1970 in music

Table of contents

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

9.1 Grammy Awards
9.2 Eurovision Song Contest

Events

January 3 - Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees.
January 7 - Max Yasgur, owner of the New York farm where the 1969 Woodstock Festival was held, is sued for $35,000 in property damages by neighboring farmers
January 14 - Diana Ross performs with the Supremes for the last time.
January 16 - John Lennon's London Art gallery exhibit of lithographs, Bag One, is shut down by Scotland Yard for displaying "erotic lithographs"
January 24 - James Shep Sheppard, of The Heartbeats and Shep and the Limelites, is found murdered in his car on the Long Island Expressway
January 26 - Simon and Garfunkel release their final album together, Bridge Over Troubled Water. The title track and album stay #1 on the Billboard charts for six weeks and go on to win a record six Grammys at the 13th Grammy Awards, including "Record of the Year," "Song of the Year," and "Album of the Year."
January 28 - The newly formed group Band of Gypsies breaks up when guitarist Jimi Hendrix walks out after playing just two songs, telling the audience "I'm sorry we just can't get it together".
February 11 - The film The Magic Christian, starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr premieres in New York City. The film's soundtrack album, including Badfinger's "Come and Get It," (which is written and produced by Paul McCartney), is also released on Apple Records.
February 11 - John Lennon pays Ł1,344 in fines for 96 people who had protested against the South African rugby team playing in Scotland.
February 14 - The Who records Live At Leeds in Yorkshire, England
February 17 - Joni Mitchell announces that she is retiring from live performances, following her show at London's Royal Albert Hall. Mitchell would be back performing concerts within a year.
February 23 - Ringo Starr appears on the television show Laugh-In
February 27 - Jefferson Airplane is fined $1,000 for using profanity during a concert in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 28 - Led Zeppelin performs in Copenhagen under the pseudonym The Nobs, due to threats of lawsuits from Count Evan von Zeppelin, descendant of airship designer Ferdinand von Zeppelin
March 4 - Janis Joplin is fined $200 for using obscene language during a concert performance in Tampa, Florida
March 6 - Cult leader and suspected murderer Charles Manson releases an album titled Lies to help finance his defense.
March - Jim Morrison of The Doors is found guilty of indecent exposure and profanity because of his behavior during a March 1, 1969 concert. Morrison is sentenced to eight months of hard labor and a $500 fine.
March 20 - David Bowie marries model Angela Barnett
April 2 - The London Magistrate's Court hears arguments on John Lennon's indecency summons for his exhibition of erotic lithographs during his art exhibit on January 16
April 17 - Johnny Cash performs at the White House at the invitation of President Richard M. Nixon.
April 24 - Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane is invited to a party at the White House by Tricia Nixon, daughter of US President Richard Nixon. Slick arrives at the party with Abbie Hoffman, who is on trial for conspiring to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Hoffman is not allowed into the White House and leaves with Slick.
May 15 - The Beatles' last LP, Let It Be, is released in the United States
July 26 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix plays at his hometown of Seattle at Sicks Stadium where under the influence of drugs starts verbally abusing members of the audience.
September 6 - During his final European tour, guitarist Jimi Hendrix is greeted by booing and jeering by German fans at his late appearance on stage and incoherent stage performance. Bassist Billy Cox quits the tour and heads back to the United States as a result.
The Beatles break up. All four band members release solo albums.
Simon and Garfunkel break up, and both members of the duo go on to solo careers.
The Dave Clark Five break up
Isle of Wight Festival
Genesis forms
Styx forms
Jimmy Buffett begins recording
Eric Clapton leaves Blind Faith for a solo career

Albums released

Let It Be - The Beatles
Cucumber Castle - The Bee Gees
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Sex Machine - James Brown
On Stage - Elvis Presley
Down to Earth - Jimmy Buffett
Close to You - The Carpenters
II - Chicago
Cosmo's Factory - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Deja Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Bitches Brew - Miles Davis
A Tribute to Jack Johnson - Miles Davis
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs - Derek & the Dominoes
Morrison Hotel - The Doors
Self Portrait - Bob Dylan
Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Portrait - Fifth Dimension
Chapter 2 - Roberta Flack
This Girl's in Love with You - Aretha Franklin
Spirit in the Dark - Aretha Franklin
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
Band of Gypsys - Jimi Hendrix
Small Talk at 125th and Lennox - Gil Scott-Heron
Closer to Home - Grand Funk Railroad
American Beauty - The Grateful Dead
A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World - Merle Haggard
ABC - Jackson 5
Elton John - Elton John
Pearl - Janis Joplin
Led Zeppelin III - Led Zeppelin
Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon
McCartney - Paul McCartney
Ladies of the Canyon - Joni Mitchell
Climbing - Mountain
12 Steps - Randy Newman
The Point - Harry Nilsson
The Isaac Hayes Movement - Isaac Hayes
Fun House - Iggy & the Stooges
Benefit - Jethro Tull
Atom Heart Mother - Pink Floyd
Abraxas - Santana
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens
Sweet Baby James - James Taylor
It Ain't Easy - Three Dog Night
Naturally - Three Dog Night
John Barleycorn Must Die - Traffic
Live at Leeds - The Who
Moondance - Van Morrison
Loaded - Velvet Underground
After the Gold Rush - Neil Young

Top hits

"ABC" - The Jackson Five
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Diana Ross
"All Right Now" - Free
"Band of Gold" - Freda Payne
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel
"Cecilia" - Simon and Garfunkel
"Chicken Strut" - The Meters
"Close to You" - The Carpenters
"El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" - Simon and Garfunkel
"Evil Ways" - Santana
"Fire And Rain" - James Taylor
"I Think I Love You" - The Partridge Family
"I Want You Back" - The Jackson Five
"I'll Be There" - The Jackson Five
"Immigrant Song" - Led Zeppelin
"Let It Be" - The Beatles
"Lola" - The Kinks
"The Long and Winding Road" - The Beatles
"Look-Ka Py Py" - The Meters
"My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison
"Ode to Joy" - Miguel Rios
"Ohio" - Crosby Stills Nash & Young
"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" - B.J. Thomas
"Tears of a Clown" - Smokey Robinson
"War" - Edwin Starr
"We've Only Just Begun" - The Carpenters

Published popular songs

"Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" w.m. John C. Fogerty
"If Not For You" w.m. Bob Dylan
"Kentucky Rain" w.m. Eddie Rabbitt & Dick Heard
"Lookin' Out My Back Door" w.m. John C. Fogerty
"Who'll Stop The Rain?" w.m. John C. Fogerty

Musical theater

''1776 London production
Applause Broadway production
''The Boy Friend Broadway revival
Cabaret Vienna production
Company Broadway production
Dames at Sea Broadway revival
''The Great Waltz London production
Joy Broadway production
Last Days of Isaac Broadway production
The Me Nobody Knows Broadway production
Minnie's Boys Broadway production
Ododo Broadway production
Purlie Broadway production
The Rothschilds Broadway production
''Touch' Broadway production
Two by Two Broadway production

Musical films

Darling Lili
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Scrooge
Song of Norway

Births

January 13 - Zach de la Rocha, Rage Against The Machine
January 26 - Kirk Franklin
January 27 - Mark Trojanowski, Sister Hazel
March 16 - Tammi Terrell
March 27 - Brendan Hill, Blues Traveler
March 27 - Mariah Carey
April 10 - Mike Mushok, Staind
May 19 - Prince Be, P.M. Dawn
June 13 - Rivers Cuomo, Weezer
June 22 - Steven Page, Barenaked Ladies
July 8 - Beck Hansen
July 24 - Jennifer Lopez
August 31 - Debbie Gibson
September 5 - Liam Lynch
September 7 - Chad Sexton, 311
September 9 - Macy Gray
September 23 - Ani Difranco
September 25 - Gene Ween, Ween
October 29 - S.A, 311
October 31 - Linn Berggren, Ace Of Base
November 1 - Mags Furuholmen, a-ha
December 2 - Treach, Naughty By Nature
December 6 - Ulf Ekberg, Ace Of Base

Deaths

January 31 - Slim Harpo
March 16 - Tammi Terrell, singer, brain tumors, 24 years old
September 18 - Jimi Hendrix
October 4 - Janis Joplin

Awards

Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards of 1970
- Record of the Year: "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon and Garfunkel
- Song of the Year: "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon and Garfunkel
- Album of the Year: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
- Best Contemporary Song: "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon and Garfunkel
- Best Engineered Record: "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon and Garfunkel, and Roy Halee
- Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists: "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon and Garfunkel

Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest 1970