1960 in music
See also: 1959 in music, other events of 1960, 1961 in music and the list of 'years in music'.
Events
- January 14 - Elvis Presley is promoted to Sergeant in the U.S. Army
- February 6 - Songwriter Jesse Belvin dies in an automobile accident in Los Angeles, California. Belvin was the co-author of "Earth Angel," the Penguins' classic from 1954
- February 17 - The Everly Brothers sign a 10-year, $1 million contract with Warner Bros. Records.
- March 5 - Elvis Presley returns home from serving in the US Army
- First performance of Lionel Bart's Oliver!
- April 1 - Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Mitch Miller film Sinatra's Timex Special for ABC at Miami, Florida's Fountainbleu Hotel
- April 2 - The National Association of Record Merchants presents its first annual awards in Las Vegas, Nevada
- April 4 - RCA Victor Records announces that it will release all pop singles in mono and stereo simultaneously, the first record company to do so. Elvis Presley's single, "Stuck on You," is RCA's first mono/stereo release.
- April 17 - Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and Cochran's girlfriend Sharon Sheeley are injured in a car accident near Chippenham, Wiltshire. Cochran dies in a hospital in Bath, England, from severe brain injuries.
- April 20 - Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California for the first time since coming home from Germany to film G.I. Blues
- May 2 - The Drifters' Ben E. King leaves the group and signs a solo record contract with ATCO Records.
- August 1 - The Beatles make their debut in Hamburg, Germany. The band at the time included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums.
- The Beatles' musical career begins
- Patti LaBelle's musical career begins
- Carla Thomas' musical career begins
- Hank Williams Jr.'s musical career begins
- Van Morrison's musical career begins
- The Supremes' musical career begins
Albums Released
- GI Blues - Elvis Presley
- Where The Boys Are - Connie Francis
- Genius of Ray Charles - Ray Charles
- Mack the Knife—Ella in Berlin - Ella Fitzgerald
- String Along - The Kingston Trio
- More Songs By Ricky - Ricky Nelson
- This Is Brenda - Brenda Lee
Top Hits
- "Only The Lonely" - Roy Orbison
- "Today's Teardrops" - Roy Orbison, written by Gene Pitney
- "I'm sorry" - Brenda Lee
- "True Love Ways" - Buddy Holly
- "Chain Gang" - Sam Cooke
- "Save The Last Dance For Me" - The Drifters
- "Stay" - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
- "Walk, Don't Run" - The Ventures
- "Red Rubber Ball" - Bobby Vee
- "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" - Brian Hyland
- "Cathy's Clown" - The Everly Brothers
- "Sink the Bismarck" - Johnny Horton
- "North To Alaska" - Johnny Horton
- "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" - Connie Francis
- "Good Timin'" -Jimmy Jones
- "You're Sixteen" - Johnny Burnette
- "You Talk Too Much" - Joe Jones
- "Georgia On My Mind" - Ray Charles
- "It's Now Or Never" - Elvis Presley
- "Exodus" - Ferrante & Teicher
- "Dreamin'" - Johnny Burnette
- "Alley-Oop" - Hollywood Argyles
- "Mission Bell" - Donnie Brooks
- "What In the World's Come Over You" - Jack Scott
- "Burning Bridges" - Jack Scott
- "Tall Oak Tree" - Dorsey Burnette
Births
- January 4 - Michael Stipe, lead singer for the rock band R.E.M.
- January 8 - Dave Weckl
- January 12 - Charlie Gillingham, Counting Crows
- January 16 - Sade
- January 22 - Michael Hutchence, INXS
- February 3 - Tim Chandler, Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies, others
- February 19 - William Holly Johnson, Frankie Goes To Hollywood
- February 27 - Paul Humphries, Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark
- March 13 - Adam Clayton, bassist for rock band U2
- May 10 - Bono, lead singer for rock band U2
- June 1 - Simon Gallup, The Cure
- June 2 - Tony Hadley, Spandau Ballet
- June 8 - Mick Hucknall, Simply Red
- August 1 - Chuck D., Public Enemy
- August 7 - Jacqui O'Sullivan, Banarama
- August 23 - Steve Clark, Def Leppard
- September 8 - David Steele, Fine Young Cannibals
- September 22 - Joan Jett, The Runaways
- October 22 - Cris Kirkwood, Meat Puppets
- October 30 - Joey Belladonna, Anthrax
- November 19 - Matt Sorum, The Cult
- November 25 - Amy Grant
- December 2 - Rick Savage, Def Leppard
- December 31 - Paul Westerberg
- Greg Flesch - Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies
Deaths
- February 6 - Jesse Belvin, car accident
- April 17 - Eddie Cochran, car accident
- November 5 - Johnny Horton, car accident
- Joseph Lamb -
- Jussi Björling - Swedish tenor
Awards
Grammy Awards
- Record of the Year: "Theme From A Summer Place" - Percy Faith
- Album of the Year: Button Down Mind - Bob Newhart
- Song of the Year: - "Theme From Exodus" - Ernest Gold, songwriter