1997 in music
See also:
1996 in music,
other events of 1997,
1998 in music, 1990s in music and the list of 'years in music'
Events
- January 10 - James Brown receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- February 10 - 52 year old Brian Connolly of Sweet dies of kidney failure in England.
- January 20 - Ben and Jerry's introduce "Phish food", a new flavor of ice cream named after the rock group Phish. The ingredients are chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, caramel and fish-shaped fudge
- February 2 - Rich Mullins' musical The Canticle of the Plains premieres in Wichita, Kansas.
- February 13 - Michael Jackson's first son is born.
- March 9 - The Notorious B.I.G. is shot to death while sitting in the passenger seat of a car after a Soul Train Awards party
- March 11 - Paul McCartney is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
- April 2 - Joni Mitchell is reunited with the daughter that she gave up for adoption 32 years ago, Kilauren Gibb.
- September 19 - While on his way to a benefit concert in Kansas, Rich Mullins loses control of his jeep, flipping the automobile and throwing both Mullins and passenger Mitch McVicker out onto the road. A tractor trailor approaching the scene swerves to miss McVicker, striking and killing Mullins instantly. McVicker survives, but suffered major injuries.
- Orgy's musical career begins
- Lostprophets' musical career begins
- The Shins are formed.
- Dinosaur Jr. disbanded
- Gin Blossoms disbanded
- Soundgarden disbanded
- The Memorex, Maxell, and TDK company introduce Blank recordable CDs
- God Ate My Homework formed as one of the first bands to offer their music in MP3 format.
- The White Stripes are formed.
- March 17 - Whirlwind Heat play their first show.
Classical music
Albums released
Top hits
See also: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1997
Births
Deaths
- January 21 - Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager
- January 22 - Richard Berry, songwriter (Louie, Louie)
- February 10 - Brian Connolly, Sweet, kidney failure
- March 9 - The Notorious B.I.G.
- March 24 - Kenny Moore, Keyboardist for Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Billy Preston and others
- April 9 - Laura Nyro, songwriter, ovarian cancer
- May 29 - Jeff Buckley, accidental drowning
- August 1 - Sviatoslav Richter, pianist
- August 2 - Fela Kuti, AIDS-related heart failure
- August 10 - Conlon Nancarrow, composer
- September - Derek Taylor, Press agent for The Beatles
- September 19 - Rich Mullins, singer, car accident
- October 12 - John Denver
Awards
