1976 in music

Table of contents

1 Events
2 Albums released
3 Top hits on record
4 Published popular music
5 Musical theater
6 Musical films
7 Births
8 Deaths
9 Awards

9.1 Grammy Awards
9.2 Country Music Association Awards
9.3 Eurovision Song Contest

Events

January 7 - Kenneth Moss, a former record company executive, is sentenced to 120 days in the Los Angeles County Jail and four years probation for involuntary manslaughter in the 1974 drug induced death of Average White Band drummer Robbie McIntosh.
January 13 - A trial begins for seven Brunswick Records and Dakar Records employees. The record company employees are charged with stealing more than $184,000 in royalties from artists.
February 15 - Bette Midler bails seven members of her entourage out of jail after they are arrested on charges of cocaine and marijuana possession
January 19 - Concert promoter Bill Sargent makes an offer of $30 million to the Beatles if they would reunite for a concert
February 19 - Former Tower of Power lead singer Rich Stevens is arrested and charged with the drug related murders of three men in San Jose, California.
February 20 - Kiss gets their footprints added to the sidewalk outside Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theater.
February 24 - The Eagles Their Greatest Hits compilation becomes the first album in history to be certified platinum by the RIAA. The new platinum certification represents sales of at least 1 million copies for albums and 2 million copies for singles.
March 4 - ABBA arrive at Sydney airport for a promotional tour in Australia.
March 6 - EMI Records reissues all 22 previously released British Beatles singles, plus a new single of the classic "Yesterday". All 23 singles hit the UK charts at the same time
March 7 - A wax likeness of Elton John is put on display in London's Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.
March 9 - The Who's Keith Moon collapses onstage ten minutes into a performance at the Boston Garden.
March 25 - Jackson Browne's wife Phyllis commits suicide.
March 26 - In Paris, France, Wings guitarist Jimmy McCullough breaks one of his fingers when he slips in his hotel bathroom following the final performance on the band's European tour. The injury ended up delaying the band's United States tour by three weeks.
April 14 - Stevie Wonder announces that he has signed a "$13 million-plus" contract with Motown Records
April 24 - Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels makes on on-air offer to pay the Beatles $3000 to reunite on the show. Lennon and McCartney were apparently watching the show together in New York and considered walking down to the studio to accept the check. On May 22, he raises his offer from $3000 to $3,200.
April 29 - When his tour stops in Memphis, Tennessee, Bruce Springsteen jumps the wall at Elvis Presley's mansion, "Graceland", in an attempt to see his idol. Security guards stop Springsteen and escourt him off the grounds.
May 3 - Paul McCartney and Wings start their Wings over America tour in Fort Worth, Texas. This is the first time McCartney has performed in the US since The Beatles' last concert in 1966 at Candlestick Park.
May 3 - Paul Simon puts together a benefit show at Madison Square Garden to raise money for the New York Public Library. Phoebe Snow, Jimmy Cliff and the Brecker Brothers also perform. The concert brings in over $30,000 for the Library.
May 19 - Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is involved in a car accident. Cocaine is found in his wrecked car. Richards is given a court date of January 12, 1977.
May 19 - Rumour spread by German press: ABBA members killed in plane crash, only Ani-Fridh survived.
June - Former Spring Canyon keyboardist Mark Cook joins Daniel Amos
100 Club Punk Festival, the first international punk festival is held in London
Fall - Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr form a band called Feedback in Dublin. The band would later be renamed U2
August 13 - The official ABBA logo with the reversed 'B' is born.
October 9 - The Sex Pistols sign a contract with EMI Records
October 10 - ABBA in New York on Midnight Special performing 'Fernando', 'Dancing Queen', 'Mamma Mia' and 'S.O.S.' live.
November - Former Tower of Power lead singer Rich Stevens, and another person, are found guilty on two counts of murder.
November 24 - The Band gives its last public performance; Martin Scorsese is on hand to film it.
The Flowers of Romance, a band that included many seminal individuals within the punk movement, forms in the summer.
Bonnie Riatt records Sweet Forgiveness, which will be a blockbuster album in 1977
War records Galaxy, which will be a blockbuster album in 1977
Sex Pistols cause media furor when they swear on prime time TV 1 to download.
Joe Cocker performs a duet with himself (as portrayed by John Belushi) on Saturday Night Live .
Evita is performed for the first time
Cheryl Byron performs rapso in calypso tents for the first time, beginning the popularization of rapso
Peter Brown's solo career begins
Cheap Trick's career begins
Devo's career begins
Leif Garrett's solo career begins
.38 Special's musical career begins
The Sex Pistols' career begins
Y&T (Yesterday & Today)'s musical career begins
Elvis Costello & the Attractions forms
Black Flag form
The Damned form
Diamond Head form
Dire Straits form
Foreigner form
Iron Maiden form
Throbbing Gristle form
Generation X form
Wire form
U.K. Subs form
Cheap Trick signs a contract with Epic Records
The Clash sign up to CBS
Elvis Costello signs a contract with Columbia Records
Steve Martin signs a contract with Warner Bros
Eddie Money signs a contract with CBS
Culture form

Albums released

Arrival - ABBA
Greatest Hits --ABBA
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC
High Voltage - AC/DC
Rocks - Aerosmith
Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading
Children of the World - Bee Gees
Technical Ecstasy - Black Sabbath
We Sold Our Souls for Rock & Roll - Black Sabbath
Blondie - Blondie
Agents Of Fortune - Blue Oyster Cult
Private Eyes - Tommy Bolin
Every Day of My Life - Michael Bolton
Boston - Boston
If I Were Britannia I'd Waive the Rules - Budgie
Havana Daydreamin' - Jimmy Buffett
A Kind of Hush - The Carpenters
X - Chicago
Come Taste the Band - Deep Purple
Desire - Bob Dylan
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
One of These Nights - The Eagles
Greatest Hits - The Eagles
Hotel California - The Eagles
Works Volume I - Emerson Lake & Palmer
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Foreigner - Foreigner (debut)
Frampton Comes Alive - Peter Frampton
A Trick of the Tail - Genesis
Wind and Wuthering - Genesis
M.U. --- Best of - Jethro Tull
Too Old to Rock And Roll, Too Young to Die - Jethro Tull
Turnstiles - Billy Joel
Blue Moves - Elton John
Wanted! the Outlaws - Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
Look into the Future - Journey
Sad Wings of Destiny - Judas Priest
Summertime Dream - Gordon Lightfoot
Leftoverture - Kansas
Destroyer - Kiss
Presence - Led Zeppelin
The Song Remains the Same - Led Zeppelin
One More from the Road - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Live - Bob Marley & the Wailers
Rastaman Vibration - Bob Marley & the Wailers
Wings at the Speed of Sound - Paul McCartney
Wings over America - Paul McCartney & Wings
Kate & Anna McGarrigle - Kate & Anna McGarrigle
The Wild Tchoupitoulas - The Meters, George & Amos Landry, The Neville Brothers
The Mini-Album - The Sex Pistols (live EP)
Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band
Hejira - Joni Mitchell
Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers
Come on Over - Olivia Newton-John
Clones of Dr. Funkenstein - Parliament
Mothership Connection - Parliament
Howlin' Wind - Graham Parker & the Rumour
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (debut)
A Day at the Races - Queen
A Night at the Opera - Queen
Rising - Rainbow
The Ramones - The Ramones
Home Plate by Bonnie Riatt
Black and Blue by The Rolling Stones
Hasten Down the Wind - Linda Ronstadt
2112 - Rush
Another Passenger - Carly Simon
Silk Desires - Boz Skaggs
The Royal Scam - Steely Dan
Both Sides of Ray Stevens - Ray Stevens
Just for the Record - Ray Stevens
Misty - Ray Stevens
Atlantic Crossing - Rod Stewart
A Night on the Town - Rod Stewart
Crystal Ball - Styx
Legalize It - Peter Tosh
Second Annual Report- Throbbing Gristle
No Heavy Petting - UFO
Liberation - Bunny Wailer
Greatest Hits - War
Love Is All Around - War
Why Can't We Be Friends - War
Milky Shade - Kazumi Watanabe
Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
Yesterday And Today - Y&T (debut)
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon
Tejas - ZZ Top

Top hits on record

"Afternoon Delight" - Starland Vocal Band
"Both Ends Burning" - Roxy Music
"Candy Store Rock" - Led Zeppelin
"Dancing Queen" ' ABBA
"December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" - Frankie Valli
"Disco Lady" - Johnnie Taylor
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Elton John & Kiki Dee
"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" - Paul Simon
"Fernando" - ABBA
"Fool to Cry" - The Rolling Stones
"Hasten Down The Wind" - Warren Zevon
"Hot Stuff" - The Rolling Stones
"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan and John Ford Coley
"It's Over" - Boz Scaggs
"If You Leave Me Now" - Chicago
"It Keeps You Running" - Carly Simon
"Killing of Georgie, Pt. 1-2" - Rod Stewart
"Landslide" - Fleetwood Mac
"Let Your Love Flow" - Bellamy Brothers
"Love Machine (Part 1)" - The Miracles
"Low Rider" - War
"Mohammed's Radio" - Warren Zevon
"Money Money Money" - ABBA
"More Than a Feeling" - Boston
"My First Night Alone Without You" - Bonnie Riatt
"My Love My Life" - ABBA
"Nadia's Theme (The Young & The Restless)" - Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr
"New Rose" - The Damned (debut)
"The Perfect Drug" - Roxy Music
"Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)" - Fleetwood Mac
"Rock 'N' Me" - Steve Miller Band
"Saturday Night" - Bay City Rollers
"Say You Love Me" - Fleetwood Mac
"Show Me the Way" - Peter Frampton
"Silly Love Songs" - Paul McCartney & Wings
"Starbuck" - Moonlight Feels Right
"Still the One" - Orleans
"Sugar Mama" - Bonnie Riatt
"Take It To The Limit" - The Eagles
"Taking It To The Streets" - The Doobie Brothers
"That'll Be The Day" - Linda Ronstadt
"This Old Heart Of Mine" - Rod Stewart
"Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)" - Rod Stewart
"Welcome Back" - John Sebastian
"Why Can't We Be Friends" - War
"World Turning" - Fleetwood Mac
"You Should Be Dancing" - The Bee Gees

Published popular music

"Always And Forever" w.m. Rod Temperton

"Devil Woman" w.m. Terry Britten & Christine Authors

"Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" w. Tim Rice m. Andrew Lloyd Webber
"Empty Tables" w. Johnny Mercer m. Jimmy Van Heusen
"Evergreen" w. Paul Williams m. Barbra Streisand
"Fernando" w.m. Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson & Bjorn Ulvaeus
"Gonna Fly Now" (aka "Theme From Rocky") w. Carol Connors & Ayn Robbins m. Bill Conti
"Isn't She Lovely?" w.m. Stevie Wonder
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" w.m. Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus
"Like A Sad Song" w.m. John Denver
"A Little Bit More" w.m. Bobby Gosh
"Money, Money, Money" w.m. Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus
"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" w.m.Elton John

Musical theater

Bubbling Brown Sugar Broadway production

The Club Broadway production
Fiddler on the Roof Broadway revival
Guys and Dolls Broadway revival
Irene London revival
My Fair Lady Broadway revival
Oh Calcutta Broadway revival
Pacific Overtures Broadway production
Porgy and Bess Broadway revival
Salad Days London revival
Side by Side by Sondheim London production
The Threepenny Opera Broadway revival

Musical films

Bugsy Malone
The Slipper and the Rose
The Song Remains the Same
A Star Is Born
That's Entertainment II

Births

January 16 - Stuart Fletcher, The Seahorses
January 21 - Emma Bunton, Spice Girls
February 4 - Cam'ron
February 15 - Brandon Boyd, Incubus
February 28 - Ja Rule
March 8 - Gareth Coombes, Supergrass
March 17 - Stephen Gately, Boyzone
March 20 - Chester Bennington, Linkin Park
May 12 - Melanie Chisholm, Spice Girls
May 17 - Kandi Burruss, Xscape
May 29 - Dave Buckner, Papa Roach
May 31 - Scott Klopfenstein, Reel Big Fish
June 2 - Adrian Carlos Olivares, Menudo
June 15 - Dryden Mitchell, Alien Ant Farm
June 21 - Mike Einziger, Incubus
June 26 - Paul Phillips, Puddle Of Mudd
June 27 - Leigh Nash, Sixpence None The Richer
July 3 - Shane Lynch, Boyzone
July 6 - 50 Cent
July 11 - Lil' Kim
July 12 - Tracie Spencer
August 8 - Drew Lachey, 98 Degrees
August 8 - J.C. Chasez, *NSYNC
August 18 - Dirk 'Alex' Lance, Incubus
September 11 - Ludacris
October 20 - Tom Wisniewski, MxPx
November 12 - Tevin Campbell
December 13 - Tom Delonge, Blink-182
Blu Cantrell
John Collura, The Ataris
Mike Davenport, The Ataris
Patrick Riley, The Ataris

Deaths

January 30 - Mance Lipscomb
February 22 - Florence Ballard, The Supremes
March 19 - Paul Kossoff, Free, Back Street Crawler, cerebral and pulmonary oedema
April 8 - Phil Ochs, suicide
May 14 - Keith Relf, The Yardbirds, Renaissance, Medicine Head, Armageddon, cardiac arrest due to electrocution
December 4 - Benjamin Britten
December 4 - Tommy Bolin