1985 in music

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

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 artists like 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, Lindsey Buckingham, Kim Carnes, Dionne Warwick, Waylon Jennings, Bob Geldof and Stevie Wonder, record the song "We Are the World".^[1]
• 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.^[2]
• March 28 – A wax likeness of Michael Jackson is unveiled at Madame Tussaud's in London, UK.^[3]

April–June

• April 1 – After months of squabbling, David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen to begin a solo career.^[4]
• 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.^[5]
• May – Russian singer Valery Leontiev starts his 10-date tour "Alone with all" and it become 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 Brothers in Arms which went on to be the highest selling 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.^[6]
• 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.^[7]
• 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.^[8]

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.

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

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest in the charts of 1985.^[9]

#	Artist	Title	Year	Country	Chart Entries
1	Tears For Fears	Shout	1985		US BB 1 – Jun 1985, Canada 1 – Feb 1985, Netherlands 1 – Jan 1985, Switzerland 1 – Feb 1985, Germany 1 – Jan 1985, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Mar 1985, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Nov 1985, France 3 – Dec 1984, Poland 3 – Mar 1983, UK 4 – Dec 1984, Sweden 5 – Dec 1984, Norway 5 – Mar 1985, KROQ 5 of 1985, Austria 6 – Mar 1985, US CashBox 13 of 1985, Australia 14 of 1985, Sweden (alt) 16 – Feb 1985, South Africa 16 of 1985, Italy 20 of 1985, RYM 27 of 1984, Scrobulate 36 of 80s, Germany 104 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 974
2	USA For Africa	We Are the World	1985		UK 1 – Apr 1985, US BB 1 – Mar 1985, US CashBox 1 of 1985, Canada 1 – Apr 1985, Netherlands 1 – Mar 1985, Sweden 1 – Mar 1985, Sweden (alt) 1 – Apr 1985, Switzerland 1 – Apr 1985, Norway 1 – Mar 1985, Poland 1 – Mar 1983, Australia 1 of 1985, Italy 1 of 1985, Éire 1 – Apr 1985, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks Apr 1985, Australia 1 for 9 weeks Dec 1985, Grammy in 1985, Austria 2 – Apr 1985, Germany 2 – Apr 1985, Global 4 (20 M sold) – 1985, South Africa 8 of 1985, US BB 40 of 1985, POP 71 of 1985, RIAA 121, Germany 263 of the 1980s, OzNet 418, Acclaimed 1371
3	a-ha	Take On Me	1984		US BB 1 – Aug 1985, Canada 1 – Aug 1985, Netherlands 1 – Oct 1985, Sweden (alt) 1 – Oct 1985, France 1 – May 1985, Switzerland 1 – Nov 1985, Norway 1 – Nov 1984, Poland 1 – Dec 1985, Germany 1 – Jan 1986, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Aug 1986, Scrobulate 1 of 80s, UK 2 – Sep 1985, Sweden 4 – Aug 1985, Austria 4 – Dec 1985, Italy 7 of 1986, KROQ 7 of 1985, RYM 8 of 1984, Australia 12 of 1985, US CashBox 15 of 1985, Europe 20 of the 1980s, POP 31 of 1985, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1985, US BB 36 of 1985, Germany 81 of the 1980s, Party 133 of 2007, OzNet 795, Acclaimed 2396
4	Foreigner	I Want to Know What Love Is	1984	/	UK 1 – Dec 1984, US BB 1 – Dec 1984, Canada 1 – Dec 1984, Sweden 1 – Dec 1984, Sweden (alt) 1 – Dec 1984, Norway 1 – Jan 1985, Poland 1 – Mar 1983, Éire 1 – Jan 1985, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Feb 1985, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Oct 1985, Switzerland 2 – Jan 1985, Germany 4 – Jan 1985, Australia 5 of 1985, Netherlands 6 – Dec 1984, Austria 7 – Feb 1985, US CashBox 8 of 1985, South Africa 12 of 1985, POP 17 of 1985, US BB 34 of 1985, Europe 38 of the 1980s, OzNet 180, RYM 186 of 1984, Germany 255 of the 1980s, Rolling Stone 476, Acclaimed 659
5	Madonna	Material Girl	1985		UK 1 – Jul 1985, Netherlands 1 – Aug 1985, Éire 1 – Aug 1985, New Zealand 1 for 6 weeks Aug 1985, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Mar 1986, Sweden 2 – Aug 1985, Switzerland 2 – Aug 1985, Australia 2 of 1985, Italy 2 of 1985, Sweden (alt) 3 – Aug 1985, Germany 3 – Aug 1985, Norway 4 – Aug 1985, US BB 7 of 1985, Austria 7 – Sep 1985, France 9 – Aug 1985, RYM 9 of 1985, POP 13 of 1985, Poland 19 – Sep 1985, Scrobulate 73 of 80s, Party 193 of 1999, OzNet 200, Acclaimed 235, Germany 271 of the 1980s

Top hits

• "After the Love Has Gone" – Princess
• "Alive and Kicking" – Simple Minds
• "All I Need" – Jack Wagner
• "And We Danced" - The Hooters
• "Angel" – Madonna
• "Better Be Good To Me" – Tina Turner (released in 1984)
• "Body & Soul" – Mai Tai
• "Born in the U.S.A." – Bruce Springsteen (released in 1984)
• "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" – The Smiths
• "The Boys of Summer" – Don Henley
• "Body Rock" – Maria Vidal (released in 1984)
• "Broken Wings" – Mr. Mister
• "Brothers in Arms" – Dire Straits
• "Borderline" – Madonna (UK only; originally released in 1984)
• "Call Me" – Go West
• "Cannonball" - Supertramp
• "Can't Fight This Feeling" – REO Speedwagon (released in 1984)
• "Careless Whisper" - George Michael
• "Centerfield" – John Fogerty
• "C'était mon ami" – Dalida
• "Chain Reaction" – Diana Ross
• "Change Your Mind" – Sharpe & Numan
• "Cheri, Cheri Lady" – Modern Talking
• "Cherish" – Kool & the Gang
• "Close to Me" – The Cure
• "Cloudbusting" – Kate Bush
• "Color My Love" – Fun Fun (Released in 1984)
• "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" – David Grant and Jaki Graham
• "Crazy for You" – Madonna
• "Dancing in the Street" – David Bowie and Mick Jagger
• "Devuélveme a mi chica" – Hombres G
• "Dynamite" – Jermaine Stewart
• "Dirty Old Town" – The Pogues
• "Don't Come Around Here No More" – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• "Don't You (Forget About Me)" – Simple Minds
• "Dress You Up" – Madonna
• "Duel" – Propaganda
• "Eaten Alive" – Diana Ross
• "E=MC²" – Big Audio Dynamite
• "Éthiopie" – Chanteurs sans Frontières
• "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" – Tears for Fears
• "Everything She Wants" – Wham!
• "Everytime You Go Away" – Paul Young
• "Find A Way" – Amy Grant
• "Faron Young" – Prefab Sprout
• "Fortress Around Your Heart" – Sting
• "Frankie" – Sister Sledge
• "Freeway of Love" – Aretha Franklin
• "Gambler" – Madonna
• "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" – Narada Michael Walden and Patti Austin
• "Glory Days" – Bruce Springsteen
• "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" - Cyndi Lauper
• "(Gotta Be) Wrong Way To Love" – Dynamic Hepnotics
• "Head Over Heels" – Tears for Fears
• "Heart User" – Cliff Richard
• "The Heat Is On" – Glenn Frey
• "Heaven" – Bryan Adams
• "History" – Mai Tai
• "Hold Me" – Menudo
• "Home Sweet Home – Mötley Crüe
• "Hounds of Love" – Kate Bush
• "How Soon Is Now?" – The Smiths (originally released in 1984 as a B-side)
• "How Will I Know" - Whitney Houston
• "Hurt" – Juice Newton
• "I Don't Think I'm Ready for You" - Anne Murray
• "I Love Her All The Time" – Sonic Youth
• "I Like It" – Jermaine Stewart
• "I Miss You" – Klymaxx
• "I Was Born to Love You" – Freddie Mercury
• "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" – Peabo Bryson
• "I'm On Fire" – Bruce Springsteen
• "In Between Days" – The Cure
• "In My House" – Mary Jane Girls
• "Into the Groove" – Madonna
• "Indianapolis" – Menudo
• "Invincible" – Pat Benatar
• "I Want to Know What Love Is" – Foreigner
• "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" – Eurythmics
• "It's Called a Heart" - Depeche Mode
• "It's in Every One of Us" – Cliff Richard
• "Je te donne" – Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones
• "Johnny Come Home" – Fine Young Cannibals
• "Johnny, Johnny" – Jeanne Mas
• "Just Like Honey" – The Jesus and Mary Chain
• "Kayleigh" – Marillion
• "Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)" – INXS
• "The Last Kiss" – David Cassidy
• "Lay Your Hands on Me" – Thompson Twins
• "Le temps d'aimer" – Dalida
• "Le Vénitien de Levallois" – Dalida
• "Lean on Me (ah-li-ayo)" – Red Box
• "Let's Go Crazy/Take Me With U" – Prince and the Revolution (released in 1984)
• "Listen Like Thieves" – INXS
• "Life in a Northern Town" – The Dream Academy
• "Live Is Life" – Opus
• "Living on My Own" – Freddie Mercury
• "Love Is the Seventh Wave" – Sting
• "The Love Parade" – The Dream Academy
• "Love Like Blood" – Killing Joke
• "Lovergirl" – Teena Marie
• "Lover Why" – Century
• "Loverboy" – Billy Ocean
• "Lovin' Every Minute of It" - Loverboy
• "Madhouse" – Anthrax
• "Man in the Mirror" - Michael Jackson
• "Material Girl" - Madonna
• "Marcia baila" – Rita Mitsouko
• "Mated" – David Grant and Jaki Graham
• "Miami Vice Theme" – Jan Hammer
• "Material Girl" – Madonna
• "Merry Christmas Everyone" – Shakin' Stevens
• "Method of Modern Love" – Hall & Oates
• "Money Changes Everything" - Cyndi Lauper
• "Money for Nothing" – Dire Straits
• "Mothers Talk" – Tears For Fears (released in 1984)
• "Move Closer" – Phyllis Nelson
• "A New England" – Kirsty MacColl
• "Nightshift" – The Commodores
• "Ni tú ni nadie" – Alaska y Dinarama
• "Nikita" – Elton John
• "19" – Paul Hardcastle
• "Never" - Heart
• "Never Surrender" – Corey Hart
• "Obsession" – Animotion
• "Oh Sheila" – Ready for the World
• "The Old Man Down The Road" – John Fogerty
• "One More Night" – Phil Collins
• "One Night in Bangkok" – Murray Head
• "One Of The Living" – Tina Turner
• "One Vision" – Queen
• "Only the Young" – Journey
• "Out Of Mind Out Of Sight" – Models
• "Party All the Time" – Eddie Murphy
• "Part-Time Lover" – Stevie Wonder
• "Piece By Piece" – The Tubes
• "Private Dancer" – Tina Turner
• "The Power of Love" – Huey Lewis and the News
• "Rage to Love" – Kim Wilde
• "Raspberry Beret" – Prince and the Revolution
• "Reviens-moi" – Dalida
• "Running Up that Hill" – Kate Bush
• "Russians" – Sting
• "Saving All My Love for You" – Whitney Houston
• "Say I'm Your Number One" – Princess
• "Say You, Say Me" – Lionel Richie
• "See the Day" – Dee C. Lee
• "Separate Lives" - Phil Collins with Marilyn Martin
• "She's So Beautiful" – Cliff Richard
• "Shout" – Tears for Fears
• "So Far Away" – Dire Straits
• "So In Love" – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
• "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" – Judas Priest
• "Some Like It Hot" – The Power Station
• "Somebody" – Bryan Adams
• "Something About You" – Level 42
• "Spanish Eddie" – Laura Branigan
• "Square Rooms" – Al Corley
• "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" – John Parr
• "Shake the Disease" – Depeche Mode
• "Suddenly" – Billy Ocean
• "Summer of 69" – Bryan Adams
• "The Sun Always Shines on TV" – a-ha
• "The Super Bowl Shuffle" – 1985 Chicago Bears
• "Sussudio" – Phil Collins
• "Take On Me" – a-ha (originally released in 1984)
• "Tarzan Boy" – Baltimora
• "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" – The Smiths
• "That's What Friends Are For" – Dionne Warwick (duets with Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder) (#1 in Australia, UK, and Quebec)
• "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" – Eurythmics feat. Stevie Wonder
• "Things Can Only Get Better" – Howard Jones
• "This Is England" – The Clash
• "This Time" – INXS
• "Time Don't Run Out on Me" - Anne Murray
• "Too Late For Goodbyes" – Julian Lennon
• "Venezia" – Hombres G
• "A View to a Kill" – Duran Duran
• "Walk Like a Man" – Divine
• "Walk of Life" – Dire Straits
• "Walls Come Tumbling Down" – The Style Council
• "We Are the World" – USA for Africa
• "We Built This City" – Jefferson Starship
• "We Belong" – Pat Benatar (released in 1984)
• "We Close Our Eyes" – Go West
• "We Don't Need Another Hero" – Tina Turner
• "We Need Protection" – Picnic at the White House
• "We Work The Black Seam" – Sting
• "West End Girls" (second release) – Pet Shop Boys
• "When Love Breaks Down" – Prefab Sprout
• "The Whole Of The Moon" – The Waterboys
• "Wise Up" – Amy Grant
• "What You Need" – INXS
• "When Love Breaks Down" – Prefab Sprout
• "Who's Zoomin' Who?" – Aretha Franklin
• "Working Class Man" – Jimmy Barnes
• "Would I Lie To You?" – Eurythmics
• "Wrap Her Up" – Elton John
• "You Belong to the City" – Glenn Frey
• "You Give Good Love" – Whitney Houston
• "You Make Me Want to Make You Mine" – Juice Newton
• "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" – Dead or Alive
• "Your Personal Touch" – Evelyn "Champagne" King
• "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" – Modern Talking
• "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" – Billy Joel
• "You're the Inspiration" – Chicago (released in 1984)
• "You're the Voice" – John Farnham (#1 in Australia, South Africa, and Quebec; not released in Europe until 1987, released in USA in 1990)

Classical music

• John Adams – The Chairman Dances
• 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)
• 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
• Witold Lutosławski - Chain 2 for violin and orchestra
• Andrew Lloyd Webber – Requiem
• John Rutter – Requiem
• Alfred Schnittke – String Trio
• Salvatore Sciarrino
  • Allegoria della notte, symphonic work
  • Canzona di ringraziamento
  • Lo spazio inverso
• Isabel Soveral – Fragmentos
• Karlheinz Stockhausen – Ave, for basset horn and alto flute
• Joan Tower – Piano Concerto
• Manfred Trojahn
  • Requiem
  • Symphony No. 3
• Robert Ward – Raleigh Divertimento

Opera

• Dominick Argento – Casanova's Homecoming
• Lorenzo Ferrero
  • Mare nostro
  • Night
• Philip Glass and Robert Moran – The Juniper Tree
• Hans Werner Henze – The English Cat (first English language production)
• Dorothy Rudd Moore – Frederick Douglass
• Salvatore Sciarrino – La perfezione di uno spirito sottile

Ballet

• Lorenzo Ferrero
  • Lotus Eaters
  • The Miracle

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 (Suburban Legends)
• January 16 – Gintaras Janusevicius, classical pianist
• January 18 – Simone Simons, symphonic metal singer
• January 29 - Mikey Hachey, American bass player
• 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 20 – Yulia Volkova, Russian singer, (t.A.T.u.)
• March 29 - Mirusia Louwerse, Dutch-Australian lyric soprano
• April 3 – Leona Lewis, singer
• April 20 – Jadyn Douglas, Puerto Rican-American singer-songwriter and actress
• May 2 – Lily Allen, English singer-songwriter
• May 10 – Ashley Poole, singer (Dream)
• May 11 – Matt Giraud, American singer-songwriter and pianist
• May 18 - Francesca Battistelli, American singer, CCM
• May 22 – Vangie Tang, singer
• June 2 – Ana Cristina, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress
• June 15 – Nadine Coyle (Girls Aloud)
• June 21 - Lana Del Rey, singer
• June 22 – Scott MacIntyre, American singer-songwriter and pianist
• 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, handicapped pianist
• July 17 – Tom Fletcher (McFLY)
• July 18 – Hopsin, American rapper, producer, and actor
• August 1 – Dina, singer
• August 3
  • Holly Blake-Arnstein, singer (Dream)
  • Brent Kutzle (OneRepublic)
• August 13 – Lacey Brown, American singer-songwriter
• August 29 – Achilles Liarmakopoulos, Greek trombonist (Canadian Brass)
• September 23 – Diana Ortiz, singer (Dream)
• September 28 - Alina Ibragimova, violinist
• October 1
  • Porcelain Black, American industrial pop singer
  • Ciara, American singer-songwriter and actress
• October 8 – Bruno Mars
• October 15 – Nicola Roberts (Girls Aloud)
• October 22 – Zac Hanson (Hanson)
• October 23 - Miguel, singer
• October 25 – Ciara, singer
• October 28 – Tina Guo, Chinese-American cellist and erhuist
• November 21 - Carly Rae Jepsen, singer
• December 10 – Raven-Symoné, actress and singer
• December 12 – Erika Van Pelt, American singer
• December 23 – Harry Judd (McFLY)
• December 29 – Alexa Ray Joel, 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
• 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 – 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)^[10]
• December 22 – D. Boon, lead singer of Minutemen, 27 (car accident)
• December 31 - Ricky Nelson, singer, former teen idol, 45 (plane crash) ^[11]

Awards

• Eurovision Song Contest 1985
• 27th Japan Record Awards

Charts

• Billboard (USA) Main article: Hot 100 number-one hits of 1985 (United States)

See also

• Hot 100 number-one hits of 1985 (United States)
• Record labels established in 1985

References

1. ↑ unattributed (n.d.). "We Are The World by U.S.A. For Africa". Songfacts. Retrieved April 18, 2008. 
2. ↑ Associated Press (March 27, 1985). "Stevie Wonder Music Banned in South Africa". New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 
3. ↑ Unattributed (2005). "Michael Jackson, 1985". Michael Jackson in the Early 1980s. Archived from the original on June 13, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 
4. ↑ Dan Halen (n.d.). "Chronology". Archived from the original on October 21, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 
5. ↑ Madonnatribe (n.d.). "The Virgin Tour". Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 
6. ↑ mdh (1995). "Live Aid Programme". Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 
7. ↑ MJ Cafe (2008). "When did Michael buy the Beatles' songs?". Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 
8. ↑ Peter Nichols, "Opera Head to be Mayor of Florence", The Times issue 62252 (25 September 1985): 8H.
9. ↑ Hawtin, Steve (2007). "Songs from the Year 1985". Steve Hawtin/TsorT. Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008. 
10. ↑ Ray Connelly (2003). "Stu". Out-Take Limited. Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 
11. ↑ unattributed (1987). "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Ricky Nelson". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 15, 2008.