1960 in music

Events

• January 14 - Elvis Presley is promoted to Sergeant in the U.S. Army
• February 6 - Songwriter Jesse Belvin[?] dies in an automobile accident in Los Angeles, California. Belvin was the co-author of "Earth Angel," the Penguins' classic from 1954
• February 17 - The Everly Brothers sign a 10-year, $1 million contract with Warner Bros. Records.
• March 5 - Elvis Presley returns home from serving in the US Army
• First performance of Lionel Bart's Oliver!
• April 1 - Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Mitch Miller[?] film Sinatra's Timex Special for ABC at Miami, Florida's Fountainbleu Hotel
• April 2 - The National Association of Record Merchants[?] presents its first annual awards in Las Vegas, Nevada
• April 4 - RCA Victor Records[?] announces that it will release all pop singles in mono and stereo simultaneously, the first record company to do so. Elvis Presley's single, "Stuck on You," is RCA's first mono/stereo release.
• April 17 - Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and Cochran's girlfriend Sharon Sheeley are injured in a car accident near Chippenham, Wiltshire. Cochran dies in a hospital in Bath, England, from severe brain injuries.
• April 20 - Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California for the first time since coming home from Germany to film G.I. Blues
• May 2 - The Drifters' Ben E. King[?] leaves the group and signs a solo record contract[?] with ATCO Records[?].
• August 1 - The Beatles make their debut in Hamburg, Germany. The band at the time included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums.
• The Beatles' musical career begins
• Patti LaBelle's musical career begins
• Carla Thomas[?]' musical career begins
• Hank Williams Jr.'s musical career begins
• Van Morrison's musical career begins
• The Supremes' musical career begins

Albums Released

• GI Blues[?] - Elvis Presley
• Where The Boys Are[?] - Connie Francis
• Genius of Ray Charles[?] - Ray Charles
• Mack the Knife—Ella in Berlin[?] - Ella Fitzgerald
• String Along[?] - The Kingston Trio[?]
• More Songs By Ricky[?] - Ricky Nelson
• This Is Brenda[?] - Brenda Lee

Top Hits

• "Only The Lonely" - Roy Orbison
• "Today's Teardrops" - Roy Orbison, written by Gene Pitney
• "I'm sorry" - Brenda Lee
• "True Love Ways" - Buddy Holly
• "Chain Gang" - Sam Cooke
• "Save The Last Dance For Me" - The Drifters
• "Stay" - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs[?]
• "Walk, Don't Run" - The Ventures[?]
• "Red Rubber Ball" - Bobby Vee[?]
• "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" - Brian Hyland[?]
• "Cathy's Clown" - The Everly Brothers
• "Sink the Bismarck" - Johnny Horton[?]
• "North To Alaska" - Johnny Horton[?]
• "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" - Connie Francis
• "Good Timin'" -Jimmy Jones[?]
• "You're Sixteen" - Johnny Burnette
• "You Talk Too Much" - Joe Jones[?]
• "Georgia On My Mind" - Ray Charles
• "It's Now Or Never" - Elvis Presley
• "Exodus" - Ferrante & Teicher[?]
• "Dreamin'" - Johnny Burnette
• "Alley-Oop" - Hollywood Argyles[?]
• "Mission Bell" - Donnie Brooks[?]
• "What In the World's Come Over You" - Jack Scott[?]
• "Burning Bridges" - Jack Scott[?]
• "Tall Oak Tree" - Dorsey Burnette

Births

• January 4 - Michael Stipe, lead singer for the rock band R.E.M.
• January 8 - Dave Weckl[?]
• January 12 - Charlie Gillingham[?], Counting Crows
• January 16 - Sade
• January 22 - Michael Hutchence, INXS
• February 3 - Tim Chandler, Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies, others
• February 19 - William Holly Johnson[?], Frankie Goes To Hollywood
• February 27 - Paul Humphries[?], Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark[?]
• March 13 - Adam Clayton, bassist for rock band U2
• May 10 - Bono, lead singer for rock band U2
• June 1 - Simon Gallup[?], The Cure
• June 2 - Tony Hadley[?], Spandau Ballet
• June 8 - Mick Hucknall[?], Simply Red[?]
• August 1 - Chuck D.[?], Public Enemy
• August 7 - Jacqui O'Sullivan[?], Banarama[?]
• August 23 - Steve Clark[?], Def Leppard
• September 8 - David Steele[?], Fine Young Cannibals[?]
• September 22 - Joan Jett[?], The Runaways
• October 22 - Cris Kirkwood[?], Meat Puppets
• October 30 - Joey Belladonna[?], Anthrax
• November 19 - Matt Sorum[?], The Cult
• November 25 - Amy Grant
• December 2 - Rick Savage[?], Def Leppard
• December 31 - Paul Westerberg[?]
• Greg Flesch - Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies

Deaths

• February 6 - Jesse Belvin[?], car accident
• April 17 - Eddie Cochran, car accident
• November 5 - Johnny Horton[?], car accident
• Joseph Lamb -

Awards

Grammy Awards

• Record of the Year: "Theme From A Summer Place" - Percy Faith[?]
• Album of the Year: Button Down Mind[?] - Bob Newhart
• Song of the Year: - "Theme From Exodus" - Ernest Gold[?], songwriter

Eurovision Song Contest

• Eurovision Song Contest 1960