See also: 1960 in music, other events of 1961, 1962 in music and the list of 'years in music'.
Events
- January 15 - Motown Records signs The Supremes
- February 12 - The Miracles' "Shop Around" becomes Motown's first million-selling single
- February 13 - Frank Sinatra forms his own record label, Reprise Records, which would later release recordings by The Beach Boys, The Kinks and Jimi Hendrix.
- February 14 - the Platters file a lawsuit against Mercury Records for breach of contract after the record company refuses to accept recordings on which Tony Williams does not sing lead. The group's lawsuit contends that their contract does not require Williams to sing lead
- March 21 - The Beatles perform at the legendary Cavern Club for the first time
- March 25 - Elvis Presley performs a benefit show at the Block Arena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The show raised $62,000 for the U.S.S. Arizona memorial fund.
- The Rolling Stones' musical career begins
- The Temptations' musical career begins
- The Beach Boys' musical career begins
- Gladys Knight's musical career begins
- Bob Dylan's musical career begins
Albums Released
- A Scottish Soldier - Andy Stewart
- Lonely and Blue - Roy Orbison
- Connie At The Copa - Connie Francis
- Goin' Places - The Kingston Trio
Top Hits
- "I Fall to Pieces" - Patsy Cline
- "Crazy" - Patsy Cline
- "Where the Boys Are" - Connie Francis
- "Running Scared" - Roy Orbison
- "Crying" - Roy Orbison
- "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" - Gene Pitney
- "Town Without Pity" - Gene Pitney
- "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - The Tokens
- "Runaround Sue" - Dion
- "Let's Go Trippin'" - Dick Dale's first local hit, regarded as first surf rock instrumental
- "Tossin' & Turnin'" - Bobby Lewis
- "Runaway" - Del Shannon
- "Blue Moon" - The Marcels
- "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - The Shirelles
- "There's No Other Like My Baby" - The Crystals' first hit
- "Please Mr. Postman" - The Marvellettes
- "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - The Tokens
- "Quarter To Three" - Gary U.S. Bonds
- "Shop Around" - The Miracles
- "Travelin' Man" - Ricky Nelson
- "Stand By Me" - Ben E. King
- "The Wanderer" - Dion
Births
- January 13 - Suggs, Madness
- January 14 - Mike Tramp, White Lion
- January 27 - Gillian Gilbert, New Order
- January 29 - Eddie Jackson, Queensryche
- January 31 - Lloyd Cole
- February 8 - Vince Neil, Motley Crue
- February 10 - Robbie Neville
- February 13 - Henry Rollins, punk/rock vocalist and spoken word performer
- February 16 - Andy Taylor, Duran Duran
- March 20 - Slim Jim Phantom, The Stray Cats
- April 1 - Mark White, ABC
- April 2 - Keren Woodward, Bananarama
- April 6 - Gene Eugene, actor, lead singer of Adam Again
- May 29 - Melissa Etheridge
- June 4 - Eldra DeBarge, DeBarge
- June 6 - Tom Araya, Slayer
- June 14 - Boy George, Culture Club
- June 18 - Alison Moyet
- June 22 - Jimmy Somerville
- June 24 - Curt Smith, Tears For Fears
- June 27 - Margo Timmons, Cowboy Junkies
- June 29 - Greg Hetson, Bad Religion
- July 2 - Paul Geary, Extreme
- July 24 - Gary Cherone, Extreme
- August 2 - Apollina
- August 8 - Rikki Rockett, Poison
- August 8 - The Edge, guitarist for the rock band U2
- August 10 - Jon Fariss, INXS
- August 22 - Roland Orzabal, Tears for Fears
- August 23 - Dean DeLeo, Stone Temple Pilots
- September 6 - Pal Waaktaar, a-ha
- September 13 - Dave Mustaine, Megadeth
- October 9 - Kurt Neumann, The BoDeans
- October 10 - Martin Kemp, Spandau Ballet
- October 18 - Wynton Marsalis
- October 29 - Randy Jackson, The Jacksons
- October 31 - Larry Mullen, drummer for the rock band U2
- November 2 - k.d. lang
- November 5 - David Bryson, Counting Crows
- November 8 - Leif Garrett
- December 17 - Sarah Dallin, Bananarama
Deaths
- March 3 - Paul Wittgenstein, pianist
- March 9 - Wilber Sweatman