Vicious' Murder Trial Begins
Jan 2 British punk rocker Sid Vicious' trial for murder of girlfriend Nancy Spungen begins
6th American Music Awards
Jan 12 6th American Music Awards: Barry Manilow, Linda Ronstadt win
- Jan 26 Music Center Vredenburg opens in Utrecht, Netherlands
- Jan 28 Charlie Smalls' musical "The Wiz", an updated take on "The Wizard of Oz", starring Stephanie Mills, Stu Gilliam, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, closes at Majestic Theater in NYC, after 1,672 performances, 7 Tony and 6 Drama Desk Awards
- Jan 29 Brenda Spencer (16) kills 2 adults and injures 8 children and a police officer in a San Diego, California schoolyard shooting; incident inspires Irish rockers Boomtown Rats' song "I Don't Like Mondays"
- Feb 3 "YMCA" by Village People peaks at #2 on pop singles chart
- Feb 9 ABC airs "Heroes of Rock N Roll" special, featuring archival performances of 62 artists
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
Feb 10 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" by Rod Stewart peaks at #1
They're Playing Our Song
Feb 11 Marvin Hamlisch, Carole Bayer Sager, and Neil Simon's musical "They're Playing Our Song", starring Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz, opens at Imperial Theatre, NYC; runs for 1082 performances
- Feb 14 Revival of Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn's musical comedy "Whoopee!" opens at ANTA Theater, NYC; runs for 204 performances
Grammy Awards
Feb 15 21st Grammy Awards: Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are"; A Taste of Honey win
TV Show Appearance
Feb 15 Temple City Kazoo Orchestra appears on "The Mike Douglas Show"
Blow Away
Feb 16 George Harrison releases single "Blow Away"
- Feb 23 George Harrison releases "George Harrison" album, featuring the single "Blow Away"
- Feb 23 Mitch Leigh and N. Richard Nash's musical "Saravá", opens at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 140 performances
- Mar 1 "Sweeney Todd" opens at Uris Theater NYC for 557 performances
- Mar 4 "Grand Tour" closes at Palace Theater NYC after 61 performances
People's Choice Awards
Mar 7 5th People's Choice Awards: Burt Reynolds & Olivia Newton-John win (Motion Picture) and Alan Alda, Mary Tyler Moore & Carol Burnett win (TV)
- Mar 10 Eubie Blake, a 92-year old ragtime piano player and composer, and Gregory Hines are musical guest on Saturday Night Live
Music History
Mar 16 CBS-TV airs "Wings Over the World" with Paul McCartney
- Mar 18 "On the 20th Century" closes at St James Theater NYC after 460 performances
- Mar 23 Wings release "Goodnight Tonight"
- Mar 24 "Ballroom" closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 116 performances
- Mar 28 Frank Lazarus & Dick Vosburgh's stage musical comedy "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in Ukraine" premieres at the Mayfair Theatre, London, England
- Mar 31 24th Eurovision Song Contest: Gali Atari and Milk and Honey for Israel wins singing "Hallelujah" in Jerusalem
Carmelina
Apr 8 Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner's musical "Carmelina", based on the 1968 film "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell", opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 17 performances
- Apr 17 Brian Clark's stage drama "Whose Life is it Anyway?" starring Tom Conti and Phillip Bosco, and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, opens at the Trafalgar Theatre, NYC; runs for 223 performances, winning Conti a Tony Award
- Apr 21 Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner's musical "Carmelina", based on the 1968 film "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell", closes at St James Theater, NYC, after 17 performances
Rolling Stones Benefit Concerts
Apr 22 The Rolling Stones play two benefit concerts for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, in Oshawa, Ontario; performance part of guitarist Keith Richards’ heroin conviction sentence
Music History
Apr 24 US State of Georgia designates Ray Charles' rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" (written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell) as official state song
- Apr 27 George Harrison releases single "Love Comes to Everyone"
Music History
May 1 Elton John performs for 1st time in Israel, kicking off a mini-tour of 5 shows in six nights
Academy of Country Music Awards
May 2 14th Academy of Country Music Awards: Kenny Rogers and Barbara Mandrell win
- May 6 Louis LaRusso II's stage drama "Knockout", starring Danny Aiello, opens at the Helen Hayes Theater, NYC: runs for 154 performances
- May 14 "Kids Are All Right" rockumentary film featuring The Who premieres at the Cannes Film Festival
- May 19 "In The Navy" by Village People hits #3
- May 20 Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart's musical "I Love My Wife" closes at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, NYC, after 857 performances
- May 20 Elton John is the 1st western pop star to tour USSR
Lodger
May 25 RCA releases David Bowie's 13th studio album, "Lodger"; his third collaboration with Brian Eno in what becomes known as his 'Berlin trilogy' features contributions from guitarist Adrian Belew
Dancin' Fool
May 26 CBS Records releases Frank Zappa's "Dancin' Fool" single from his album "Sheik Yerbouti"; it peaks at #45, his biggest hit at the time
- May 31 Radio City Music Hall (NYC) reopens
I Remember Mama
May 31 Richard Rodgers, Martin Charnin and Raymond Jessel's musical "I Remember Mama" opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 108 performances
Music History
Jun 7 Rock 'n' Roll singer-songwriter and guitar legend Chuck Berry is charged with tax evasion
- Jun 8 Wings release "Back to the Egg" album
- Jun 11 Chuck Berry pleads guilty to income tax evasion, sentenced to 4 months
Mingus
Jun 13 Asylum Records releases "Mingus", Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell's 10th studio album
- Jun 13 Phyllis Newman's semi-autobiographical one-woman musical comedy "The Madwoman of Central Park West" opens at the 22 Steps Theater, NYC; runs for 85 performances on Broadway
- Jun 14 Rock group "Little Feat" disbands
- Jun 16 Single "Logical Song" by Supertramp peaks at #6
- Jun 17 "Sarava" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 140 performances
Glastonbury Festival
Jun 21 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Tim Blake and Peter Gabriel headline; other performs include: Steve Hillage, The Alex Harvey Band, and Sky
Music History
Jun 22 Little Richard quits rock & roll a second time for religious pursuits
- Jun 23 "My Sharona" single released by The Knack
- Jun 25 Kenny Lehman, John Davis, Ray Chew, Nat Adderley, Jr., Thomas Jones, Wayne Morrison, Steve Boston, Eugene Narmore, Betty Rowland,and Jerry Powell's musical "Got Tu Go Disco", starring Irene Cara, opens at Minskoff Theater, NYC; runs for 8 performances
- Jun 26 Rocker Nigel Olsson runs a stop sign, accidentally crashes & kills a driver
- Jun 30 "Good Times" single released by Chic (Billboard Song of the Year 1979)
TV Show Appearance
Jun 30 British punk rocker Johnny Rotten and British actress Joan Collins appear together on BBC TV's "Juke Box Jury"
- Jun 30 Kenny Lehman, John Davis, Ray Chew, Nat Adderley, Jr., Thomas Jones, Wayne Morrison, Steve Boston, Eugene Narmore, Betty Rowland,and Jerry Powell's musical "Got Tu Go Disco", starring Irene Cara, closes at Minskoff Theater, NYC, after 8 performances
- Jul 10 Chuck Berry begins 4 months term in prison for $200,000 in tax evasion
- Jul 13 George Harrison releases single "Faster"
- Jul 27 "Broadway Opry '79" opens at St James Theater NYC for 6 performances
But Never Jam Today
Jul 31 Bert Keyes and Bob Larimer's musical "But Never Jam Today", based on the works of Lewis Carroll, opens at Longacre Theater, NYC; runs for 8 performances
- Aug 2 "Broadway Opry '79" closes at St James Theater NYC after 6 performances
- Aug 2 "Gilda Radner: Live From New York" opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 52 performances
- Aug 5 Bert Keyes and Bob Larimer's musical "But Never Jam Today", based on the works of Lewis Carroll, closes at Longacre Theater, NYC, after 8 performances
Off the Wall
Aug 10 "Off the Wall" 5th studio album by Michael Jackson is released (Billboard Album of the Year 1980)
Monty Python's Life of Brian
Aug 17 "Monty Python's Life of Brian" directed by Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman, Mickael Palin, & John Cleese, and funded by George Harrison's HandMade Films, premieres in US theaters
- Aug 24 Rock band "The Cars" play concert at the Wollman Rink in NYC's Central Park
- Aug 25 "Madwoman of Central Park West" closes at 22 Steps NYC after 86 performances
- Sep 2 Richard Rodgers, Martin Charnin and Raymond Jessel's musical "I Remember Mama" closes at Majestic Theater, NYC. after 108 performances
- Sep 6 Revival of Leigh, Charlap, Styne, Comden and Green's musical "Peter Pan", starring Sandy Duncan, opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater, NYC; runs for 578 performances
- Sep 14 The film "Quadrophenia", loosely based on The Who's 1973 rock opera of the same name, is released.
- Sep 16 Louis LaRusso II's stage drama "Knockout", starring Danny Aiello, closes at the Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 154 performances
- Sep 16 Russian Bolshoi Ballet dancers Leonid & Valentina Kozlov defect to US in Los Angeles, California
- Sep 17 Russian Bolshoi Ballet dancers Leonid & Valentina Kozlov granted political asylum in US
- Sep 18 Briitish rock band "The Who" plays first of five concerts at Madison Square Garden, NYC
Music Concert
Sep 19 5-day MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) "No Nukes" concert against nuclear power opens at Madison Square Garden, NYC; performers include: Jackson Browne; Bonnie Raitt; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band; James Taylor; Carly Simon; Gil Scott-Heron, and the Doobie Brothers
Music History
Sep 25 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical "Evita", starring Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, and Bob Gunton, opens at Broadway Theater, NYC; runs for 1568 performances and wins 7 Tony Awards
- Sep 27 Elton John, sick with flu, collapses in the Hollywood Universal Amphitheater
- Sep 29 "Ain't That A Shame" by Cheap Trick peaks at #35
- Sep 29 "Bad Case Of Loving You" by Robert Palmer peaks at #14
- Sep 29 "Boom Boom (Out Go Lights)" single by Pat Travers peaks at #56
- Sep 29 "Born To Be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez peaks at #16
- Sep 29 "Cruel To Be Kind" single by Nick Lowe peaks at #12
Music History
Sep 29 "Different Worlds" by Maureen McGovern peaks at #18
- Sep 29 "Driver's Seat" by Sniff 'n' the Tears peaks at #15
- Sep 29 "Girls Talk" by Dave Edmunds peaks at #65
- Sep 29 "Lonesome Loser" by Little River Band peaks at #6
- Sep 29 "Message In A Bottle" by Police peaks at #1 in UK
- Sep 29 "What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" by Stephanie Mills peaks at #22
- Oct 7 "1940s Radio Hour" opens at St James Theater NYC for 105 performances
- Oct 7 Musical review "Eubie!", based on the songs of composer Eubie Blake, closes at Ambassador Theater, NYC, after 439 performances
Country Music Association Awards
Oct 8 13th Country Music Association Awards: Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers & Barbara Mandrell win
- Oct 8 Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields and Al Dubin's musical "Sugar Babies" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 1208 performances
Music History
Oct 10 Rock band Fleetwood Mac gets a star in Hollywood
The Most Happy Fella
Oct 11 Revival of Frank Loesser's 1956 musical "The Most Happy Fella" opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 53 performances
- Oct 24 Guinness Book of Records presents Paul McCartney with a rhodium disc as all-time best selling singer-songwriter
Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants
Oct 30 Tamla/Motown releases Stevie Wonder's documentary film soundtrack "Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants"
Amadeus
Nov 2 Peter Shaffer's musical "Amadeus" premieres in London
- Nov 16 Paul McCartney releases "Wonderful Christmas"
- Nov 19 Chuck Berry released from prison for income tax evasion conviction
- Nov 25 Revival of Frank Loesser's 1956 musical "The Most Happy Fella" closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 53 performances
- Nov 28 Judd Woldin's musical "King of Schnorrers", based on Israel Zangwill's novel, opens at Playhouse Theater, NYC; runs for 63 performances
The Wall
Nov 30 Pink Floyd's "The Wall" released, sells 6 million copies in 2 weeks
- Dec 3 11 members of the audience trampled to death during a stampede to claim unreserved seats for a concert by The Who at The Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dec 13 Revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "Oklahoma!" opens at Palace Theater, NYC; runs for 301 performances
- Dec 15 British rocker David Bowie performs three songs on American television program Saturday Night Live - "The Man Who Sold the World", "TVC-15" and "Boys Keep Swinging"
- Dec 20 Garry Sherman and Peter Udell's musical "Comin' Uptown", based on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", and starring Gregory Hines, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 45 performances
"Pretenders"
Dec 27 Sire Records releases "Pretenders", the debut album of The Pretenders, in US
- Dec 30 Rock group, Emerson, Lake & Palmer break up
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