- Jan 5 "6 Degrees of Separation" closes at Vivian Beaumont NYC after 496 performances
- Jan 5 "On Borrowed Time" closes at Circle in Sq Theater NYC after 99 performances
- Jan 5 Revival of Leigh, Charlap, Styne, Comden and Green's musical "Peter Pan", starring Cathy Rigby, closes at Minskoff Theater, NYC, after 48 performances
Born at the Right Time
Jan 11 American singer-songwriter Paul Simon brings his “Born at the Right Time” tour to South Africa, at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg
Johnny Cash, Isley Brothers Inducted
Jan 15 7th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Bobby "Blue" Bland; Booker T. and the MG's; Johnny Cash; Jimi Hendrix Experience; Isley Brothers; Sam and Dave; The Yardbirds; Elmore James; Professor Longhair; Leo Fender; Bill Graham; and Doc Pomus
- Jan 16 "Two Shakespearean Actors" opens at Cort Theater NYC for 29 performances
Eric Clapton "Unplugged"
Jan 16 Eric Clapton performs for an episode of MTV "Unplugged" at Bray Film Studios in Windsor, England. Recording won six Grammy Awards, and became Clapton's bestselling album, and the bestselling live album of all time
- Jan 19 Cy Coleman and David Zippel's musical "City of Angels" closes at the Virginia Theater, NYC, after 879 performances, winning 6 Tony and 8 Drama Desk Awards
- Jan 23 "Visit" opens at Criterion Theater NYC for 45 performances
- Jan 24 Chalino Sánchez is attacked and shot while performing at the Plaza Los Arcos restaurant in Coachella, California
- Jan 26 "Little Hotel on the Side" opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 41 performances
- Jan 27 "Crazy He Calls Me" opens at Walter Kerr Theater NYC for 7 performances
- Jan 27 19th American Music Awards: C & C Music Factory, Michael Bolton win
- Feb 1 "Crazy He Calls Me" closes at Walter Kerr Theater NYC after 7 performances
Willie Nelson's Tax Bill
Feb 2 IRS & Willie Nelson settle on $9M tax bill (of $16.7M)
The Most Happy Fella
Feb 13 Revival of Frank Loesser's 1956 musical "The Most Happy Fella" opens at Booth Theater, NYC; runs for 229 performances
- Feb 19 Ken Ludwig's musical "Crazy For You" opens at Shubert Theater NYC for 1622 performances
Music History
Feb 20 Revival of Noël Coward's stage comedy "Private Lives" opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 37 performances
- Feb 22 "Park Your Car in Harvard Yard" closes at Music Box NYC
Streisand on SNL
Feb 22 Barbra Streisand surprises cast members in a cameo appearance at the end of a "Coffee Talk" sketch on "Saturday Night Live"
- Feb 25 34th Grammy Awards: "Unforgettable";, Marc Cohn win
Grammy Awards
Feb 25 Muddy Waters wins Lifetime Achievement Award at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards
- Feb 26 "Search & Destroy" opens at Circle in Square Theater, NYC; runs for 46 performances
- Mar 1 "Little Hotel on the Side" closes at Belasco NYC after 41 performances
- Mar 1 "Visit" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 45 performances
- Mar 4 Singer-songwriter Paul Simon tapes an acoustic concert performance for "MTV Unplugged" at Kaufman-Astoria Studios in Queens, NYC
- Mar 10 "Come and Talk to Me" single released by Jodeci (Billboard Song of the Year 1992)
Soul Train Music Awards
Mar 10 6th Soul Train Music Awards: Natalie Cole, Color Me Badd win
Music Concert
Mar 12 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, NYC; performers include: Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Natalie Cole, and Don Henley
- Mar 14 Farm Aid V held in Irving, Texas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, Asleep At The Wheel, Kentucky Headhunters, Texas Tornadoes, Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon, and Mary Chapin Carpenter [1]
- Mar 18 "4 Baboons Adoring the Sun" opens at Beaumont Theater NYC for 38 performances
Music History
Mar 18 American pop singer Donna Summer gets a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame
Human Touch
Mar 27 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 9th and 10th studio albums - "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" - on the same day; musicians other than the E-Street Band are used
Music Concert
Apr 6 George Harrison performs his final full concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, in a benefit for the transcendental mediation based Natural Law political party [1]
Music History
Apr 6 Voting begins on choice of Elvis Presley postage stamp [1]
- Apr 8 "5 Guys Named Moe" opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater NYC for 445 performances
A Streetcar Named Desire
Apr 12 Revival of Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire", starring Alec Baldwin & Jessica Lange, opens at Ethel Barrymore Theatre, NYC; runs for 137 performances
- Apr 13 "2 Trains Running" opens at Walter Kerr Theater NYC for 160 performances
Guys & Dolls
Apr 14 Revival of Frank Loesser's musical "Guys & Dolls" starring Nathan Lane, opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 1143 performances, wins 4 Tony Awards
Music Concert
Apr 20 All-star benefit concert in memory of Freddie Mercury held at Wembley Stadium, London; performers include: Queen, Roger Daltry, Robert Plant, Zucchero, Paul Young, Seal, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Mick Ronson, George Michael, Elton John, Axl Rose, and Liza Minnelli
High Rollers Social & Pleasure Club
Apr 21 Allen Toussaint's musical revue "High Rollers Social & Pleasure Club" opens at the Helen Hayes Theater, NYC; runs for 13 performances.
- Apr 23 "Shirnada" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 4 performances
- Apr 24 "Man of La Mancha" opens at Marquis Theater NYC for 108 performances
- Apr 25 "Shimada" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 4 performances
- Apr 26 "Grand Hotel" closes at Martin Beck Theater NYC after 1,018 performances
- Apr 26 "Metro" closes at Minskoff Theater NYC after 13 performances
- Apr 26 George C. Wolfe, Susan Birkenhead, and Luther Henderson's musical "Jelly's Last Jam", based on the life and work of Jelly Roll Morton, starring Gregory Hines and Savion Glover, opens at Virginia Theater, NYC; runs for 569 performances
- Apr 27 "Small Family Business" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 48 performances
Academy of Country Music Awards
Apr 29 27th Academy of Country Music Awards: Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire win
- Apr 29 Country singer Doug Stone, 35, undergoes quadruple bypass surgery
- Apr 29 Voting ends on choice of Elvis Presley postage stamp [1]
- Apr 29 William Finn and James Lapine's musical "Falsettos" opens at John Golden Theater NYC for 487 performances
- May 2 Allen Toussaint's musical revue "High Rollers Social & Pleasure Club" closes at the Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 13 performances
- May 4 "I Saw the Light" single released by Wynonna (Billboard Song of the Year, 1992)
Music History
May 5 American country singer Tammy Wynette hospitalized with bile duct infection
Sarafina!
May 11 Film adaptation of Mbongeni Ngema and Hugh Masekela's anti-apartheid musical "Sarafina!", starring Leleti Khumalo, Miriam Makeba, and Whoopi Goldberg, premieres at Cannes Film Festival in France
Music History
May 16 "Smells Like Nirvana" by Weird Al Yankovic hits #35
Some Gave All
May 19 "Some Gave All" debut album by Billy Ray Cyrus is released (Billboard Album of the Year 1993)
- May 20 American rapper Tung Twista raps 597 syllables in under 60 seconds
Music Concert
Jun 2 Ringo Starr's second All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include Joe Walsh, Dave Edmunds, Todd Rundgren, Burton Cummings, Timothy B. Schmit, Zak Starkey, and Timmy Capello
- Jun 3 "MTV Unplugged" broadcasts singer-songwriter Paul Simon and 11 of his band members performing in Queens, NYC
- Jun 4 USPS announces 1.2 million people voted to choose the artwork on their Elvis Presley stamp, with 75% preferring a portrait of young Elvis over old Elvis [1]
- Jun 6 Ben Vereen suffers head and leg injuries when hit by a vehicle while walking along a dark stretch of highway in Malibu, California; Vereen had earlier fallen asleep while driving and hit a tree, record producer David Foster was behind the wheel of vehicle that hit Vereen [1]
- Jun 7 "Small Family Business" closes at Music Box Theater NYC after 48 performances
- Jun 8 26th Music City News Country Awards: Alan Jackson & Garth Brooks win
- Jun 10 "Price" opens at Criterion Theater NYC for 47 performances
Music History
Jun 24 Billy Joel (43) gets diploma from Hicksville (New York) High School, 25 years after leaving with a missing English credit; he submitted samples of his writing to earn his degree
Glastonbury Festival
Jun 26 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Shakespear's Sister, and Youssou N'Dour headline; other performers include Lou Reed, Kirsty MacColl, Tom Jones, Joan Armatrading, Richard Thompson, Billy Bragg, Television, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
- Jun 27 "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" by Bruce Springsteen peaks at #68
- Jun 29 "Salome" opens at Circle in Sq Theater NYC for 9 performances
- Jun 30 "End of the Road" single released by Boyz II Men (Grammy Award Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song 1993, Billboard Song of the Year 1992)
- Jul 4 John Phillips, rocker (Mamas & Papas), undergoes a liver transplant
- Jul 19 "Price" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 47 performances
- Jul 19 NYC ballet dancer Peter Martins is arrested for beating his wife
- Jul 23 Bruce Springsteen begins a world tour, his first with musicians other than the E Street band
- Jul 26 "Man of La Mancha" closes at Marquis Theater NYC after 108 performances
What's the 411?
Jul 28 R&B singer Mary J. Blige releases her debut album "What's the 411?", with production by Puff Daddy
Music History
Aug 8 Metallica singer and guitarist James Hetfield suffers second and third-degree burns during a pyrotechnics explosion on stage at Olympic Stadium, Montreal
- Aug 9 Revival of Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire", starring Alec Baldwin & Jessica Lange, closes at Ethel Barrymore Theatre, NYC, after 137 performances
The Real Inspector Hound
Aug 13 Revival of Tom Stoppard's play "The Real Inspector Hound" opens at Criterion Center Stage Right, New York, NYC; runs for 61 performances
- Aug 26 "Anna Karenina" opens at Circle in Square Theater, NYC; runs for 46 performances
- Aug 30 "2 Trains Running" closes at Walter Kerr Theater NYC after 160 performances
Low
Aug 30 Philip Glass' Symphony No. 1 (Low), based loosely on David Bowie's 1977 album "Low", premieres with the Junge Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, in Munich, Germany
- Aug 30 Revival of Frank Loesser's 1956 musical "The Most Happy Fella" closes at Booth Theater, NYC, after 229 performances
- Sep 1 American comic and folk singer Tommy Smothers undergoes arthroscopic surgery
Music Concert
Sep 4 Singer Harry Nilsson makes a rare (and final) concert appearance, joining Ringo and His All-Starr Band for a version of his "Without You" at Caesar’s Palace. Las Vegas, Nevada
Video Music Awards
Sep 9 9th MTV Video Music Awards: Howard Stern appears as 'Fartman'
Music History
Sep 17 Frank Zappa conducts The Ensemble Modern in portions of his classical work "The Yellow Shark" in Frankfurt, Germany; receives a 20 minute standing ovation in what is his last public appearance
- Sep 19 Demolition begins of JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; built in 1926 as Sesquicentennial Stadium, also known as Municipal Stadium, it hosted the 1926 Tunney-Dempsey fight, 41 Army-Navy football games, The Beatles; The Rolling Stones; victory rallies for The NHL Flyers and MLB Phillies; and the US portion of Live-Aid
Music History
Sep 23 Jackson Browne reportedly beats girlfriend Daryl Hannah
Music History
Sep 25 "Barry Manilow's Showstoppers" opens at Paramount NYC
- Sep 28 "Barry Manilow's Showstoppers" closes at Paramount Theater NYC
The Big Breakfast
Sep 28 UK morning TV show "The Big Breakfast" presented by Chris Evans, Gaby Roslin and Paula Yates, produced by Bob Geldof premieres
- Sep 30 26th Country Music Association Awards: Garth Brooks wins
- Oct 1 "Oba Oba '93" opens at Marquis Theater, NYC; runs for 22 performances
- Oct 3 American "Queen of Pop" singer Madonna premieres her "Erotica" music video on MTV
Music History
Oct 3 Irish pop singer Sinéad O'Connor rips up a picture of Pope John Paul II on "Saturday Night Live" [1]
I Will Always Love You
Nov 3 "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton cover) single released by Whitney Houston (Billboard Song of the Year 1993)
Rage Against the Machine
Nov 3 Rock band Rage Against the Machine releases their debut album "Rage Against the Machine" featuring single "Killing in the Name"
- Nov 5 Revival of George Kelly's 1924 play "The Show Off", starring Boyd Gaines and Pat Carroll, opens at Criterion Center Stage Right, NYC; runs for 45 performances
- Nov 17 "The Bodyguard" movie soundtrack is released by Arista Records (Billboard Album of the Year 1993)
- Nov 17 Tomas Rodriquez-Pantoja's flamenco musical revue "Gypsy Passion" opens at Plymouth Theater, NYC; runs for 55 performances
- Nov 19 "3 From Brooklyn" opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 45 performances
- Nov 23 "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me" opens at Booth NYC for 232 performances
- Dec 9 3rd Billboard Music Awards: Whitney Houston, Garth Brooks & Dr. Dre win
- Dec 10 Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, musical "My Favorite Year", adapted from the 1982 film, and starring Evan Pappas, Tim Curry, Andrea Martin, and Lainie Kazan, opens at Vivian Beaumont Theater, NYC; runs for 37 performances, with Drama Desk and Tony Award wins for Martin
- Dec 13 Revival of George Kelly's comedy "The Show Off", starring Boyd Gaines and Pat Carroll, closes at Criterion Theater, NYC, after 45 performances
- Dec 17 "A Christmas Carol" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 22 performances
- Dec 19 Robert Wilson, Tom Waits, and Kathleen Brennan's avant garde opera "Alice", based on the life and work of Lewis Carroll, premieres at the Thalia Theater, Hamburg, Germany
- Dec 27 "Tommy Tune Tonite! Song & Dance Act" opens at Gershwin Theatre, NYC; runs for 10 performances
Harry Connick Caught with Gun
Dec 27 American jazz singer and piano player Harry Connick Jr is caught with 9mm gun in NYC's JFK airport
- Dec 27 Sandi Merle and Steve Michaels' musical "3 From Brooklyn" closes at Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 45 performances
Kendrick Lamar
Eminem
XXXTentacion
Tupac Shakur
Nicki Minaj
Coolio