1970 in music
See also: 1969 in music, other events of 1970, 1971 in music and the list of 'years in music'.
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 £1,344 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
- "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
For a more complete list of hits by month, see here.
Published Songs
- "If Not For You" w.m. Bob Dylan
- "1776 London production
- "Applause" Broadway production
- "The Boy Friend Broadway revival
- "Cabaret" Vienna production
- "Company" Broadway production
- "The Great Waltz London production
- "Minnie's Boys" Broadway production
- "Purlie" Broadway production
- "The Rothschilds" Broadway production
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 19 - 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