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1980 in music

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List of albums released

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Years:	1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.

Specific locations

• 1980 in British music


• 1980 in Norwegian music

Specific genres

• 1980 in country music


• 1980 in heavy metal music


• 1980 in hip hop music


• 1980 in jazz

Events

January–March

• 
  January 1
  
  
  
  • 
    Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
  
  
  • 
    The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley.
  
  
  
  


• 
  January 5 – Donna Summer Brings her 3 double album in a 14-month period, to the top of the Billboard Albums charts; when Greatest Hits: On the Radio; Vol 1 & 2; reaches the top spot.


• 
  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.^[1]
  


• 
  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 8–16 – 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–June

• 
  April 1 – Brian Johnson is made the new lead singer of AC/DC replacing the late Bon Scott.


• 
  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–September

• 
  July 11 – Ultravox release their fourth studio album, Vienna. Their first album with new lead singer Midge Ure following the departures of frontman John Foxx and guitarist Robin Simon, Vienna marks a radical shift in Ultravox's direction and image, transforming the former post-punk band into a more sophisticatedly-oriented new wave/synthpop group. Despite this stylistic shift alienating fans and critics who were more favorable towards the Foxx-led incarnation of the band, Vienna would go on to become Ultravox's most successful studio album to date.


• 
  July 18 – The documentary and concert film No Nukes opens in New York.


• 
  July 25 – Over five months after the death of lead singer Bon Scott, AC/DC release Back in Black, their first album with replacement singer Brian Johnson, who would remain with the band until 2016. The album's success would lead it to become the second-highest-selling album of all time and the highest-selling studio album by any band to date.


• 
  July 29 – Over two months after the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis, the surviving members of Joy Division regroup as a new band and debut anonymously live at Manchester's Beach Club; the group would adopt the moniker "New Order" the following year.


• 
  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.
  
  
  • Several bands lose members in one day; bass player Jah Wobble leaves Public Image, Ltd.; drummer Cozy Powell leaves Richie Blackmore's Rainbow; keyboard player Jools Holland leaves Squeeze; and drummer Bill Ward leaves Black Sabbath.
  
  
  
  


• 
  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–December

• 
  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.


• October – Iron Maiden replaces guitarist Dennis Stratton with Urchin guitarist Adrian Smith.


• 
  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.^[2][3][4] After pleading no contest, he was fined $2,500 and put on two years' probation.^[5]
    
  
  
  • 
    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.

Also in 1980

• The Roland Corporation releases the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which became a cornerstone of the emerging electronic, dance, and hip hop genres. The machine went on to become one of the most influential instruments in popular music, comparable to the Fender Stratocaster's influence on rock.^[6][7]
  


• 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.


• British comedy group The Hee Bee Gee Bees release "Meaningless Songs (in Very High Voices)", a 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).

Bands formed

See Category:Musical groups established in 1980

Bands disbanded

See Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1980

Albums released

January–March

Date		Album	Artist	Notes
J A N U A R Y	4	The Romantics	The Romantics	-
		The Age of Plastic	The Buggles	First released in Australia, was released in the UK on February 4
	14	Permanent Waves	Rush	Sometimes claimed to be released on the 1st
	18	Just Testing	Wishbone Ash	-
		Metamatic	John Foxx	-
	19	Pretenders	The Pretenders	-
	28	Love Stinks	The J. Geils Band	-
	30	Air Pocket	Roger Powell	-
	?	God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners	Robert Fripp	-
		Is This Real?	Wipers	-
		No Place to Run	UFO	-
		The Return of the Durutti Column	The Durutti Column	-
		Rockin' into the Night	38 Special	-
		Sheer Greed	Girl	-
		Short Stories	Jon and Vangelis	-
		Sit Down and Talk to Me	Lou Rawls	-
		Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits	Aksak Maboul	-
		Union Jacks	The Babys	-
F E B R U A R Y	4	End of the Century	Ramones	-
	5	Boys Don't Cry	The Cure	-
	12	Bryan Adams	Bryan Adams	-
	14	Bebe le Strange	Heart	-
		Lady T	Teena Marie	-
	15	Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School	Warren Zevon	-
		...But the Little Girls Understand	The Knack	-
		Earth & Sky	Graham Nash	-
		Get Happy!!	Elvis Costello	-
		Malice in Wonderland	Nazareth	-
		Metal for Muthas	Various Artists	-
	22	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	-
		Sheep Farming in Barnet	Toyah	expanded reissue of 1979 EP
	23	Too Much Pressure	The Selector	-
	25	Against the Wind	Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band	-
		Warm Thoughts	Smokey Robinson	-
	27	Remorse Code	Desperate Bicycles
	?	After Dark	Andy Gibb	-
		Argybargy	Squeeze	-
		Colossal Youth	Young Marble Giants	-
		Conquest	Uriah Heep	-
		Mad Love	Linda Ronstadt	-
		The Psychedelic Furs	The Psychedelic Furs	-
		Soldier	Iggy Pop	-
		Supercharged	Tavares	-
		Survivor	Survivor	-
		That's What You Get Babe	Kevin Ayers	-
		Willie Nile	Willie Nile	-
M A R C H	1	Sequel	Harry Chapin	-
	3	Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway	Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway	-
	7	Coal Miner's Daughter	Various Artists	Soundtrack
		Nobody's Heroes	Stiff Little Fingers	-
	10	Glass Houses	Billy Joel	-
	12	Angel Witch	Angel Witch	-
	14	On Through the Night	Def Leppard	-
	15	Half-Mute	Tuxedomoon	-
	17	Let's Get Serious	Jermaine Jackson	-
	18	Dreams	Grace Slick	-
	23	Departure	Journey	-
	24	Keepin' the Summer Alive	The Beach Boys	-
		Rarities	The Beatles	Compilation
	25	Progressions of Power	Triumph	-
	26	Naughty	Chaka Khan	-
		One Eighty	Ambrosia	-
		Women and Children First	Van Halen	-
		Welcome To The Club	Ian Hunter	-
	28	Duke	Genesis	-
		Look Hear?	10cc	-
		Loverboy	Loverboy	-
	31	Animal Magnetism	Scorpions	-
	?	Frantic City	Teenage Head	-
		Let the Music Do the Talking	The Joe Perry Project	-
		Lost in Love	Air Supply	-
		Sacred Songs	Daryl Hall	-
		Somebody's Waiting	Anne Murray	-

April–June

Date		Album	Artist	Notes
A P R I L	3	The Barbara Dickson Album	Barbara Dickson	-
	14	British Steel	Judas Priest	-
		Iron Maiden	Iron Maiden	-
	18	Solo in Soho	Phil Lynott	-
	21	Empty Glass	Pete Townshend	-
		Hypnotised	The Undertones	-
	22	Seventeen Seconds	The Cure	-
	24	Cameosis	Cameo	-
	25	Heaven and Hell	Black Sabbath	-
	26	Dolly, Dolly, Dolly	Dolly Parton	-
	28	Flush the Fashion	Alice Cooper	-
		Go to Heaven	Grateful Dead	-
	?	Crazy Rhythms	The Feelies	-
		Give 'Em Hell	Witchfynde	-
		Growing Up in Public	Lou Reed	-
		Holiday '80	The Human League	EP
		Just One Night	Eric Clapton	Live
		Lookin' for Trouble	Toronto	-
		Los Angeles	X	-
		Marauder	Magnum	Live
		Middle Man	Boz Scaggs	-
		Ska 'n' B	Bad Manners	-
		Sky 2	Sky	-
		Snakes and Ladders	Gerry Rafferty	-
		Tommy Tutone	Tommy Tutone	-
		Waters Edge	Sweet	-
M A Y	5	Totale's Turns	The Fall	-
		Wheels of Steel	Saxon	-
	8	The Golden Years	Motörhead	EP
	9	Bass Culture	Linton Kwesi Johnson	-
		Warm Leatherette	Grace Jones	-
	13	21 at 33	Elton John	-
	16	Freedom of Choice	Devo	-
		McCartney II	Paul McCartney	-
	20	Unmasked	Kiss	-
	22	Diana	Diana Ross	-
	23	Flesh and Blood	Roxy Music	-
		Peter Gabriel	Peter Gabriel	Third Album
		Travelogue	The Human League	Second Album
		The Up Escalator	Graham Parker
	28	Tight Shoes	Foghat	-
	31	Ready an' Willing	Whitesnake	-
	?	Can't Stop the Music	Village People	Soundtrack
		The Correct Use of Soap	Magazine	-
		I Just Can't Stop It	The Beat	-
		The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits	Boney M.	Compilation
		Music Man	Waylon Jennings	-
		Quicksand Shoes	Streetheart	-
		Roses in the Snow	Emmylou Harris	-
		Songs the Lord Taught Us	The Cramps	-
		Sportscar	Judy Tzuke	-
		Suicide: Alan Vega and Martin Rev	Suicide	-
		Tangram	Tangerine Dream	-
		The Tale of the Tape	Billy Squier	-
		Three Mantras	Cabaret Voltaire	-
		What's the Word	The Fabulous Thunderbirds	-
		Woman Love	Burton Cummings	-
J U N E	2	Found All the Parts	Cheap Trick	EP
		I'm a Rebel	Accept	-
	4	East	Cold Chisel	-
		One for the Road	The Kinks	Live
	6	The Blue Meaning	Toyah	-
	10	Uprising	Bob Marley & The Wailers	-
	14	Cultösaurus Erectus	Blue Öyster Cult	-
	15	Chipmunk Punk	The Chipmunks	-
	16	Come Upstairs	Carly Simon	-
	20	The Blues Brothers	Various Artists	Soundtrack
		Emotional Rescue	The Rolling Stones	-
		Rise Up	Peter Frampton	Brazil
	21	Danger Zone	Sammy Hagar	-
	23	Saved	Bob Dylan	-
	24	Hold Out	Jackson Browne	-
	25	Huey Lewis and the News	Huey Lewis and the News	-
		True Colours	Split Enz	-
	28	Underwater Moonlight	The Soft Boys	-
	30	Demolition	Girlschool	-
		The Game	Queen	-
		Metal Rendez-vous	Krokus	-
		Real People	Chic	-
	?	The Art of Walking	Pere Ubu	-
		Heroes	Commodores	–
		Defector	Steve Hackett	-
		Endangered Species	Klaatu	-
		Head On	Samson	-
		I've Got Something to Say	David Allan Coe	-
		Romance Dance	Kim Carnes	-
		Scream Dream	Ted Nugent	-
		There & Back	Jeff Beck	-
		Tomcattin'	Blackfoot	-
		Urban Cowboy Soundtrack	Various Artists	Soundtrack

July–September

Date		Album	Artist	Notes
J U L Y	1	John Anderson	John Anderson	-
	11	Searching for the Young Soul Rebels	Dexys Midnight Runners	-
		Vienna	Ultravox	-
	15	Back on the Streets	Donnie Iris	-
	16	Garden of Love	Rick James	-
	18	Closer	Joy Division	-
		Crocodiles	Echo & the Bunnymen	-
		Full Moon	Charlie Daniels Band	-
		Honeysuckle Rose	Willie Nelson	Soundtrack
		Live Seventy Nine	Hawkwind	-
	21	Chicago XIV	Chicago	-
	25	Back in Black	AC/DC	-
		TP	Teddy Pendergrass	-
	28	Zapp	Zapp	-
	29	Voices	Hall & Oates	-
	?	Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple	Deep Purple	Compilation
		Hot on the One	James Brown	Live
		Live at Last	Black Sabbath	Live 1973
		New Clear Days	The Vapors	-
		Playing for Keeps	Eddie Money	-
		Sinsemilla	Black Uhuru	-
		The Voice of America	Cabaret Voltaire	-
		Seeds of Change	Kerry Livgren	-
A U G U S T	1	The Affectionate Punch	Associates	-
		Kaleidoscope	Siouxsie & the Banshees	-
	5	Crimes of Passion	Pat Benatar	-
	9	Give Me the Night	George Benson	-
	13	S.O.S.	The S.O.S. Band	-
	15	Alibi	America	-
		Panorama	The Cars	-
	18	Drama	Yes	-
		No More Dirty Deals	Johnny Van Zant	-
	20	24 Carrots	Al Stewart	-
	21	Black Rose	Cher	-
	23	Wild Cat	Tygers of Pan Tang	-
	27	Wild Planet	The B-52's	-
	29	A	Jethro Tull	-
		Signing Off	UB40	-
	?	Common One	Van Morrison	-
		Doc at the Radar Station	Captain Beefheart	-
		Gamma 2	Gamma	-
		Jealous Again	Black Flag	EP
		Living in a Fantasy	Leo Sayer	-
		The Michael Schenker Group	Michael Schenker Group	-
		Neutronica	Donovan	-
		Off the Coast of Me	Kid Creole and the Coconuts	-
		One-Trick Pony	Paul Simon	-
		Reach for the Sky	The Allman Brothers Band	-
		Special Things	The Pointer Sisters	-
		Stand Up and Fight	Quartz	-
		The Swing of Delight	Carlos Santana	-
		Xanadu	Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra	Soundtrack
S E P T E M B E R	1	Change of Address	The Shadows	-
		Strong Arm of the Law	Saxon	-
	2	Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables	Dead Kennedys	-
	5	Telekon	Gary Numan	-
		Never for Ever	Kate Bush	-
		Waiting for a Miracle	Comsat Angels	-
	8	Nothin' Matters and What If It Did	John Cougar	-
		Times Square	Various Artists	Soundtrack
	12	Black Sea	XTC	-
		Empires and Dance	Simple Minds	-
		Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)	David Bowie	-
	17	Oingo Boingo	Oingo Boingo	EP
		One Step Closer	The Doobie Brothers	-
	19	White Spirit	White Spirit	-
	20	Blizzard of Ozz	Ozzy Osbourne	UK
	23	Greatest Hits	Kenny Rogers	Compilation
		Guilty	Barbra Streisand	-
	24	Deface the Music	Utopia	-
	26	Absolutely	Madness	-
		Triumph	The Jacksons	-
	29	Celebrate!	Kool & the Gang	-
		Hotter than July	Stevie Wonder	-
		Kurtis Blow	Kurtis Blow	-
	?	The Absolute Game	Skids	-
		Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits	Andy Gibb	-
		Audio-Visions	Kansas	-
		Beatin' the Odds	Molly Hatchet	-
		Clues	Robert Palmer	-
		Heartattack and Vine	Tom Waits	-
		I Am What I Am	George Jones	-
		I'm No Hero	Cliff Richard	-
		Kenny Loggins Alive	Kenny Loggins	Live
		Mr. Hands	Herbie Hancock	-
		Out of Control	Peter Criss	-
		Paris	Supertramp	Live
		Rev Up	The Rezillos	as The Revillos
		Shadows and Light	Joni Mitchell	Live

October–December

Date		Album	Artist	Notes
O C T O B E R	1	Group Sex	Circle Jerks	-
		In the Flat Field	Bauhaus	-
	3	Lightning to the Nations	Diamond Head	-
		Zenyatta Mondatta	The Police	-
	5	Killing Joke	Killing Joke	-
	8	Dirty Mind	Prince	-
		Remain in Light	Talking Heads	-
	10	Chance	Manfred Mann's Earth Band	-
		Chinatown	Thin Lizzy	-
		Icehouse	Icehouse	as Flowers
		Kilamanjaro	The Teardrop Explodes	-
	13	Avoid Freud	Rough Trade	-
		INXS	INXS	-
	14	Faces	Earth, Wind & Fire	-
	17	Just Supposin'	Status Quo	-
		Love Zombies	The Monochrome Set	-
		Making Movies	Dire Straits	-
		The River	Bruce Springsteen	-
	20	Boy	U2	-
		The Wanderer	Donna Summer	-
	24	All Shook Up	Cheap Trick	-
		Gentlemen Take Polaroids	Japan	-
		Organisation	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	-
	25	Aretha	Aretha Franklin	-
	27	Drugstore Dancer	Streetheart	-
		Levitation	Hawkwind	-
	31	Dig It	Klaus Schulze	-
		QE2	Mike Oldfield	-
	?	Beat Crazy	Joe Jackson	-
		The Black Album	The Damned	-
		Super Black Market Clash	The Clash	10" mini LP released in U.S. & Canada only
		Borderline	Ry Cooder	-
		Commercial Album	The Residents	-
		A-Z	Colin Newman	-
		The Concert	Creedence Clearwater Revival	Live 1970	-
		Explorer Suite	New England	-
		Glory Road	Gillan	-
		Grace and Danger	John Martyn	-
		Greatest Hits	Aerosmith	Compilation
		More George Thorogood and the Destroyers	George Thorogood and the Destroyers	-
		More Specials	The Specials	-
		On the Edge	The Babys	-
		Rockabilly Blues	Johnny Cash	-
		Seconds of Pleasure	Rockpile	-
		Ultra Wave	Bootsy Collins	-
		The Witch of Berkeley	A II Z	Live
		Yellow EP	Gang of Four	EP
N O V E M B E R	1	Live...in the Heart of the City	Whitesnake	Live
		Slade Smashes!	Slade	Compilation
	2	Stage Struck	Rory Gallagher	Live
	3	Hawks & Doves	Neil Young	-
		Super Trouper	ABBA	-
	7	Divine Madness	Bette Midler	Live
		Eagles Live	Eagles	Live
	8	Ace of Spades	Motörhead	-
	10	The Jazz Singer	Neil Diamond	Soundtrack
	17	Double Fantasy	John Lennon & Yoko Ono	-
		Grotesque	The Fall	-
	19	Barry	Barry Manilow	-
	21	Foolish Behaviour	Rod Stewart	-
		Gaucho	Steely Dan	-
		Hi Infidelity	REO Speedwagon	-
	22	Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers	Motörhead	EP
	24	9 to 5 and Odd Jobs	Dolly Parton	-
		Bird Noises	Midnight Oil	-
		Yesshows	Yes	Live
	28	Laughter	Ian Dury & The Blockheads	-
		Sound Affects	The Jam	-
		Toyah!	Toyah	Live
	?	Autoamerican	Blondie	-
		The Birthday Party	The Birthday Party	as The Boys Next Door
		Jeopardy	The Sound	-
		Kings of the Wild Frontier	Adam and the Ants	-
		Loonee Tunes!	Bad Manners	-
		The Paris Collection	Dollar	-
		Silent Knight	Saga	-
		Solid Pleasure	Yello	-
		Song of Seven	Jon Anderson	-
		Stage Fright	Witchfynde	-
		Stone Jam	Slave	-
		Taking Liberties	Elvis Costello	Compilation
		The Turn of a Friendly Card	The Alan Parsons Project	-
		Turn the Hell On	Fist	-
D E C E M B E R	5	Trombipulation	Parliament	-
	8	Flash Gordon	Queen	Soundtrack
		Live	Fleetwood Mac	Live
		Replay	Crosby, Stills & Nash	-
	10	Dream, After Dream	Journey	Soundtrack
	12	Sandinista!	The Clash	-
	26	Stand in the Fire	Warren Zevon	Live
	31	Arc of a Diver	Steve Winwood	-
	?	The Decline of Western Civilization	Various Artists	Soundtrack
		I've Always Wanted to Do This	Jack Bruce	-
		Love Uprising	Tavares	-
		Made in America	The Blues Brothers	Live
		National Breakout	The Romantics	-
		Shades of Blue	Lou Rawls	-

Release Date Unknown

Awards

• 
  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

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions
in the charts of 1980.

#	Artist	Title	Year	Country	Chart entries
1	Pink Floyd	Another Brick in the Wall (part 2)	1980		UK 1 – Dec 1979, US BB 1 – Feb 1980, Canada 1 – Jan 1980, Sweden (alt) 1 – Feb 1980, France 1 – Feb 1980, Austria 1 – Feb 1980, Switzerland 1 – Jan 1980, Norway 1 – Jan 1980, Germany 1 – Jan 1980, Éire 1 – Dec 1979, Poland 1 of all time, US CashBox 3 of 1980, Netherlands 3 – Dec 1979, Australia 4 of 1980, KROQ 6 of 1980, POP 7 of 1980, South Africa 8 of 1980, Germany 9 of the 1980s, Europe 11 of the 1970s, Italy 12 of 1980, US BB 15 of 1980, RYM 18 of 1979, TheQ 28, Virgin 39, Belgium 50 of all time, Scrobulate 51 of live, RIAA 296, Rolling Stone 375, Acclaimed 392, OzNet 594
2	Barbra Streisand	Woman in Love	1980		UK 1 – Oct 1980, US BB 1 – Sep 1980, Netherlands 1 – Sep 1980, Sweden (alt) 1 – Oct 1980, Austria 1 – Dec 1980, Switzerland 1 – Oct 1980, Norway 1 – Nov 1980, Germany 1 – Jan 1981, Éire 1 – Oct 1980, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Sep 1981, South Africa 2 of 1980, Italy 3 of 1981, France 7 – Oct 1980, US CashBox 9 of 1980, Australia 21 of 1980, Germany 36 of the 1980s, RYM 157 of 1980
3	John Lennon	(Just Like) Starting Over	1980		UK 1 – Nov 1980, US BB 1 – Nov 1980, Canada 1 – Nov 1980, Switzerland 1 – Dec 1980, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Dec 1981, Austria 2 – Feb 1981, Norway 2 – Dec 1980, Sweden (alt) 3 – Nov 1980, Germany 6 – Jan 1981, France 9 – Nov 1980, US BB 12 of 1980, Australia 18 of 1981, Italy 29 of 1981, RYM 32 of 1980, POP 49 of 1980, US CashBox 57 of 1980, Germany 298 of the 1980s, OzNet 683, Acclaimed 1637
4	Lipps Inc	Funkytown	1980		US BB 1 – Apr 1980, Netherlands 1 – Apr 1980, Austria 1 – Jul 1980, Switzerland 1 – May 1980, Norway 1 – Jul 1980, Germany 1 – Jun 1980, UK 2 – May 1980, Sweden (alt) 2 – Jun 1980, US BB 4 of 1980, POP 5 of 1980, Scrobulate 7 of disco, Australia 9 of 1980, US CashBox 10 of 1980, Germany 14 of the 1980s, Italy 30 of 1980, RYM 73 of 1979, Acclaimed 520
5	Diana Ross	Upside Down	1980		US BB 1 – Aug 1980, Sweden (alt) 1 – Aug 1980, France 1 – Aug 1980, Switzerland 1 – Aug 1980, Norway 1 – Aug 1980, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Oct 1980, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Aug 1981, UK 2 – Jul 1980, Netherlands 2 – Jul 1980, Austria 2 – Oct 1980, US CashBox 4 of 1980, Germany 4 – Sep 1980, Canada 8 – Sep 1980, Italy 8 of 1980, South Africa 11 of 1980, Australia 15 of 1980, POP 22 of 1980, US BB 30 of 1980, Scrobulate 42 of disco, RYM 83 of 1980, Germany 87 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 1364

US and UK #1 hit singles

(in chronological order)

Significant songs

Classical music

• 
  George Crumb – A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979, for piano


• 
  Mario Davidovsky
  
  
  
  • 
    Consorts, for symphonic band
  
  
  • String Quartet No. 4
  
  
  
  


• 
  Peter Maxwell Davies
  
  
  
  • 
    Farewell to Stromness (interlude from The Yellow Cake Review), for piano, Op. 89, No. 1
  
  
  • 
    Symphony No. 2, Op. 91
  
  
  • 
    A Welcome to Orkney, for ensemble, Op. 90
  
  
  • 
    The Yellow Cake Revue, for singer or reciter and piano, Op. 88
  
  
  • 
    Yesnaby Ground (interlude from The Yellow Cake Review), for piano, Op. 89, No. 2
  
  
  
  


• 
  Sofia Gubaidulina – Offertorium («Жертвоприношение»), concerto for violin and orchestra


• 
  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"'


• 
  Simeon ten Holt
  
  
  
  • 
    Natalon in E for piano
  
  
  • 
    Bi-Ba-Bo for vocal quartet
  
  
  
  

Opera

• 
  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
  


• 
  Mieczysław Weinberg – The Portrait (opera)
  

Jazz

Musical theater

• 
  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

Musical films

• 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

Births

• 
  January 14 – Hiroshi Tamaki, Japanese actor, model, and singer


• 
  January 16 – Lin-Manuel Miranda, American playwright, singer, songwriter, rapper and composer


• 
  January 17 – Zooey Deschanel, American actress and singer-songwriter.


• 
  January 18 – Estelle (musician), British singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actress


• 
  January 21 – Nana Mizuki, Japanese voice actress and singer


• 
  January 28
  
  
  
  • 
    Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys)
  
  
  • 
    Brian Fallon, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  
  
  
  


• 
  January 30 – Wilmer Valderrama, American actor, singer, producer and television personality


• 
  February 3 – Sarah Lewitinn, American record producer and journalist


• 
  February 15 – Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)


• 
  February 18 – Regina Spektor, Russian-born American singer-songwriter and pianist


• 
  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)
  
  
  • 
    Rebel Wilson, Australian actress, writer, comedienne, singer and producer
  
  
  
  


• 
  March 8 – Charli Robinson, Australian actress, singer and dancer


• 
  March 13 – Flavia Cacace, Italian dancer


• 
  March 19 – Agnes Pihlava, Finnish pop singer


• 
  March 20 – Mikk Murdvee, violinist and conductor


• 
  March 21 – Deryck Whibley, Canadian musician and producer (Sum 41)


• 
  March 22 – Shannon Bex, American singer, reality show personality, professional dancer (Danity Kane. Dumblonde)


• 
  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, (Westlife)


• 
  April 14 – Win Butler, American/Canadian musician


• 
  April 15 – Patrick Carney, American musician and producer (The Black Keys)


• 
  April 16 – Jake Andrews, American singer-songwriter and guitarist


• 
  April 24 – Danny Gokey, American Idol season 8 finalist


• 
  April 26 – Channing Tatum, American dancer, performer and actor (Jessie J, Jenna Dewan)


• 
  April 29 – Kian Egan (Westlife)


• 
  May 3 – Souleye (hip hop artist), American rapper and hip hop artist (Bassnectar, BLVD, Alanis Morissette)


• 
  May 5 – Maia Hirasawa, Swedish pop singer


• 
  May 6 – Taebin, Korean hip-hop artist (1TYM)


• 
  May 12 – Romina Arena, Italian-American singer-songwriter


• 
  May 16 – Harmony Samuels, English record producer, composer and songwriter.


• 
  May 17 – Ariën van Weesenbeek, Dutch drummer, screamer, keyboardist, percussion (Epica, MaYaN)


• 
  May 21
  
  
  
  • 
    Gotye, Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter
  
  
  • 
    Anika Moa, New Zealand recording artist and television presenter
  
  
  
  


• 
  May 28
  
  
  
  • 
    Mark Feehily (Westlife)
  
  
  • 
    Lindi Ortega, Canadian country singer-songwriter
  
  
  
  


• 
  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, English singer, television personality, and dancer (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, American singer-songwriter, designer and actress


• 
  July 11 – Jenny Hval, Norwegian singer-songwriter, record producer and musician.


• 
  July 13
  
  
  
  • 
    Corey Clark, American singer
  
  
  • 
    Emile Haynie, American record producer (Lana Del Rey, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Florence Welch)
  
  
  
  


• 
  July 15 – JW-Jones, Canadian blues artist


• 
  July 17 – Kaya (Japanese musician), Japanese visual kei musician, EDM artist


• 
  July 19 – Michelle Heaton, English pop singer, actress, television personality and personal trainer. (Liberty X)


• 
  July 20 – Mike Kennerty (The All-American Rejects)


• 
  July 21 – Really Doe, American rapper


• 
  July 22 – Kate Ryan, Belgian singer-songwriter


• 
  July 23 – Michelle Williams, Gospel singer-songwriter (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-songwriter, musician
  
  
  • 
    Øystein Moen, Norwegian pianist and composer (Puma and Jaga Jazzist)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 19
  
  
  
  • 
    Houcine Camara, French singer
  
  
  • 
    Darius Danesh, Scottish singer-songwriter & actor
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 26 – Macaulay Culkin, American actor, author, painter, podcaster, musician and president of Bunnyears


• 
  August 29 – Richa Sharma, playback singer


• 
  August 30 – Alicia Warrington, American drummer (Lillix)


• 
  September 5 – Kevin Simm, English singer (Liberty X)


• 
  September 6 – Kerry Katona, English singer, author, model (Atomic Kitten)


• 
  September 11 – Mikey Way, Former member of My Chemical Romance
  


• 
  September 13 – Teppei Teranishi (Thrice)


• 
  September 14 – Ayọ, Nigerian-German singer-songwriter and actress


• 
  September 19 – Tegan and Sara Quin (Tegan And Sara), Canadian singer-songwriters, musicians, multi-instrumentalists


• 
  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, Argentine folklore singer and The Voice coach


• 
  October 13 – Ashanti, American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer


• 
  October 24
  
  
  
  • 
    Kaushiki Chakraborty, Indian classical vocalist
  
  
  • 
    Monica, American singer, songwriter, producer and actress
  
  
  
  


• 
  October 27 – Tanel Padar, Estonian singer-songwriter and guitarist


• 
  October 31 – Isabella Summers, English musician, songwriter, producer, remixer, DJ (Florence and the Machine).


• 
  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 14 – Matt Brann, Canadian drummer


• 
  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)


• 
  November 29 – Janina Gavankar, American musician and actress


• 
  December 3 – Jenna Dewan, American dancer, performer, business woman, choreographer, producer, actor and television host


• 
  December 5 – Ibrahim Maalouf, trumpeter


• 
  December 6 – Kei Yasuda, Japanese singer


• 
  December 8 – Kate Voegele, American singer-songwriter and actress


• 
  December 9 – Simon Helberg, American actor, comedian, singer and pianist


• 
  December 10
  
  
  
  • 
    Sarah Chang, American classical violinist
  
  
  • Chris Gaynor (The All-American Rejects)
  
  
  
  


• 
  December 14 – Tata Young, Thai-American singer and actress


• 
  December 16 – Axle Whitehead, Australian singer, musician, TV host and actor


• 
  December 18 – Christina Aguilera, American R&B-Soul singer-songwriter


• 
  December 19 – Verbal Jint, South Korean musician, rapper and record producer


• 
  December 24 – Tomas Kalnoky, American musician (Streetlight Manifesto)


• unknown: Madeleine Sami, New Zealand actress, comedian, movie producer and musician.

Deaths

• 
  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)^[8]
  


• 
  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 – José Iturbi (84), pianist
  


• 
  July 5 – A. J. Potter (72), Irish composer


• 
  July 9 – Vinicius de Moraes (66), Brazilian lyricist and 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 18 – John Sebastian (66), harmonica virtuoso


• 
  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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Music in 1980.