01-28 - Various artists, including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder, record the song "We Are The World".
03-03 - A wax likeness of Michael Jackson is unveiled at London's Madame Tussaud's wax museum.
03-11 - Pianist Kenny Barron records Scratch with bassist Dave Holland and drummer Daniel Humair
03-26 - South African radio stations ban Stevie Wonder's music in response to Wonder dedicating the Oscar he had won the night before to Nelson Mandela.
04-01 - David Lee Roth "Officially" leaves Van Halen to begin a solo career. Although...Both sides (Roth & the rest of Van Halen) had been talking about it since 1985 began.
06-04 - Elton John began a high court battle with Dick James Music, seeking the rights to early songs and recordings plus damages estimated at more than £30 million ($51 million). The singer lost a six-month court battle to recover the copyright to 169 songs however, the court ordered Dick James to cough up millions in unpaid royalties.
06-07 - The Smiths played the first date of a US tour at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom.
06-08 - Tears For Fears started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World', the groups first US No.1.
06-10 - Gaylord Entertainment purchased Acuff-Rose Publications, the legendary music publishing house founded by Roy Acuff and Fred Rose
06-11 - Anne Murray's "Heart Over Mind" album certified gold
06-14 - First performance of John Harbison's Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings. Sarah Bloom, oboe and Charles Russo, clarinet. New College Festival Orchestra, Paul Wolfe conducting, in Sarasota, FL.
06-15 - Marty Robbins awarded the Metronome Award by the city of Nashville
06-15 - Dire Straits started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with, 'Brothers In Arms'.
06-18 - Tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath records A New Face with pianist Tommy Flanagan
06-22 - "Heaven" by Bryan Adams topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks. The song had been featured in the film 'Night In Heaven'.
06-22 - The soundtrack from the film 'Beverly Hills Cop' started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.
06-28 - Gary Morris became the first person to sing opera on the Opry; he sang Rudolfo's first aria from "La Boheme"
06-29 - First performance of Joan Tower's Island Rhythms. Florida Orchestra, Irwin Hoffman, conducting. Commissioned for the opening of Harbour Island in Tampa, FL.
06-30 - Yul Brynner gave his 4,625th and final performance in the musical The King and I.
07-06 - Sussudio recorded by Phil Collins begins a run of 1 week at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
07-13 - Live Aid concert in Wembley and Philadelphia.
07-13 - A View to a Kill recorded by Duran Duran begins a run of 2 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
07-20 - Raspberry Beret recorded by Prince and the Revolution peaks at #2 on the Top 100 chart for 1 week.
07-26 - First performance of Elliott Carter's Penthode. Ensemble InterContemporain and the Paris Orchestral Ensemble conducted by Pierre Boulez at London's Royal Albert Hall.
07-27 - Everytime You Go Away recorded by Paul Young begins a run of 1 week at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
07-30 - Alabama's "Feels So Right" and "Mountain Music" albums certified quadruple platinum and "The Closer You Get" album certified triple platinum.
07-31 - Patsy Cline's "Greatest Hits" album certified gold
08-03 - Shout recorded by Tears for Fears begins a run of 3 weeks at #1 on the US charts.
08-10 - Madonna's Like A Virgin became the first album by a female to be certified for 5 millions sales.
08-11 - Premiere of Han Werner Henze's realization of Monteverdi's opera "Il ritorno d'Ulisse" (The Return of Ulysses) at the Salzburg Festival
08-16 - On her 27th birthday, Madonna marries actor Sean Penn. They will divorce in 1989.
08-24 - The Power of Love recorded by Huey Lewis & the News begins a run of 2 weeks at #1 on the US charts.
09-19 - The P.M.R.C's infamous "senate hearing on rock censorship" was held on this day in Washington D.C. Heavy metal singer Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, rock star Frank Zappa and country singer John Denver testified against the P.M.R.C
12-05 - 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.
