1968 in music

Events

*January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding.
*January 6 - Gibson Guitar Corporation patents its Gibson Flying V electric guitar design.
*January 13 - Johnny Cash performs his famous concert at Folsom Prison in California.
*January 21 - Simon and Garfunkel release album "The Graduate Original Soundtrack".
*January - The Beatles launch Apple Corps, Ltd., a disastrously mismanaged entertainment company that included a recording studio, a record label, and clothing store.
*February 1
**Priscilla Presley gives birth to Elvis' only child, Lisa Marie at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
**Universal Studios offers the Doors $500,000 to star in a feature film, which is never made.
*February 12 - Jimi Hendrix is given an honorary high school diploma from Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. Hendrix is also given the key to the city.
*February 16 - The Beatles, Mike Love, Mia Farrow, Donovan and others travel to India to visit the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at Rishikesh.
*February 18 - David Gilmour joins Pink Floyd, replacing founder Syd Barrett, who checked himself into a psychiatric hospital.
*February 21 - McGraw-Hill, Inc. outbids eight other publishers and pays $150,000 for the U.S. rights to Hunter Davies' authorized biography of the Beatles.
*February 22 - Florence Ballard of the Supremes is released from her contract with Motown.
*February 28 - Frankie Lymon dies.
*March 1 - Johnny Cash and June Carter got married in Franklin, Kentucky. Merle Kilgore was best man. He co-wrote "Ring of Fire."
*March 8 - Bill Graham opens the Fillmore East in an abandoned movie theater in New York City.
*March 25 - The 58th and final new episode of "The Monkees" airs on NBC.
*March 26 - Blues artist Little Willie John dies in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.
*March 30 - The Yardbirds record their live album "Live Yardbirds" at the Anderson Theater.
* April 3 - Simon and Garfunkel release the critically acclaimed album "Bookends".
*April 4 - James Brown appears on national television, in an attempt to calm feelings of anger in the United States following the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
*April - The Beatles' new record company, and management and publishing firm, Apple Corps, Ltd., opens offices in London
*April 6 - Eurovision Song Contest held in the Royal Albert Hall, London. The winning song, Spain's "La La La" was sung by Massiel, but only because Spanish authorities wouldn't allow Joan Manuel Serrat to perform it in Catalan.
*April 7 - Singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone's performance at Westbury Music Fair is dedicated to the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King. The song "Why? (the king of love is dead)" by Gene Taylor is performed for the first time. the show was partially released on the Emmy nominated album "Nuff Said" (1968).
*April 29 - The rock musical "Hair" opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre.
*May 4 - Mary Hopkin performs on the British TV show "Opportunity Knocks". Hopkin catches the attention of model Twiggy, who recommends her to Beatle Paul McCartney. McCartney would soon sign Hopkin to Apple Records.
*May 5 - Buffalo Springfield performs together for the last time in Long Beach, California.
*May 30 - The Beatles begin recording what would become their double-LP, thereafter known, for obvious reasons, as "The White Album", but officially titled, simply, "The Beatles". Sessions would span over 4 months, ending on October 14.
*June - "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" album released by Small Faces
*July 7 - The Yardbirds perform for the last time before disbanding.
*July 18 - Mina presents her Italian white soul hits "Se stasera sono qui" and "Colpo al cuore". The performance is transmitted live without playback from the "Auditorio A" of the "Radiotelevisione Italiana" regional headquarters in Naples.
*August 4 - Yes performs for the first time, at a summer camp.
*August 23 - Simon and Garfunkel give live concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California. Recording is later released on CD in 1994 by Australian company Vigotone Records as "Voices of Intelligent Dissent".
*September 7 - Led Zeppelin performs for the first time; at their first show, they are billed as The Yardbirds (the Yardbirds had disbanded two months earlier, and guitarist Jimmy Page subsequently formed this new group).
*September 14 – The two small sons of singer Roy Orbison, Roy DeWayne Orbison age 10, and Anthony King Orbison age 6, die in a house fire in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
*November 8 - John Lennon and his wife Cynthia divorce.
*November 15 - 500,000 people march in Washington DC for peace, which becomes the largest anti-war rally in U.S. history. In attendance: Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Mitch Miller, touring cast of Hair
*November 22 - The Beatles (also known as "The White Album") by The Beatles is released
*November 26 - Cream plays their farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall. It will be the last time Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker play together until their 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
*December 1 - Jimi Hendrix's manager Chas Chandler quits over differences with Hendrix during the recording of "Electric Ladyland"
*December 22 - The Animals reunite for one benefit concert at the Newcastle City Hall while Eric Burdon & The Animals are disbanding.
**Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company perform their last concert together before Janis goes solo.
*New Jersey Police confiscate 30,000 copies of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Two Virgins" album at Newark Airport, saying that the cover, which features a nude photo of the two artists, is "pornographic". In Chicago, Illinois, police officers shut down a record shop for displaying the album cover.
*December 3 - Elvis Presley's "1968 Comeback Special" airs on NBC.

Bands Formed

*Rush is formed in Toronto.
*The Band's musical career begins (changed name from The Hawks).
*James Taylor's musical career begins.
*Joni Mitchell's musical career begins.
*Free's musical career begins.
*The Carpenters' musical career begins.
*Warren Zevon's musical career begins.
*Deep Purple/Roundabout's musical career begins.
*Nazareth's musical career begins.
*Yes begins
*Led Zeppelin begins musical career.

Albums released

*"A Banda Tropicalista" - Rogério Duprat
*"Any Day Now" - Joan Baez
*"Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth" - Group 1850
*"Astral Weeks" - Van Morrison
*"At Folsom Prison" (live) - Johnny Cash
*"The Beatles" (The White Album) - The Beatles
*"Beggars Banquet" - The Rolling Stones
*"Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival" - Bill Evans
*"Bill Haley's Biggest Hits" - Bill Haley & His Comets
*"The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees" - The Monkees
*"The Book of Taliesyn" - Deep Purple
*"Bookends" - Simon and Garfunkel
*"Cheap Thrills" - Big Brother and the Holding Company
*"Child is Father to the Man" - Blood, Sweat & Tears
*"Creedence Clearwater Revival" - Creedence Clearwater Revival (debut)
*"Crown of Creation" - Jefferson Airplane
*"Cruising with Ruben & the Jets" - The Mothers of Invention
*"Cycles" - Frank Sinatra
*"Dion" - Dion DiMucci
*"Diversions" - Barry Booth
*"Donovan in Concert"; "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" - Donovan
*"Dusty in Memphis" - Dusty Springfield
*"Easy Does It" - Julie London
*"Electric Ladyland" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
*"Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4" - Elvis Presley
*"Every One Of Us" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
*"Fall Out" - Terry Smith
*"Francis A. & Edward K." - Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington
*"Friends" - The Beach Boys
*"From Sea to Shining Sea" - Johnny Cash
*"Gal Costa" - Gal Costa
*"God Bless Tiny Tim" - Tiny Tim
*"The Graduate Original Soundtrack" - Simon and Garfunkel (incidental music by Dave Grusin)
*"Head" (Motion Picture Soundtrack) - The Monkees
*"Heart of Cash" - Johnny Cash
*"Idea" - The Bee Gees
*"In Search of the Lost Chord" - The Moody Blues
*"John Wesley Harding" - Bob Dylan
*"Karyobin" - Spontaneous Music Ensemble
*"The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society" - The Kinks
*"Lady Soul" - Aretha Franklin
*"Last Time Around" - Buffalo Springfield
*"Look to Your Heart" - Perry Como
*"Love Is" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
*"Love Is Blue" - The Lawrence Welk Orchestra
*"Lumpy Gravy" - Frank Zappa
*"" - The Who
*"Misty Blue" - Ella Fitzgerald
*"Music from Big Pink" - The Band
*"Music In a Doll's House" - Family
*"NBC-TV Special" - Elvis Presley
*"Nuff Said" - Nina Simone
*"Odessey and Oracle" - The Zombies
*"Old Golden Throat" - Johnny Cash
*"On Stage" - Bill Haley & His Comets
*"Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" by Small Faces #1 in UK album chart.
*"Only the Greatest - Waylon Jennings
*"The Perry Como Christmas Album" - Perry Como
*"Recital na Boite Barroco" - Maria Bethânia
*"The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw" - Paul Butterfield Blues Band
*"A Saucerful of Secrets" - Pink Floyd
*"Scott 2" - Scott Walker
*"Scratching the Surface - The Groundhogs
*"Shades of Deep Purple - Deep Purple
*"Silver Apples" - Silver Apples
*"The Papas & The Mamas" - The Mamas & The Papas
*"The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas" - Frank Sinatra
*"Speedway (OST) - Elvis Presley
*"Sweetheart of the Rodeo - The Byrds
*"Switched-On Bach" - Walter Carlos
*"Taj Mahal" - Taj Mahal
*"The Natch'l Blues" - Taj Mahal
*"Tell Mama" - Etta James
*"Le Temps des Fleurs" - Dalida
*"There Goes My Everything" - Don Cherry
*"This Was" - Jethro Tull
*"Traffic" - "Traffic"
*"The Transformed Man" - William Shatner
*"Turn Around, Look at Me" - The Vogues
*"The Twain Shall Meet" - Eric Burdon & the Animals
*"The United States of America" - The United States of America
*"Waiting for the Sun - The Doors
*"We're Only in It for the Money - Mothers of Invention
*"Wheels of Fire" - Cream
*"White Light/White Heat" - The Velvet Underground
*"30 by Ella" - Ella Fitzgerald

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest [http://tsort.info/music/yr1968.htm chart positions] in the charts of 1968.

American and/or British hit singles

*"All Along the Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix
*"Albatross" - Fleetwood Mac
*"Anything" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
*"The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde - Georgie Fame
*"Bend Me, Shape Me" - The American Breed
*"Bend Me, Shape Me" - Amen Corner
*"Born to Be Wild" - Steppenwolf
*"Build Me Up Buttercup" - The Foundations
*"California Dreamin'" - Bobby Womack
*"Chain of Fools" - Aretha Franklin
*"Cloud Nine" - The Temptations
*"Cry Like A Baby" - The Box Tops
*"Dance to the Music" - Sly & The Family Stone
*"Delilah" - Tom Jones
*"Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" - Dionne Warwick
*"Fire Brigade" - The Move
*"Going Up the Country" - Canned Heat
*"Grazing in the Grass" - Hugh Masekela
*"Green Tambourine" - Lemon Pipers
*"Harper Valley P.T.A" - Jeannie C. Riley
*"Hello, Goodbye" - The Beatles
*"Hello, I Love You" - The Doors
*"Hey Jude"/"Revolution" - The Beatles
*"High In The Sky - Amen Corner
*"Honey" - Bobby Goldsboro
*"Hush" - Deep Purple
*"The Horse" - Cliff Nobles & Co.
*"Ice In The Sun" - Status Quo
*"I Love You" - People!
*"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - Iron Butterfly
* "I Wish It Would Rain" - The Temptations
* "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" - Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations
* "I've Gotta Be Me" - Sammy Davis, Jr.
*"I've Gotta Get a Message to You" - The Bee Gees
*"Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)" - John Fred & The Playboys
*"Jumpin' Jack Flash" - Rolling Stones
*"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
*"Lady Madonna" - The Beatles
*"Lady Willpower" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
*"Little Green Apples" - O. C. Smith
*"Love Child" - Diana Ross & The Supremes
*"Love Is Blue" - Paul Mauriat
*"Lovin' Things" - Marmalade
*"Magic Bus" - The Who
*"Midnight Confessions" - The Grass Roots
*"Monterey" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
*"Mony Mony" - Tommy James & the Shondells
*"Mrs. Robinson" - Simon and Garfunkel
*"My Little Lady" - The Tremeloes
*"Need Your Love So Bad" - Fleetwood Mac
*"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" - The Marmalade
*"Over You" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
*"Piece of my Heart" - Big Brother and the Holding Company
*"Pictures of Matchstick Men" - Status Quo
*"Revolution" - The Beatles
*"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding
*"Sky Pilot" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
*"Soulful Strut" - Young-Holt Unlimited
*"Suddenly You Love Me" - The Tremeloes
*"Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
*"Suzie Q" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
*"This Guy's in Love With You" - Herb Alpert
*"Tighten Up" - Archie Bell & the Drells
*"Tiptoe Through The Tulips With Me" - Tiny Tim
*"Valleri" - The Monkees
*"Young Girl" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
*"The Weight" - The Band
*"White Houses" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
*"White Room" - Cream

See also: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1968 (USA)

Published popular music

* "1,2,3, Red Light" w.m. Sal Trimachi and Bobbi Trimachi
* "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero" w.m. Bobby Russell
* "Abraham, Martin and John" w.m. Dick Holler
* "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" w.m. Les Reed & Barry Mason
* "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film of the same name
* "Classical Gas" m. Mason Williams
* "Dear World" w.m. Jerry Herman from the musical "Dear World"
* "Eli's Coming" w.m. Laura Nyro
* "The Fool on the Hill" w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney
* "For the Good Times" w.m. Kris Kristofferson
* "Galveston" w.m. Jimmy Webb
* "Heffalumps and Woozles" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day"
* "Honey Pie" w.m. John Lennon and Paul McCartney
* "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach from the musical "Promises, Promises"
* "Indian Lake" w.m. Tony Romeo
*"Indian Reservation" w.m. John D. Loudermilk, first recorded by Don Fardon
* "Little Green Apples" w.m. Bobby Russell
* "MacArthur Park" w.m. Jimmy Webb
* "Mister Bojangles" w.m. Jerry Jeff Walker
* "My Way" (French: "Comme d'habitude") w.m. Claude François & Jacques Revaux, Eng.: Paul Anka
*"The Night They Raided Minsky's" w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse from the film "The Night They Raided Minsky's"
*"A Perfect Gentleman" w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse Introduced by Jason Robards and Norman Wisdom in the film "The Night They Raided Minsky's"
* "Promises, Promises" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach from the musical "Promises, Promises"
* "Save The Country" w.m. Laura Nyro
* "Stand By Your Man" w.m. Billy Sherrill & Tammy Wynette
* "Stoned Soul Picnic" w.m. Laura Nyro
* "Sweet Blindness" w.m. Laura Nyro
*"Take Ten Terrific Girls' w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse from the film "The Night They Raided Minsky's"
*"Ten Feet off the Ground" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band"
* "This Guy's In Love With You" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach
* "Wichita Lineman" w.m. Jimmy Webb
* "The Windmills of Your Mind" w. Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman m. Michel LeGrand from the film "The Thomas Crown Affair"
* "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day"
*"You Rat, You" w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse from the film "The Night They Raided Minsky's"

Classical music

*Luciano Berio - "O King", "Sinfonia", "Chemins III"
*John Corigliano - "Piano Concerto"
*George Crumb - "Songs, Drones, and Refrains of Death" for baritone, electric guitar, electric double bass, amplified piano/electric harpsichord, and two percussionists
*Mario Davidovsky - "Music for Solo Violin"
*Heinz Holliger - "h" for wind quintet
*Ladislav Kupkovic - "Souvenir" (one of his few recorded works)
*Helmut Lachenmann - "temA" for flute, voice and cello
*György Ligeti - "Zehn Stücke für Bläserquintett (Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet)"
*Witold Lutosławski - "Livre pour orchestre"
*Per Nørgård - "Rejse ind i den gyldne skærm (Voyage into the Golden Screen)"
*Terry Riley - "In C"
*Karlheinz Stockhausen - "Aus den sieben Tagen"
*John Tavener - "The Whale" (cantata)
*David Tudor & Lowell Cross - "Reunion"
*Iannis Xenakis - "Nomos Gamma" for 98 musicians dispersed among the audience

Opera

*Ástor Piazzolla - "María de Buenos Aires"

Musical theater

* "Cabaret" (Kander and Ebb) - London production
* "Canterbury Tales" London production
* "Dames at Sea" Off-Broadway production opened at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre on December 20 and transferred to the Theatre de Lys on April 22, 1969 for a total run of 575 performances.
* "The Dancing Years" (Ivor Novello) - London revival
* "Darling of the Day" (w. E. Y. Harburg m. Jule Styne) Broadway production opened at the George Abbott Theatre on January 27 and ran for 31 performances. Starred Patricia Routledge and Vincent Price
* "George M!" Broadway production
* "Golden Boy" London production
* "Golden Rainbow" Broadway production
* "Hair" - Broadway and London productions
* "House of Flowers" off-Broadway revival
* "Lady, Be Good!" London revival
* "Man Of La Mancha" London production
* "Promises, Promises" Broadway production
* "The Happy Time" - musical/comedy - 286 performances at the Broadway Theatre featuring Robert Goulet 1968 Tony Award winner for Best Actor in a Musical. Nominee 1968 Tony Award Best Musical.

Musical films

* "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
* "Finian's Rainbow"
* "Funny Girl"
* "The Jungle Book" - animated feature film
* "The Night They Raided Minsky's" - released December 22 starring Jason Robards and Britt Ekland
* "Oliver!"
* "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band"
* "Star!"
* "Yellow Submarine" - animated feature film

Births

*January 11 - Tom Dumont
*January 12 - Heather Mills
*January 14 - L.L. Cool J.
*January 27 - Mike Patton, Faith No More
*January 27 - Tricky, rapper
*January 28
**Sarah McLachlan
**DJ Muggs, Cypress Hill
*February 1 - Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley
*February 5 - Chris Barron, Spin Doctors
*February 7 - Sully Enra, Godsmack
*February 12 - Chynna Phillips, Wilson Phillips, daughter of John & Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas
*February 22 - Brad Nowell, Sublime (d. 1996)
*March 4 - Patsy Kensit, actress and singer
*March 8 - Shawn Mullins
*March 11 - Lisa Loeb
*March 15 - Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth
*March 15 - Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray
*March 23 - Damon Albarn, Blur, Gorillaz
*March 26 - James Iha, The Smashing Pumpkins
*March 26 - Kenny Chesney, Country singer
*March 30 - Céline Dion
*April 3 - Sebastian Bach, Skid Row
*April 28 - Howard Donald, Take That
*April 29 - Carnie Wilson, Wilson Phillips, daughter of Brian Wilson
*May 1 - D'Arcy Wretzky, The Smashing Pumpkins
*May 16 - Ralph Tresvant, New Edition
*May 28 - Kylie Minogue, Australian actress and singer
*June 12 - Bobby Sheehan, Blues Traveler
*July 16 - Olga Souza ("Corona"), singer
*July 22 - Rhys Ifans, actor and former vocalist with Super Furry Animals
*August 10 - Michael Bivins, New Edition, Bell Biv Devoe
*August 11 - Charlie Sexton
*August 12 - Paul Tucker
*September 10 - Big Daddy Kane, rapper
*September 11 - Kay Hanley, Letters To Cleo
*September 12 - Ler LaLonde, Primus, Possessed, No Forcefield
*September 25 - Catherine Zeta-Jones
*October 1 - Kevin Griffin, Better Than Ezra
*October 5 - Nana, rapper
*October 6 - Dominique A, singer-songwriter
*October 7 - Toni Braxton
*October 7 - Thom Yorke, Radiohead
*October 11 - Jane Krakowski, actress and singer
*October 12 - Hugh Jackman, actor and singer
*October 17 - Ziggy Marley, reggae artist
*October 22 - Shaggy, reggae & dancehall singer
*October 31 - Vanilla Ice, rapper
*November 15 - Ol' Dirty Bastard, rapper (d. 2004)
*November 21 - Alex James, Blur
*November 25 - Tunde Baiyewu
*November 28 - Dawn Robinson, En Vogue
*November 29
**Martin Carr, Boo Radleys
**Jonathan Knight, New Kids on the Block
*December 2 - Nate Mendel, Foo Fighters
*December 9 - Brian Bell, Weezer
*December 29 - Glen Phillips, Toad The Wet Sprocket

Deaths

*January 18 - Gribouille, French singer
*February 5 - Luckey Roberts, ragtime composer and pianist
*February 13
**Ildebrando Pizzetti, composer
**Portia White, singer
*February 15 - Little Walter, blues singer and harmonica player
*February 28
**Frankie Lymon, American singer
**Doretta Morrow, dancer
*March 6 - Iša Krejčí, composer and conductor
*March 16 - Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, composer
*March 26 - Little Willie John, Blues artist.
*April 25 - Harald Kreutzberg, dancer and choreographer
*May 19 - Coleman Hawkins, jazz musician
*May 24 - Bernard Rogers, composer
*June 8 - Bumble Bee Slim, blues musician
*June 14 - Karl-Birger Blomdahl, composer and conductor
*June 26 - Ziggy Elman, US trumpet player
*July 21 - Ruth St. Denis, dancer
*July 27 - Lilian Harvey, actress and singer
*July 30 - Jón Leifs, composer
*August 5 - Luther Perkins, guitarist of The Tennessee Two
*August 18 - Arthur Marshall (ragtime composer)
*September 19 - Red Foley, country singer
*October 8 - Frank Skinner, film composer
*October 15 - Franz Reizenstein, pianist and composer
*October 20 - Bud Flanagan, music hall star
*October 30 - Pops Foster, jazz musician
*November 8 - Kokomo Arnold, blues musician
*November 9 - Jan Johansson, jazz pianist
*November 11 - Jeanne Demessieux, organist, pianist and composer
*December 1 - Nicolae Bretan, composer
*December 9 - Percy Greenbank, lyricist
*December 19 - Tiberiu Brediceanu, composer
*"date unknown"
**Juan F. Acosta, composer and music teacher
**Sabin Drăgoi, composer
**Billy Pigg, bagpiper
**Blind Joe Reynolds, singer-songwriter
**Vincenzo Scaramuzza, pianist

Awards

Grammy Awards

*Grammy Awards of 1968

Eurovision Song Contest

*Eurovision Song Contest 1968