mekons
Zenyatta Mondatta - The Police
The Pretenders - The Pretenders
Dirty Mind - Prince
The Psychedelic Furs - The Psychedelic Furs
Second Edition - Public Image Ltd
The Game - Queen
Down to Earth - Rainbow
Permanent Waves - Rush
Longest Road - Seals & Crofts (final album)
The Specials - The Specials
The River - Bruce Springsteen
Gaucho - Steely Dan
Remain in Light - Talking Heads
Empty Glass - Pete Townshend
Boy - U2 (debut)
Women and Children First - Van Halen
Hotter than July - Stevie Wonder

Top hits

"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon
"All Night Long" - Rainbow
"All Out of Love" - Air Supply
"Another Brick in the Wall" - Pink Floyd
"Another One Bites the Dust" - Queen
"Any Way You Want It" - Journey
"Big Man, Big M.A.N." - Crass
"Borrowed Time" - Styx
"Breakfast In America" - Supertramp
"Breaking the Law" - Judas Priest
"Call Me" - Blondie
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Queen
"Drivin' My Life Away" - Eddie Rabbit
"Fool in the Rain" - Led Zeppelin
"Freewill" - Rush
"Funkytown" - Lipps, Inc
"Games Without Frontiers" - Peter Gabriel
"Get A Move On" - Eddie Money
"Good Morning Girl" - Journey
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
"Hungry Heart" - Bruce Springsteen
"I Can't Tell You Why" - The Eagles
"I'm Alright" - Kenny Loggins
"It's Still Rock and Roll To Me" - Billy Joel
"Lady" - Kenny Rogers
"Let's Be Lovers Again" - Eddie Money
"Living After Midnight" - Judas Priest
"London Calling" - The Clash
"The Long Run" - The Eagles
"Magic" - Olivia Newton-John
"Metal Gods" - Judas Priest
"Remember (Walking in the Sand)" - Aerosmith
"Rev On The Red Line" - Foreigner
"Rock with You" - Michael Jackson
"Running Back" - Eddie Money
"Sailing" - Christopher Cross
"Since You Been Gone" - Rainbow
"Stay Awhile" - Journey
"Too Late" - Journey
"Touch and Go" - The Cars
"Train in Vain" - The Clash
"Tulsa Time" - Eric Clapton
"Upside Down" - Diana Ross
"Walks Like A Lady" - Journey
"We Don't Talk Anymore" - Cliff Richard
"Why Me" - Styx
"Women" - Foreigner
"Woman in Love" - Barbra Streisand
"You May Be Right" - Billy Joel

Published popular music

"Fame" w. Dean Pitchford m. Michael Gore
"The Winner Takes It All" w.m. Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus

Musical theater

Barnum Broadway production

Brigadoon Broadway revival
Bring Back Birdie Broadway production
Camelot Broadway revival
A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine Broadway production
Forty-Second Street Broadway production
The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby London production
On The Twentieth Century London production
Sweeney Todd London production
West Side Story Broadway revival

Musical films

Births

January 28 - Nick Carter, The Backstreet Boys
February 27 - Cyrus Bolooki, New Found Glory
March 21 - Deryck Whibley, Sum 41
June 20 - Tony Lovato, Mest
July 26 - Dave Baksh, Sum 41
October 5 - Paul, Good Charlotte
November 17 - Clarke Isaac Hanson, Hanson
December 18 - Christina Aguilera
Chris Gaynor, The All-American Rejects

Deaths

January 2 - Larry Williams
January 7 - Carl White, the Rivingtons
January 29 - Jimmie Durante
January 30 - Professor Longhair
February 19 - Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC
March 26 - Jon Paulus (32), the Buckinghams, drug overdose
April 28 - Tommy Caldwell, Marshall Tucker Band, car accident
June 27 - Barney Bigard
July 23 - Keith Godchaux, Grateful Dead, car accident
August 17 - Harold Adamson, US lyricist
September 25 - John Bonham, Led Zeppelin
December 8 - John Lennon