See also: 1978 in music, other events of 1979, 1980 in music, 1970s in music and the list of 'years in music'

Events

Disco reigned supreme in 1979, with several #1 hits from The Bee Gees and Donna Summer that year. Several artists who were not regarded as dance/disco acts, scored major successes by releasing disco singles, including New Wave band Blondie with their first US number one single "Heart Of Glass" and Rod Stewart with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy".

However, the backlash against disco among rock loyalists was also peaking. An anti-disco event in Chicago ultimately forced the cancellation of a major league baseball game. When The Knack's song "My Sharona" hit Billboard's #1 for six weeks, many rock critics gushed that the band was "the next Beatles" and celebrated the beginning of the end for disco music. While 1979 may have marked the climax of disco, it was also the beginning of the end for The Knack, who quickly faded into obscurity.

One event of 1979 which would have later significance was the success of the single "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, which marked the commercial emergence of hip hop.

Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers ' Bustin' Loose was released; this is the first go go record.

• January 1 - Bill Graham closes San Francisco's Winterland Theater following a New Years Eve performance by the Blues Brothers and the Grateful Dead
• January 1 - During a New Years Eve concert in Cleveland, Ohio, Bruce Springsteen is injured when a fire-cracker is thrown onstage from the audience
• January 4 - The Star club in Hamburg, Germany, best known for its connections to the early days of the Beatles, reopens.
• January 13 - Singer Donny Hathaway dies after falling 15 stories from his hotel room in New York City. According to Hathaway's record company, Atlantic, the singer had been having some psychological problems.
• January 15 - MCA Records purchases ABC Records for a reported $20 million.
• February 3 - Dead Man's Curve, a made-for-TV-movie about surf-rock singers Jan & Dean, airs on US television
• February 7 - The Clash kick off their first concert on their first American tour at the Berkeley Community Theatre outside San Francisco, California. Bo Diddley opens the show and the Clash open their set with the song "I'm so bored with the U.S.A.".
• February 10 - Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" hits #1 on the Billboard magazine charts, and stays there for 4 weeks.
• February 11 - 43 million viewers watch "Elvis!" on ABC, a made for TV movie starring Kurt Russell as Elvis.
• February 23 - Dire Straits begins their first U.S. tour in Boston.
• February 24 - Friedrich Cerha 's completion of Alban Berg's opera Lulu is premiered at the Paris Opera
• March 21 - The Pretenders sign a contract with Sire Records
• March 5 - MCA Records dissolves ABC Records.
• March 10 - James Brown performs at the Grand Ole Opry
• March 27 - Eric Clapton marries Patti Boyd , ex-wife of Clapton's friend George Harrison
• April 6 - Rod Stewart marries Alana Hamilton .
• April 7 - 110,000 people attend the California Music Festival at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Performers include Aerosmith, The Boomtown Rats, Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent and Van Halen.
• April 12 - Mickey Thomas replaces Marty Balin as the lead singer of Jefferson Starship
• April 13 - During a concert by Van Halen in Spokane, Washington, David Lee Roth collapses from exhaustion.
• May 1 - Elton John becomes the first pop music artist to perform in Israel.
• May 2 - The Who performs their first concert following the death of drummer Keith Moon. The band performed with new drummer Kenny Jones.
• May 5 - "Reunited" by Peaches and Herb hits #1 on the Billboard charts, and stays there for 4 weeks.
• June 1 - Alternative Tentacles record label established by Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra
• July 12 - "Disco Demolition Night", an anti-disco promotional event for a Chicago rock station involving exploding disco records with a bomb, causes a near-riot between games during a baseball major league doubleheader, forcing the cancellation of the second game.
• July 14 - Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" hits #1 on the Billboard charts, and stays there for 5 weeks
• August 4-11British rock band Led Zeppelin played what were to be their last British concerts at Knebworth in Hertfordshire. Total attendance's for the two concerts approached 400,000
• August 25 - "My Sharona" by The Knack hits #1 on the Billboard charts. This is the first time in over a year that a song hits #1 that isn't either a disco song or a ballad. It remains at #1 for 8 weeks.
• September 2 - U2 enters the studio for the first time to record a locally released single.
• October 20 - Queen Elizabeth II opens Sydney Opera House.
• December 3 - In Cincinnati, Ohio, a stampede for seats at Riverfront Coliseum during a Who concert kills eleven fans (band members were not made aware of the deaths until after the show).
• The Welsh Philharmonia becomes the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera.
• Diamond Head's career begins
• INXS' career begins
• Michael Schenker leaves U.F.O. after the Obsession tour and his solo career began
• The Feelies' musical career begins
• Marianne Faithfull returns to music after a hiatus
• Solid Gold premieres on television.
• Bad Brains forms
• Fishbone forms
• Was (Not Was) forms
• Mr & Mrs No Smoking Sign forms in Sydney (later to become Severed Heads)

Albums released

• Voulez-Vous - ABBA
• Highway to Hell - AC/DC
• The B-52's - The B-52's
• Lodger - David Bowie
• One of a Kind - Bill Bruford
• The Cars - The Cars
• The Audience With Betty Carter - Betty Carter
• Dream Police - Cheap Trick
• Risque - Chic
• London Calling - The Clash (2-record set)
• Armed Forces - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
• Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure
• Dédié à toi (Monday Tuesday) - Dalida
• Dire Straits - Dire Straits
• Do It Yourself - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
• The Long Run - The Eagles
• Dragnet - The Fall
• Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
• Entertainment - Gang of Four
• Here My Dear - Marvin Gaye
• My Father's Eyes - Amy Grant
• X-Static - Hall & Oates
• Look Sharp!- Joe Jackson
• Off The Wall- Michael Jackson
• Setting Sons - The Jam
• 52nd Street - Billy Joel
• Unleashed in the East- Judas Priest
• Low Budget - The Kinks
• Get the Knack - The Knack
• In Through the Out Door - Led Zeppelin
• One Step Beyond- Madness
• Laminar Flow - Roy Orbison
• Damn The Torpedoes - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• The Wall - Pink Floyd
• Outlandos D'Amour - The Police
• Regatta De Blanc - The Police
• Metal Box- Public Image Ltd
• Night Owl - Gerry Rafferty
• Down To Earth- Rainbow
• Nine Lives - REO Speedwagon
• The Specials- The Specials
• The Raven - The Stranglers
• Breakfast In America - Supertramp
• Fear Of Music - Talking Heads
• The Undertones - The Undertones
• Van Halen II - Van Halen
• 154 - Wire
• Live Rust - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
• Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
• Joe's Garage Act 1 - Frank Zappa
• Shiek Yerbouti - Frank Zappa

Chronological Table of US and UK Number One Hit Singles

Other significant singles

• "A Message To You Rudi" - The Specials
• "Accidents Will Happen" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
• "After the Love Has Gone" - Earth, Wind & Fire
• "Ambition" - Vic Goddard and the Subway Sect
• "Are You Ready For Love" - Elton John
• "Bad Case Of Loving You(Doctor Doctor)" - Robert Palmer
• "Bang Bang" - B.A. Robertson
• "Bat Out Of Hell" - Meatloaf
• "Boogie Wonderland" - Earth Wind and Fire with the Emotions
• "Born To Be Alive" - Patrick Hernandez
• "Boys Don't Cry" - The Cure
• "Boys Keep Swinging" - David Bowie
• "Breakfast In America" - Supertramp
• "Bright Side Of The Road" - Van Morrison
• "California Über Alles" - The Dead Kennedys
• "Can You Feel The Force" - The Real Thing
• "Can't Stand Losing You" - The Police
• "Chiquitita" - ABBA
• "Comme disait Mistinguett" - Dalida
• "Computer Games" - Mi-Sex
• "Cool for Cats" - Squeeze
• "Coward Of The County" - Kenny Rogers
• "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Queen
• "Cruel To Be Kind" - Nick Lowe
• "Dance Away" - Roxy Music
• "Death Disco" - Public Image Limited
• "Do Anything You Wanna Do" - Thin Lizzy
• "Does Your Mother Know" - ABBA
• "Don't Do Me Like That" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• "Don't Stop Me Now" - Queen
• "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" - Michael Jackson
• "Dreaming" - Blondie
• "Driver's Seat" - Sniff and the Tears
• "Duchess" - The Stranglers
• "Eton Rifles" - The Jam
• "Every Day Hurts" - Sad Cafe
• "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" - The Buzzcocks
• "Gangsters" - The Specials AKA
• "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" - ABBA
• "Girls Talk" - Dave Edmunds
• "Go West" - Village People
• "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" - Viola Wills
• "Goodbye Stranger" - Supertramp
• "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" - Edwin Starr
• "He must have been eighteen" - Dalida
• "Helwa Ya Baladi" - Dalida
• "Highway To Hell" - AC/DC
• "I Only Wanna Be With You" - The Tourists
• "I Have A Dream" - ABBA
• "Il faut danser reggae" - Dalida
• "In The Navy" - Village People
• "Into The Valley" - The Skids
• "Is It Love You're After?" - Rose Royce
• "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" - Joe Jackson
• "Jimmy Jimmy" - The Undertones
• "Just What I Needed" - The Cars
• "Lady Writer" - Dire Straits
• "Lay Your Love On Me" - Racey
• "Let me dance tonight" - Dalida
• "Let's Go" - The Cars
• "London Calling" - The Clash
• "Lucky Number" - Lene Lovich
• "Making Plans For Nigel" - XTC
• "Milk And Alcohol" - Dr. Feelgood
• "Monday, Tuesday... Laissez-moi danser" - Dalida
• "Morning Dance" - Spyro Gyra
• "Oliver's Army" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
• "On My Radio" - The Selector
• "One Step Beyond" - Madness
• "Parisenne Walkways" - Gary Moore
• "Problemorama (L'Argent... L'Argent...)" - Dalida
• "Reasons To Be Cheerful(Part 3)" - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
• "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" - Steely Dan
• "Roll Over Beethoven(EP)" - Chuck Berry
• "Roxanne" - The Police
• "Sarah" - Thin Lizzy
• "Slap And Tickle" - Squeeze
• "Smash It Up" - The Damned
• "Spiral Scratch(EP)" - The Buzzcocks
• "Stop Your Sobbing" - Pretenders
• "Take Me To The River" - Talking Heads
• "Tears Of A Clown" - The Beat
• "The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan" - Marianne Faithfull
• "The Cost Of Living(EP)" - The Clash
• "The Long Run" - The Eagles
• "Transmission" - Joy Division
• "Union City Blue" - Blondie
• "Up The Junction" - Squeeze
• "Vedrai Vedrai" - Dalida
• "Video Killed The Radio Star" - The Buggles
• "Voulez-Vous" - ABBA
• "We Are Family" - Sister Sledge
• "Whatever You Want" - Status Quo
• "Wonderful Christmastime" - Paul McCartney
• "You Decorated My Life" - Kenny Rogers

Published popular music

• "Don't Cry Out Loud" w. Carole Bayer Sager m. Peter Allen
• "The Facts of Life" w.m. Alan Thicke, Gloria Loring, and Al Burton , from the TV series of the same name
• "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" w.m. Carole Bayer Sager & Peter Allen
• "Knots Landing theme" m. Jerrold Immel
• "New York State Of Mind" w.m. Billy Joel
• "The Rainbow Connection" w.m. Kenny Ascher & Paul Williams, from the film The Muppet Movie
• Sultans of Swing w.m. Mark Knopfler

Classical music

• Arno Babadjanian - Third String Quartet
• Mario Davidovsky - Pennplay for sixteen players
• Hugh Flynn - Birds
• Jacques Hétu - Bassoon Concerto
• Miloslav Kabelac - Metamorphoses II, for piano and orchestra, op. 58

Opera

• Dominick Argento - Miss Havisham's Wedding Night

Musical theater

• Ain't Misbehavin'(Music: Fats Waller Lyrics: Various Book: Murray Horwitz & Richard Maltby Jr. ). London production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on March 22.
• Evita (Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics and Book: Tim Rice). Broadway production opened at the Broadway Theatre on September 25 and ran for 1567 performances
• My Old Friends (Music, Lyrics and Book: Mel Mandel and Norman Sachs ). Off-Broadway production opened at the Orpheum Theatre on January 12 and transferred to the 22 Steps Theatre on Broadway on April 12 for a total run of 154 performances.
• Oklahoma! (Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics and Book: Oscar Hammerstein II) - Broadway revival opened at the Palace Theatre on December 13 and ran for 310 performances
• Peter Pan (Music: Mark Charlap Lyrics and Book: Carolyn Leigh with additional songs Music: Jule Styne and Lyrics: Betty Comden & Adolph Green)). Broadway revival opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on September 6 and ran for 551 performances.
• Saravà (Music: Mitch Leigh Lyrics and Book: N. Richard Nash ). Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on February 23 and ran for 140 performances
• Sugar Babies     Broadway revue opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on October 8 and ran for 1208 performances.
• Sweeney Todd ( Book: Hugh Wheeler) - Broadway production opened at the Uris Theatre on March 1 and ran for 557 performances
• They're Playing Our Song (Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager Book: Neil Simon). Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on February 11 and ran for 1082 performances
• The Venetian Twins (Music: Terence Clarke Lyrics and Book: Nick Enright ). Opened at the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre on October 26.
• Whoopee(Music: Walter Donaldson Lyrics: Gus Kahn Book: William Anthony McGuire ). Broadway revival opened at the ANTA Theatre on February 14 and ran for 212 performances.

Musical films

• All That Jazz
• Hair
• The Muppet Movie

Births

• July 25 - Amy Adams, singer
• January 5 - Kathleen Edwards, singer
• January 10 - Kris Kross
• January 16 - Aaliyah Houghton
• January 20 - Rob Bourdon, Linkin Park
• February 11 - Brandy Norwood
• February 21 - Jennifer Love Hewitt
• March 11 - Benji Madden, Good Charlotte
• March 30 - Norah Jones
• April 10 - Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer
• April 29 - Jo O'Meara , S Club 7
• July 26 - Tamyra Gray, singer
• August 27 - Jon Siebels, Eve 6
• September 3 - Jason McCaslin, Sum 41
• September 6 - Foxy Brown, rapper
• September 8 - Pink
• October 3 - Shannyn Sossamon, actress and musician
• October 12 - Jordan Pundik , New Found Glory
• October 15 - Jaci Velasquez
• October 17 - Nick Cannon
• October 24 - Ben Gillies, Silverchair
• November 5 - Nick Giggler, Mest
• November 10 - Chris Joannou, Silverchair

Deaths

• January 5 - Charles Mingus
• January 13 - Donny Hathaway
• January 14 - Marjorie Lawrence, soprano
• February 2 - Sid Vicious
• April 10 - Nino Rota
• April 29 - Julia A. Perry , composer and conductor
• July - Pedro Flores, composer
• July 3 - Louis Durey, composer
• July 16 - Alfred Deller, countertenor
• August 19 - Dorsey Burnette
• September 6 - Guy Bolton, English librettist
• September 27 - Gracie Fields, actress and singer
• October 1 - Roy Harris, composer
• October 22 - Nadia Boulanger

Awards

Grammy Awards

• Grammy Awards of 1979

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

• Eurovision Song Contest 1979