1971 in music
See also: 1970 in music, other events of 1971, 1972 in music and the list of 'years in music'.
Events
- February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music. The film includes footage from Dylan's 1966 UK tour
- March 16 - The 13th Grammy Awards, honoring musical accomplishments of 1970 are presented.
- The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour premeires on television
- Elton John's musical career begins
- ABBA's musical career begins
- The New York Dolls' musical career begins
- Donna Summer's musical career begins
- Stevie Ray Vaughan's musical career begins
- Jesus Christ Superstar is performed for the first time
- Michael Jackson's solo career begins
- Rick Springfield leaves Zoot for a solo career
- The Crystals reunite
Albums Released
- Trafalgar - The Bee Gees
- Paranoid - Black Sabbath
- Hunky Dory - David Bowie
- III - Chicago
- At Fillmore East - The Allman Brothers Band
- L.A. Woman - The Doors
- Tarkus - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Quite Fire - Roberta Flack
- Maggot Brain - Funkadelic
- What's Going On? - Marvin Gaye
- All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
- Shaft - Isaac Hayes
- Aqualung - Jethro Tull
- 11-17-70 - Elton John
- Madman Across the Water - Elton John
- Tumbleweed Connection - Elton John
- A Nod is as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse - The Faces
- Pearl - Janis Joplin
- Live in Cook County Jail - B.B. King
- Tapestry - Carole King
- Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin
- Ram - Paul McCartney
- Wild Life - Paul McCartney & Wings
- American Pie - Don McLean
- Blue - Joni Mitchell
- If Not for You - Olivia Newton-John
- Nilsson Schmilsson - Harry Nilsson
- Meddle - Pink Floyd
- John Prine - John Prine
- There's a Riot Going On - Sly & the Family Stone
- Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
- Santana - Santana
- Anticipation - Carly Simon
- Carly Simon - Carly Simon
- Tapestry - Carly Simon
- Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens
- Every Picture Tells a Story - Rod Stewart
- Electric Warrior - T. rex
- Golden Biscuits - Three Dog Night
- Harmony - Three Dog Night
- Who's Next - The Who
- Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison
- Jesus Christ Superstar - Various Artists
- Up to Date - The Partridge Family
Top Hits
- "What's Going On" - Marvin Gaye
- "Imagine" - John Lennon
- "It's Too Late" - Carole King
- "Never Can Say Goodbye" - The Jackson Five
- "Proud Mary" - Ike & Tina Turner
- "Peace Train" - Cat Stevens
- "Maggie Mae" - Rod Stewart
- "Grandad" - Clive Dunn
- "Baby Jump" - Mungo Jerry
- "Double Barrel" - Dave & Ansil Collins
- "Hot Love" - T. Rex
- "Knock Three Times" - Dawn
- "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" - Middle of the Road
- "Get It On" - T. Rex
- "Joy to the World" - Three Dog Night
- "I'm Still Waiting" - Diana Ross
- "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" - The Tams
- "One Bad Apple" - The Osmonds
- "Got to Be There" - Michael Jackson
- "Family Affair" - Sly & the Family Stone
- "Go Away Little Girl" - Donnie Osmond
- "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" - The Bee Gees
- "One Less Bell to Answer" - Fifth Dimension
- "Coz I Love You" - Slade
- "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
- "Brown Sugar" - The Rolling Stones
- "One Bad Apple" - The Osmonds
- "Indian Reservation" - The Raiders
- "Draggin' the Line" - Tommy James
- "My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison
- "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" - Cher
- "Treat Her Like a Lady" - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
- "Ernie" - Bennie Hill
- "Maggie Mae" - Rod Stewart
- "Joy to the World" - Three Dog Night
- "It Don't Come Easy" - Ringo Starr
- First hit by Ringo Starr, the last member of the Beatles to have a solo hit
For a more complete list of hits by month, see here.
Births
- January 11 - Mary J. Blige
- January 11 - Tom Rowlands, Chemical Brothers
- January 17 - Kid Rock
- January 18 - Jonathan Davis, Korn
- January 25 - China Kantner (Daughter of Grace Slick and Paul Kantner)
- February 1 - Ron Welty of The Offspring
- February 2 - Ben Mize, Counting Crows
- February 23 - Jeff Beres, Sister Hazel
- February 26 - Erykah Badu
- March 4 - Feargal Lawler, The Cranberries
- April 17 - Selena Quintanilla
- May 4 - Mike Dirnt, Green Day
- May 30 - Patrick Dahlheimer, Live
- June 9 - Paul McGuigan, Oasis
- June 18 - Nathan Morris, Boyz II Men
- July 17 - DJ Minutemix, P.M. Dawn
- July 17 - Ed Kowalczyk, Live
- July 23 - Alison Krauss
- September 6 - Dolores O'Riordan, The Cranberries
- September 24 - Marty Cintron, No Mercy
- October 2 - Tiffany
- December 24 - Ricky Martin
- December 25 - Noel Hogan, The Cranberries
- John Dolmayan, System of a Down
- Derrick Plourde, The Ataris
Deaths
Awards
Grammy Awards
Country Music Association Awards
- CMA Entertainer of the Year: Charley Pride
- CMA Top Male Vocalist: Charley Pride
- CMA Top Female Vocalist: Lynn Anderson
- CMA Top Vocal Group: Osborne Brothers
- CMA Top Instrumental Group: Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass
- CMA Top Vocal Duo: Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
- CMA Single of the Year: "Help Me Make It Through The Night" - Sammi Smith
- CMA Song of the Year: "Easy Loving" - Freddie Hart
- CMA Album of the Year: I Won't Mention It Again - Ray Price
- CMA Musician of the Year: Jerry Reed