January 1
Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley.
January 7 – At the age of 44, songwriter Larry Williams is found dead in his Los Angeles, California, home of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators are never able to determine whether his death was a murder or suicide.
January 13 – The Beach Boys, Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Starship perform at a benefit concert at Oakland Coliseum for the people of Kampuchea.
January 14 – Rush release Permanent Waves, which eventually becomes the band's fifth platinum album.
January 16 – Paul McCartney is arrested in Tokyo for possession of a half pound of marijuana. The remaining part of McCartney's and Wings' tour was then canceled.
January 19 – The first UK Indie Chart is published in Record Week, with Spizzenergi's "Where's Captain Kirk" topping the singles chart, and Adam and the Ants' Dirk Wears White Sox topping the album chart.
January 25 – Paul McCartney is released from a Japanese jail and ejected from the country by Japanese authorities.
February 7 – Pink Floyd's The Wall Tour opens at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
February 8 – David Bowie and his wife of nearly 10 years, Angie, file for divorce. Bowie gets custody of their 9-year-old son, Zowie.
February 14 – Lou Reed marries Sylvia Morales in New York City's Greenwich Village.
February 19 – Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, dies in London. Although common folklore cites pulmonary aspiration of vomit as the cause of his death, the official cause is listed as "Acute alcohol poisoning" and "Death by Misadventure".
February 23 – Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones and his wife are arrested for cocaine possession on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. They are set free after spending five days in custody due to the inability of authorities to prove the cocaine in the apartment belonged to either of them.
February 29 – Buddy Holly's trademark glasses and the Big Bopper's wristwatch are "rediscovered" in old police files by the Mason City, Iowa, sheriff (both were killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, along with singer Ritchie Valens).
March 1 – Patti Smith marries former MC5 member Fred "Sonic" Smith.
March 3 – Sotheby's auction house in London auctions off a Rivera Hotel, Las Vegas, napkin signed by Elvis Presley for ₤500. Other items auctioned included four American dollar bills autographed by the Beatles, for £220 and a collection of personal letters belonging to the Rolling Stones, also for £220.
March 8 – March 16 – Tbilisi Rock Festival (1980): the first state-sanctioned rock music festival in the Soviet Union.
March 14 – Record producer Quincy Jones receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
March 19 – Elvis Presley's autopsy was subpoenaed during the trial of Dr. George Nichopoulous, who would later be found guilty of over-prescribing drugs to Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and other clients.
March 20 – Radio Caroline shuts down in the UK after radio ship Mi Amigo sinks in a storm.
April 1 – Brian Johnson is made the new lead singer of AC/DC.
April 13 – The Broadway musical Grease closes its run of 3,388 performances, making it the longest running show on Broadway up until that time.
April 14
A member of the New Jersey State assembly introduces a resolution to make Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" the official state song.
Iron Maiden release their self-titled debut album.
April 17 – As the "official guests of State", Bob Marley and the Wailers perform at Zimbabwe's Independence festival. Marley calls the event the "greatest honor of my life."
April 19 – Johnny Logan wins the 25th Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland, with the song "What's Another Year".
April 25 – Black Sabbath release Heaven and Hell, their first album to feature Ronnie James Dio on vocals.
April 30 – The Roger Daltrey film, McVicar, opens in London.
May 4 – America's Top 10, the television version of radio's American Top 40 and hosted by Casey Kasem, debuts this week in syndication.
May 18 – Ian Curtis, vocalist of pioneering post-punk group Joy Division, hangs himself in his Macclesfield home, just one day before Joy Division are scheduled to begin their first U.S. tour.
June 25
Rock and Roll pioneer Bill Haley performs for the last time during a tour of South Africa. After this tour, his health deteriorates and he dies in February 1981. July 1980 marks the 25th anniversary of Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" reaching No. 1 on the American singles charts.
The Sony Walkman goes on sale in the United States.
Kiss plays its first show with new drummer Eric Carr at the New York Palladium.
June 27 – John Lydon and Keith Levene of Public Image Ltd make an appearance on The Tomorrow Show with host Tom Snyder. In a famously uncomfortable interview, Lydon gives curt and vague responses to most of Snyder's questions.
July 18 – The documentary and concert film No Nukes opens in New York.
July 25 – AC/DC release Back in Black which later becomes the highest selling album by any band to date.
July 31 – The Eagles end their tour with a contentious show in Long Beach, California. They would not play together again until 1994.
August 4 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin the recording of the Double Fantasy album.
August 16 – The first Monsters of Rock heavy metal festival is held at Donington Park in England. Rainbow headlines, and Judas Priest, Scorpions, April Wine, Saxon, Riot and Touch also perform.
August 19 – Fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto stage a riot after Alice Cooper cancels because of illness.
August 23 – The Heatwave festival near Toronto features The B-52's, Talking Heads, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello and many others.
August 26 – Pete Comita replaces Tom Petersson in Cheap Trick.
August 31 – Karen Carpenter marries Thomas Burris. "Because We Are in Love" is played at their wedding.
September 13
Solid Gold, a new music television series, premieres in syndication.
Elton John plays a free concert for 400,000 people in New York's Central Park. He performs the encore in a Donald Duck costume.
September 25 – John Bonham, drummer of Led Zeppelin, is found dead by bandmate John Paul Jones.
October 9 – A riot breaks out at a Black Sabbath concert in Milwaukee after bassist Geezer Butler is hit in the head by a bottle and the band quits the stage.
October 26 – Paul Kantner of Jefferson Starship is rushed to hospital following a cerebral hemorrhage. He soon recovers without surgery, defying medical odds.
November 21
The Eagles' Don Henley is arrested when cocaine, Quaaludes, and marijuana are found in his hotel room after a 16-year-old prostitute has drug-related seizures. Henley is also subsequently charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. After pleading no contest, he was fined $2,500 and put on two years' probation.
Iron Maiden play their first gig with new guitarist Adrian Smith in Uxbridge, London, England.
December 4
Duran Duran signs with EMI after finalizing its lineup and touring as a support act for Hazel O'Connor.
Led Zeppelin disbands following the death of drummer John Bonham.
December 7 – Darby Crash, leader of seminal L.A. punk band the Germs, dies of a heroin overdose in a suicide pact.
December 8 – John Lennon was shot to death outside his apartment building in New York City at 10:50 pm. Lennon's single, "(Just Like) Starting Over", subsequently becomes a number one hit in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
December 14 – Over 100,000 mourners attend a public vigil for John Lennon in Central Park. 10 minutes of silence are observed at 2pm.
December 31 – The ninth annual New Year's Rockin' Eve special airs on ABC, with appearances by The Charlie Daniels Band, Billy Preston, Syreeta, Chuck Berry and Barry Manilow.
Record labels established in 1980
Record labels disestablished in 1980
The single "Groovy Ghost Show" by Casper is one of the first recorded hip hop songs from Chicago.
The Hee Bee Gee Bees release a cutting parody of a Bee Gees' disco-style single. Though not a hit in the UK, it is a huge success elsewhere, especially in South Africa, and helps to encourage the Gibb brothers to diversify stylistically.
Phil Collins signs a contract with Atlantic Records to distribute his solo records in the US and in Europe outside the UK (on WEA label).
October, Iron Maiden replaces guitarist Dennis Stratton with Urchin guitarist Adrian Smith.
See Category:Musical groups established in 1980
Bands disbanded
See Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1980
BBC Young Musician of the Year: Nicholas Daniel, oboist
Boy Edgar Award: Rein de Graaff
Country Music Association Awards
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Grammy Awards of 1980
Harriet Cohen International Music Award
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1980.
US and UK #1 hit singles
(in chronological order)
Against The Wind, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
All Night Long, Joe Walsh
All Out Of Love, Air Supply
All Over the World, ELO
An American Dream, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Better Love Next Time, Dr. Hook
Biggest Part of Me, Ambrosia
Breakdown Dead Ahead, Boz Scaggs
Broken Hearted Me, Anne Murray
Cars, Gary Numan
Come Back, J. Geils
Cool Change, Little River Band
Coward of the County, Kenny Rogers
Cruisin', Smokey Robinson
Cupid (I've Loved You For A Long Time), The Spinners
Daydream Believer, Anne Murray
Deja Vu, Dionne Warwick
Desire, Andy Gibb
Dim All the Lights, Donna Summer
Don't Do Me Like That, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer, Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes
Don't Let Go, Isaac Hayes
Dreamin', Cliff Richard
Drivin' My Life Away, Eddie Rabbitt
Emotional Rescue, The Rolling Stones
Fame, Irene Cara
Fire Lake, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
Give Me the Night, George Benson
He's So Shy, The Pointer Sisters
Heartbreaker, Pat Benatar
Him, Rupert Holmes
How Do I Make You, Linda Ronstadt
Hurt So Bad, Linda Ronstadt
I Can't Tell You Why, Eagles
I Pledge My Love, Peaches & Herb
I Wanna Be Your Lover, Prince
In America, Charlie Daniels Band
Into The Night, Benny Mardones
Jojo, Boz Scaggs
Let Me Love You Tonight, Pure Prairie League
Let My Love Open The Door, Pete Townshend
Let's Get Serious, Jermaine Jackson
Little Jeannie, Elton John
Longer, Dan Fogelberg
Lookin' For Love, Johnny Lee
Lost In Love, Air Supply
Love the World Away, Kenny Rogers
Misunderstanding, Genesis
More Love, Kim Carnes
Never Knew Love Like This Before - Stephanie Mills
Off the Wall, Michael Jackson
On the Radio, Donna Summer
One Fine Day, Carole King
Pilot of the Airwaves, Charlie Dore
Refugee, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Ride Like The Wind, Christopher Cross
Romeo's Tune, Steve Forbert
Sailing, Christopher Cross
Sara, Fleetwood Mac
Send One Your Love, Stevie Wonder
September Morn', Neil Diamond
Sexy Eyes, Dr. Hook
She's Out Of My Life, Michael Jackson
Shining Star, The Manhattans
Ships, Barry Manilow
Should've Never Let You Go, Neil Sedaka and Dara Sedaka
Special Lady, Ray, Goodman & Brown
Stand by Me, Mickey Gilley
Steal Away, Robbie Dupree
Still, Commodores
Stomp! - The Brothers Johnson
Take The Long Way Home, Supertramp
Take Your Time (Do It Right), The S.O.S. Band
The Long Run, Eagles
The Second Time Around, Shalamar
The Wanderer, Donna Summer
This Is It - Kenny Loggins
Tired of Toein' the Line, Rocky Burnette
Too Hot, Kool & the Gang
Tusk, Fleetwood Mac
Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone - The Manhattan Transfer
Wait for Me, Hall & Oates
With You I'm Born Again, Billy Preston and Syreeta
Working My Way Back To You, The Spinners
Yes, I'm Ready, Teri DeSario and K.C.
You Decorated My Life, Kenny Rogers
You May Be Right, Billy Joel
You're Only Lonely, J.D. Souther
You're the Only Woman (You & I) - Ambrosia
George Crumb – A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979, for piano
Mario Davidovsky – Consorts, for symphonic band
Mario Davidovsky – String Quartet No. 4
Helmut Lachenmann – Ein Kinderspiel, seven little pieces for piano
Trygve Madsen – Sonata for Tuba and Piano
Arvo Pärt – De profundis, for accompanied chorus; first performance 1981
Krzysztof Penderecki – Symphony No. 2: "Christmas"'
Lorenzo Ferrero – Marilyn
Philip Glass – Satyagraha
Kirke Mechem – Tartuffe
William Mathias – The Servants (libretto by Iris Murdoch)
Karlheinz Stockhausen – Donnerstag aus Licht
David Warrack – Drummer
Barnum - Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on April 30 and ran for 854 performances
Brigadoon (Lerner & Loewe) – Broadway revival opened at the Majestic Theatre on October 16 and ran for 133 performances
Camelot (Lerner & Loewe) – Broadway revival opened at the New York State Theater on July 8 and ran for 56 performances
Colette - London production opened at the Comedy Theatre on September 24 and ran for 47 performances
A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine - Broadway production opened at the John Golden Theatre on April 2 and transferred to the Royale Theatre on June 17 for a total run of 588 performances
Forty-Second Street - Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on August 25, transferred to the Majestic Theatre on March 30, 1981, and transferred to the St. James Theatre on April 7, 1987, for a total run of 3486 performances
The Life and Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby - London production opened at the Aldwych Theatre on June 5
On The Twentieth Century - London production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on March 19 and ran for 165 performances
Sweeney Todd (Stephen Sondheim) – London production opened at the Drury Lane Theatre on July 2 and ran for 157 performances
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg London production opened at the Phoenix Theatre on April 10
West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein) – Broadway revival opened at the Minskoff Theatre on February 14 and ran for 333 performances
The Blues Brothers
Can't Stop the Music
Fame
The Idolmaker
The Jazz Singer
Kallukkul Eeram
La boum
One Trick Pony
Popeye
Qurbani
Ram Balram
Times Square
Xanadu
January 14 – Hiroshi Tamaki, Japanese actor, model, and singer
January 21 – Nana Mizuki, Japanese voice actress and singer
January 28
Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys)
Brian Fallon, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
February 3 – Sarah Lewitinn, American record producer and journalist
February 15 – Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
February 18 – Regina Spektor, singer-songwriter
February 22 – Shamari Fears, American singer-songwriter and actress (Blaque)
February 27 – Cyrus Bolooki, New Found Glory
February 26 – Alex Fong Lik-Sun, Hong Kong singer and actor
March 2 – Vince Walker, American rock singer (Suburban Legends)
March 13 – Flavia Cacace, dancer
March 19 – Agnes Pihlava, Finnish pop singer
March 20 – Mikk Murdvee, violinist and conductor
March 21 – Deryck Whibley (Sum 41)
March 27 - Tai Orathai, Luk Thung singer
March 28 – Rasmus Seebach, Danish singer-songwriter and record producer
March 30 – Yalin, Turkish pop singer and songwriter
March 31 – Maaya Sakamoto, Japanese singer
April 10 – Bryce Soderberg, Canadian musician (Lifehouse)
April 12 – Brian McFadden, vocalist (Westlife)
April 14 – Win Butler, American/Canadian musician
April 16 – Jake Andrews, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
April 24 – Danny Gokey, American Idol season 8 finalist
April 29 – Kian Egan (Westlife)
May 5 – Maia Hirasawa, Swedish pop singer
May 6 – Taebin, Korean hip-hop artist (1TYM)
May 12 – Romina Arena, Italian-American singer-songwriter
May 21 - Gotye, Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter
May 28 – Mark Feehily (Westlife)
May 31 – Andy Hurley, American drummer (Fall Out Boy and The Damned Things)
June 2 – Orish Grinstead, American R&B singer (d. 2008)
June 5 – Brandi Shearer, American singer-songwriter
June 6 – Peter Mosely, American bass player (Yellowcard and Inspection 12)
June 7 – Henkka Seppälä, Finnish bassist (Children of Bodom)
June 13 – Sarah Connor, German singer
June 16 – Joey Yung, Hong Kong singer
June 17 – Kimeru, Japanese singer
June 18 – Colin Munroe, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer
June 20 – Tony Lovato (Mest)
June 23 - Jessica Taylor, (Liberty X)
June 26 – Jason Schwartzman (Phantom Planet)
June 27 – Jennifer Goodridge, American keyboard player (Your Enemies Friends)
June 29 – Katherine Jenkins, Welsh soprano
July 3 – Kid Sister, American rapper
July 5
Pauly D, American DJ
Mads Tolling, Danish-American violinist and composer (Turtle Island Quartet)
July 10 – Jessica Simpson, singer and actress
July 13 - Corey Clark, American singer
July 15 – JW-Jones, Canadian blues artist
July 19 - Michelle Heaton, (Liberty X)
July 20 – Mike Kennerty (The All-American Rejects)
July 21 – Really Doe, American rapper
July 22 – Kate Ryan, Belgian singer
July 23 – Michelle Williams, singer (Destiny's Child)
July 26 – Dave Baksh (Sum 41)
July 28
Stephen Christian, American Christian rock singer (Anberlin)
Noel Sullivan, Welsh singer (Hear'Say) and actor
July 30 – Diam's, French rapper
August 12
Matt Thiessen, Canadian singer/guitarist
Jade Villalon, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress (Sweetbox)
August 16
Vanessa Carlton, American singer
Øystein Moen, Norwegian pianist and composer (Puma and Jaga Jazzist)
August 19
Houcine Camara, French singer
Darius Danesh, Scottish singer-songwriter & actor
August 29 - Richa Sharma, playback singer
September 5 - Kevin Simm, English singer (Liberty X)
September 6 – Kerry Katona, singer (Atomic Kitten)
September 11 – Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance)
September 13 – Teppei Teranishi (Thrice)
September 14 - Ayọ, singer-songwriter and actress
September 19 - Tegan and Sara Quin (Tegan And Sara)
September 25 – T.I., American rapper
September 29 – Dallas Green (musician), Canadian singer/songwriter
October 5 – Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte)
October 8 – Nick Cannon, American actor and rapper
October 10 – Sherine, Egyptian singer
October 12 – Soledad Pastorutti, folklore singer
October 13 – Ashanti, singer
October 24
Kaushiki Chakraborty, classical vocalist
Monica, R&B singer
October 27 - Tanel Padar, Estonian singer-songwriter and guitarist
November 3 – Dan Marsala, American musician
November 7 - Karthik, playback singer
November 10 – Calvin Chen, Taiwanese pop singer
November 12 – Shaun Cooper, American bass player
November 15 – Ace Young, American singer and reality show finalist
November 17 – Isaac Hanson (Hanson)
November 18 – Dustin Kensrue (Thrice)
November 26 – Satoshi Ohno, Japanese singer
November 28 – Lisa Middelhauve, German singer (Xandria)
December 5 – Ibrahim Maalouf, trumpeter
December 6 – Kei Yasuda, Japanese singer
December 9 – Simon Helberg, American actor and comedian
December 10
Sarah Chang, violinist
Chris Gaynor (The All-American Rejects)
December 14 - Tata Young, singer and actress
December 18 – Christina Aguilera, singer and actress
December 19 - Verbal Jint, rapper
December 24 – Tomas Kalnoky, American musician (Streetlight Manifesto)
January 1 – Adolph Deutsch (82), American composer
January 2 – J. Mayo Williams (85), African American blues music producer
January 3 – Amos Milburn (52), African American R&B singer and pianist
January 6
Poley McClintock, jazz musician
Georgeanna Tillman (36), pop and R&B singer
January 7 – Larry Williams (44), singer, songwriter and pianist
January 13 – Andre Kostelanetz (78), Russian-born conductor and arranger
January 21 – Elvira de Hidalgo (88), coloratura soprano and singing teacher
January 29
Jimmy Durante (86), pianist & entertainer
Edward Lewis (79), founder of Decca Records
January 30 – Professor Longhair (61), pianist
February 17 – Jerry Fielding (57), American conductor and music director (heart failure)
February 18
Muriel Brunskill (80), British contralto
Gale Robbins (58), American singer and actress (lung cancer)
February 19 – Bon Scott (33), lead singer of AC/DC (alcohol poisoning)
February 28 – Dinorá de Carvalho (75), Brazilian pianist, conductor and composer
March 5 – Winifred Wagner (82), daughter-in-law of Richard Wagner, close friend of Adolf Hitler (b. 1897)
March 14 – Anna Jantar (29), Polish singer (air crash)
March 18 – Jessica Dragonette (80), American singer
March 23 – Jacob Miller (27), reggae artist
March 25 – Walter Susskind (76), Czech conductor
March 26
Jon Paulus (32), the Buckinghams, drug overdose
Ted Shapiro (80), songwriter & pianist
March 28 – Dick Haymes, (63), Argentinian-born US singer and actor
March 29 – Mantovani (74), Italian-born British orchestra leader and composer
April 4 – Red Sovine (61), American country & folk singer & songwriter
April 20 – Katherine Kennicott Davis (87), American composer
April 28 – Tommy Caldwell (30), bassist of Marshall Tucker Band (car accident)
May 4 – Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson (60), pianist (heart attack)
May 18 – Ian Curtis (23), lead singer of Joy Division (suicide)
May 30 – Carl Radle (37), rock bassist
June 11 – Bolesław Woytowicz (80), Polish pianist and composer
June 16 – Bob Nolan (72), country singer and songwriter
June 20 – Allan Pettersson (68), Swedish composer
June 21 – Bert Kaempfert (56), German composer, bandleader and arranger (stroke)
June 27 – Barney Bigard (74), jazz clarinetist
June 28 – Jose Iturbi (84), pianist
July 5 – A. J. Potter (72), Irish composer
July 14 – Malcolm Owen (26), Lead singer The Ruts (overdose)
July 15 – Ben Selvin (82), "The Dean of Recorded Music"
July 23 – Keith Godchaux (32), keyboardist with Grateful Dead (car accident)
July 25 – Vladimir Vysotsky (42), Russian singer-songwriter, poet, actor (heart failure)
July 31 – Mohammed Rafi (55), Indian singer (heart attack)
August 11 – Jacques Singer (70), conductor
August 17 – Harold Adamson (73), lyricist
August 20 – Joe Dassin (41), singer (heart attack)
August 22 – Cosmé McMoon (79), pianist and composer
August 26 – Miliza Korjus (71), Estonian-Polish opera singer
September 2 – Marcel Ciampi (89), French pianist and teacher
September 7 – Arvella Gray (74), blues and folk singer and guitarist
September 12 – Lillian Randolph (81), actress and singer
September 15 – Bill Evans (51), jazz pianist
September 16 – Ludmila Červinková (72), operatic soprano
September 17 – Waldemar Seidel (87), Australian pianist
September 18 – Walter Midgley (67), English operatic tenor
September 25 – John Bonham (32), drummer (Led Zeppelin) (alcohol poisoning)
September 30 – Horace Finch (74), pianist and organist
October 3 – Jerzy Żurawlew (93), pianist, conductor, teacher, and founder of the International Chopin Piano Competition.
October 25 – Virgil Fox (68), organist (cancer)
October 27 – Steve Peregrin Took (31), bongo player for Tyrannosaurus Rex later a solo artist/frontman (choking)
November 15 – Bill Lee (64), American actor and playback singer
December 7 – Darby Crash (22), singer of the (Germs) (suicide)
December 8 – John Lennon (40), singer, guitarist and songwriter (The Beatles) (gunshot)
December 24 – Siggie Nordstrom (87), American model, actress, entertainer, socialite and lead singer (The Nordstrom Sisters)
December 29 – Tim Hardin (39), singer-songwriter (heroin overdose)
December 31 – Robert Pete Williams (66), blues singer and guitarist
