From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
See also: 1984 in music, other events of 1985, 1986 in music, 1980s in music and the list of 'years in music'
Events
- January 28 - Various artists, including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Paul Simon (musician), Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder, record the song "We Are The World". The single arrived in record stores on
- February - Whitney Houston releases her first album
- March 3 - A wax likeness of Michael Jackson is unvieled at London's Madame Tussaud's wax museum.
- April 1 - David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen to begin a solo career.
- August 1 - Michael Jackson purchases the publishing rights for most of the Beatles' music for $47 million, much to the dismay of the surviving members of the band.
- December 5 - The first fully digital reggae single, Wayne Smith's 'Under Me Sleng Teng', is recorded at Prince Jammy's studio; it is the beginning of ragga style reggae.
- Eric B. & Rakim meet and begin making music together
Albums released
- Reckless - Brian Adams
- Hunting High And Low - A-Ha
- 7800 Fahrenheit - Bon Jovi
- Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
- Telephone Free Landslide Victory - Camper Van Beethoven
- To Mega Therion - Celtic Frost
- No Jacket Required - Phil Collins
- The Head on the Door - The Cure
- Frankenchrist - Dead Kennedys
- Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
- The Firm - The Firm
- Centerfield - John Fogerty
- Who's Zooming Who - Aretha Franklin
- Unguarded - Amy Grant
- Heart - Heart
- New Day Rising - Husker Du
- Original Masters - Jethro Tull
- A Classic Case - Jethro Tull
- Ice on Fire - Elton John
- Defenders of the Faith - Judas Priest
- Radio - LL Cool J
- Off The Board - Ludichrist
- Like a Virgin - Madonna
- Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good - Megadeth
- Scarecrow - John Cougar Mellencamp
- Three-Way Tie for Last - Minutemen
- Low-Life - New Order
- The Firstborn is Dead - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
- Riptide - Robert Palmer
- Diamond Life - Sade
- Rum Sodomy and the Lash - The Pogues
- Two Wheels Good - Prefab Sprout
- Power Station - Power Station
- Around the World in a Day - Prince
- Fables of the Reconstruction - R.E.M
- Tim - The Replacements
- Cupid & Psyhe '85 - Scritti Politti
- The Dream of the Blue Turtles - Sting
- Little Creatures - Talking Heads
- Songs from the Big Chair - Tears for Fears
- Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
- We are the World - USA for Africa
- Soul To Soul - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
- Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega
- Rain Dogs - Tom Waits
- Make it Big - Wham
- No Tellin' Lies - Zebra
Top hits
- "Power of Love" - Huey Lewis & the News
- "Don't You Forget About Me" - Simple Minds
- "We Built This City" - Jefferson Starship
- "Oh Sheila" - Ready for the World
- "Shout" - Tears for Fears
- "I Want to Know What Love Is" - Foreigner
- "Careless Whisper" - Wham
- "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" - Judas Priest
- "Crazy for You" - Madonna
- "Money for Nothing" - Dire Straits
- "19" -- Paul Hardcastle
- "Say You, Say Me" - Lionel Richie
- "We Are the World" - USA for Africa
- "West End Girls" - Pet Shop Boys
- "Take On Me" - a-ha
- "Born in the U.S.A." - Bruce Springsteen
- "Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" - REO Speedwagon
- "Private Dancer" - Tina Turner
- "Indianapolis" - Menudo
Musical theater
- Big River Broadway production
- Dames at Sea off-Broadway revival
- The King and I Broadway revival
- Me and My Girl London revival
- Les Misérables London production
- Mystery of Edwin Drood Broadway production
- Seven Brides For Seven Brothers London production
- Singin' in the Rain Broadway production
- Song and Dance Broadway production
Musical films
- A Chorus Line
- That's Dancing
Births
Deaths
- February 11 - Heinz Eric Roemheld
- February 11 - Ulysses Simpson Kay
- February 28 - David Byron, Uriah Heep
- March 31 - Jeanine Deckers, known as The Singing Nun and had a hit record , Dominique
- September 6 - Little Brother Montgomery
- October 21 - Ricky Wilson, founding member of The B-52's
- December 12 - Ian Stewart, The Rolling Stones, cerebrovascular accident
- December 22 - D. Boon, lead singer of The Minutemen
- December 31 - Ricky Nelson, singer, former teen idol
