1967 in music
The year 1967 was important for psychedelic rock, and was famous for its "Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It saw major releases from multiple well-known bands including the Beatles, Small Faces, the newly renamed Eric Burdon and the Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Love, The Beach Boys, Cream, the Byrds, the Rolling Stones, the Who, and the Monkees. This year also saw debuts from many upcoming bands such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Doors, Moby Grape, Procol Harum, Traffic, the Velvet Underground, and Pink Floyd.
Specific locations
Specific genres
- 1967 in country music
- 1967 in jazz
- 1967 in progressive rock
Events
- January 4 – The Doors release their debut album, The Doors.
- January 13 – Stephen Foster Memorial Day is observed for the first time in the United States.
- January 14 – The Human Be-In takes place in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park Polo Fields with spoken words from Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder and others. Live music is provided by Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Speeches from Jerry Rubin and others are also given at the event.
- January 15 – The Rolling Stones appear on The Ed Sullivan Show in the United States. At Sullivan's request, the band change the lyrics of "Let's Spend the Night Together" to "Let's spend some time together".
- January 16 – The Monkees begin work on Headquarters, the first album to give them complete artistic and technical control over their material.
- January 17 – The Daily Mail newspaper in Britain reports 4,000 potholes in Blackburn, Lancashire; and Guinness heir Tara Browne is killed in a car wreck. These articles inspire lyrics for the Beatles song "A Day in the Life".
- January 22 – Simon & Garfunkel give a live concert at Philharmonic Hall in New York City. Some of this concert is released on October 4, 1997, on their box set Old Friends, but most is not released until July 2002.
- January 29 – Mantra-Rock Dance, the "ultimate high" of the hippie era, is organised at The Avalon ballroom in San Francisco, featuring Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Moby Grape, beat poet Allen Ginsberg and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in support of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
- January 30 – The Beatles shoot a promotional film for their forthcoming single "Strawberry Fields Forever" at Knole Park in Sevenoaks.
- February 3 – UK record producer Joe Meek murders his landlady and then commits suicide by shooting himself in the head at Holloway, North London.
- February 6 – Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of the Monkees fly into London. Dolenz sees Till Death Us Do Part on British TV and uses the term "Randy Scouse Git" from the programme for the title of the Monkees' next single release "Randy Scouse Git", not realising it is an offensive term. British censors force the title to be changed to "Alternate Title" in the UK.
- February 7 – Micky Dolenz meets Paul McCartney at his home in St John's Wood, London, and they pose together for the press. His impressions of the visit feature in the lyrics of "Randy Scouse Git".
- February 10 – Abbey Road Studio 2 session with Michael Nesmith and other friends in attendance as the Beatles record "A Day in the Life" with the London Philharmonic Orchestra performing an "orgasm of noise" featured twice in the song.
- February 12 – British police raid 'Redlands', the Sussex home of Keith Richards in the early hours of the morning following a tip-off about a party from the News of the World; although no arrests are made at the time, Richards, Mick Jagger and art dealer Robert Fraser are subsequently charged with possession of drugs.
- February 16 – "Aretha Franklin Day" is declared in Detroit, Michigan.
- February 24 – The Bee Gees sign a management contract with Robert Stigwood.
- March 2 – The 9th Annual Grammy Awards are held in Los Angeles, hosted by Kirk Douglas. Frank Sinatra wins the most awards with five, including Album of the Year for A Man and His Music and Record of the Year for "Strangers in the Night". The Beatles win Song of the Year for "Michelle".
- March 3 – Eric Burdon & the Animals refuse to perform a show in Ottawa, Ontario, unless they are paid in advance. The audience of 3000 riots, causing $5000 in damages to the auditorium.
- March 11 – A taped appearance by the Beatles on American Bandstand includes their new music video for the songs "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever".
- March 19 — Foundation of the Salzburg Easter Festival.
- March 25 – The Who perform their first concert in the United States, in New York City.
- March 27 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney are awarded the Ivor Novello award for "Michelle", the most performed song in Britain in 1966.
- March 30 – The Beatles pose with a photographic collage and wax figures from Madame Tussaud's famous museum for the cover artwork of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album at Chelsea Manor Studios in London.
- March 31 – Kicking off a tour with the Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck at the London Astoria, Jimi Hendrix sets fire to his guitar on stage for the first time. He is taken to hospital suffering burns to his hands but the guitar-burning act will become a trademark of Hendrix's performances.
- April 8 – The 12th Eurovision Song Contest is held in the Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna, Austria. The United Kingdom wins the contest for the first time with the Bill Martin/Phil Coulter song "Puppet on a String", sung by Sandie Shaw barefoot.
- May 1
- * Paul McCartney reveals that all four members of the Beatles have "dropped acid".
- * Elvis Presley marries Priscilla Beaulieu at the Aladdin, Las Vegas.
- May 2 – In the United States, Capitol Records pulls the plug on the Beach Boys' mysterious Smile project. Brian Wilson, who has taken more than a year to compose and produce the album, cannot bring himself to finish it.
- May 12
- * Pink Floyd stage the first ever rock concert with quadraphonic sound at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
- * The debut album of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced, is released in the UK, where it was recorded.
- May 15 – Paul McCartney meets American photographer Linda Eastman at the "Bag O' Nails" club in London.
- May 19 – Linda Eastman photographs the Beatles at the London press party for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band held at the Chapel Street home of Brian Epstein. Media present are perplexed by the band's fashion statements and the music itself.
- May 26 – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles is rush released in the UK as mono and stereo LPs ahead of the scheduled June 1 release date. "The closest Western Civilization has come to unity since the Congress of Vienna in 1815 was the week the Sgt. Pepper album was released."
- May 30 – BBC Light Programme radio in the UK broadcasts an edition of Where It's At featuring the Beatles interviews and John Lennon's comedy intro to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". The BBC refuse to air "A Day in the Life" for alleged "drug references" in the lyrics.
- June 1 – Greece's fascist junta issues "Army decree No 13", which bans playing or listening to the music of Mikis Theodorakis.
- June 4 – Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Denny Laine and his Electric String Band, Procol Harum and The Chiffons perform a two-hour "Sunday Special" at the Saville Theatre in London.
- June 10–11 – The KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival at Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California features Canned Heat, the Byrds, the Seeds, Blues Magoos, Jefferson Airplane, the Doors, Country Joe and the Fish and others on the bill for a charity concert attended by 20,000-40,000; considered America's first pop festival, but eclipsed in stature by the Monterey Pop Festival the following week.
- June 15 – English cellist Jacqueline du Pré marries Jewish conductor Daniel Barenboim at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
- June 16 – Barbra Streisand performs a live concert "A Happening in Central Park" in New York's Central Park.
- June 16–18 – The Monterey Pop Festival, one of the world's first outdoor rock music festivals, is held in Monterey, California. Stars include the Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Eric Burdon & the Animals, the Byrds, The Association, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and The Holding Company with Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Ravi Shankar. Otis and the MG's take the stage at 1:00 am after Jefferson Airplane and bring down the house; 55,000 are estimated to be in attendance.
- June 25 – The Beatles debut "All You Need Is Love" to close the Our World television special from London, the first worldwide television broadcast, seen live by an audience of over 400 million in 25 countries. Backing singers include Eric Clapton, members of the Rolling Stones and the Who.
- June 28
- * The Supremes perform for the first time as Diana Ross & the Supremes at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Florence Ballard is fired from the group on July 1, and on-hand stand-in Cindy Birdsong permanently takes Ballard's place in the group.
- * The Monkees fly into London at the start of their concerts at the Empire Pool, Wembley.
- June 29 – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are sentenced to jail in England for drug possession. They later appeal successfully against the sentences.
- June–July – Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, conductor Leonard Bernstein leads the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra on a tour to the Sinai desert, the site of fighting only days before.
- July 1 – William Rees-Mogg, editor of The Times, uses the phrase "Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?" in his editorial criticizing the prison sentences given to Mick Jagger and Keith Richard two days earlier.
- July 2 – Jeff Beck and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers perform a two-hour "Sunday Special" at the Saville Theatre in London.
- July 3 – The Beatles host a party at the Speakeasy Club for the Monkees on the completion of their concerts in London.
- July 5 – First of the Schaefer Music Festivals, held in Central Park, New York City. The lineup consists of Len Chandler, the Young Rascals and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
- July 18 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience is thrown off a tour of the Monkees after complaints from the conservative Daughters of the American Revolution.
- July 29 – Motown Records releases "Reflections," the first single by the group's new billing, "Diana Ross & the Supremes" and after firing founding member Florence Ballard; Ballard, nevertheless, sings on the record and appears on the vinyl's cover alongside group members Ross and Wilson because the song was recorded before her dismissal.
- August 4 – Pink Floyd release their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It peaks at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart and is the only one made under the leadership of founder Syd Barrett.
- August 14 – The Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 becomes law in the United Kingdom, and most offshore radio stations have already closed down. Only Radio Caroline North & South on 259 will continue, as Radio Caroline International.
- August 21 – Mikis Theodorakis is arrested by the Greek military authorities and jailed for five months.
- August 23 – Brian Epstein's last visit to a Beatles' recording session, at the Chappell Recording Studios on Maddox Street, London. The last new Beatles song he lives to hear is "Your Mother Should Know". Epstein dies of an overdose of Carbitral, a form of barbiturate or sleeping pill, in his locked bedroom, on August 27.
- August 27 – The Beatles, in Bangor, Wales, with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi since August 25, are informed of the death of their manager Brian Epstein, and return to London at once.
- August 31 – Paul McCartney calls a band meeting to discuss his TV movie idea about a psychedelic bus ride.
- September 7 – Eric Burdon marries Angie King.
- September 16 – Too ill to conduct, after undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer, Sir Malcolm Sargent makes a valedictory appearance at the Last Night of the Proms.
- September 17 - In the United States:
- * The Doors appear on The Ed Sullivan Show and perform "Light My Fire". Despite having agreed to Sullivan's request that the line "Girl we couldn't get much higher" be changed for the show, Jim Morrison performs it the way it was written and the Doors are banned from the show.
- * The Who destroy their instruments during a performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Keith Moon's exploding drum kit injures Pete Townshend.
- September 29 – Tangerine Dream is founded by Edgar Froese in West Berlin.
- September 30 – The BBC in the UK introduces a pop music channel, Radio 1, and changes the Light Programme into the more MOR-orientated Radio 2, also renaming the Third Programme, which covers classical music and culture, into Radio 3. Radio 1's split from Radio 2 is heralded by "Theme One", specially composed by George Martin; Radio 1's programmes then launch with a jingle recorded by PAMS, the voice of DJ Tony Blackburn and his signature tune, an extract from "Beefeaters" by Johnny Dankworth. The first full single played is the Move's "Flowers in the Rain". The first song played on Radio 2 is Julie Andrews with the title song from "The Sound of Music".
- October 11 – Harold Wilson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, wins a libel action against rock band the Move in the English High Court after being depicted in a compromising position on a promotional postcard for their record "Flowers in the Rain"; in settlement, royalties from the song will be donated to charity.
- October 14 – Tammi Terrell faints and collapses into duet partner Marvin Gaye's arms onstage during a performance at the Hampton University homecoming in Virginia. She is later diagnosed with a brain tumor, and will die from brain cancer in 1970 at the age of 24.
- October 18 – The first issue of Rolling Stone magazine rolls off the press at about 5:30pm, with a cover dated November 9 and featuring a photo of John Lennon in the film How I Won the War. The original inspiration for the magazine was Bomp! magazine based in California.
- October 27 – Sir Malcolm Sargent's memorial service in Westminster Abbey is attended by 3,000 people including Princess Marina of Kent, Bridget D'Oyly Carte, Pierre Boulez, Larry Adler, Douglas Fairbanks Junior, Léon Goossens, Sir Arthur Bliss, and representatives of the London orchestras and of the Promenaders. Colin Davis and the BBC Chorus and Symphony Orchestra perform the music.
- November 22
- * Oricon is founded in Japan by Sōkō Koike and begins publishing a singles chart.
- * Otis Redding records "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" at Stax Records' studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
- * George Harrison begins recording tracks for Wonderwall Music, his first solo album, in London; he continues the recording in Mumbai.
- December 5 – The Beatles open the Apple Boutique in London. Party guests include Eric Clapton and movie director Richard Lester.
- December 7 – Otis Redding records overdubs to "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay".
- December 8 – Otis Redding and his backup band, Bar-Kays, play at a popular nightclub, Leo's Casino in Cleveland, Ohio. This is to be Redding's last performance. Two days later he and four of the six Bar-Kays are among the six people who die when a Beechcraft Model 18 plane in which they are traveling crashes in Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin, one of the worst air tragedies in entertainment history, and the worst since "The Day the Music Died" when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a crash in 1959.
- December 9 – During a performance at the New Haven Arena in New Haven, Connecticut, Jim Morrison of the Doors becomes the first singer to be arrested on stage, having previously been sprayed with a can of mace. He is charged with inciting a riot, indecency and public obscenity. The charges are dropped several weeks later due to a lack of evidence.
- December 15 – The Who release their third studio album, The Who Sell Out. It is a concept album, formatted as a collection of unrelated songs interspersed with faux commercials and public service announcements.
- December 26 – First telecast of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour on BBC1 in the UK. Shown in black and white, it upsets McCartney because it ruins the intended psychedelic color effects.
- date unknown
- * Pickwick Records releases an LP collection of ten 1950s A- and B-sides of singles by Simon & Garfunkel, recorded under their pseudonym Tom & Jerry, and tries to pass it off as current material by the duo. Simon and Garfunkel file a legal challenge, and the record is swiftly withdrawn from the market.
- * Toots & the Maytals releases "54-46 That's My Number", one of the first reggae songs.
- * The Savonlinna Opera Festival is re-launched in Savonlinna, Finland, after a gap of fifty years.
- * The first LP recording of traditional Estonian music, Eesti rahvalaule ja pillilugusid, is released.
- * The International Society of Bassists is founded by Gary Karr.
- * Ali Akbar Khan founds a school of music in California.
Musical groups formed
- ''See :Category:Musical groups established in 1967''
Musical groups disbanded
- ''See :Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1967''
Albums released
August
Release date unknown
And We Were Lovers – Shirley Bassey Another Story - Ernest TubbAnything Goes! The Dave Brubeck Quartet Plays Cole Porter - Dave BrubeckBack Up Train – Al GreenA Bag Full of Blues - Jimmy McGriffBallads from Deep Gap - Doc Watson and Merle WatsonBasie's Beat - Count Basie OrchestraBeach Samba - Astrud GilbertoThe Beat of Brazil – Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66The Beat Goes On - Herbie MannThe Best of Ronnie Dove Volume 2 – Ronnie DoveBlaze – Herman's HermitsBlues Is King – B. B. KingBlue Notes - Johnny HodgesBobo Motion - Willie BoboBooker 'n' Brass - Booker Ervin'Bout Changes 'n' Things Take 2 - Eric AndersenBrowns Sing the Big Ones from Country - The BrownsBucket o' Grease - Les McCann Ltd.Burning Bridges - Glen CampbellBy the Time I Get to Phoenix - Glen CampbellCalifornia Nights - Lesley GoreCarryin' On with Johnny Cash & June Carter - Johnny Cash and June Carter CashCauldron – Fifty Foot HoseCasino Royale – Burt Bacharach Cherry Red - Eddie VinsonChet - Chet AtkinsChicken Fat - Mel BrownChocomotive - Houston PersonChristmas with Anita Bryant – Anita BryantChuck Berry's Golden Hits - Chuck BerryClear Light – Clear LightCliff in Japan – Cliff RichardThe Cold Hard Facts of Life - Porter WagonerColour My World – Petula ClarkConnie in the Country - Connie SmithConnie Smith Sings Bill Anderson - Connie SmithConquistador! – Cecil TaylorContours - Sam RiversThe Country Way - Charley PrideCreole Cookin' - Bobby HackettCry (Ronnie Dove album) – Ronnie DoveDaktari - Shelly ManneDave Van Ronk and the Hudson Dusters - Dave Van RonkA Day in the Life – Wes MontgomeryDays Have Gone By - John FaheyDoktor Dolittle – Fred Åkerström Double Dynamite – Sam & DaveA Drop of the Hard Stuff – The DublinersEarthwords & Music - John HartfordElla and Duke at the Cote D'Azur – Ella Fitzgerald and Duke EllingtonEmotions – The Pretty ThingsEvil – Howlin' WolfExtra Special! – Peggy LeeThe Far East Suite – Duke EllingtonFeelin' Groovy – Harper's Bizarre- The First Edition – Kenny Rogers and the First Edition For All the Seasons of Your Mind – Janis IanFrom Sergio – With Love – Sergio FranchiFuture – The SeedsGene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers – Gene ClarkH. P. Lovecraft – H. P. LovecraftHigh Priestess of Soul – Nina SimoneHour Glass – Hour GlassI Think We're Alone Now – Tommy James and the ShondellsIncense and Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm ClockInner Views – Sonny BonoIntroducing the Sonics – The SonicsJuicy – Willie BoboJust for You – Neil Diamond Knock on Wood – Eddie FloydThe Last Waltz – Engelbert HumperdickLeft My Blues in San Francisco – Buddy GuyThe Letter/Neon Rainbow – The Box TopsLive! At Caesar's Palace – Checkmates, Ltd.Live at the Fillmore Auditorium – Chuck BerryLooks at Life - John HartfordLudo – Ivor Cutler TrioThe Marvelettes – The MarvelettesMixed Bag – Richie HavensMore of the Hard Stuff – The DublinersMorning Dew – Tim RoseNice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast – Julie LondonThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Nitty Gritty Dirt BandNo Way Out – The Chocolate WatchbandThe Original Spinners – The Spinners
- Out of Different Bags - Marlena ShawThe Parable of Arable Land – The Red CrayolaThe Party's Over and Other Great Willie Nelson Songs – Willie NelsonPtooff! – The DeviantsReach Out – Burt BacharachThe Real McCoy – McCoy TynerReflections – Terry Knight and the PackRelease Me – Engelbert HumperdinckRevolution! – Paul Revere & the RaidersRicochet – Nitty Gritty Dirt BandSafe As Milk – Captain Beefheart and his Magic BandSay Siegel-Schwall – Siegel-Schwall BandSeen in Green – The SeekersShake Down – Savoy BrownSongs for Rainy Day Lovers – Clare FischerThe Story of Simon Simopath – NirvanaThe Soul of a Bell – William BellStraight, No Chaser – Thelonious MonkStrictly Instrumental – Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and Doc WatsonSuper Blues – Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters & Little WalterSupernatural Fairy Tales – ArtThe Super Super Blues Band – Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters & Howlin' WolfThese Are My Songs – Petula ClarkThere Goes My Heart – Sergio FranchiThe Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack – The Nice
- Today My Way - Patti PageThe Trip – Electric Flag Víctor Jara – Víctor JaraWaist Deep in the Big Muddy – Pete SeegerWalk Through This World with Me – George JonesWalkin' in the Sunshine - Roger MillerWaterhole #3 - Roger MillerWe Are Ever So Clean – Blossom ToesThe West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band Part One – Art Experimental BandWest Side Soul – Magic SamWhisper Not – Ella FitzgeraldWith Body & Soul – Julie LondonYou Got My Mind Messed Up – James Carr
Billboard Top popular records of 1967
The completed Billboard year-end list for 1967 is composed of records that entered the Billboard Hot 100 between November 1966 and December 1967. Records with chart runs that started in 1966 and ended in 1967, or started in 1967 and ended in 1968, made this chart if the majority of their chart weeks were in 1967. If not, they were ranked in the year-end charts for 1966 or 1968. If their weeks were equal, they were listed in the year they first entered. Appearing in multiple years is not permitted. Each week thirty points were awarded to the number one record, then nineteen points for number two, eighteen points for number three, and so on. The total points a record earned determined its year-end rank. The complete chart life of each record is represented, with number of points accrued. There are no ties, even when multiple records have the same number of points. The next ranking category is peak chart position, then weeks at peak chart position, weeks in top ten, weeks in top forty, and finally weeks on Hot 100 chart.The chart can be sorted by Artist, Song title, Recording and Release dates, Cashbox year-end ranking or units sold by clicking on the column header. Additional details for each record can be accessed by clicking on the song title, and referring to the Infobox in the right column of the song page. on its website. were derived by same process as the Billboard rankings. Sales information was derived from the, the and The Book of Golden Discs, but numbers listed should be regarded as estimates. Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry information with sources can be found on Wikipedia. Archived issues of Billboard from November 1966 to March 1968 and Hot 100 Year-End formulas were used to complete the .
| Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Release date | CB | Sales | Charts, Awards |
| 1 | Lulu | "To Sir With Love" | Epic 10187 | 1967 | June 2, 1967 | 3 | 2.00 | US Billboard 1967 #1, Hot100 #1 for 5 weeks, 17 total weeks, 237 points |
| 2 | The Monkees | "Daydream Believer" | Colgems 1012 | August 9, 1967 | October 25, 1967 | 4 | 2.00 | US Billboard 1967 #2, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, 219 points |
| 3 | The Association | "Windy" | Warner Bros. 7041 | April 13, 1967 | May 1, 1967 | 6 | 1.50 | US Billboard 1967 #3, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, 213 points |
| 4 | Bobbie Gentry | "Ode To Billie Joe" | Capitol 5950 | July 1966 | July 10, 1967 | 2 | 3.00 | US Billboard 1967 #4, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, 212 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999 |
| 5 | The Young Rascals | "Groovin'" | Atlantic 2401 | March 27, 1967 | April 10, 1967 | 5 | 1.25 | US Billboard 1967 #5, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks, 212 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999 |
| 6 | The Box Tops | "The Letter" | Mala 565 | March 1966 | August 1967 | 1 | 4.00 | US Billboard 1967 #6, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 206 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2011 |
| 7 | The Doors | "Light My Fire" | Elektra 45615 | August 1966 | April 24, 1967 | 17 | 1.25 | Top Rock Tracks 1967 #1, US Billboard 1967 #7, Hot100 #1 for 3 weeks, 17 total weeks, 206 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, National Recording Registry 2022 |
| 8 | Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra | Somethin' Stupid | Reprise 0561 | February 1, 1967 | March 1967 | 9 | 4.00 | US Billboard 1967 #8, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks, 204 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1967 #1, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 9 weeks, 17 total weeks, 350 points |
| 9 | The Turtles | "Happy Together" | White Whale 244 | January 1967 | January 25, 1967 | 7 | 1.25 | US Billboard 1967 #9, Hot100 #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 199 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2007 |
| 10 | The Beatles | "Hello Goodbye" | Capitol 2056 | October–November 2, 1967 | November 27, 1967 | 11 | 3.00 | US Billboard 1967 #10, Hot100 #1 for 3 weeks, 11 total weeks, 181 points |
| 11 | Strawberry Alarm Clock | Incense and Peppermints | Uni 55018 | March 1967 | May 19, 1967 | 20 | 2.00 | US Billboard 1967 #11, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 170 points |
| 12 | The Buckinghams | "Kind of a Drag" | USA 860 | October 1966 | December 1966 | 38 | 1.50 | US Billboard 1967 #12, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 163 points |
| 13 | Aretha Franklin | "Respect" | Atlantic 2403 | February 14, 1967 | April 29, 1967 | 8 | 3.00 | US Billboard 1967 #13, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks, 163 points, Top Soul Singles 1967 #2, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 8 weeks, 14 total weeks, 294 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998 |
| 14 | Frankie Valli | "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | Philips 40446 | March 1967 | April 1967 | 10 | 1.25 | US Billboard 1967 #14, Hot100 #2 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 153 points |
| 15 | The Beatles | "All You Need Is Love" | Capitol 5964 | June 14, 1967 | July 17, 1967 | 14 | 3.00 | US Billboard 1967 #15, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, 150 points |
| 16 | The Rolling Stones | "Ruby Tuesday" | London 901 | November 1966 | January 13, 1967 | 12 | 1.50 | US Billboard 1967 #16, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, 149 points |
| 17 | The Supremes | "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" | Motown 1101 | November 13, 1966 | January 11, 1967 | 25 | 1.50 | US Billboard 1967 #17, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, 149 points, Top Soul Singles 1967 #13, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks, 169 points |
| 18 | Gladys Knight and the Pips | "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" | Soul 35039 | June 17, 1967 | September 28, 1967 | 16 | 1.25 | US Billboard 1967 #18, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 17 total weeks, 149 points, Top Soul Singles 1967 #3, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 17 total weeks, 278 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2018 |
| 19 | Sam and Dave | "Soul Man" | Stax 231 | 1967 | September 1967 | 21 | 1.25 | US Billboard 1967 #19, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 148 points, Top Soul Singles 1967 #1, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 7 weeks, 18 total weeks, 301 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999 |
| 20 | Stevie Wonder | "I Was Made to Love Her" | Tamla 54151 | 1967 | May 18, 1967 | 32 | 1.25 | US Billboard 1967 #20, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks, 148 points, Top Soul Singles 1967 #6, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 4 weeks, 15 total weeks, 255 points |
| 21 | The Music Explosion | "Little Bit O'Soul" | Laurie 3380 | 1967 | April 1967 | 30 | 2.00 | US Billboard 1967 #21, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 145 points |
| 22 | The Association | "Never My Love" | Warner Bros. 7074 | May 1967 | August 9, 1967 | 24 | 1.50 | US Billboard 1967 #22, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 145 points |
| 23 | The Cowsills | The Rain, the Park & Other Things | MGM 13810 | August 17, 1967 | September 1967 | 18 | 1.00 | US Billboard 1967 #23, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 140 points |
| 24 | The Seekers | "Georgy Girl" | Capitol 5756 | April 11, 1966 | October 10, 1966 | 19 | 1.00 | US Billboard 1967 #24, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 140 points |
| 25 | Smokey Robinson and the Miracles | "I Second That Emotion" | Tamla 54159 | April 19, 1966 | October 19, 1967 | 40 | 1.00 | US Billboard 1967 #25, Hot100 #4 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 140 points, Top Soul Singles 1967 #10, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 215 points |
| 26 | The Royal Guardsmen | "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" | Laurie 3366 | October 1966 | November 1966 | 26 | 1.25 | US Billboard 1967 #26, Hot100 #2 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, 139 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, National Recording Registry 2017 |
| 27 | Aaron Neville | Tell It Like It Is | Par-Lo 101 | August 20, 1966 | November 9, 1966 | 34 | 1.00 | US Billboard 1967 #27, Hot100 #2 for 1 weeks, 14 total weeks, 139 points, Top Soul Singles 1967 #4, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 5 weeks, 17 total weeks, 264 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2015 |
| 28 | Arthur Conley | "Sweet Soul Music" | Atco 6463 | December 1966 | February 1967 | 46 | 1.00 | US Billboard 1967 #28, Hot100 #2 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 129 points |
| 29 | Bobby Vee and The Strangers | "Come Back When You Grow Up" | Liberty 55964 | December 1965 | June 9, 1967 | 35 | 1.00 | US Billboard 1967 #29, Hot100 #3 for 3 week, 16 total weeks, 129 points |
| 30 | The Beatles | "Penny Lane" | Capitol 5810 | Dec 1966 to Jan 17, 1967 | February 13, 1967 | 15 | 2.50 | US Billboard 1967 #30, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, 123 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2011 |
| 31 | The Supremes | "The Happening" | Motown 1107 | January 1967 | March 20, 1967 | 22 | 1.50 | US Billboard 1967 #31, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, 123 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999 |
| 32 | Diana Ross and the Supremes | "Reflections" | Motown 1111 | March 2 and May 9, 1967 | July 24, 1967 | 31 | 1.50 | US Billboard 1967 #32, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks, 118 points |
| 33 | Tommy James and the Shondells | "I Think We're Alone Now" | Roulette 4720 | December 1966 | January 5, 1967 | 39 | 1.80 | US Billboard 1967 #33, Hot100 #4 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks, 110 points |
| 34 | The Four Tops | "Bernadette" | Motown 1104 | January 21, 1967 | March 11, 1967 | 86 | 2.00 | US Billboard 1967 #34, Hot100 #4 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks, 106 points |
| 35 | Procol Harum | "A Whiter Shade of Pale" | Deram 7507 | April 1967 | May 12, 1967 | 59 | 6.00 | Top Rock Tracks 1967 #7, US Billboard 1967 #35, Hot100 #5 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks, 106 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998 |
| 36 | The Mamas and The Papas | "Dedicated to the One I Love" | Dunhill 4077 | November 26, 1966 | February 1967 | 27 | 1.80 | US Billboard 1967 #36, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks, 105 points |
| 37 | Scott McKenzie | "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" | Ode 7-103 | December 1966 | May 13, 1967 | 43 | 7.00 | US Billboard 1967 #37, Hot100 #4 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, 105 points |
| 38 | Blues Magoos | "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" | Mercury 72622 | May 1966 | October 1966 | 71 | 2.00 | Top Rock Tracks 1967 #10, US Billboard 1967 #38, Hot100 #5 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 104 points |
| 39 | The Soul Survivors | "Expressway to Your Heart" | Crimson 1010 | 1967 | July 1967 | 83 | 1.80 | US Billboard 1967 #39, Hot100 #4 for 1 weeks, 15 total weeks, 103 points |
| 40 | The Monkees | "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" | Colgems 1004 | January 21, 1967 | March 8, 1967 | 13 | 2.00 | US Billboard 1967 #40, Hot100 #2 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, 101 points |
Top American hits on record
w. = words, m. = musicBritish number one hits not included above
- "Puppet on a String" – Sandie Shaw
- "Silence Is Golden" – The Tremeloes
- "The Last Waltz" – Engelbert Humperdinck
- "Massachusetts" – Bee Gees
- "Baby Now That I've Found You" – The Foundations
- "Let the Heartaches Begin" – Long John Baldry
Published popular music
w. = words, m. = music- "At the Crossroads" w.m. Leslie Bricusse, from the film Doctor Dolittle
- "The Bare Necessities" w.m. Terry Gilkyson from the film The Jungle Book
- "Blowin' Away" w.m. Laura Nyro
- "Bonnie and Clyde" w.m. Charles Strouse
- "Both Sides, Now" w.m. Joni Mitchell
- "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" w.m. Jimmy Webb
- "Colour My World" w.m. Jackie Trent & Tony Hatch
- "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach
- "Even The Bad Times Are Good" w. Peter Callander m. Mitch Murray
- "The Eyes Of Love" w. Bob Russell m. Quincy Jones
- "Fortuosity" w.m. Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, introduced by Tommy Steele in the film The Happiest Millionaire
- "Gentle On My Mind" w.m. John Hartford
- "Happiness" w.m. Clark Gesner from the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
- "Hare Krishna" w. Gerome Ragni & James Rado m. Galt MacDermot
- "I Wanna Be Like You" w.m. Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, from the film The Jungle Book
- "I've Gotta Be Me" w.m. Walter Marks
- "In the Heat of the Night" w. Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman m. Quincy Jones. Theme song from the film of the same name, performed by Ray Charles
- "The Look of Love" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach from the film Casino Royale, sung by Dusty Springfield
- "Mrs. Robinson" w.m. Paul Simon from the film The Graduate
- "My Friend, The Doctor" w.m. Leslie Bricusse from the film Doctor Dolittle
- "One Less Bell To Answer" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach
- "Springtime for Hitler" w.m. Mel Brooks, from the film The Producers
- "Puppet on a String" w.m. Bill Martin & Phil Coulter
- "Talk to the Animals" w.m. Leslie Bricusse. Introduced by Rex Harrison in the film Doctor Dolittle
- "The Tapioca" w. Sammy Cahn m. Jimmy Van Heusen Introduced by Jim Bryant dubbing for James Fox in the film Thoroughly Modern Millie
- "Thoroughly Modern Millie" w. Sammy Cahn m. Jimmy Van Heusen Introduced by Julie Andrews in the film Thoroughly Modern Millie
- "To Sir, with Love" w.m. Don Black & Mark London. Introduced by Lulu in the 1967 film To Sir, with Love
- "What a Wonderful World" w.m. Bob Thiele & George David Weiss
- "You Only Live Twice" w. Leslie Bricusse m. John Barry
Other notable songs
- "Alegria, Alegria" w.m. Caetano Veloso
- "Comme d'habitude" w. Claude François and Gilles Thibaut m. Claude François and Jacques Revaux
- "Déshabillez-moi" w. Robert Nyel m. Gaby Verlor
- "Nezhnost'" w. Nikolay Dobronravov and Sergey Grebennikov m. Alexandra Pakhmutova
Classical music
- Jean Absil – Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2
- Malcolm Arnold – Symphony No. 6
- Luciano Berio
- *Chemins II for viola and nine instruments
- *O King for soprano and five instruments
- *Sequenza VI for viola
- Earle Brown – Event: Synergy II, for chamber ensemble
- Carlos Chávez – Soli IV, for horn, trumpet, and trombone
- George Crumb – Echoes of Time and the River for orchestra
- Gottfried von Einem – Violin Concerto
- Benjamin Frankel – Viola Concerto
- Philip Glass – 600 Lines
- Milko Kelemen – Composé, for two pianos and orchestral group
- Wojciech Kilar – Solenne per 67 Esecutori, for solo voices and orchestra or instrumental ensemble
- Paul Lansky – String Quartet No. 1
- György Ligeti – Lontano
- Witold Lutosławski – Symphony No. 2
- Bruno Maderna – Concerto No. 2 for Oboe and Orchestra
- Henri Pousseur – Couleurs croisées for large orchestra
- María Teresa Prieto – Palo verde, ballet
- Steve Reich – Piano Phase
- Karlheinz Stockhausen –
- * Hymnen
- * Mixtur, version for small orchestra
- * Prozession
- Toru Takemitsu – November Steps
- Veljo Tormis
- * Eesti kalendrilaulud
- * Maarjamaa ballaad
- Iannis Xenakis
- *Medea for male voices and 5 instruments
- *Polytope de Montréal
- Bernd Alois Zimmermann
- * Intercomunicazione
- * ''Tratto''
Opera
- Yasushi Akutagawa – Orpheus of Hiroshima
- Richard Rodney Bennett – A Penny for a Song
- Cromwell Everson – Klutaimnestra
- Elizabeth Maconchy – The Three Strangers
- William Walton – ''The Bear''
Musical theater
The Boy Friend – London revival opened at the Comedy Theatre on November 29 and ran for 365 performancesBy Jupiter. Off-Broadway revival opened at Theatre Four on January 19 and ran for 118 performances.Curley McDimple. Off-Broadway production opened at the Bert Wheeler Theatre on November 22 and ran for 931 performancesFiddler on the Roof. London production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on February 16 and ran for 2030 performances.The Four Musketeers,. London production opened at the Drury Lane Theatre on December 5 and ran for 462 performancesHallelujah, Baby! – Broadway production opened at the Martin Beck Theatre and ran for 293 performancesHenry, Sweet Henry – Broadway production opened at the Palace Theatre and ran for 80 performancesHow Now, Dow Jones – Broadway production opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran for 220 performancesOliver! – London revival opened at the Piccadilly Theatre on April 26 and ran for 331 performancesSweet Charity. London production opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on October 11 and ran for 476 performances.Musical films
AnnaCamelotDoctor Dolittle, starring Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar and Anthony Newley. Directed by Richard FleischerThe Fastest Guitar Alive, starring Roy OrbisonHalf a Sixpence, starring Tommy SteeleThe Happiest MillionaireHow to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingLes Demoiselles de RochefortThe MikadoThoroughly Modern Millie, starring Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore.Magical Mystery Tour, starring The BeatlesBirths
- January 2 – Tia Carrere, American actress and singer
- January 4 – Son of Dave, Canadian-born musician
- January 5 - J. H. Wyman, a film and TV producer, screenwriter, director and musician
- January 6 – A. R. Rahman, Indian film composer
- January 8 — R. Kelly, American singer-songwriter, record producer
- January 7 – Mark Lamarr, English presenter of radio and TV music programmes
- January 9
- * Dave Matthews, American singer, songwriter, and guitarist
- * Steve Harwell, American musician and singer
- January 14
- * Steve Bowman, American rock drummer
- * Nicki Chapman, English television and radio presenter
- * Zakk Wylde, American guitarist
- January 22 – Eleanor McEvoy, Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist
- January 25 – Voltaire, Cuban-born cabaret musician
- January 28 – Marvin Sapp, American singer-songwriter
- January 31
- * Fat Mike, American rock singer and musician
- * Chad Channing, American rock drummer
- * Jason Cooper, English drummer
- February 1 – C. J. Lewis, English singer
- February 6
- * Anita Cochran, American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer
- * Izumi Sakai, Japanese pop singer
- February 11
- * Clay Crosse, American Christian musician
- * Paul McLoone, Irish DJ, producer, voice actor and frontman/lead vocalist with The Undertones
- February 12 – Chitravina N. Ravikiran, Indian composer and musician
- February 13 – DJ Jurgen, Dutch DJ, remixer and producer
- February 16 – A Guy Called Gerald, English record producer and DJ
- February 17 – Chanté Moore, American singer
- February 19 – Sven Erik Kristiansen Norwegian Black metal and hardcore punk singer
- February 20 – Kurt Cobain, American singer-songwriter
- February 21 – Michael Ward, American guitarist
- March 4 – Evan Dando American musician and frontman/lead vocalist
- March 7
- * Randy Guss,
- * Ruthie Henshall, English actress, singer, and dancer; star of stage musicals
- March 11 – John Barrowman, British-American actor and singer
- March 16 – Bettina Soriat, Austrian singer
- March 17 – Billy Corgan American musician, songwriter, producer, poet
- March 18 – Miki Berenyi, British rock lead singer
- March 21
- *Jonas Berggren
- * Maxim, English musician and singer
- March 29 – John Popper
- April 2 – Prince Paul, American record producer and disc jockey
- April 7 – Alex Christensen, German dance music producer, songwriter and DJ
- April 12 – Sarah Cracknell
- April 14 – Barrett Martin, American drummer and composer
- April 15 – Frankie Poullain, British rock bassist
- April 17 – Liz Phair, American singer-songwriter
- April 18 – Todd Terry, American disc jockey, record producer and remixer
- April 20 – Mike Portnoy, American rock drummer
- April 27 – Sung Dong-il, South Korean actor
- April 28 – Kari Wuhrer, American actress and singer
- April 30 – Filipp Kirkorov, Soviet and Russian pop singer, actor, producer, TV presenter
- April 30 — Turbo B, American rapper and beatboxer
- May 1 – Tim McGraw, American country singer, producer, and actor
- May 6 – Mark Bryan American musician
- May 11 – Apache Indian, British reggae singer and DJ
- May 13
- * Chuck Schuldiner, American singer and guitarist
- * Melanie Thornton, American pop singer
- May 18 – Rob Base, American rapper
- May 19 – Alexia, Italian singer
- May 22 – MC Eiht, American rapper
- May 23 – Phil Selway
- May 24 – Heavy D, Jamaican-born American rapper record producer, singer, and actor
- May 24 - Tommy Page, American singer and songwriter
- May 28 - Tania Evans, German singer
- May 29 – Noel Gallagher, English singer, songwriter and musician
- June 3 – Newton, English singer and firefighter
- June 7 – Dave Navarro, American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and actor
- June 8 – Jasmin Tabatabai, Iranian-German actress and musician
- June 9 – Dean Felber, Hootie & the Blowfish
- June 10 – Emma Anderson, English musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist, member of
- June 17
- *Dorothea Röschmann, German soprano and actress
- *Eric Stefani, American keyboard player, songwriter and animator
- June 18 – Glen Benton, American rock singer/bassist
- June 20
- * Jerome Fontamillas, American singer and guitarist
- * Nicole Kidman, Australian singer, musician, actress, and producer
- June 24
- *Jeff Cease, American guitarist
- *Richard Kruspe German musician and guitarist
- June 29
- * Murray Foster, Canadian rock bassist
- * Melora Hardin, American actress and singer
- * John Feldmann, American musician and music producer
- July 7 – Jackie Neal, American blues singer
- July 9 – Tó Cruz, Portuguese singer
- July 12 – John Petrucci, American virtuoso guitarist
- July 13 – Benny Benassi, Italian DJ, record producer, and remixer
- July 16 – Jules De Martino, English drummer and singer
- July 17 – Susan Ashton, American singer
- July 19 – Stuart Howe, Canadian operatic tenor
- July 22 – Pat Badger American musician, singer, and songwriter
- July 25 – Günther, Swedish singer
- July 27 – Juliana Hatfield, American singer-songwriter and musician
- July 28 – Taka Hirose, Japanese musician
- August 3 – Skin, British singer, songwriter and electronic music DJ
- August 4 – Cold 187um, American rapper
- August 5 – Vladyslav Gorai, Ukrainian operatic tenor
- August 18 – Blas Elias, American drummer
- August 19 – Tabitha Soren, American photographer and reporter
- August 21 – Serj Tankian Armenian-American singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, and political activist
- August 22
- * Yukiko Okada, Japanese pop singer
- * Layne Staley, American rock singer
- * Christopher Williams, American R&B singer and actor
- August 23 – Cedella Marley, Jamaican reggae singer
- August 25 – Jeff Tweedy American musician, songwriter, author, and record producer
- August 27 – Ogie Alcasid, Filipino singer, television personality, and husband of Regine Velasquez
- August 29 – Anton Newcombe, American rock musician
- September 2 – Dino Cazares, American rock guitarist
- September 4 – Tara Kemp, American singer
- September 5 – Jesper Koch, Danish composer
- September 6 – Macy Gray, American R&B singer and actress
- September 9 – Chris Caffery, American guitarist and singer
- September 11 – Harry Connick, Jr., American jazz singer and pianist
- September 13 – Pedro Yanowitz, American musician, song writer and visual artist
- September 18 – Ricky Bell, American singer and actor
- September 20
- * Gunnar Nelson, American singer
- * Matthew Nelson, American singer
- September 21 – Faith Hill, American country singer and record producer
- September 21 – Tyler Stewart
- September 26 – Shannon Hoon, American singer
- September 28 – Moon Unit Zappa, American actress and musician
- September 29 – Brett Anderson, Suede
- October 2 – Bud Gaugh American drummer
- October 4 – Ekin Cheng, Hong Kong actor and singer
- October 5 – Johnny Gioeli, American power metal singer
- October 7 – Toni Braxton, American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist
- October 7 – Luke Haines, English musician, singer, songwriter and author
- October 8 – Teddy Riley, American R&B and hip hop singer
- October 9 – Mat Osman, English musician and author
- October 10 – Mike Malinin American musician
- October 16 – Jason Everman, American musician and soldier
- October 17
- * Roberto Cani, Italian violinist
- * René Dif, Danish musician, singer-songwriter, DJ and actor
- October 19 – Trouble T Roy, back-up singer for Heavy D & the Boyz
- October 22
- * Salvatore Di Vittorio, Italian composer and conductor
- * Rita Guerra, Portuguese singer-songwriter
- October 26 – Keith Urban, New Zealand-Australian country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, TV show judge, and record producer
- October 27 – Scott Weiland American singer and songwriter
- October 29
- * Péter Kun, Hungarian guitarist
- * Paris, American rapper and record producer
- October 31 – Adam Schlesinger American musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer
- November 1
- * Tina Arena, Australian-French singer-songwriter
- November 3 – Steven Wilson, English progressive rock musician
- November 5 – Kayah, Polish pop singer-songwriter
- November 7
- * Steve Di Giorgio, American bassist
- * Sharleen Spiteri, Scottish recording artist and songwriter
- * David Guetta, French DJ and music producer
- November 10 – Vivian Chow, Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actress
- November 14
- * Letitia Dean, English actress and singer
- * Nina Gordon, American singer
- November 15 – E-40, American rapper
- November 17 – Ronnie DeVoe American singer, rapper and actor
- November 19 – Lauren Christy, English singer-songwriter and record producer
- November 20 – Teoman, Turkish rock singer-songwriter
- November 27 – Rodney Sheppard, American guitarist
- December 1
- * Marianna Zorba, Greek singer and music teacher
- * James Leigh, Australian keyboardist
- December 4 – Jesse West, American record producer and rapper
- December 5 – Gary Allan, American country musician
- December 6 – Hacken Lee, Hong Kong singer and actor
- December 8
- *Tom Holkenborg, Dutch composer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, music producer, and engineer.
- *Janice Robinson, American singer and songwriter
- December 9 – Joshua Bell, American violinist
- December 12
- *Yuzo Koshiro, Japanese composer and producer
- *Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, Japanese composer and voice actor
- *Deke Sharon, American singer-songwriter and producer
- December 13 – Jamie Foxx, American singer-songwriter, actor, producer, and comedian
- December 17 – Gigi D'Agostino, DJ
- December 25
- * Jason Thirsk, Pennywise
- * Boris Novković, Croatian singer-songwriter
- February 1 – Gábor Tarján, composer
Deaths
- January 1 – Moon Mullican, country singer, 57
- January 3 – Mary Garden, operatic soprano, 93
- January 7 – Carl Schuricht, conductor, 86
- January 15 – Albert Szirmai, composer, 86
- January 27 – Luigi Tenco, singer-songwriter and actor, 28
- January 31 – Geoffrey O'Hara, composer, 84
- February 5 – Violeta Parra, Chilean folk musician, 49
- February 12 – Muggsy Spanier, jazz cornettist, 60
- February 15 – Li Jinhui, composer and songwriter, 75
- February 16 – Smiley Burnette, singer and songwriter, 55
- February 24 – Franz Waxman, composer, 60
- February 25 – Fats Pichon, jazz pianist, bandleader, 60
- March 6
- * Zoltán Kodály, composer, 84
- * Nelson Eddy, US singer and actor, 65
- March 7 – Willie Smith, alto saxophonist, 56
- March 10 – Ina Boyle, Irish composer, 78
- March 11 – Geraldine Farrar, operatic soprano, 85
- March 22 – Luigi Piazza, operatic baritone, 82
- March 23 – Pete Johnson, jazz pianist, 62
- March 29 – Cheo Marquetti, singer-songwriter, 57
- April 5 – Mischa Elman, violinist, 76
- April 12 – Buster Bailey, jazz musician, 64
- April 15 – Totò, songwriter, 69
- April 16 – Knud Harder, composer, 82
- April 17 – Red Allen, jazz trumpeter, 59
- April 20 – Anna Fitziu, operatic soprano, 80
- April 29 – J. B. Lenoir, blues musician, 38
- April 30 – Jef Le Penven, composer, 47
- May 9 – Philippa Schuyler, pianist and child prodigy
- May 10 – Arthur Carron, operatic tenor, 66
- May 17 – John Wesley Work III, composer, 65
- May 21 – Ilona Eibenschütz, pianist, 95
- * Barsegh Kanachyan, composer of the Armenian national anthem, 82
- May 31 – Billy Strayhorn, composer and pianist, 51
- June 3 – André Cluytens, conductor, 62
- June 18 – Harold Levey, composer, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, and clarinetist, 73
- June 24
- * Lionel Belasco, pianist and bandleader, about 85
- * Kai Normann Andersen, composer, 67
- June 26 – Françoise Dorléac, actress and singer, 25
- June 29 – Jayne Mansfield, actress, violinist and sometime singer, 34
- July 17 – John Coltrane, jazz musician, 40
- July 26 – Matthijs Vermeulen, composer, 79
- July 30 – Marios Varvoglis, composer, 81
- August 4
- * Gustave Samazeuilh, composer, editor and critic, 90
- * Nino Marcelli, conductor and composer, 77
- August 5 – Evelyn Scotney, coloratura soprano, 71
- August 8 – Jaromír Weinberger, composer, 71
- August 27 – Brian Epstein, manager of the Beatles, 32
- September 15 – Hans Haug, primitivist composer, 67
- September 17 – Stanley R. Avery, composer, 87
- September 25 – Stuff Smith, jazz violinist, 58
- October 3
- * Woody Guthrie singer, songwriter, 55
- * Sir Malcolm Sargent, conductor, 72
- November 8 – Keg Johnson, jazz trombonist, 58
- November 10 – Ida Cox, blues singer, 71
- November 13 – Harriet Cohen, pianist, 71
- November 16 – Roshan, Bollywood composer, 50
- November 22 – Edvin Kallstenius, composer, 86
- November 23 – Otto Erich Deutsch, musicologist, 84
- November 24 – Raúl Borges, guitarist and composer, 85
- November 25 – Dawid Engela, broadcaster, composer and musicologist, 36
- November 30 – Heinz Tietjen, conductor, 86
- December 4 – Bert Lahr, vaudeville performer, 72
- December 6 – Lillian Evanti, operatic soprano, 77
- December 10 :
- * Otis Redding, soul singer, 26
- * Four of six members of soul group The Bar-Kays:
- * Ronnie Caldwell, 18
- * Phalon Jones, 18
- * Jimmy King, 18
- * Carl Cunningham, 18
- December 11 – Victor de Sabata, conductor and composer, 75
- December 19 – Carmen Melis, operatic soprano, 82
- December 28 – Maria Nemeth, operatic soprano, 70
- December 29 – Paul Whiteman, bandleader, 77
- December 30 – Roger Penzabene, Motown songwriter, 23 date unknown
- * Texas Gladden, folk singer
Awards
Grammy Awards
Eurovision Song Contest
Other
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani music – Amir Khan