Nobody Told Me
Jan 9John Lennon single "Nobody Told Me" released posthumously
Ormandy's Last Phillies Concert
Jan 10 ConductorEugene Ormandy leads his last concert, with the Philadelphia Orchestra, at Carnegie Hall, NYC
11th American Music Awards
Jan 16 11th American Music Awards: Pat Benatar andMichael Jackson win
Paul and Linda McCartney Arrested
Jan 16 Paul &Linda McCartney arrested in Barbados for possession of cannabis
- Jan 27 Geffen Records releases "Milk & Honey" album byJohn Lennon and Yoko Ono, featuring un-released recordings made during the 1980 "Double Fantasy" sessions, including "Grow Old With Me"
- Jan 27Michael Jackson is burned during filming for Pepsi commercial
- Feb 4 "Backstage Magic" opens at CommuniCore
- Feb 4 Maury Yeston's musical "Nine", starring Raul Julia, closes at the 46th Street Theater, NYC, after 739 performances and five Tony Award wins
- Feb 7Michael Jackson awarded a 4-ft-high platinum disc by CBS
The Rink
Feb 9John Kander andFred Ebb's musical "The Rink", based on Terrence McNally's novel, and starringLiza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 204 performances, winning a Tony Award
- Feb 12 William Grant Still's Symphony No. 3 ("The Sunday Symphony"), composed in 1958, receives premiere performance, by the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carlton Woodsi
Torvill and Dean's Perfect Score
Feb 14 Britain'sJayne Torvill andChristopher Dean famously dominate ice dancing at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics, performing toMaurice Ravel's "Bolero" in their free dance routine and recording 9-of-9 perfect scores for artistic impression[1]
- Feb 19 "Doonesbury" closes at Biltmore Theater, NYC, after 104 performances
- Feb 28 26th Grammy Awards:Michael Jackson wins 8 Grammys
- Mar 9John Lennon single "Borrowed Time" released posthumously
- Mar 21 Part of Central Park in New York City is named "Strawberry Fields" honoringJohn Lennon
- Mar 24 Philip Glass' opera "Akhnaten", based on the life and religious convictions of the Egyptian pharaoh, premieres at the Staatstheater, in Stuttgart, Germany
Starlight Express
Mar 27Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe's rock musical "Starlight Express" opens at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London's West End
- Apr 5 Galt MacDermot and William Dumaresq's musical "The Human Comedy", based on the novel by William Saroyan, opens at Royale Theater, NYC; runs for 13 performances
- Apr 14 Farewell concert of Dutch pop-ska band Doe Maar at Maasport in Den Bosch, Netherlands
- Apr 15 Galt MacDermot and William Dumaresq's musical "The Human Comedy", based on the novel by William Saroyan, closes at Royale Theater, NYC, after 13 performances
- Apr 19 Advance Australia Fair is proclaimed as Australia's national anthem, with green and gold the national colors
- Apr 21 After 37 weeksMichael Jackson's album "Thriller" is knocked off as top album by movie soundtrack for "Footloose"
- Apr 28 "La Tragedie de Carmen" closes at Beaumont Theater NYC after 187 performances
Oliver!
Apr 29 Revival of Lionel Bart's musical "Oliver!", based onCharles Dickens' "Oliver Twist", opens at the Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 17 performances
Music History
May 1Mick Fleetwood, drummer and leader of Fleetwood Mac, files for bankruptcy
Sunday in the Park with George
May 2Stephen Sondheim's musical "Sunday in the Park with George", a fictionalized version of painterGeorges Seurat's relationship with his grandson, starringMandy Patinkin, opens at Booth Theater, NYC; runs for 604 performances, wins a Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- May 3 Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey's stage adaptation of her 1978 novel "A Woman of Independent Means", starring Barbara Rush, opens at Biltmore Theatre, NYC; runs for 13 performances
- May 5 29th Eurovision Song Contest: Herreys for Sweden wins singing "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" in Luxembourg
- May 12 White Horse by Laid Back hits #26
- May 13 Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey's stage adaptation of her 1978 novel "A Woman of Independent Means", starring Barbara Rush, closes at Biltmore Theatre, NYC, after 13 performances
- May 13 Revival of Lionel Bart's musical "Oliver!", based onCharles Dickens' "Oliver Twist", closes at the Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC, after 17 performances
- May 14 19th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama, Lee Greenwood, and Janie Fricke win
When Doves Cry
May 16 "When Doves Cry" single released byPrince Rogers Nelson (Billboard Song of the Year, 1984)
Music History
May 19 "King Of Suede" single byWeird Al Yankovic hits #62
Preakness Stakes
May 19 109th Preakness: Puerto Rican jockeyÁngel Cordero Jr., aboard Gate Dancer wins his second Pimlico classic
On Your Toes
May 20 Revival of George Abbott,Richard Rodgers &Lorenz Hart's musical "On Your Toes" closes at Virginia Theater, NYC, after 505 performances
Cannes Film Festival
May 23 37th Cannes Film Festival: "Paris, Texas" directed by Wim Wenders wins the Palme d'Or, starringHarry Dean Stanton and Nastassja Kinski
Born in the USA
Jun 4 Columbia Records releasesBruce Springsteen's 7th studio album "Born in the USA", his biggest commercial success topped the charts in 11 countries and sold over 30 million copies, worldwide
Ghostbusters Premieres
Jun 8 "Ghostbusters", American supernatural comedy film, directed and produced byIvan Reitman, starringBill Murray,Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson premieres
#1 in the Charts
Jun 9Cyndi Lauper gets her first US #1 hit with "Time After Time"
- Jun 9Weird Al Yankovic gives a live performance at Starlight Amphitheater
- Jun 19Weird Al Yankovic gives free live performance at Del Mar Fair
Glastonbury Festival
Jun 22 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Weather Report, The Smiths, and Black Uhuru headline; other performers include:Ian Dury,Joan Baez, The Waterboys,Fela Kuti, General Public,Dr. John, Fairport Convention, Christy Moore, Brass Construction, The Staple Singers, Billy Bragg, and Amazulu,
- Jun 25 Warner Bros Records releases the sixth studio album by Prince, "Purple Rain"; his commercial peak, the film soundtrack album sells over 25 million copies, tops the charts in five countries, and wins two Grammy Awards and an Academy Award
- Jul 1 "Baby" closes at Barrymore Theater NYC after 241 performances
- Jul 10 Prolific studio drummer Jim Gordon convicted of murdering his mother and sentenced 16 years to life in prison. Diagnosed with schizophrenia after the killing, he is serving time in a medical / psychiatric prison, and has been denied parole 10 times as of 2018.[1]
- Jul 11 Britain's MusicBox begins satellite transmission to Europe
- Jul 13Eddie Van Halen makes a guest appearance, performing "Beat It", in a Jacksons concert, in Dallas, Texas
- Jul 15John Lennon's single "I'm Stepping Out" released posthumously
Vanessa Williams Resigns Title
Jul 20Vanessa Williams is asked to resign as Miss America due to publication of nude photos of her
- Jul 23Vanessa Williams, 1st African American Miss America, resigns after Penthouse publishes unauthorized nude photos of her
Careless Whisper
Jul 24 "Careless Whisper" single released byGeorge Michael (credited in US to Wham!) (Billboard Song of the Year 1985)
- Aug 4 Prince's "Purple Rain" album goes #1 & stays #1 for 24 weeks
- Aug 7 Harmonica Frank [Floyd], American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player dies of lung cancer and diabetes complications at 75
- Aug 8 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "The Rink", based on Terrence McNally's novel, and starringLiza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, closes at Martin Beck Theater, NYC, after 204 performances and a Tony Award for Rivera,
What's Love Got to Do With It
Sep 1 "What's Love Got to Do With It" single tops the charts, givingTina Turner her 1st #1 as a solo artist
Zorba
Sep 2 Revival ofJohn Kander andFred Ebb's musical "Zorba" closes at Broadway Theater, NYC, after 362 performances, winning one Tony Award
Barbara Mandrell Injured
Sep 12 American country singerBarbara Mandrell is badly injured in a car accident
- Sep 12Cyndi Lauper sings "She-Bop" on The Tonight Show
Video Music Awards
Sep 14 1st MTV Video Music Awards: The Cars win with "You Might Think", andDavid Bowie wins with "China Girl" and Madonna performas "Like A Virgin"
No More Lonely Nights
Sep 24Paul McCartney releases single "No More Lonely Nights"
- Sep 25 1st London performance of musical "Stepping Out" presented
- Sep 25 Barbara Damashek's musical "Quilters" opens at Jack Lawrence Theater ,NYC; runs for 24 performances
- Sep 26 Berlin appeals court clearsPaul McCartney in a paternity suit
A Polish Requiem
Sep 28Krzysztof Penderecki's initial version of "A Polish Requiem" premieres withMstislav Rostropovich leading the Stuttgart Radio Symphony
- Sep 29 "(What) In Name Of Love" by Naked Eyes peaks at #39
- Sep 29 "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama peaks at #9
- Sep 29 "Drive" by Cars peaks at #3
- Sep 29 "Layin' It On Line" by Jefferson Starship peaks at #66
- Sep 29 "Let's Go Crazy" byPrince Rogers Nelson and Revolution peaks at #1
- Sep 29 "Pretty Mess" by Vanity peaks at #75
- Sep 29 "Torture" by Jacksons peaks at #17
- Sep 29 "When You Close Your Eyes" by Night Ranger peaks at #14
- Oct 8 18th Country Music Association Awards: Alabama wins
- Oct 14 Barbara Damashek's musical "Quilters" closes at Jack Lawrence Theater, NYC, after 24 performances
- Oct 22Paul McCartney releases "Give My Regards to Broad Street" soundtrack
- Oct 31 Howard Goodall & Melvyn Bragg's musical "Hired Man" premieres in London
- Nov 4 Funk-rocker Prince opens his "Purple Rain" tour featuring his new band 'The Revolution' with the 1st of seven shows at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan
- Nov 11 "Three Musketeers" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 9 performances
- Nov 12Paul McCartney releases single "We All Stand Together"
- Nov 15 "Emergency" 16th studio album by American band Kool & the Gang is released (Billboard Album of the Year 1985)
- Nov 16John Lennon's 'Every Man has a Woman Who Loves Him' released posthumously
- Nov 18 "3 Musketeers" closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 9 performances
Do They Know It's Christmas
Dec 3 "Do They Know It's Christmas" single written byBob Geldof and Midge Ure and sung by an all-star cast under the banner of Band Aid is released in the UK
- Dec 4 6th ACE Cable Awards: "David Bowie: Serious Moonlight" by Anthony Eaton and HBO win
Ringo Starr Hosts SNL
Dec 8Ringo Starr hosts "Saturday Night Live";Herbie Hancock is the musical guest
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