- Jan 6 "1940's Radio Hour" closes at St James Theater NYC after 105 performances
"Pretenders"
Jan 7 Real Records releases "Pretenders", the debut album of The Pretenders, in UK
- Jan 13 Judd Woldin's musical "King of Schnorrers", based on Israel Zangwill's novel, closes at Playhouse Theater, NYC, after 63 performances
McCartney Arrested for Marijuana
Jan 16 Paul McCartney is arrested at Tokyo International Airport for possession of marijuana; he is sent to jail for nine days before being deported
Sessions' 9th Symphony
Jan 17 Roger Sessions' 9th Symphony, his last, premieres in Syracuse, New York with Christopher Keene conducting the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra
7th American Music Awards
Jan 18 7th American Music Awards: Barry Manilow, Donna Summer, The Bee Gees & Kenny Rogers win
"The Wall"
Jan 18 Pink Floyd's double album "The Wall" hits #1
- Jan 25 Paul McCartney is released from jail in Tokyo and deported
Sinatra Sings to 175,000
Jan 26 175,000 pay to hear Frank Sinatra sing in Rio de Janeiro
The Wall
Feb 7 Pink Floyd premiere their live version of "The Wall" at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California
- Feb 12 "Canterbury Tales" opens at Rialto Theater NYC for 16 performances
West Side Story
Feb 14 Revival of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins' musical "West Side Story" opens at Minskoff Theater, NYC; runs for 341 performances
Music History
Feb 18 Bassist Bill Wyman says he will leave Rolling Stones in 1983 (Sure!)
- Feb 24 "Canterbury Tales" closes at Rialto Theater NYC after 16 performances
Grammy Awards
Feb 27 22nd Grammy Awards: Song of the Year - Kenny Loggins' "What A Fool Believes"; Best Album - Billy Joel's "52nd Street"
- Feb 28 "The Well-Tuned Piano" by La Monte Young premieres (takes 4 h 12 m)
- Mar 1 American poet-singer Patti Smith (32) weds MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith (31) in Detroit, Michigan
- Mar 8 The first festival of rock music kicks off in the Soviet Union
- Mar 12 Columbia Records releases "Glass Houses", singer-songwriter Billy Joel's seventh studio album; it features his 1st No.1 single - "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
- Mar 24 Capitol Records releases some rare Beatles tracks on the LP "Rarites"
- Mar 26 Bombay gets its 1st rock concert in 10 years (The Police)
Music Premiere
Mar 27 Burt Shevelove's musical "Happy New Year", adapted from Phillip Barry's comic play "Holiday" using music and lyrics of Cole Porter, opens at the Morosco Theater, NYC; runs for 17 performances
- Mar 27 Musical revue "Reggae", starring Philip Michael Thomas, opens at the Biltmore Theater, NYC; runs for 21 performances
- Apr 11 Paul McCartney releases single "Coming Up"
- Apr 13 Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's musical "Grease" closes at Majestic Theatre, NYC, after 3,388 performances (including Broadhurst and Royale Theatre runs)
- Apr 13 Musical "Reggae", starring Philip Michael Thomas, closes at Biltmore Theater, NYC, after 21 performances
- Apr 19 25th Eurovision Song Contest: Johnny Logan for Ireland wins singing "What's Another Year" in The Hague
- Apr 30 "Barnum" opens at St James Theater NYC for 854 performances
- May 1 "Day in Hollywood, A Night..." opens at John Golden NYC for 588 performances
Academy of Country Music Awards
May 1 15th Academy of Country Music Awards: Larry Gatlin and Crystal Gayle win
- May 2 Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in Wall (Part II)" is banned in South Africa
- May 10 "Happy New Year" closes at Morosco Theater NYC after 17 performances
- May 14 "Musical Chairs" opens at Rialto Theater NYC for 15 performances
- May 16 Paul McCartney releases "McCartney II" album
Music History
May 17 Paul & Linda McCartney appear in remote segment from England, after being awakened by Father Guido Sarducci, on "Saturday Night Live"
Music History
May 21 "Star Wars Episode V - Empire Strikes Back", produced by George Lucas opens in cinemas in UK and North America
Cannes Film Festival
May 23 33rd Cannes Film Festival: "All That Jazz" directed by Bob Fosse and "Kagemusha" directed by Akira Kurosawa jointly awarded the Palme d'Or
- May 24 "Rock Lobster" by B-52s hits #56
- May 25 "Musical Chairs" closes at Rialto Theater NYC after 15 performances
- May 29 John MacLachlan Gray's musical "Billy Bishop Goes to War" opens at Morosco Theater, NYC; runs for 12 performances, then moves to Off-Broadway
- May 31 "Love Stinks" by J. Geils Band peaks at #38
Music Concert
Jun 1 Barbra Streisand appears at an ACLU Benefit in California
- Jun 2 "Your Arm's Too Short To Box With God" opens at Ambassador NYC for 149 performances
- Jun 3 Micki Grant's musical "It's So Nice to Be Civilized" opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 8 performances
- Jun 7 "Billy Bishop Goes to War" closes at Morosco NYC after 12 performances
- Jun 7 "Cars" by Gary Numan hits #9
- Jun 8 Micki Grant's musical "It's So Nice to Be Civilized" closes at Martin Beck Theatre, NYC, after 8 performances
Music City News Awards
Jun 9 14th Music City News Country Awards: Statler Brothers & Loretta Lynn win
- Jun 13 Paul McCartney releases "Waterfall"
- Jun 14 "Theme From New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra spreads to #32 on the charts
- Jun 15 "Fearless Frank" opens at Princess Theater NYC for 12 performances
The Blues Brothers
Jun 16 Musical comedy film "The Blues Brothers", starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, and directed by John Landis, premieres in Chicago, Illinois
The River
Jun 17 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's fifth studio album "The River"; the 2-record set becomes a global smash, going top five in 8 countries
- Jun 20 Musical comedy film "The Blues Brothers", starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, and featuring appearances by Aretha Franklin; Cab Calloway; and Ray Charles opens in 594 theaters
- Jun 25 "Fearless Frank" closes at Princess Theater NYC after 12 performances
- Jun 29 "Sweeney Todd" closes at Uris Theater NYC after 557 performances
- Jul 1 'O Canada' officially becomes the national anthem of Canada
- Jul 2 Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, drummer Mickey Hart, and manager Danny Rifkin arrested for "suspicion of inciting a riot" after a concert in San Diego, California
- Jul 18 Billy Joel's "Glass Houses" album tops US charts, featuring "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me"
Music History
Jul 29 David Bowie stars in dramatic stage play "The Elephant Man" at the Auditorium Theater in Denver, Colorado
- Jul 31 John Phillips of Mamas and Papas is arrested on drug charges
Double Fantasy
Aug 7 John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin recording sessions for their "Double Fantasy" album at the Hit Factory, NYC
One-Trick Pony
Aug 12 Warner Bros, Records releases "One-Trick Pony", the fifth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon; it features the song "Late in the Evening" and was accompanied by a dramatic film of the same name, written by and starring Simon
- Aug 16 British rock keyboardist Jools Holland quits band Squeeze to pursue a solo career
- Aug 17 "Blackstone" closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 104 performances
- Aug 21 British drummer and band co-sounder Bill Ward quits Black Sabbath for the first time
- Aug 24 Revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "Oklahoma!" closes at Palace Theater, NYC, after 293 performances
42nd Street
Aug 25 Stage adaptation of Harry Warren and Al Dubin's film musical "42nd Street", directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, with additional songs by Warren and Johnny Mercer, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 3486 performances and 2 Tony Award wins
Satyagraha
Sep 5 Philip Glass and Constance DeJong's opera "Satyagraha", loosely based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, premieres the Schouwburg, in Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Sep 14 "Charlie & Algernon" opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 17 performances
- Sep 15 Paul McCartney releases single "Temporary Secretary"
Divine Madness
Sep 17 Bette Midler's concert film "Divine Madness", directed by Michael Ritchie, premieres
- Sep 18 Alain Boubil and Herbert Kretzner's musical "Les Misérables" premieres at Palais des Sports, Paris
Blizzard of Ozz
Sep 20 "Blizzard of Ozz", the debut solo album by English rock musician Ozzy Osbourne, is released in the United Kingdom
Music History
Sep 21 Reggae singer Bob Marley collapses while jogging in New York City's Central Park; medical exam finds his cancer had spread to his brain, lungs, and liver
- Sep 22 John Lennon and Yoko Ono sign a recording contract with Geffen Records
- Sep 23 Reggae legend Bob Marley's final concert at Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Sep 28 "Charlie & Algernon" closes at Helen Hayes Theater NYC after 17 performances
Music History
Oct 6 John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) sentenced to 3 months imprisonment on assault charges
- Oct 12 "Your Arm's Too Short to Box With God" closes at Ambassador Theater, NYC, after 149 performances
- Oct 12 7 stabbed at Blood, Sweat & Tears concert in Los Angeles
Country Music Association Awards
Oct 13 14th Country Music Association Awards: Barbara Mandrell, Emmylou Harris, and George Jones win
Brigadoon
Oct 16 Revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's musical "Brigadoon" opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 133 performances
The Wanderer
Oct 20 Geffen Records release their first album, Donna Summer's "The Wanderer"
- Oct 21 "Banjo Dancing" opens at Century Theater NYC for 38 performances
- Oct 23 "Tintypes" opens at John Golden Theater NYC for 93 performances
- Oct 24 John Lennon releases single "(Just Like) Starting Over" in UK
- Oct 25 Barbra Streisand's "Guilty" album goes #1 for 3 weeks & her single "Woman In Love," goes #1 for 3 weeks
Double Fantasy
Nov 17 Geffen Records releases John Lennon and Yoko Ono's album "Double Fantasy"
9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
Nov 17 RCA-Victor Records releases "9 to 5 and Odd Jobs", the 23rd studio album by country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton
Heaven's Gate
Nov 18 "Heaven's Gate" film directed by Michael Cimino, starring Kris Kristofferson and Christopher Walken premieres - one of the biggest box office bombs ever
Perfectly Frank
Nov 30 Musical revue "Perfectly Frank", featuring songs by Frank Loesser, opens at Helen Hayes Theater, NYC; runs for 16 performances
- Nov 30 Revival of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins' musical "West Side Story" closes at Minskoff Theater, NYC, after 341 performances
Led Zeppelin To Disband
Dec 4 Two months after death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin announces they will disband
- Dec 8 Annie Leibovitz has a photo-shoot with John Lennon, the last person to professionally photograph him before he is murdered on the same day
- Dec 13 Musical revue "Perfectly Frank", featuring songs by Frank Loesser, closes at Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 16 performances
- Dec 14 At 2 PM EST there is 10 minutes of silence in memory of John Lennon
- Dec 19 Comedy film "9 to 5" starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin is released
- Dec 31 Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band's "The River Tour" concert at Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, New York) clocks in at almost 4 hours