Music in History
Explore 162 historical moments related to music — from pivotal breakthroughs to world-changing events.
📅 18th Century(1)
📅 19th Century(1)
📅 20th Century(51)
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premieres
George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premieres at Aeolian Hall in New York City, blending classical and jazz music.
Luciano Pavarotti born
Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti is born in Modena. He becomes one of the most celebrated tenors of the 20th century.
Diana Ross born
American singer and actress Diana Ross is born in Detroit. She gained fame as the lead singer of the Supremes.
Hank Williams dies
Legendary country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams dies at age 29 in Oak Hill, West Virginia.
Country Music Stars Die in Plane Crash
American country-music performers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed when their plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Camden, Tennessee.
Hello, Dolly! opens on Broadway
The musical Hello, Dolly! opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway. It went on to win ten Tony Awards, a record that stood for 37 years.
Beatles release Let It Be album
The Beatles release Let It Be, one of the band's final studio albums, in the United Kingdom.
Jethro Tull releases Thick as a Brick
The British rock band Jethro Tull released Thick as a Brick, a parody concept album allegedly adapted from an eight-year-old boy's epic poem.
Elvis Presley's Aloha from Hawaii
Elvis Presley's concert "Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite" was broadcast live to audiences in Asia and Oceania.
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon released
Pink Floyd's critically acclaimed album The Dark Side of the Moon was released.
Final Performance of D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, renowned for its Gilbert and Sullivan productions, held its last performance. This marked the end of an era for the company that specialized in Savoy operas.
"We Are the World" Released
The charity single "We Are the World" by the supergroup USA for Africa was released, and went on to sell more than 20 million copies.
Metallica releases Master of Puppets
The American heavy metal band Metallica released their third studio album, Master of Puppets, considered one of the greatest in the genre's history.
Jeremy Wade Delle suicide
Jeremy Wade Delle committed suicide in his high-school class in Richardson, Texas. This event inspired the Pearl Jam song "Jeremy".
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is a Japanese singer, model, and businesswoman.
Birth of Jung Jae-won
Jung Jae-won, a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor, was born.
Joey Badass
Joey Badass is an American rapper and actor.
Selena Murdered
American singer-songwriter Selena, known as the "queen of Tejano music", was murdered by the president of her fan club. Her death deeply affected the Latino community.
Jennie
Jennie, a South Korean singer, was born.
Seunghee
Seunghee is a South Korean singer and television personality.
Braeden Lemasters
American actor, musician, and singer born on January 27, 1996.
Sasha Pieterse
South African-American actress and singer-songwriter.
Ten
Ten, a Thai singer and dancer, was born. He is a member of the K-pop group NCT.
Yung Gravy
Yung Gravy, American rapper, was born.
Jihyo
Jihyo, South Korean singer, was born.
Jaehyun
Jaehyun is a South Korean singer and actor.
Camila Cabello
Cuban-American singer-songwriter and actress Camila Cabello was born.
Birth of Cha Eun-woo
Cha Eun-woo, a South Korean singer, actor, and model, was born.
Boo Seung-kwan
Boo Seung-kwan, a South Korean singer, was born.
Shiho Katō
Shiho Katō is a Japanese singer and model.
Chappell Roan
American singer and songwriter.
Sakura Miyawaki
Sakura Miyawaki, Japanese singer, was born.
Ethel Cain
Ethel Cain is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and model.
King Combs
King Combs, an American rapper, was born.
Damiano David
Damiano David is an Italian singer-songwriter.
Niki
Indonesian singer and songwriter Niki was born.
MJ Lenderman
MJ Lenderman is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Metawin Opas-iamkajorn
Thai actor and singer Metawin Opas-iamkajorn was born.
Madison Beer
American singer-songwriter Madison Beer was born.
Yeri
South Korean singer and actress Yeri was born.
Kwon Eun-bin
Kwon Eun-bin is a South Korean singer and actress.
Jihoon
Jihoon is a South Korean singer.
Noah Cyrus
Noah Cyrus, American singer, songwriter, and actress, was born.
Reneé Rapp
Reneé Rapp is an American singer-songwriter and actress.
Lee Chae-yeon
South Korean singer-songwriter.
Kang Chan-hee
Kang Chan-hee is a South Korean singer and actor.
Koffee
Koffee, a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and rapper, was born.
Yeat
American rapper Yeat was born.
Kristian Kostov
Russian-Bulgarian singer-songwriter.
Birth of Yoon San-ha
Yoon San-ha, a South Korean singer and actor, was born.
Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey is an American singer-songwriter and actress.
📅 21th Century(109)
Birth of Anzor Alem
Anzor Alem, a Congolese actor and singer, was born.
Lee Dae-hwi
Lee Dae-hwi is a South Korean singer.
I.N
I.N is a South Korean singer.
Jvke
American singer-songwriter Jvke was born.
Jeon Somi born
South Korean-Canadian singer Jeon Somi was born.
Beomgyu
South Korean singer-songwriter and member of the boy band TXT.
Natanael Cano
Natanael Cano is a Mexican rapper and singer.
Tyla born
Tyla, a South African singer and songwriter, was born.
Samuel
Samuel is an American singer based in South Korea.
Lil Mosey
Lil Mosey is an American rapper.
Jisung
Birth of Jisung, a South Korean rapper.
Taehyun
Birth of Taehyun, a South Korean singer-songwriter.
Premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina's Johannes-Ostern
Sofia Gubaidulina's Johannes-Ostern premiered in Hamburg on March 16, 2002, alongside her Johannes-Passion.
MattyBRaps
MattyBRaps, American rapper, singer, and YouTuber, was born.
Sangiovanni
Italian singer-songwriter Sangiovanni was born.
Johnny Orlando
Canadian singer and songwriter Johnny Orlando was born.
US National Recording Registry selections announced
The Library of Congress announced the first selections for the United States National Recording Registry on January 27, 2003.
Olivia Rodrigo born
Olivia Rodrigo, American actress and singer, was born on February 20, 2003.
Grace VanderWaal
Grace VanderWaal, American singer-songwriter, was born.
Rei
Rei, Japanese rapper and singer, was born.
DannyLux
DannyLux, American singer-songwriter, was born.
Rachelle Ann Go Wins Search for a Star
Filipino singer Rachelle Ann Go won the reality talent show Search for a Star, performing a cover of Mariah Carey's "Through the Rain".
Birth of Lil Mabu
Lil Mabu, an American rapper, was born.
Yuika
Yuika, a Japanese singer-songwriter, was born.
Sarah Toscano
Italian singer-songwriter Sarah Toscano was born.
Chloe Chua
Chloe Chua, Singaporean violinist and winner of the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists, was born.
Leeseo
South Korean singer Leeseo was born.
Emma Kok
Emma Kok, Dutch singer, was born.
Artem Kotenko
Artem Kotenko, a Ukrainian singer, was born.
Vlada Divljan
Vlada Divljan, a Serbian singer-songwriter and guitarist, died. He was born in 1958.
Butch Trucks
Butch Trucks was an American drummer.
Geoff Nicholls
Geoff Nicholls, a British musician, has passed away. He was known for his work in the music industry.
Larry Coryell dies
American jazz guitarist Larry Coryell died on February 19, 2017. He was born in 1943.
Kurt Moll
German opera singer Kurt Moll died. He was born in 1938.
Chuck Berry
American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, a pioneer of rock and roll music.
Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith was a British singer-songwriter.
Leah LaBelle
Leah LaBelle was an American singer.
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson died on February 9, 2018. He was born in 1969.
Death of Bert Nievera
Bert Nievera, a Filipino-American singer, died at the age of 81.
Daryl Dragon
Daryl Dragon was an American musician.
Pepe Smith
Pepe Smith, a Filipino rock musician, has passed away. He was a prominent figure in the Filipino music scene.
Peter Hurford
British organist and composer Peter Hurford OBE has died. He was born in 1930.
Dick Dale
Dick Dale was an American surf-rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Scott Walker
Scott Walker was a British-American singer-songwriter and record producer.
Pop Smoke
American rapper.
Ray Campi
Ray Campi, an American singer and musician, has died. He was born in 1934.
Temur Tsiklauri
Temur Tsiklauri, a Georgian pop singer and actor, died. He was born in 1946.
Örs Siklósi
Örs Siklósi, a Hungarian singer, has died. He was born in 1991.
Chick Corea
American jazz composer Chick Corea died on February 9, 2021. He was born in 1941.
Mireya Arboleda
Mireya Arboleda was a Colombian classical pianist.
James Levine
James Levine, American conductor and pianist, died on March 9, 2021. He was born in 1943.
Maria Ewing
American opera singer.
Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf, an American singer and actor, died.
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar was an Indian playback singer and music composer.
Barbara Maier Gustern
Barbara Maier Gustern, an American vocal coach and singer, died on March 15, 2022. She was born in 1935.
Death of Taylor Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins, an American drummer and singer, has died.
Fred White
Fred White, an American musician and songwriter, has died. He was born in 1955.
Séamus Begley
Irish accordion player, fiddler, and Irish traditional musician.
Carole Cook
American actress and singer.
Lisa Marie Presley
American singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley died.
David Crosby
David Crosby was an American singer-songwriter and musician.
Lin Brehmer
Lin Brehmer was an American disc jockey.
Butch Miles
Butch Miles was an American jazz drummer.
Vani Jairam
Vani Jairam was an Indian playback singer.
AKA
South African rapper.
Death of Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto, a Japanese composer, record producer, and actor, died.
Death of Gerry Conway
Gerry Conway, an English folk and rock drummer and percussionist, died.
Rashid Khan
Indian classical musician Rashid Khan died. He was born in 1968.
Charles Osgood
American radio and television commentator, writer, and musician Charles Osgood died.
Melanie Safka
American Emmy-winning singer-songwriter Melanie Safka died.
Toby Keith
Death of Toby Keith, an American country singer.
John Lowe
John Lowe was an English musician and pianist for The Quarrymen.
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence, an American actor and singer, died on March 7, 2024. He was born in 1935.
Death of Mark Spiro
Mark Spiro, an American songwriter, record producer, and recording artist, died.
Jerry Abbott
Jerry Abbott was an American country music songwriter and record producer. He was born in 1942.
Chad Morgan
Chad Morgan, an Australian musician, has died. He was born in 1933.
Wayne Osmond
Wayne Osmond, an American singer-songwriter and actor, has died. He was born in 1951.
Brenton Wood
Brenton Wood, American R&B singer-songwriter and keyboard player, died. He was born in 1941.
Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer, has died. He was born in 1938.
Melba Montgomery
Melba Montgomery, American country music singer-songwriter, died.
Linda Nolan
Linda Nolan, Irish singer and actress, has died. She was born in 1959.
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull, the acclaimed English singer-songwriter and actress, has died. She had a significant career in music and film.
Sam Moore
Sam Moore is an American soul singer-songwriter, born in 1935.
Claire van Kampen
Claire van Kampen is an English director and composer.
Garth Hudson
Canadian keyboard player, songwriter, and producer.
Irv Gotti
Death of Irv Gotti, American record producer and co-founder of Murder Inc Records.
Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts, an American actor and singer, died. He was born in 1939.
Betsy Arakawa dies
Betsy Arakawa, American classical pianist, died.
Paquita la del Barrio
Mexican singer, songwriter and actress.
Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler, an English drummer, songwriter, and producer, died on February 17, 2025. He was born in 1955.
Jerry Butler
Jerry Butler is an American singer-songwriter and record producer.
Chris Jasper
American singer, composer, and producer Chris Jasper died.
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack was an American singer and pianist.
David Johansen
David Johansen, American singer-songwriter and actor, is predicted to die.
Miguel Piñera
Miguel Piñera, Chilean celebrity, night club owner and amateur musician, is predicted to die.
Joey Molland
Joey Molland, an English singer-songwriter and guitarist, has died.
Angie Stone
Angie Stone, an American singer, songwriter, and actress, has died.
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers, born in 1940, was an American singer-songwriter, keyboard player, vibraphonist, and producer.
Brian James
Brian James was a British guitarist.
D'Wayne Wiggins
D'Wayne Wiggins, an American musical artist, died on March 7, 2025. He was born in 1961.
Death of Sofia Gubaidulina
Sofia Gubaidulina, a renowned Russian-German pianist and composer, passed away.
Jesse Colin Young
Jesse Colin Young is an American singer and songwriter.
Death of Tapani Kansa
Tapani Kansa, a Finnish singer, has died.
Death of Terry Manning
Terry Manning, an American musician and recording engineer, has died.
Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson is an American singer-songwriter.
Yeison Jiménez
Yeison Jiménez, a Colombian singer, was born in 1991.
Bob Weir
Bob Weir, an American musician, was born in 1947.
Billy Steinberg
Billy Steinberg is an American songwriter.
Shinya Yamada
Japanese musician.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the most important music events in history?
- Notable music events include: Gioachino Rossini born (1792), Ludwig van Beethoven dies (1827), Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premieres (1924).
- How many music events are in the timeline?
- Our collection includes 162 historical entries related to music, spanning centuries of human history.
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