Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

1983 in music

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This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.

Contents

  • Classical music on CD has become popular among listeners.

    • January–April

  • January 1
  • ZTT Records is founded.
  • The Merchant Ivory film Heat and Dust is released. On the soundtrack, composed by Zakir Hussain, Ivory is featured on tanpura with Hussain (who also appeared in the film) on tabla.
  • January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization. In 1984 electronic terminals will be used in selected stores to gather sales information, and the old "sales diary" method will be gradually phased out over the next few years.
  • February 2 – "Menudomania" comes to New York as 3,500 screaming girls crowd Kennedy Airport to catch a glimpse of Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, who are playing six sold-out shows at the Felt Forum.
  • February 11 – The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York.
  • February 13 – Marvin Gaye performs The Star-Spangled Banner" before the NBA All-Star Game.
  • February 26 – Michael Jackson's Thriller album hits #1 on the US charts, the first of thirty-seven (non-consecutive) weeks it would spend there on its way to becoming the biggest-selling album of all time.
  • February 28 – U2 releases their 3rd album War which debuts at #1 in the UK and produces the band's first international hit single.
  • March 2 – Compact discs go on sale in the United States. They had first been released in Japan the previous October.
  • March 4 – Neil Young cancels the remainder of his tour after collapsing backstage in Louisville, Kentucky, after playing for seventy-five minutes.
  • April 5
  • A Generative Theory of Tonal Music by Fred Lerdahl and Ray Jackendoff is published.
  • US Interior Secretary James G. Watt causes controversy when he effectively bans the Beach Boys from a return performance at the Fourth of July festivities in Washington, announcing that Wayne Newton would perform instead. Watt claims that rock bands attract "the wrong element". That same week President Reagan, himself an avowed Beach Boys fan, presents Watt with a plaster foot with a hole in it, symbolizing that Watt had shot himself in the foot.
  • April 11 – Dave Mustaine is fired from Metallica just as the band is set to begin recording its début album. He is replaced by Kirk Hammett.
  • April 18 – Ellen Taaffe Zwilich becomes the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

    • May–August

  • May 16
  • Singer Anna Vissi marries composer Nikos Karvelas.
  • The Motown 25 Special airs on NBC, celebrating a quarter century of Motown Records. Michael Jackson unveils his moonwalk dance move during an performance of "Billie Jean".
  • May 28–June 4 – The second US Festival is held at Glen Helen Park in California.
  • June 18–19 – Menudo's second visit to New York. The band plays four shows at Madison Square Garden and all 80,000 tickets sell out within three days of going on sale.
  • June 20 – Catalunya Ràdio begins broadcasting.
  • July 1 – Chilean Band Los Prisioneros debuted at the Miguel Leon Prado High School Song festival. They would personify the rebellion of young Chileans leading to protests which eventually ousted Augusto Pinochet
  • July 19 – Simon and Garfunkel begin their North American summer tour in Akron, Ohio.
  • July 21 – Diana Ross performs a filmed concert in Central Park in heavy rain; eventually the storm forces her to postpone the rest of the concert till next day.
  • July 29 – Friday Night Videos is broadcast for the first time on NBC.
  • August 5 – David Crosby is sentenced by a judge in Dallas, Texas to five years in prison on drug and weapon possession charges.
  • August 16
  • Johnny Ramone suffers a near-fatal head injury during a fight over a girl in front of his East Village apartment.
  • Singer Paul Simon marries actress Carrie Fisher.
  • August 20 – The Rolling Stones sign a new $28 million contract with CBS Records, the largest recording contract in history up to this time.

    • September–December

  • September 1 – Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon of The Clash issue a press statement announcing that Mick Jones has been fired from the group.
  • September 4 – Phil Lynott performs his final show with Thin Lizzy in Nuremberg, Germany.
  • September 18 – The members of Kiss show their faces without their makeup for the first time on MTV, simultaneous with the release of their album Lick It Up.
  • September 20 – The first ARMS Charity Concert is held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
  • November 26 – Quiet Riot's Metal Health album tops the US album charts, the first heavy metal album to hit #1 in America.
  • December 2
  • The Uday-Ustav Festival, a tribute to Uday Shankar, is staged at the instigation of Uday's younger brother, Ravi Shankar.
  • Michael Jackson's 14-minute music video for Thriller is premiered on MTV.
  • Phish plays first show.
  • December 25 - Marvin Gaye gives his father, as a Christmas present, an unlicensed Smith & Wesson .38 special caliber pistol so that Gaye could protect himself from intruders. A few months later, Gaye Sr would use it to shoot his son dead.
  • December 31 – The twelfth annual New Year's Rockin' Eve special airs on ABC, with appearances by Culture Club, Rick James, Laura Branigan, Barry Manilow, Mary Jane Girls and David Frizzell.

    • Bands formed

  • See Musical groups established in 1983

    • Bands disbanded

  • See Musical groups disestablished in 1983

    • Bands reformed

  • The Animals
  • The Everly Brothers

    • Biggest hit singles

    The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1983.

    Top hits on record

  • "1999" – Prince (released in 1982)
  • "Africa" – Rose Laurens (released in 1982)
  • "Africa" – Toto (released in 1982)
  • "All Night Long (All Night)" – Lionel Richie
  • "All Time High" – Rita Coolidge
  • "Always Something There to Remind Me" – Naked Eyes
  • "Australiana" – Austen Tayshus
  • "Baby, Come to Me" – Patti Austin with James Ingram (released in 1982)
  • "Baby Jane" – Rod Stewart
  • "Bad Boys" – Wham!
  • "Bark at the Moon" – Ozzy Osbourne
  • "Beat It" – Michael Jackson
  • "Bedsitter"- Soft Cell
  • "Big Apple" – Kajagoogoo
  • "Big Log" – Robert Plant
  • "Billie Jean" – Michael Jackson
  • "Blind Vision" – Blancmange
  • "Blister In The Sun" – Violent Femmes
  • "Blue Monday" – New Order
  • "Bop Girl" – Pat Wilson
  • "The Border" – America
  • "Boxerbeat" – JoBoxers
  • "Breakaway" – Tracey Ullman
  • "Buffalo Soldier" – Bob Marley & The Wailers
  • "Buried Treasure" – Kenny Rogers
  • "Burning Down the House" – Talking Heads
  • "Burning Up" – Madonna
  • "Calling Your Name" – Marilyn
  • "Candy Girl" – New Edition
  • "Can't Get Used to Losing You" – The Beat
  • "The Celtic Soul Brothers" – Dexys Midnight Runners
  • "Change" – Tears for Fears
  • "Change In Mood" – Kids in the Kitchen
  • "China Girl" – David Bowie
  • "Church of the Poison Mind" – Culture Club
  • "Club Tropicana" – Wham!
  • "Come Back And Stay" – Paul Young
  • "Come On Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners (released in 1982)
  • "Countdown/New World Man" – Rush
  • "Crumblin' Down" – John Mellencamp
  • "Cry Me a River" – Mari Wilson
  • "Cum on Feel the Noize" – Quiet Riot
  • "Cuts Like a Knife" – Bryan Adams
  • "Dancing in the Dark" – Kim Wilde
  • "Der Alpen-Rap" - Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
  • "Der Kommissar" – After the Fire
  • "Dead Giveaway" – Shalamar
  • "Dear Prudence" – Siouxsie and the Banshees
  • "Delirious" – Prince
  • "Dirty Laundry" – Don Henley
  • "Do It for Love" - Marty Balin
  • "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" – Culture Club
  • "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive" – Men At Work
  • "Don't Cry" – Asia
  • "Don't Let It End" – Styx
  • "Don't Talk To Me About Love" – Altered Images
  • "Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (Released 1981)
  • "Double Dutch" – Malcolm McLaren
  • "Down Under" – Men at Work
  • "Drop the Pilot" – Joan Armatrading
  • "Electric Avenue" – Eddy Grant
  • "Every Breath You Take" – The Police
  • "Everyday I Write the Book" – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
  • "Everything Counts" – Depeche Mode
  • "Far From Over" – Frank Stallone
  • "Family Man" – Hall & Oates
  • "Faithfully" – Journey
  • "Femme" – Dalida
  • "The First Picture Of You" – The Lotus Eaters
  • "Foolin'" – Def Leppard
  • "Freak-A-Zoid" – Midnight Star
  • "Gimme All Your Lovin'" – ZZ Top
  • "A Girl Called Johnny" – The Waterboys
  • "Give It Up" - KC and the Sunshine Band
  • "Gloria" – Laura Branigan (released in 1982)
  • "Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero)" – Mark Knopfler
  • "Gold" – Spandau Ballet
  • "The Hawk and the Dove" – Hank Marvin
  • "He Knows You Know" – Marillion
  • "Heart and Soul" – Huey Lewis and the News
  • "Heartache Avenue" – The Maisonettes (released in 1982)
  • "High Roller" - Element Ethan
  • "Holiday" – Madonna
  • "Holy Diver" – Dio
  • "Home by the Sea" – Genesis
  • "Hot Girls in Love" – Loverboy
  • "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" – Laura Branigan
  • "Human Nature" – Michael Jackson
  • "Hungry Like the Wolf" – Duran Duran (released in 1982)
  • "I Am (I'm Me)" – Twisted Sister
  • "I Am Love" – Jennifer Holliday
  • "I Don't Remember (Live)" – Peter Gabriel
  • "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" – Elton John (feat. Stevie Wonder)
  • "I Like It" – DeBarge
  • "If I'd Been The One" - .38 Special
  • "I'm Still Standing" – Elton John
  • "In a Big Country" – Big Country
  • "I.O.U." – Freeez
  • "Is There Something I Should Know?" – Duran Duran
  • "Islands in the Stream" – Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
  • "It's a Mistake" – Men At Work
  • "Jeopardy" – The Greg Kihn Band
  • "Johnny B. Goode" – Peter Tosh
  • "Karma Chameleon" – Culture Club
  • "Kiss the Bride" – Elton John
  • "Lady, Lady, Lady" – Joe Esposito
  • "Lawyers in Love" – Jackson Browne
  • "Let The Music Play" – Shannon
  • "Let's Dance" – David Bowie
  • "Lick It Up" – Kiss
  • "Lipstick Lies"- Pat Benatar
  • "A Little Good News" – Anne Murray
  • "Little Red Corvette" – Prince
  • "Long Hot Summer" – The Style Council
  • "Looks That Kill" – Mötley Crüe
  • "Love Blonde" – Kim Wilde
  • "The Love Cats" – The Cure
  • "Love Is a Battlefield" – Pat Benatar
  • "Love Is a Stranger" – Eurythmics
  • "Love of the Common People" – Paul Young
  • "Love On Your Side" – Thompson Twins
  • "Love Town" – Booker Newberry III
  • "Mad World"- Tears For Fears
  • "Major Tom (Coming Home)" – Peter Schilling
  • "Mama" – Genesis
  • "Maniac" – Michael Sembello
  • "Many Rivers to Cross" – UB40
  • "Marguerita Time" – Status Quo
  • "Market Square Heroes" – Marillion
  • "Modern Love" – David Bowie
  • "Mon ami m'a quittée" - Celine Dion
  • "Moonlight Shadow" – Mike Oldfield
  • "Mr. Roboto" – Styx
  • "My Oh My" – Slade
  • "Nasty Girl" – Vanity 6
  • "Never Stop" – Echo & the Bunnymen
  • "Never Gonna Let You Go" – Sergio Mendes
  • "New Song" – Howard Jones
  • "New Year's Day" – U2
  • "Nobody's Diary" – Yazoo
  • "Oblivious" – Aztec Camera
  • "One on One" – Hall & Oates
  • "One Thing Leads to Another" – The Fixx
  • "Only for Love" – Limahl
  • "Only You" – Rita Coolidge
  • "Only You" – The Flying Pickets
  • "Orchard Road" – Leo Sayer
  • "Ooh To Be Ah" – Kajagoogoo
  • "Our House" – Madness
  • "Our Lips Are Sealed" – Fun Boy Three
  • "Over and Over" – Shalamar
  • "Overkill" – Men at Work
  • "Owner of a Lonely Heart" – Yes
  • "Pale Shelter" – Tears for Fears
  • "Photograph" – Def Leppard
  • "Physical Attraction"- Madonna
  • "Pink Houses" – John Mellencamp
  • "Pills and Soap" – The Imposter
  • "Pipes Of Peace" – Paul McCartney
  • "Powerball" - Element Ethan
  • "Pressure Sway" – Machinations
  • "Pride and Joy" – Stevie Ray Vaughan
  • "Promises, Promises" – Naked Eyes
  • "Puttin' on the Ritz" – Taco
  • "Queen of the Broken Hearts" – Loverboy
  • "Radio Free Europe" (I.R.S. version) – R.E.M.
  • "Rainbow in the Dark" – Dio
  • "Rio" – Duran Duran
  • "Rip It Up" – Orange Juice
  • "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" – Electric Light Orchestra
  • "Rock of Ages" – Def Leppard
  • "Rock the Casbah" – The Clash (released in 1982)
  • "Rockit" – Herbie Hancock
  • "Run Runaway" – Slade
  • "The Safety Dance" – Men Without Hats
  • "Saved by Zero" – The Fixx
  • "Say Say Say" – Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney
  • "Screaming for Vengeance" – Judas Priest
  • "Send Her My Love" – Journey
  • "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" – Journey
  • "Sex (I'm a...)" – Berlin
  • "Shame on the Moon" – Bob Seger
  • "The Shape You're In" – Eric Clapton
  • "Sharp Dressed Man" – ZZ Top
  • "She Blinded Me with Science" – Thomas Dolby (released in 1982)
  • "She Means Nothing to Me" – Phil Everly and Cliff Richard
  • "She Works Hard For The Money" – Donna Summer
  • "She's a Beauty" – The Tubes
  • "Shipbuilding" – Robert Wyatt
  • "Should I Stay or Should I Go" – The Clash
  • "Shout at the Devil" – Mötley Crüe
  • "Sign of the Times" – The Belle Stars
  • "Solitaire" – Laura Branigan
  • "Song For A Future Generation"- The B-52s
  • "Soul Inside" – Soft Cell
  • "Speak Like a Child" – The Style Council
  • "Stand Back" – Stevie Nicks
  • "Steppin' Out" – Joe Jackson
  • "The Story Of The Blues" – Wah! (released in 1982)
  • "Straight from the Heart" – Bryan Adams
  • "Straight to Hell" – The Clash
  • "Street of Dreams" – Rainbow
  • "Suddenly Last Summer" – The Motels
  • "Suffer The Children"- Tears For Fears
  • "The Sun and the Rain" – Madness
  • "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)" – Level 42
  • "Sunday Bloody Sunday" - U2
  • "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" – Eurythmics
  • "Synchronicity II" – The Police
  • "Take Me To Heart" – Quarterflash
  • "Talking in Your Sleep" – The Romantics
  • "Tell Her About It" – Billy Joel
  • "Tell Her No" – Juice Newton
  • "Temptation" – Heaven 17
  • "Tender Is the Night" – Jackson Browne
  • "Thank You For The Music" – ABBA (released in 1977)
  • "That's All" – Genesis
  • "That's Love" – Jim Capaldi
  • "They Don't Know" – Tracey Ullman
  • "This Charming Man" – The Smiths
  • "This Time" – Bryan Adams
  • "Thunder And Lightning" – Thin Lizzy
  • "Time (Clock of the Heart)" – Culture Club
  • "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" – Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
  • "Too Low For Zero" – Elton John (in US & Australia; not released in the rest of UK and Europe until 1985/86)
  • "Too Shy" – Kajagoogoo
  • "Total Eclipse of the Heart" – Bonnie Tyler
  • "Tour de France" – Kraftwerk
  • "True" – Spandau Ballet
  • "2000 Miles" – The Pretenders
  • "Twilight Zone" – Golden Earring (released in 1982)
  • "Twist of fate" – Olivia Newton-John
  • "Twisting by the Pool" – Dire Straits
  • "Under Attack" – ABBA
  • "Undercover of the Night" – The Rolling Stones
  • "Union of the Snake" – Duran Duran
  • "Up Where We Belong" – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
  • "Uptown Girl" – Billy Joel
  • "Vintage '77 (EP)" – The Heartbreakers
  • "Vamos A La Playa" - Righeira
  • "Visions in Blue" – Ultravox
  • "Voice of the Heart" – The Carpenters
  • "A Volar" – Menudo
  • "The Walk" – The Cure
  • "Walk Out To Winter" – Aztec Camera
  • "Walkin' The Line" – Brass Construction
  • "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" – Michael Jackson
  • "Watching You Watching Me" – David Grant
  • "Waterfront" – Simple Minds
  • "The Way He Makes Me Feel" – Barbra Streisand
  • "We Are Detective" – Thompson Twins
  • "We've Got Tonight" - Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
  • "What Is Love?" – Howard Jones
  • "What Kinda Boy You're Lookin' For (Girl)" – Hot Chocolate
  • "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" – Paul Young
  • "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" – Grandmaster and Melle Mel
  • "Why Can't It Wait 'Til Morning?" – Phil Collins
  • "Why Me?" - Irene Cara
  • "Wings of a Dove" – Madness
  • "Wishing on a Star" – Rose Royce
  • "The Word Is Out" - Jermaine Stewart
  • "Words" - Missing Persons
  • "Wrapped Around Your Finger" – The Police
  • "You Are" – Lionel Richie
  • "You're in My System" - The System (released in 1982)
  • "You Can't Hurry Love" – Phil Collins (released in 1982)
  • "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" w. Bernie Taupin m. Elton John
  • "An Innocent Man" w.m. Billy Joel
  • "Karma Chameleon" w.m. George O'Dowd, Jon Moss, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig & Phil Rickett
  • "Uptown Girl" w.m. Billy Joel
  • "Total Eclipse of the Heart" – Jim Steinman

    • Compositions

  • Vyacheslav Artyomov – Tristia for solo piano, organ, trumpet, vibraphone and strings
  • Jean-Baptiste Barrière – Chreode I
  • John Cage – Thirty Pieces for String Quartet
  • Friedrich Cerha – Requiem für Hollensteiner
  • George Crumb – Processional for piano
  • Jean Daetwyler – Concerto for Alphorn, Flute, Saxophone and Strings No. 2
  • Mario Davidovsky – Romancero, for soprano, flute (piccolo, alto flute), clarinet (bass clarinet), violin and violoncello
  • Lorenzo Ferrero
  • Ellipse for flute
  • Onde for guitar
  • Karel Goeyvaerts – Aquarius I (Voorspel)—L’ère du Verseau, for orchestra
  • Jacques Hétu – Clarinet Concerto
  • Simeon ten Holt – Lemniscaat, for keyboard (1982-1983)
  • Witold Lutosławski – Symphony No. 3 (1972–83)
  • Krzysztof Penderecki – Viola Concerto
  • John Pickard – Nocturne in Black and Gold
  • Peter Sculthorpe – Piano concerto
  • Karlheinz Stockhausen – Luzifers Tanz, for wind orchestra
  • Iannis Xenakis – Shaar
  • Morton Feldman - Crippled Symmetry

    • Opera

  • Robert Ashley – Perfect Lives (An opera for television)
  • Leonard Bernstein – A Quiet Place
  • Oliver Knussen – Where the Wild Things Are (children's)
  • Olivier Messiaen – Saint François d'Assise
  • Per Nørgård – Det guddommelige Tivoli (The Divine Circus)

    • Musical theater

  • La Cage aux Folles - Broadway production opened at the Palace Theatre and ran for 1781 performances
  • Doonesbury - Broadway production opened at the Biltmore Theatre and ran for 104 performances
  • Mame (Jerry Herman) – Broadway revival
  • Merlin - Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and ran for 199 performances
  • Oliver! (Lionel Bart) – London revival
  • On Your Toes - Broadway revival
  • My One and Only - Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre and ran for 767 performances
  • Singin' in the Rain - London production
  • The Tap Dance Kid - Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre and ran for 699 performances
  • Zorba - Broadway revival

    • Musical films

  • Carmen
  • Eddie and the Cruisers
  • Flashdance
  • Le Bal
  • Mangammagari Manavadu
  • Narcissus
  • Neti Bharatam
  • The Pirates of Penzance
  • Rock & Rule
  • Staying Alive
  • Yentl

    • Musical television

  • Salad Days

    • Births

  • January 13 – William Hung, American musician
  • January 18 – Samantha Mumba, Irish singer and actress
  • January 19 – Hikaru Utada, singer and songwriter
  • January 20 – Mari Yaguchi, Japanese singer (Morning Musume) and host
  • January 24 – Frankie Grande, American actor, singer, and dancer
  • January 25 – Andrée Watters, Canadian singer
  • February 1 – Andrew VanWyngarden, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (MGMT)
  • February 5 – Baby K, Singaporean-Italian singer-songwriter
  • February 8 – Jim Verraros, American singer
  • February 10 – Bless, Canadian rapper
  • February 19 – Mika Nakashima, Japanese singer and actress
  • March 3 – Katie White, singer (The Ting Tings)
  • March 8 – Piano Squall, pianist
  • March 9 – Mayte Perroni, Mexican singer and actress
  • March 10 – Carrie Underwood, singer
  • March 14 – Taylor Hanson (Hanson)
  • March 15 – Florencia Bertotti, Argentine actress and singer
  • March 19 – Ana Rezende (Cansei de Ser Sexy)
  • March 29 – Luiza Sá (Cansei de Ser Sexy)
  • March 30 – Hebe Tian, member of the Taiwanese girl-group S.H.E
  • April 4 – Tei, Korean ballad singer
  • April 16 – Marié Digby, American singer
  • May 8 – Matt Willis, British musician (Busted) and presenter
  • May 11 – Holly Valance, singer and actress
  • May 14 – Anahi, Mexican singer and actress
  • June 2 – Brooke White, American singer
  • June 17
  • Connie Fisher, British actress and singer
  • Lee Ryan, British singer
  • June 27 – Evan Taubenfeld, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter
  • June 30
  • Patrick Wolf, singer/songwriter
  • Cheryl, member of Girls Aloud
  • July 1
  • Leeteuk, singer
  • Marit Larsen, Norwegian musician (M2M)
  • July 2 – Michelle Branch (The Wreckers)
  • July 3
  • Steph Jones, American singer-songwriter
  • Matt Papa, American singer-songwriter
  • July 4
  • Ben Jorgensen, American singer, guitarist, member of Armor For Sleep
  • Andrew Mrotek, American drummer (The Academy Is...)
  • July 7 – Ciara Newell, Irish singer (Bellefire)
  • July 9 – Lucia Micarelli, violinist and actress
  • July 10 – Heechul, singer
  • July 11 – Marie Serneholt (A*Teens)
  • July 18 – Aaron Gillespie, drummer (Underoath)
  • July 21 – Eivør Pálsdóttir, Faroese singer and composer
  • July 24 – Morgan Sorne, American singer-songwriter and multi-media artist
  • August 7 – Christian Chávez, Mexican singer and actor
  • August 14 – Sunidhi Chauhan, playback singer
  • August 18
  • Danny!, American record producer/recording artist
  • Mika, British singer
  • August 28 – Alfonso Herrera, Mexican singer and actor
  • August 30 – Jun Matsumoto, Japanese singer and actor
  • September 14 – Amy Winehouse, English singer (died 2011)
  • September 17 – Jennifer Peña, singer and actress
  • September 26 – Samantha Hammel, American producer, actress and singer
  • September 30 – T-Pain, American rapper & singer-songwriter
  • October 7 – Flying Lotus, American rapper and producer, founded Brainfeeder
  • October 10 – Alyson Hau, Hong Kong radio DJ
  • October 24 – Adrienne Bailon, American singer and actress
  • October 26 – Houston, American R&B singer
  • October 29
  • Amit Sebastian Paul, Swedish singer (A*Teens)
  • Richard Brancatisano, Australian actor/musician
  • October 30 – Diana Karazon, Jordanian singer
  • November 7 – Forrest Kline, American singer and songwriter (Hellogoodbye)
  • November 10 – Miranda Lambert, American country musician
  • November 14
  • Lil Boosie, American rapper
  • Chelsea Wolfe, American singer-songwriter
  • November 16
  • Fallon Bowman, South African–born guitarist (Kittie)
  • K, South Korean singer
  • November 28 – Tyler Glenn, American alternative singer (Neon Trees)
  • December 17 – Kosuke Saito, Japanese DJ
  • December 29 – Jessica Andrews, American country music singer
  • December 31 – Sayaka Ichii, Japanese singer (Morning Musume)

    • Deaths

  • January 5 – Amy Evans, operatic soprano and actress, 98
  • January 7 – Edith Coates, operatic mezzo-soprano, 74
  • January 28 – Billy Fury, singer, 42 (heart attack)
  • January 31 – Lorraine Ellison, soul singer, 51
  • February 4 – Karen Carpenter, singer and drummer, 32 (cardiac arrest due to anorexia nervosa)
  • February 8
  • Charles Kullman, operatic tenor, 80
  • Alfred Wallenstein, cellist, 84
  • February 12 – Eubie Blake, pianist, 96
  • February 18 – Leopold Godowsky, Jr., violinist and chemist, 82
  • February 22 – Sir Adrian Boult, conductor, 93
  • February 23 – Herbert Howells, organist and composer, 90
  • February 28 – Winifred Atwell, pianist, 69
  • March 6 – Cathy Berberian, singer and composer, 57
  • March 7
  • Igor Markevitch, Ukrainian composer and conductor, 70
  • William Walton, British composer, 80
  • April 4 – Danny Rapp (Danny and the Juniors), 41 (suicide by gunshot)
  • April 5 – Cliff Carlisle, country and blues singer, 79
  • April 13 – Dolo Coker, jazz pianist and composer, 55
  • April 14 – Pete Farndon (The Pretenders), 30 (drug overdose)
  • April 17 – Felix Pappalardi, producer and bassist, 43 (gunshot)
  • April 23 – Earl Hines, jazz pianist, 79
  • April 30
  • Muddy Waters, blues singer and guitarist, 70 (heart attack)
  • George Balanchine, choreographer, 79
  • May 23
  • George Bruns, film composer, 68
  • Finn Mortensen, composer and music critic, 61
  • May 25 – Paul Quinichette, saxophonist, 67
  • June 2 – Stan Rogers, folk musician, 33
  • June 25 – Alberto Ginastera, Argentine composer, 67
  • July 4 – Claus Adam, cellist, 66
  • July 5 – Harry James, bandleader, 67
  • July 12 – Chris Wood, rock musician, 39
  • July 23 – Georges Auric, composer, member of Les Six, 84
  • July 27 – Jerome Moross, composer, conductor and orchestrator, 69
  • July 30 – Howard Dietz, lyricist, 86
  • August 2 – James Jamerson, bassist, 47
  • August 3 – Helge Bonnén, pianist and composer, 87
  • August 6 – Klaus Nomi, singer, 39 (complications from AIDS)
  • August 13 – Zdeněk Liška, film composer, 61
  • August 14 – Omer Létourneau, pianist, organist, composer and conductor, 92
  • August 17 – Ira Gershwin, lyricist, 86
  • August 24 – Arkady Filippenko, composer, 71
  • September 5 – John Gilpin, dancer, 53 (heart attack)
  • September 24 – Isobel Baillie, operatic soprano, 88
  • September 25 – Paul Jacobs, pianist, 53 (complications from AIDS)
  • October 16
  • Øivin Fjeldstad, violinist and conductor, 80
  • George Liberace, violinist and arranger, 72
  • November 3 – Alfredo Antonini, conductor, 82
  • November 7 – Germaine Tailleferre, composer, only female member of Les Six, 88
  • November 15 – John Grimaldi, English keyboard player and songwriter (Argent), 28
  • November 19 – Tommy Evans, bassist of the rock group Badfinger, 36 (suicide)
  • December 6 – Lucienne Boyer, singer, 80
  • December 11 – Simon Laks, Polish composer and violinist, 82
  • December 28 – Dennis Wilson, American singer, songwriter and drummer, 39 (drowned)
  • date unknown
  • Antonio Mairena, Andalusian flamenco singer, 73 or 74
  • Pat Smythe, Scottish-born jazz pianist, 59 or 60

    • Grammy Awards

  • Grammy Awards of 1983

    • Eurovision Song Contest

  • Eurovision Song Contest 1983

    • US no. 1 hits

  • Hot 100 no. 1 hits of 1983

    • US top 40 hits

  • Billboard Top 40 of 1983

    • See also:

  • 1983 in music (UK)
  • Record labels established in 1983

    • References

    1983 in music Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA