1971 in music

See also: 1970 in music, other events of 1971, 1972 in music, 1970s in music and the list of 'years in music'

Events

*February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour-long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music. The film includes footage from Dylan's 1966 UK tour.
*February 16 - Alan David Passaro, the Hells Angel who was tried and acquitted for the stabbing death of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Speedway in 1969, files a lawsuit against The Rolling Stones for invasion of privacy because the documentary film Gimme Shelter showed the stabbing.
*March 13 - The Allman Brothers Band records its live album, Live at the Fillmore East.
*March 16 - The 13th Grammy Awards, honoring musical accomplishments of 1970 are presented.
*July 3 - Jim Morrison, is found dead in a bath tub in Paris, France aged 27.
*August 1 - The Concert for Bangladesh, starring Ravi Shankar, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, and Leon Russell, also featuring Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Jesse Ed Davis and Badfinger
*December 7 - The Montreux Casino in Montreux, Switzerland, catches fire and burns during a performance by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention when a fan fires a flare gun into its rafters. The band Deep Purple, who were due to begin recording at the casino the next day, watched the scene from their hotel across Lake Geneva, and later immortalized the events in their song, "Smoke on the Water".
*Lancelot Layne's "Blown Away" is the beginning of rapso music.
The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour premieres on television
*Kenny Rogers and The First Edition issued their Greatest Hits album, which will sell over 4 million copies worldwide by the end of the decade. They also star in their own TV series Rollin' On A River which runs until 1974.
*The line-up for Queen is completed when bassist John Deacon joins the band.
*Elton John has first international hit with Your Song.
*ABBA's musical career begins
*The New York Dolls' musical career begins
*Donna Summer's musical career begins
*Stevie Ray Vaughan's musical career begins
*Roxy Music's musical career begins
Jesus Christ Superstar is performed for the first time
*Michael Jackson's solo career begins
*Rick Springfield leaves Zoot for a solo career
*The Crystals reunite
*Beach Boys musician Daryl Dragon and singer Toni Tennille meet and begin to perform together as Captain & Tennille
*The Eagles form
*Led Zeppelin release their "Untitled" fourth studio album, which whould become the biggest selling album of the year, the band's biggest selling album, and the fourth best selling album of all time.

Albums released

11-17-70 - Elton John
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
American Pie - Don McLean
A Nod is as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse - The Faces
Anticipation - Carly Simon
Aqualung - Jethro Tull
Astral Taxi - Tin Tin
At Fillmore East - The Allman Brothers Band
Blessed Are... - Joan Baez
Blue - Joni Mitchell
Bonnie Raitt - Bonnie Raitt
Budgie - Budgie
Can I Have My Money Back - Gerry Rafferty
Carly Simon - Carly Simon
Carpenters - The Carpenters
Chase - Chase
Chicago III - Chicago
Electric Light Orchestra - Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Warrior - T. Rex
Electronically Tested - Mungo Jerry
Ella A Nice - Ella Fitzgerald
Every Picture Tells a Story - Rod Stewart
Fearless - Family
Fireball - Deep Purple
Fly - Yoko Ono
Fog on the Tyne - Lindisfarne
Fragile - Yes
Golden Biscuits - Three Dog Night
Harmony - Three Dog Night
H.M.S. Donovan - Donovan
Hunky Dory - David Bowie
If Not for You - Olivia Newton-John
Imagine - John Lennon
Islands - King Crimson
Jesus Christ Superstar - Various Artists
John Prine - John Prine
Killer - Alice Cooper
*L.A. Woman - The Doors
*Led Zeppelin IV (untitled fourth album) - Led Zeppelin
*Liv - Livingston Taylor
*Live in Cook County Jail - B.B. King
*Love Story - Andy Williams
*Love It To Death - Alice Cooper
Madman Across the Water - Elton John
Maggot Brain - Funkadelic
Master of Reality - Black Sabbath
Meddle - Pink Floyd
Message From The Country - Move
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon - James Taylor
Music - Carole King
Nilsson Schmilsson - Harry Nilsson
Nursery Cryme - Genesis
Pearl - Janis Joplin
Pilgrimage - Wishbone Ash
Put Your Hand in the Hand - Ocean
Quite Fire - Roberta Flack
Ram - Paul McCartney
Rock Around the Country - Bill Haley & His Comets
Rosa dos Ventos - Maria Bethânia
Santana III - Santana
Shaft - Isaac Hayes
Sister Kate - Kate Taylor
Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
Surf's Up - The Beach Boys
Tapestry - Carole King
Tarkus - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens
The Doobie Brothers - The Doobie Brothers
The Inner Mounting Flame - Mahavishnu Orchestra
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys - Traffic
The Polite Force - Egg
There's a Riot Goin' On - Sly & the Family Stone
The Yes Album - Yes
Trafalgar - The Bee Gees
Tumbleweed Connection - Elton John
Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison
Une Vie - Dalida
Up to Date - The Partridge Family
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Who's Next - The Who
Wild Life - Wings
You Don't Have To Be In The Army - Mungo Jerry
You're Not Alone - Dion DiMucci

Top hits

*"You've Got a Friend" - James Taylor
*"Eagle Rock" - Daddy Cool
*"I'll Be Gone" - Spectrum
*"Can You Feel It Baby" - Sherbet
*"Free The People - Sherbet
*"Because I Love You" - Masters Apprentences
*"Life Is Getting Better" - Flake
*"Teach Me How To Fly" - Copperwine feat Jeff St John
*"Toast and Marmalade for Tea" - Tin Tin
*"Gonna See My Baby Tonight" La De Da's
*"No Matter What" - Badfinger
*"Your Song" - Elton John
*"Is This The Way To Amarillo?" - Tony Christie
*"Cousin Norman" - Marmalade
*"Malt And Barley Blues" - McGuinness Flint
*"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - Joan Baez
*"Hot Pants (She Got to Use What She Got to Get Just What She Wants)" - James Brown
*"Love Her Madly" - The Doors
*"Riders On The Storm" - The Doors
*"Watching The River Flow" - Bob Dylan
*"My Brother Jake" - Free
*"Cry Baby" - Janis Joplin
*"Me And Bobby McGee" - Janis Joplin
*"Baby Jump" - Mungo Jerry
*"Jeepster" - T.Rex
*"Won't Get Fooled Again" - The Who
*"Baba O' Riley - The Who
*"The Story In Your Eyes" - The Moody Blues
*"Double Barrel" - Dave and Ansell Collins
*"Hot Love" - T. Rex
*"Imagine" - John Lennon
*"In My Own Time" - Family (number 4 in the U.K.)
*"It's Too Late" - Carole King
*"Never Can Say Goodbye" - The Jackson 5
*"Proud Mary" - Ike & Tina Turner
*"Theme From Shaft" - Isaac Hayes
*"What's Going On" - Marvin Gaye
*"Peace Train" - Cat Stevens
*"Maggie May" - Rod Stewart
*"I'm Eighteen" - Alice Cooper
*"Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" - The Temptations
*"Grandad" - Clive Dunn
*"Knock Three Times" - Tony Orlando and Dawn
*"Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" - Middle of the Road
*"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - Paul & Linda McCartney
*" Get It On" - T. Rex
*"Joy to the World" - Three Dog Night
*"I'm Still Waiting" - Diana Ross
*"Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" - The Tams
*"One Bad Apple" - The Osmonds
*"Got to Be There" - Michael Jackson
*"Another Day" - Paul & Linda McCartney
*"Family Affair" - Sly & the Family Stone
*"Go Away Little Girl" - Donny Osmond
*"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" - The Bee Gees
*"One Less Bell to Answer" - Fifth Dimension
*"Coz I Luv You" - Slade
*"Black Magic Woman" - Santana
*"Brown Sugar/Bitch/Let It Rock" - The Rolling Stones
*"[[Indian Reservation (song) | Indian Reservation" - {{The Raiders}}
*"Draggin' the Line" - {{Tommy James}}
*"{{My Sweet Lord}}" - {{George Harrison}}
*"{{What Is Life}}" - George Harrison
*"Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" - {{Cher (entertainer)|Cher}}
*"Treat Her Like a Lady" - {{Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose}}
*"{{Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)}}" - {{The Temptations}}
*"Ernie" - {{Benny Hill}}
*"Avec le Temps" - {{Dalida}}
*"Mamy Blue" - {{Dalida}}
*"{{It Don't Come Easy}}" - {{Ringo Starr}}
**First hit by {{Ringo Starr}}, the last member of {{the Beatles}} to have a solo hit
*"{{Black Dog (song)|Black Dog}}" - {{Led Zeppelin}}
*"{{Stairway to Heaven}}" - Led Zeppelin
*"I Woke Up in Love This Morning" - {{The Partridge Family}}
*"If You Really Love Me" - {{Stevie Wonder}}
*"Sooner or Later" - {{The Grass Roots}}
*"She's a Lady" - {{Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones}}
*"I Just Can't Help Believing" - {{Elvis Presley}}
*"Where Do I Begin" (Love Story) - {{Andy Williams}}

Published popular music

* "The Age of Not Believing"     w.m. {{Richard M. Sherman}} and {{Robert B. Sherman}}, from the film {{Bedknobs and Broomsticks}}
* "American Pie"     w.m. {{Don McLean}}
* "And I Love You So"     w.m. Don McLean
* "Baby I'm A-Want You" w.m. {{David Gates}}
* "Been On A Train" w.m. Laura Nyro
* "Ben"     w. Don Black m. Walter Scharf
* "Brown Earth" w.m. Laura Nyro
* "The Candy Man"     w.m. Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley, from the film {{Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory}}
* "Day By Day"     w. John Michael Tebelak m. Stephen Schwartz
* "Eagle Rock"     w.m. Ross Wilson
* "I Am Woman"     w. {{Helen Reddy}} m. Ray Burton
* "I Don't Know How To Love Him" w. {{Tim Rice}} m. {{Andrew Lloyd Webber}}
* "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing"     w.m. B. Backer, B. Davis, R. Cook & R. Greenaway
* "I'm Still Here"     w.m. {{Stephen Sondheim}}
* "Kiss An Angel Good Morning"     w.m. Ben Peters
* "Knock Three Times"     w.m. Irwin Levine
* "Losing My Mind"     w.m. {{Stephen Sondheim}}
* "Pure Imagination"     w.m. Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley, from the film {{Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory}}
* "Riders On The Storm"     w.m. The Doors
* "Stairway to Heaven"     w. Robert Plant m. Jimmy Page
* "Substitutiary Locomotion"     w.m. {{Richard M. Sherman}} and {{Robert B. Sherman}}, from the film {{Bedknobs and Broomsticks}}
* "The Summer Knows"      w. Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman m. {{Michel Legrand}} from the film {{Summer of Forty-Two|Summer Of Forty-Two}}
* "Those Were the Days" w. {{Lee Adams}}, m. {{Charles Strouse}}, from the TV series {{All in the Family}}
* "Too Many Mornings"     w.m. {{Stephen Sondheim}}

{{European classical music|Classical music}}

*{{Malcolm Arnold}} - Viola concerto with small orchestra
*{{Gavin Bryars}} - {{Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet}}
*{{Elliott Carter}} - String Quartet No. 3
*{{George Crumb}} - Lux Aeterna for soprano, bass flute/soprano recorder, sitar, and percussion (two players)
*{{George Crumb}} - Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale) for electric flute, electric cello, and amplified piano
*{{Mario Davidovsky}} - Chacona for violin, cello, and piano
*{{Morton Feldman}} - {{Rothko Chapel}}
*{{Jorgen Jersild}} - Three Danish Romances
*{{Mauricio Kagel}} - Staatstheater
*{{Ladislav Kupkovic}} - Klanginvasion auf Bonn
*{{Jean Langlais}} - Concerto for Organ no 3 "Reaction"
*{{Luigi Nono}} - Ein Gespenst geht um in der Welt
*{{Dmitri Shostakovich}} - {{Symphony No. 15 (Shostakovich)|Symphony No. 15 A major, Op. 141}}
*{{Karlheinz Stockhausen}} - {{Mixtur}}
*{{Iannis Xenakis}} - Charisma

{{Opera}}

*{{Alberto Ginastera}} - Beatrix Cenci
*{{Lee Hoiby}} - Summer and Smoke
*{{Heitor Villa-Lobos}} - Yerma

{{Musical theater}}

* {{Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death}}     Broadway production
* {{Follies}} ({{Stephen Sondheim}}) - Broadway production
* {{Godspell}} ({{Stephen Schwartz (composer)|Stephen Schwartz}}) - Broadway and London productions
* {{Golden Bat}}     Broadway production
* {{Jesus Christ Superstar}} ({{Andrew Lloyd Webber}} and {{Tim Rice}}) - Broadway production
* {{Meeow!}}     Broadway production
* {{No, No, Nanette}} ({{Irving Caesar}}, {{Otto Harbach}}, {{Vincent Youmans}}) - Broadway revival
* {{On The Town}}     Broadway revival
* {{Show Boat}} ({{Jerome Kern}} and {{Oscar Hammerstein II}}) - London revival
* {{To Live Another Summer}}     Broadway production
* {{Two Gentlemen of Verona|Two Gentlemen Of Verona}}     Broadway production

{{Musical film}}s

* {{Bedknobs and Broomsticks|Bedknobs And Broomsticks}}
* {{Fiddler on the Roof|Fiddler On The Roof}}
* {{Journey Back to Oz}}     animated feature
* {{Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory}}

Births

*{{January 8}} - {{Karen Poole}},{{Alisha's Attic}}
*{{January 11}} - {{Mary J. Blige}}
*{{January 11}} - {{Tom Rowlands}}, {{Chemical Brothers}}
*January 11 - {{Stuart Davis (musician)|Stuart Davis}}, lyricist
*{{January 17}} - {{Kid Rock}}, rapper
*{{January 18}} - {{Jonathan Davis}}, {{Korn|KoЯn}}
*{{January 25}} - {{China Kantner}} (Daughter of {{Grace Slick}} and {{Paul Kantner}})
*{{February 1}} - {{Ron Welty}} of {{The Offspring}}
*{{February 2}} - {{Michelle Gayle}}, singer
*{{February 2}} - {{Ben Mize}}, {{Counting Crows}}
*{{February 16}} - {{Amanda Holden}}, actress and singer
*{{February 19}} - {{Gil Shaham}}, violinist
*{{February 23}} - {{Jeff Beres}}, {{Sister Hazel}}
*{{February 26}} - {{Erykah Badu}}
*{{March 4}} - {{Feargal Lawler}}, {{The Cranberries}}
*{{March 5}} - {{John Frusciante}}, {{Red Hot Chili Peppers}}
*{{March 6}} - {{Betty Boo}}
*{{March 31}} - {{Ewan McGregor}}, actor and singer
*{{April 17}} - {{Selena Quintanilla}}
*{{April 20}} - {{Mikey Welsh}}, {{Weezer}}
*{{May 3}} - {{Damon Dash}}, record label executive
*{{May 9}} - {{Paul McGuigan (musician)|Paul McGuigan}}, {{Oasis (band)|Oasis}}
*{{May 27}} - {{Lisa Lopes}}, {{TLC (music)|TLC}} (d. 2002)
*{{May 30}} - {{Patrick Dahlheimer}}, {{Live (band)|Live}}
*{{June 16}}- {{Tupac Shakur}}, rapper
*{{June 17}} - {{Bif Naked}}, singer
*{{June 18}} - {{Nathan Morris}}, {{Boyz II Men}}
*{{June 27}} - {{DJ Screw}}, rapper (d. 2000)
*{{July 1}} - {{Missy Elliott}}
*{{July 17}} - {{DJ Minutemix}}, {{P.M. Dawn}}
*{{July 17}} - {{Ed Kowalczyk}}, {{Live (band)|Live}}
*{{July 23}} - {{Alison Krauss}}
*{{July 30}} - {{Calogero}}, singer
*July 30 - {{Elvis Crespo}}, singer
*{{August 4}} - {{Yo-Yo (rapper)}}
*{{September 6}} - {{Dolores O'Riordan}}, {{The Cranberries}}
*{{September 19}} - {{D-Flame}}, hip-hop and reggae performer
*{{September 24}} - {{Marty Cintron}}, {{No Mercy}}
*{{September 28}} - {{A. J. Croce}}, singer-songwriter and son of {{Jim Croce}}
*{{October 2}} - {{Tiffany (singer)|Tiffany}}
*{{October 2}} - {{James Root}}, guitarist for {{Slipknot (band)|Slipknot}}
*{{October 10}} - {{Evgeny Kissin}}, pianist
*{{October 20}} - {{Snoop Dogg}}
*{{October 25}} - {{Midori Goto|Midori}}, violinist
*{{November 6}} - {{Joey Beltram}}, DJ and record producer
*{{November 8}} - {{Tech N9ne}}, rapper
*{{December 24}} - {{Ricky Martin}}
*{{December 25}} - {{Noel Hogan}}, {{The Cranberries}}
*{{John Dolmayan}}, {{System of a Down}}
*{{Derrick Plourde}}, {{The Ataris}}

Deaths

*{{February 7}} - {{Dock Boggs}}, banjo player
*{{March 21}} - {{Nan Wynn}}, US singer
*{{March 26}} - {{Harold McNair}}, saxaphonist and flute player, {{lung cancer}}.
*{{March 31}} - {{Karl King}}, composer and bandleader
*{{April 17}} - {{Carmen Lombardo}}, US singer, composer and saxophonist
*{{May 2}} - {{Edith Day}}, US actress, singer and dancer
*{{May 30}} - {{Marcel Dupré}}, organist and composer
*{{June 11}} - {{Ambrose}}, English bandleader and violinist
*{{June 18}} - {{Libby Holman}}, US singer and actress
*{{July 3}} - {{Jim Morrison}}
*{{July 6}} - {{Louis Armstrong}}
*{{August 13}} - {{King Curtis}}, jazz and blues musician (murdered)
*{{August 17}} - {{Tab Smith}}, saxophonist
*{{August 25}} - {{Ted Lewis (musician)|Ted Lewis}}
*{{August 27}} - {{Lil Hardin Armstrong}}, wife and musical collaborator of Louis Armstrong
*{{October 3}} - {{Seán Ã" Riada}}, composer and bandleader
*{{October 12}} - {{Gene Vincent}}, singer
*{{October 24}} - {{Carl Ruggles}}, composer
*{{October 29}} - {{Duane Allman}} of {{The Allman Brothers}}
*{{November 18}} - {{Junior Parker}}, blues musician
*{{November 22}} - {{Zez Confrey}}, popular composer and pianist
*{{December 28}} - {{Max Steiner}}, composer

Awards

{{Grammy}} Awards

*{{Grammy Awards of 1971}}

{{Country Music Association}} Awards

*{{CMA Entertainer of the Year}}: {{Charley Pride}}
*{{CMA Top Male Vocalist}}: {{Charley Pride}}
*{{CMA Top Female Vocalist}}: {{Lynn Anderson}}
*{{CMA Top Vocal Group}}: {{Osborne Brothers}}
*{{CMA Top Instrumental Group}}: {{Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass}}
*{{CMA Top Vocal Duo}}: {{Porter Wagoner}} and {{Dolly Parton}}
*{{CMA Single of the Year}}: "Help Me Make It Through The Night" - {{Sammi Smith}}
*{{CMA Song of the Year}}: "Easy Loving" - {{Freddie Hart}}
*{{CMA Album of the Year}}: {{I Won't Mention It Again}} - {{Ray Price (musician)|Ray Price}}
*{{CMA Musician of the Year}}: {{Jerry Reed}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest}}

*{{Eurovision Song Contest 1971}}
**{{Sévérine (singer)|Sévérine}} (of {{Monaco}}) for "Un Banc, Un Arbre, Un Rue"

External Charts

*Pop Culture Madness 1971 Pop Music Chart