1961 in music

From Wacklepedia - The Free Encyclopedia

See also: 1960 in music, other events of 1961, 1962 in music, 1960s in music and the list of 'years in music'

Table of contents

1 Events
2 Albums released
3 Top hits on record
4 Musical theater
5 Musical films
6 Births
7 Deaths
8 Awards

8.1 Grammy Awards
8.2 Eurovision Song Contest

Events

January 15 - Motown Records signs The Supremes
February 12 - The Miracles' "Shop Around" becomes Motown's first million-selling single
February 13 - Frank Sinatra forms his own record label, Reprise Records, which would later release recordings by The Beach Boys, The Kinks and Jimi Hendrix.
February 14 - The Platters file a lawsuit against Mercury Records for breach of contract after the record company refuses to accept recordings on which Tony Williams does not sing lead. The group's lawsuit contends that their contract does not require Williams to sing lead
March 21 - The Beatles perform at the legendary Cavern Club for the first time
March 25 - Elvis Presley performs a benefit show at the Block Arena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The show raised $62,000 for the U.S.S. Arizona memorial fund.
The Rolling Stones' musical career begins
The Temptations' musical career begins
The Beach Boys' musical career begins
Gladys Knight's musical career begins
Bob Dylan's musical career begins

Albums released

All The Way - Frank Sinatra
Come Swing With Me - Frank Sinatra
Connie At The Copa - Connie Francis
Emotions (album) - Brenda Lee
Goin' Places - The Kingston Trio
Lonely and Blue - Roy Orbison
Ring-A-Ding Ding - Frank Sinatra
A Scottish Soldier - Andy Stewart
Sinatra Swings - Frank Sinatra
Sinatra's Swingin' Session - Frank Sinatra
Judge Not (Single) - Bob Marley

Top hits on record

"I Fall to Pieces" - Patsy Cline
"Crazy" - Patsy Cline
"Where the Boys Are" - Connie Francis
"Running Scared" - Roy Orbison
"Crying" - Roy Orbison
"(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" - Gene Pitney
"Town Without Pity" - Gene Pitney
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - The Tokens
"Runaround Sue" - Dion
"Let's Go Trippin' " - Dick Dale's first local hit, regarded as first surf rock instrumental
"Tossin' & Turnin' " - Bobby Lewis
"Runaway" - Del Shannon
"Blue Moon" - The Marcels
"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - The Shirelles
"There's No Other Like My Baby" - The Crystals' first hit
"Please Mr. Postman" - The Marvellettes
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - The Tokens
"Quarter To Three" - Gary U.S. Bonds
"Shop Around" - The Miracles
"Travelin' Man" - Ricky Nelson
"Hello Mary Lou" - Ricky Nelson
"Stand By Me" - Ben E. King
"The Wanderer" - Dion
"The Mountain's High" - Dick and Deedee

Musical theater

Carnival Broadway production
Do-Re-Mi London production
The Fantasticks London production
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying Broadway production
Kwamina Broadway production
Madame Aphrodite Broadway production
Milk And Honey Broadway production
Salad Days London revival
Sail Away Broadway production
The Sound Of Music London production
Stop The World - I Want To Get Off London production
Wildest Dreams London production

Musical films

Babes In Toyland
Flower Drum Song
The Road To Hong Kong
West Side Story

Births

January 13 - Suggs, Madness
January 14 - Mike Tramp, White Lion
January 27 - Gillian Gilbert, New Order
January 29 - Eddie Jackson, Queensryche
January 31 - Lloyd Cole
February 8 - Vince Neil, M?ley Cr?
February 10 - Robbie Neville
February 13 - Henry Rollins, punk/rock vocalist and spoken word performer
February 16 - Andy Taylor, Duran Duran
March 20 - Slim Jim Phantom, The Stray Cats
April 1 - Mark White, ABC
April 2 - Keren Woodward, Bananarama
April 6 - Gene Eugene, actor, lead singer of Adam Again
May 17 - Enya Eithne Ni Bhraonain
May 29 - Melissa Etheridge
June 4 - Eldra DeBarge, DeBarge
June 6 - Tom Araya, Slayer
June 14 - Boy George, Culture Club
June 18 - Alison Moyet
June 22 - Jimmy Somerville
June 24 - Curt Smith, Tears For Fears
June 27 - Margo Timmons, Cowboy Junkies
June 29 - Greg Hetson, Bad Religion
July 2 - Paul Geary, Extreme
July 24 - Gary Cherone, Extreme
August 2 - Apollina
August 8 - Rikki Rockett, Poison
August 8 - The Edge, guitarist for the rock band U2
August 10 - Jon Fariss, INXS
August 22 - Roland Orzabal, Tears for Fears
August 23 - Dean DeLeo, Stone Temple Pilots
September 6 - Pal Waaktaar, a-ha
September 13 - Dave Mustaine, Megadeth
October 9 - Kurt Neumann, The BoDeans
October 10 - Martin Kemp, Spandau Ballet
October 18 - Wynton Marsalis
October 29 - Randy Jackson, The Jacksons
October 31 - Larry Mullen, drummer for the rock band U2
November 2 - k.d. lang
November 5 - David Bryson, Counting Crows
November 8 - Leif Garrett
December 17 - Sarah Dallin, Bananarama

Deaths

March 3 - Paul Wittgenstein, pianist
March 9 - Wilber Sweatman

Awards

Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards of 1961

Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest 1961