1985 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.

Specific locations
1985 in British music
1985 in Norwegian music

Specific genres
1985 in country music
1985 in heavy metal music
1985 in hip hop music
1985 in jazz

Events

January–March
January 1 – The newest music video channel, VH-1, begins broadcasting on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV. The first video played is Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner".
January 11
One of the biggest music festivals in the world begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Rock in Rio, had a public of 1.5 million people at all, including Iron Maiden, Nina Hagen, The B52's, Go Go's, Queen, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, AC/DC, and many more. National artists such as Gilberto Gil, Elba Ramalho, Barão Vermelho and Paralamas do Sucesso also perform.
Willie Dixon sues Led Zeppelin over the song "Whole Lotta Love", on the grounds that it contains too many similarities to his own song "You Need Love". The lawsuit is settled out of court.
January 28 – Various artists, under the group name USA For Africa, including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Tina Turner, Sheila E., Harry Belafonte, Amy "Sunflower" Johnson, Lindsey Buckingham, Kim Carnes, Dionne Warwick, Waylon Jennings, Bob Geldof and Stevie Wonder, record the song "We Are the World", written by Jackson and Ritchie.
February – Just months after the compact disc release of his sixteenth and most recent studio album, Tonight, and nearly two years after the initial CD release of its predecessor, Let's Dance, RCA Records reissues David Bowie's previous fourteen studio albums plus four greatest hits albums on the format. Consequently, Bowie becomes the first major artist to have his entire catalog converted to CD.
February 22
Whitney Houston releases her debut album.
The "One Night with Blue Note" concert, celebrating the relaunch of Blue Note Records and featuring over 30 jazz greats, is held at The Town Hall in New York. Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, McCoy Tyner and Grover Washington, Jr. are just a few of the performers.
March 27 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation bans Stevie Wonder's music in response to Wonder dedicating the Oscar he had won the night before to Nelson Mandela.
March 28 – A wax likeness of Michael Jackson is unveiled at Madame Tussaud's in London, UK.

April–June
April 1 – After months of squabbling, David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen to begin a solo career.
April 7 – Wham! becomes the first Western pop group to perform in China when they play a concert in Beijing's Workers Stadium during an historic 10-day visit.
April 10 – Madonna begins her very first tour, The Virgin Tour (named after her Like a Virgin album) in Seattle, Washington, USA.
May – Russian singer Valery Leontiev starts his 10-date tour "Alone with all" and it becomes an instant hit. Queues for tickets blocked the traffic on a few central streets of Leningrad.
May 4 – With "La det swinge" by Bobbysocks!, Norway scores its first win at the Eurovision Song Contest, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
May 13 – Dire Straits release their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms. The album becomes highly successful in part because of its unusually high sound quality, the result of it being recorded entirely digitally as opposed to with standard analog magnetic tape. The album additionally serves as a killer app for the compact disc format, becoming the first album to sell more copies on CD than on phonograph record, and goes on to become the highest selling album of the 1980s in the UK.
June 11 – Madonna ends The Virgin Tour at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA.

July–September
July 13 – The Live Aid concert takes place in Wembley Stadium, London, UK, and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, USA. The headlining acts at the latter venue included a Led Zeppelin reunion, the first since their 1980 disbandment. The former venue, however, becomes the more notable of the two over the years, in part due to the high acclaim of Queen's performance of "Radio Ga Ga", which serves as the band's comeback in the United Kingdom (Queen would still remain a pariah in the United States in the wake of Hot Space until after Freddie Mercury's death six years later). With a little help from the British Concorde jet, singer Phil Collins manages to perform at both venues.
September 6 – Michael Jackson purchases the publishing rights for most of the Beatles' music for $47 million, much to the dismay of Paul McCartney, against whom he is bidding.
September 19 – The Parents Music Resource Center's (P.M.R.C.) United States Senate hearing on rock censorship begin in Washington, D.C. Heavy metal singer Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, rock star Frank Zappa and country singer John Denver testify against the P.M.R.C.
September 22 
The Farm Aid concert is held in Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Massimo Bogianckino, general manager of the Paris Opera and former head of both the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and La Scala, is elected mayor of Florence.

October–December
December 5 – The first fully digital reggae single, Wayne Smith's "(Under Me) Sleng Teng", is recorded at Prince Jammy's studio; it is the beginning of ragga style reggae.
December 23 – Two young fans of Judas Priest in Sparks, Nevada shoot themselves, one fatally, after listening to the band's records. A lawsuit is brought against the group in 1986 claiming that they were compelled by backwards subliminal messages hidden in their music.
December 31 – The fourteenth annual New Year's Rockin' Eve special is aired on ABC television, with appearances by Four Tops, The Judds, Barry Manilow, The Motels, Tears for Fears and The Temptations.

Also in 1985
Several hundreds of thousands of US dollars in publishing royalties are released to the surviving members, and families of the deceased members, of the British music group, Badfinger. Two band members, Pete Ham and Tom Evans, previously committed suicide due to financial problems.
Metal Edge magazine is launched.
Roger Waters announces his intention to leave Pink Floyd; describing the band as "a spent force creatively," he would spend the next two years in a legal battle with his now-former bandmates over the rights to the "Pink Floyd" name and other associated assets.

Bands formed
See Musical groups established in 1985

Bands disbanded
See Musical groups disestablished in 1985

Albums released

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Release date unknown

7 Day Weekend – The Comsat Angels
Alan Merrill – Alan Merrill
Alternating Currents – Spyro GyraAncient Artifacts – D.I.Another Place – HiroshimaAnother World – The RochesBaggariddim – UB40 Beat Happening – Beat HappeningBehaviour – Saga Begegnungen II – Eno Moebius Roedelius PlankThe Best of Elvy Sukaeish – Elvy SukaesihThe Big Prize – Honeymoon SuiteBites – Skinny PuppyBo Diddley & Co. – Live – Bo DiddleyBranded and Exiled – Running WildChange No Change – Elliot EastonChristmas Time – Chris StameyColor of Success – Morris DayCopacabana: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album – Barry ManilowCompany of Justice – Play DeadCuori agitati – Eros RamazzottiA Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse – Giorno Poetry SystemsDinosaur – Dinosaur Jr. Do You – Sheena Easton Downtown – Marshall CrenshawDream Come True – A Flock of SeagullsEvery Turn of the World – Christopher CrossFalse Accusations – The Robert Cray BandFantastic Something – Fantastic SomethingThe Fat Boys Are Back – The Fat BoysFear and Whiskey – MekonsFlaunt the Imperfection – China CrisisFeargal Sharkey – Feargal Sharkey (solo debut)For the Working Class Man – Jimmy BarnesForever Running – B-MovieFutile Combat – Skeletal FamilyGo West – Go West The Goonies: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Various Artists The Heart of the Matter – Kenny Rogers Hero – Clarence ClemonsThe History Mix Volume 1 – Godley & CremeI Am the Night – Pantera I Don't Want to Grow Up – DescendentsInto the Fire Live – Play DeadKingdom in the Streets – Dion DiMucciLittle Baggariddim EP  – UB40Live in Carré – The DublinersLooking at You – Chaz JankelLove Hurts – Elaine PaigeMachine Age Voodoo – SPKManilow – Barry ManilowMental Notes – Bad MannersMayhem – Toyah (compilation)Minx – Toyah Willcox (solo debut)Mistral gagnant – Renaud Mud Will Be Flung Tonight – Bette Midler Mystery – RAH BandThe Night We Flew Out The Window – Fantastic Something
No Muss...No Fuss – Donnie Iris
Now – The Christmas Album – Various Artists 
Off the Board – Ludichrist
Oil & Gold – Shriekback
Old Flame – Juice Newton
Old Land – Cluster & Brian Eno
One for the Road – April Wine
Only Four You – Mary Jane Girls
Open Fire – Y&T 
Promesas – José José
Rescue You – Joe Lynn Turner
Romance – David Cassidy
Say You Love Me – Jennifer Holliday
A Sense of Wonder – Van Morrison 
Shamrock Diaries – Chris Rea
Skin Dive – Michael FranksSo Many Rivers – Bobby WomackSome of My Best Jokes Are Friends – George Clinton Stages – TriumphStay Hard – Raven Steady Nerves – Graham Parker and The ShotSyirin Farthat – Elvy SukaesihTalk about the Weather – Red Lorry Yellow LorryTelephone Free Landslide Victory – Camper Van BeethovenThrough a Window – Patrick SkyThursday Afternoon – Brian EnoThe UB40 File – UB40Under Lock and Key – DokkenU.T.F.O. – UTFOVoices Carry – 'Til Tuesday What a Life! – DivinylsWhatever Happened to Jugula? – Roy Harper
Without Love – Black N' Blue
Wonderful – Circle Jerks
Zaman – Ebiet G. Ade

Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest in the charts of 1985.

Top hits

Classical music
John Adams – The Chairman Dances
Kalevi Aho
Oboe Sonata
Solo II, for piano
Pierre Boulez – Dialogue de l'ombre double
Mario Davidovsky – Capriccio for two pianos
Peter Maxwell Davies – An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise
Henri Dutilleux – L'arbre des Songes (violin concerto)
Morton Feldman
For Bunita Marcus, for piano
Violin and String Quartet
Piano and String Quartet
Lorenzo Ferrero
Canzoni d'amore (song cycle)
Empty Stage
My Rock
Karel Goeyvaerts
Pas à pas, for solo piano
Les Voix de Verseau, for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Jacques Hétu – Missa pro trecentisimo anno
Nicholas Jackson – Organ Sonata
Tristan Keuris
String Quartet No. 2
Variations for StringsAria for flute and piano
Witold Lutosławski – Chain 2 for violin and orchestra
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Requiem
John Rutter – Requiem
Alfred Schnittke – String Trio
Salvatore SciarrinoAllegoria della notte, symphonic workCanzona di ringraziamento Lo spazio inverso 
Isabel Soveral – FragmentosKarlheinz Stockhausen – Ave, for basset horn and alto flute
Joan Tower – Piano Concerto
Manfred Trojahn
Requiem
Symphony No. 3
Robert Ward – Raleigh DivertimentoOpera
Dominick Argento – Casanova's HomecomingLorenzo FerreroMare nostroNightPhilip Glass and Robert Moran – The Juniper TreeHans Werner Henze – The English Cat (first English language production)
Dorothy Rudd Moore – Frederick DouglassSalvatore Sciarrino – La perfezione di uno spirito sottileBallet
Lorenzo FerreroLotus Eaters The MiracleJazz

Musical theater
 Big River – Broadway production opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and ran for 1005 performances
 Dames at Sea – off Broadway revival
 The King and I (Rodgers & Hammerstein) – Broadway revival
 Leader of the Pack – Broadway production opened at the Ambassador Theatre and ran for 120 performances
 Me and My Girl (Noel Gay) – London revival
 Les Misérables – London production
 The Mystery of Edwin Drood – Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 108 performances
 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Saul Chaplin, Gene de Paul and Johnny Mercer) – London production
 Singin' in the Rain – Broadway production (based on 1952 film of the same name)
 Song and Dance – Broadway production opened at the Royale Theatre and ran for 474 performances

Musical films
 A Chorus Line Donga Kathodu Kathoram Krush Groove Rappin' That's Dancing!Births
January 2 – Luis Beza, American trumpet player (Suburban Legends)
January 3 – Justin Paul, American singer, composer and lyricist (Pasek and Paul )
January 6 – Amalie Bruun, Danish multi instrumentalist, singer and actress. 
January 8 – Rachael Lampa,  American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and record producer. 
January 16 – Gintaras Janusevicius, Lithuanian classical pianist
January 18 – Simone Simons, Dutch symphonic metal singer/songwriter
 January 22 – Orianthi, Australian musician, singer and songwriter 
January 28 – J. Cole, German-American hip hop recording artist and record producer
January 29 – Mikey Hachey, American bass player 
 Giovanna Fletcher, British author, stage actress, singer, and internet personality  (wife of Tom Fletcher of Mcfly, sister in law of Carrie Hope Fletcher)
January 31 – Kalomira, American-Greek singer
February 5 – Lindsey Cardinale, American singer
February 8 – Jeremy Davis, American bass player and songwriter (Paramore)
February 11 – William Beckett, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Academy Is...)
February 14 – Havana Brown (musician),  Australian DJ, recording artist, record producer and dancer
February 19 – Haylie Duff, American actress, singer-songwriter, television host, writer and fashion designer (sister of Hilary Duff) 
February 20 – Yulia Volkova, Russian singer, (t.A.T.u.)
February 28 – Fefe Dobson, Canadian songwriter
March 4 – Scott Michael Foster, American actor and singer (Crazy Ex Girlfriend) 
March 12 – Stromae,  Belgian musician, rapper, singer and songwriter
March 29 
 Mirusia Louwerse, Dutch-Australian lyric soprano
 Emil Nava, British music video director 
April 3 – Leona Lewis, British singer/songwriter
April 13 – Ty Dolla Sign, American singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer.
April 20 – Jadyn Douglas, Puerto Rican-American singer-songwriter and actress
May 2 – Lily Allen, English singer-songwriter
May 4 – Jidenna, Nigerian-American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer
May 7 – J Balvin,  Colombian reggaeton singer.
May 10 – Ashley Poole, American singer (Dream)
May 11 – Matt Giraud, American singer-songwriter and pianist
May 17 – Derek Hough, American Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor and singer
May 18 – Francesca Battistelli, American singer, CCM
May 22 – Vangie Tang, Hong Kong singer
 May 28 
 Colbie Caillat, American singer/songwriter/musician
 Carey Mulligan, English actress and singer 
May 30 – Katie Stelmanis, Canadian musician and producer 
June 2 – Ana Cristina, American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress
June 9 – Benj Pasek, American singer-songwriter and composer (Pasek and Paul) 
June 15 – Nadine Coyle, Irish pop singer-songwriter, actress and model (Girls Aloud)
June 20 – Caroline Polachek, American musician, singer-songwriter, activist and record producer known as the vocalist for Chairlift 
June 21 – Lana Del Rey, American singer-songwriter, director, model, poet and activist 
June 22 – Scott MacIntyre, American singer-songwriter and pianist
June 30 
 K.Flay, born Kristine Flaherty, American singer-songwriter and rapper 
 Hugh Sheridan, Australian actor, singer, musician and television presenter
July 2 – Ashley Tisdale, American singer, actress, producer, songwriter and youtuber (High School Musical, Vanessa Hudgens)  
July 5 – Alle Farben, German DJ and producer
July 6
Diamond Rings, Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer (Matters)
D. Woods, American singer, dancer and actress (Danity Kane)
July 9 – Hee Ah Lee, South Korean handicapped pianist
July 11 – Tobias Jesso Jr., Canadian musician 
July 15 – Nathaniel Willemse, South African-born Australian singer and songwriter 
July 17 
 Tom Fletcher British singer/songwriter/musician (McFLY)
 Taylor Goldsmith,  American singer-songwriter and guitarist, (lead singer and chief songwriter of the American folk rock band Dawes) (Mandy Moore) 
July 18 – Hopsin, American rapper, producer and actor
July 19 – Amy Pearson, English singer-songwriter
July 31 
 Alissa White-Gluz, Canadian singer-songwriter (The Agonist, Arch Enemy)  
 Allie X, Canadian singer-songwriter 
August 1 – Dina, Norwegian singer
August 2 – Britt Nicole,  American vocalist, songwriter and recording artist. 
August 3
Holly Blake-Arnstein, American singer (Dream)
Brent Kutzle (OneRepublic) American Musician 
August 4 – Kina Grannis, American singer-songwriter, guitarist and YouTuber. 
August 5 – Annalisa, Italian singer-songwriter and musician
August 9 – Anna Kendrick, American actress/singer
August 11 – Asher Roth, American Rapper
August 13 – Lacey Brown, American singer-songwriter
August 15 – Nipsey Hussle, American rapper, singer and businessman (d. 2019) 
August 16 – Cristin Milioti, American actress, singer and musician 
August 19 – Christina Perri, American singer/songwriter/musician
August 29 – Achilles Liarmakopoulos, Greek trombonist (Canadian Brass)
September 23 – Diana Ortiz, American singer (Dream)
September 28 – Alina Ibragimova, Russian British violinist
October 1  – Porcelain Black, American industrial indie pop singer-songwriter
October 2 – Vogue Williams, Irish DJ, radio host, model and dancer 
October 5 – Nicola Roberts, English recording artist, fashion designer and songwriter
October 8 
 Bruno Mars, American singer-songwriter and dancer
 Elliphant, Swedish singer-songwriter and rapper
October 10 – Marina and the Diamonds, Welsh singer/songwriter
October 15 – Nicola Roberts, British pop singer (Girls Aloud)
October 22 – Zac Hanson. American singer-songwriter (Hanson)
October 23 – Miguel, American singer-songwriter, producer
October 25 – Ciara, American singer, actress and dancer
October 26 – Soko (singer), French singer-songwriter, musician and actress.
October 28 – Tina Guo, Chinese-American cellist and erhuist
November 4 – Vanessa Struhler,  German singer-songwriter 
November 5 – Kate DeAraugo, Australian singer-songwriter, Australian Idol 3 winner
November 15 – Nick Fradiani, American singer
November 19 – Ricki-Lee Coulter, New Zealand-born Australian singer-songwriter, Australian Idol'' contestant
November 21 – 
 Carly Rae Jepsen, Canadian singer, songwriter and musician
 Ruelle, American EDM pop singer/songwriter
November 22 – Austin Brown, American producer, singer, songwriter and musician
November 23 – Troy Ave, American rapper
December 1 – Janelle Monae, American recording artist, record producer, singer-songwriter, model, actor, businesswomen and activist
 December 3 – Amanda Seyfried, American singer, musical star, actor
December 10 – Raven-Symoné, American actress and singer
Grace Chatto, English musician and singer, member of Clean Bandit
December 12 – Erika Van Pelt, American singer
December 22 – Kate Tempest, English poet, spoken-word artist, rapper and playwright
December 23 – Dev Hynes, British singer, songwriter, composer, producer and author
December 23 – Harry Judd, British pop drummer (McFly) 
December 29 – Alexa Ray Joel, American singer-songwriter and pianist

Deaths
January 3 – Lucien Cailliet, clarinetist, conductor, arranger and composer, 87
January 4 – Lovro von Matačić, Croatian conductor, 85
January 10 – Anton Karas, Austrian zither player and composer, 78
January 25 – Paul Smith, American film and television composer, 78
January 30 – Ivar Haglund, folk singer and restaurateur, 79 (heart attack)
February 7 – Matt Monro, English singer, 54 (liver cancer)
February 11 – Heinz Eric Roemheld, American composer, 83
February 12 – Leslie Sarony, English singer, comedian and songwriter, 87
February 18
Willy Alberti, Dutch singer, 58 (liver cancer)
Gábor Darvas, composer and musicologist, 74
February 22 – Delores Marie "D'Marie" Warren, founding member of Alton McClain & Destiny, 32 (car crash)
Efrem Zimbalist, violinist, 94
February 28 – David Byron, vocalist of Uriah Heep, 38 (alcohol-related)
March 1 – Eugene List, American classical pianist, 66
March 16 – Roger Sessions, American composer, 88
March 23 – Zoot Sims, jazz saxophonist, 59
March 31 – Jeanine Deckers, known as The Singing Nun, 51 (suicide)
May 2 
Bridget D'Oyly Carte, opera impresario, 77
Leonard Falcone, baritone/eupohonium virtuosos and director of bands at Michigan State, 86
May 8 – Karl Marx, composer and conductor, 87
May 12 – Rodolfo Arizaga, Argentinian composer
May 19 – Hilding Rosenberg, composer, 92
July 23 – Kay Kyser, US bandleader, 80
July 30 – Peter Knight, conductor, arranger and composer, 68
August 11 – Nick Ceroli, jazz drummer, 45
August 12 – Kyu Sakamoto, Japanese singer, 43 (plane crash)
August 24 – Paul Creston, American composer, 78
September 6 – Little Brother Montgomery, jazz and blues pianist and singer, 79
September 8 – Frederick May, Irish composer, 74
September 11 – William Alwyn, English composer, 79
September 18 – Ed Lewis, jazz trumpeter, 76
September 19 – Rockdrigo González, folk & rock singer-songwriter, 34 (1985 Mexico City earthquake)
October 6
Lola Gjoka, Albanian pianist, 75
Nelson Riddle, US conductor, composer and arranger, 64
October 11 – Tex Williams, US country singer, 68
October 12 – Ricky Wilson, guitarist (The B-52's), 32
October 14 – Emil Gilels, pianist, 68
October 18 – Stefan Askenase, pianist, 94
October 20 – Boris Lisanevich, dancer, 80
October 22 – Viorica Ursuleac, operatic soprano, 91
November 15 – Seán Ryan, Irish fiddler and whistler
November 18 – Stephan Henrik Barratt-Due, Norwegian violinist and music teacher, 66
November 24 – Big Joe Turner, blues singer, 74
December 12 – Ian Stewart (The Rolling Stones), 42 (heart attack)
December 22 – D. Boon, lead singer of Minutemen, 27 (car accident)
December 31 – Ricky Nelson, singer, former teen idol, 45 (plane crash)

Awards
Eurovision Song Contest 1985
27th Japan Record Awards

Charts

Billboard (USA)

US Top 100 Hits of 1985

See also
 Record labels established in 1985

References

 
Category:20th century in music
Category:Music by year