2008 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2008.

Events

January

* January 29 - Face to Face announced that they will reunite for select shows in the US and internationally.cite web | url = http://www.facetofacemusic.com/blog/?p=4 | title =We’re back!……….sort of | publisher = FaceToFace.com |last=unattributed | date = 2008-01-29 | accessdate = 2008-02-07]
* Rage Against the Machine headlined the "Big Day Out" festivals in Australia and New Zealand, their first shows outside of the United States since reforming, and their first Australian shows in 12 years. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10466694|title=Rage Against The Machine to play Big Day Out|last=NZPA|date=29 September 2007|publisher=The New Zealand Herald/APN Holdings NZ Limited |accessdate=2008-05-16]

February

* February 10 - The 50th Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA [ [http://www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy/Fifty_Years Official Grammy site] ] .
* February 19 - System of a Down guitarist, Daron Malakian, told MTV.com that the band were never likely to reform as he would be concentrating on his new band project Scars on Broadway. [cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1581717/20080215/id_0.jhtml | title = Scars On Broadway Is No Side Project | publisher = MTV.com | date = 2008-02-19 | accessdate = 2008-02-24]
* February 20–February 25 - The Viña del Mar International Song Festival was held in Chile. [cite web|url=http://festival2008.canal13.cl/2008/html/Irq1024.html|title=Festival de la Canción de Viña del Mar|publisher=Festival de la Canción de Viña del Mar|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-05-17]
* February 23–March 3 - The second annual Soundwave Festival was held in Australia. [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=273060|title=SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL 2008 ANNOUNCED!|last=Djamoos|first=Anton|date=18 October 2007|publisher=Absolute Punk|accessdate=2008-05-17]
* February 26 - The Spice Girls doing their last performace together of their tour The Return of the Spice Girls in Toronto.

March

* March 7 - The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2008 took place in Jakarta, Indonesia. [cite web|url=http://www.javajazzfestival.com/2008/|title=Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2008|year=2008|publisher=Java Festival Production|accessdate=2008-05-19]
* 7–March 16 - The 2008 South By Southwest Conference and Festivals was held in Austin, Texas, USA. [cite web|url=http://2008.sxsw.com/|title=South by Southwest Conference and Festivals|publisher=South by Southwest, Inc|accessdate=2008-05-19]
* March 11 - Jazz musician and broadcaster Humphrey Lyttelton announced his retirement from presenting BBC Radio 2's jazz programme after forty years. [cite web|url=http://www.jazzwise.com/archive/news/L.html|title=Lyttelton to leave radio show|last=unattributed|date=12 March 2008|publisher=Jazzwise Magazine|accessdate=2008-08-22]
* March 20 - The Eagles began a tour to promote their album, "Long Road Out of Eden".Fact|date=May 2008
* 25–March 29 - The Miami Winter Music Conference was held in Miami Beach Resort & Spa, Miami, Florida, USA. [cite web|url=http://www.wintermusicconference.com/|title=Winter Music Conference|year=2008|publisher=Winter Music Conference|accessdate=2008-05-19]
* March 26 - Guitarist Clint Lowery rejoined the band Sevendust, replacing Sonny Mayo.Fact|date=May 2008
* March 27
** British singer Leona Lewis topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with her debut single "Bleeding Love", the first solo British female singer to do so since Kim Wilde in 1987. [cite web|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3627676.ece|title=Leona Lewis turns back the clock to top US charts|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|date=27 March 2008|publisher=Times Online|accessdate=2008-08-22]
** Rock band Def Leppard began the first leg of their world tour to promote their album "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge".Fact|date=May 2008

April

* April 1 - Scott Weiland's departure from rock band Velvet Revolver became official. [cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94021 | title = It's Official: Velvet Revolver Parts Ways With Singer Scott Weiland | publisher = Blabbermouth.net | date = 2008-04-01 | accessdate = 2008-04-01] Weiland's reunion with his former band, Stone Temple Pilots, and tensions between Weiland and the rest of Velvet Revolver, led to his departure. [cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0131840320080401|title=Velvet Revolver splits with rocker Scott Weiland|last=Gorman|first=Steve|date=1 April 2008|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-08-25]
* April 2 - Mariah Carey's new single, "Touch My Body", from her album "E=MC²", is officially confirmed as her eighteenth number one single in the United States making her the artist with the second most number one hit singles behind the Beatles with 20.
* April 5 - The reunited Face to Face performed together for the first time in four-and-a-half-years at The Bamboozle Left in Irvine, California, USA.
* April 7 - The newly reunited 90s rock band Stone Temple Pilots held a press conference announcing a 65-date reunion tour and played for the first time since 2002 at a small, private show in Los Angeles, California, USA.Fact|date=August 2008
* April 15 - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa officially proclaimed April 15 as "Mariah Carey Day" in Los Angeles, California, USA. [cite web|url=http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/news.php?uid=2185|title=Mariah Honored by the City of Los Angeles|last=unattributed|date=21 April 2008|publisher=UltraStar Entertainment LLC|accessdate=2008-05-21]
* April 19 - With her single, "I'm a Fire", Donna Summer became the first artist to have a song reach number one on the "Billboard" Hot Dance Club Play chart in every decade since the chart's inception in 1974.Fact|date=May 2008
* 19—April 20 - The Festival Imperial 2008 was held in Autódromo La Guácima in Alajuela, Costa Rica.Fact|date=May 2008
* 25—April 27
**The Empire State Building in New York City, USA was lit up in Mariah Carey's motif colors — lavender, pink, and white — in celebration of her achievements in the world of music. Carey is the first person in history to be honored by this event. [cite web|url=http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/news.php?uid=2197|title=Mariah Lights Up Empire State Building|last=unattributed|date=28 April 2008|publisher=UltraStar Entertainment LLC|accessdate=2008-05-21]
**The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was held in Indio, California, USA. Fact|date=May 2008
* April 26 - The MTV Australia Awards 2008 took place in Sydney, Australia.Fact|date=May 2008

May

* May 3 - Girls Aloud began their Tangled Up Tour in Belfast, UK. [cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=146092&in_page_id=7|title=Material Girls Aloud|last=unattributed|date=5 May 2008|publisher=metro.co.uk|accessdate=2008-08-26]
* 3–May 4 - The sixth annual The Bamboozle festival was held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.Fact|date=August 2008
* 10–May 11 - The Give It A Name 2008 festival was held at Earls Court, London, UK. [cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/give-it-a-name/8536|title=It may not have a name, but it certainly has a purpose|last=(unattributed)|date=16 May 2007|publisher=NME/IPC Media|accessdate=2008-05-23]
* May 16 - The Offspring began the first leg of their Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace Tour to promote their new album, "Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace".Fact|date=August 2008
* May 17 - The sixteenth annual KROQ Weenie Roast was held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California, USA.Fact|date=August 2008
*May 21 - David Cook won season 7 of the television talent contest American Idol, with the contest decided by a record breaking 97 million votes.Fact|date=August 2008
*May 24 – The 53rd Eurovision Song Contest final was held in Belgrade, Serbia. 43 countries competed in the event, including newcomers San Marino and Azerbaijan. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/news/07.shtml|title=Eurovision Song Contest coverage across the BBC|last=(unattributed)|date=(undated)|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-27] The contest was won by the Russian entry with the Ukrainians coming second and the Greeks third.Fact|date=August 2008
* 24–May 26 - The Sasquatch! Music Festival was held over Memorial Day weekend at The Gorge Amphitheatre in central Washington, USA.Fact|date=August 2008
* May 30–June 1
** Rock In Rio Lisboa 2008 took place in Parque da Bela Vista, Chelas, Lisbon, Portugal. The festival continued on 5–June 6.Fact|date=August 2008
** The fourth annual Mountain Jam Festival was held in Hunter Mountain, New York, USA.Fact|date=August 2008

June

* June 1 - Westlife played their 10th anniversary concert at Europe's fourth biggest stadium, Croke Park, in Dublin, Ireland. [cite web|url=http://www.mcd.ie/home/fn.php?c=9617084&ar=publicinformationnotice&cat=all|title=Public Information Notice for Celine Dion and Westlife Concerts|last=unattributed|date=23 May 2008|publisher=MCD|accessdate=2008-08-27]
* 6 and June 7 - Foo Fighters played their biggest UK stadium shows at Wembley Stadium in London.Fact|date=August 2008
* June 10 - Rancid began the first leg of their tour to promote their seventh studio album. [cite web | date=April 1, 2008 | title=Rancid compile music videos on new DVD, announce tour dates | publisher=Punknews.org | url=http://www.punknews.org/article/28337 | accessdate=2008-04-06]
* 12 – June 15 - Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival was held in Manchester, Tennessee, USA.Fact|date=August 2008
* 13 – June 15
**The seventh Isle of Wight Festival took place in Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, UK.Fact|date=August 2008
**The sixth annual Download Festival took place in Donington Park, UK.Fact|date=August 2008
* June 17 - George Michael began the American leg of his 25 Live tour in San Diego, California, USA, his first U.S. tour for 17 years.Fact|date=August 2008
* June 20 - My Bloody Valentine played their first reunion show at the Roundhouse, London, UK. [cite web|date=24 June 2008|title=My Bloody Valentine at Roundhouse, NW1|publisher=Times Online|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4199762.ece|accessdate=2008-09-18]
*June 27 - The Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute charity concert took place in Hyde Park in London, in support of Mandela's 46664 Aids Foundation.Fact|date=August 2008
* 27 – June 29 - Glastonbury Festival was held at Worthy Farm, Somerset, UK.Fact|date=August 2008
* June 29
**"", the first video game in the "Guitar Hero" series to be based around a single music group (Aerosmith), was released. [cite web| title = Wii Preview: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith | work = Neal Ronaghan | publisher = Nintendo World Report | url=http://nintendoworldreport.com/previewArt.cfm?artid=15660 | accessdate=2008-04-01]
**The Marquee at Cork Festival, was held in Ireland.Fact|date=August 2008
**Linkin Park and Jay-Z performed at Projekt Revolution at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes, UK.Fact|date=August 2008

July

* July 1 Cruefest opened in West Palm Beach Florida
* 3 – July 6
** The O2 Wireless Festival took place in Hyde Park, London, UK. [cite web|url=http://www.o2wirelessfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx|title=O2 Wireless Festival|last=unattributed|year=2008|publisher=Live Nation (Music) UK Limited|accessdate=2008-09-01]
** The Roskilde Festival took place in Denmark.Fact|date=August 2008
** The Rothbury Music Festival took place in Rothbury, Michigan, USA.Fact|date=August 2008
* 3 – July 7 - The Rock Werchter festival took place in Belgium.Fact|date=August 2008
* 3 – July 13 - The Ottawa Bluesfest took place in Ottawa, Canada.Fact|date=August 2008
* 4 – July 6 - The Heineken Open'er Festival took place in Gdynia, Poland.Fact|date=August 2008
* 10 – July 13 - The EXIT Festival 08 took place at Petrovaradin Fortress, in Novi Sad, Serbia.Fact|date=June 2008
* July 20
** The T4 On The Beach music festival took place in Weston-super-Mare, UK.Fact|date=August 2008
** The Oxegen music festival took place in Kildare, Ireland.Fact|date=June 2008
** The All Good Music Festival took place in Masontown, West Virginia, USA.Fact|date=June 2008
** The T in the Park music festival took place at Balado airfield, Kinross, Scotland.Fact|date=August 2008

August

* 1 – August 3 - The Lollapalooza music festival took place in Chicago, USA.
* 12 – August 18 - Sziget Festival 2008 took place in Budapest, Hungary.
* August 24 - Season 6 of the television talent contest, Australian Idol, began.
* August 30 - Legendary Filipino rock band, Eraserheads, held their one night only reunion concert in the Fort open field. This is their first concert since 2001. After the 20-minute break, Ely Buendia(the vocalist) was rushed to the hospital because of chest pain due to emotional stress

eptember

* September 7 - The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards event took place at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, USA. [cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2008/about.jhtml|title=ABOUT THE SHOW|last=unattributed|year=2008|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2008-09-07]
* September 12 - The season 4 of the Finnish talent contest, Idols, began.
* September 18 - Crystal Castles played their biggest headline show to date. A sold out show at Electric Ballroom in Camden, London
* September 20 - Pink scored her first solo number-one hit in her native USA, with the song "So What"
* September 21 - The Eric Burdon show in Oklahoma was cancelled due his health problems.
* September 25 - Former Beatle Paul McCartney made a single concert in Israel at Tel Aviv park for the first time since The Beatles were banned from Israel since 1965.
* September 26 – Britney Spears releases her highly anticipated first single "Womanizer" off her sixth studio album, "Circus".

Bands formed

*Fear and the Nervous System [cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=92171|title=KORN Guitarist Launches FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Project|last=unattributed|date=4 March 2008|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-09-08]
*Girlicious [cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/girlicious/artist.jhtml#bio|title=Girlicious|last=unattributed|date=undated|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2008-09-08]
*One Day as a LionFact|date=September 2008
*Iglu & Hartly

Bands reformed

*Amebix [cite web|url=http://www.metalfan.ro/articol.php?sectiune=2&id_doc=3186&lng=2|title=Interview with Rob "the Baron" Miller (Amebix)|last=Hellhammer_x09|date=1 July 2008|publisher=Metalfan.ro|accessdate=2008-09-10]
*Atomic KittenFact|date=September 2008
*Bad Company (reformed for a one-off show)Fact|date=September 2008
*Big Drill Car (reformed for six shows only)Fact|date=September 2008
*Bleed the Dream (the three remaining founding members started playing and writing music again)Fact|date=September 2008
*Blind Faith (Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, reformed for three performances)Fact|date=September 2008
*Bone Thugs-N-HarmonyFact|date=September 2008
*BoyzoneFact|date=September 2008
*CarcassFact|date=September 2008
*Fact|date=September 2008
*Died Pretty (reformed for five shows only)Fact|date=September 2008
*Dogs Die In Hot Cars [http://dogsdieinhotcarsalbum2.blogspot.com/2008/04/about-project-2.html]
*Dynamite Boy (reformed for two shows only)Fact|date=September 2008
*En Vogue [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1OUGJazwzA|title=Cindy Maxine Dawn Terry The Original members of En Vogue reunite on KTLA Los Angeles TV and sing live|last=unattributed|date=undated|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=2008-09-10]
*Eraserheads (reformed for one night only)Fact|date=October 2008
*Eve 6Fact|date=September 2008
*Face to FaceFact|date=September 2008
*Green River (reformed for a one-off show)Fact|date=September 2008
*KidneythievesFact|date=September 2008
*Living SacrificeFact|date=September 2008
*New Kids on the Block [cite news|title=New Kids on the Block to Reunite, new album in works| date =2008-04-03| url =http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/03/people.newkids.ap/index.html | accessdate =2008-04-03]
*No Doubt [cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584561/20080401/stefani_gwen.jhtm|title=Gwen Stefani Says No Doubt Are In The Studio 'Every Day,' Working On Album Expected In 20|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=1 April 2008|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2008-09-10]
*OneidaFact|date=September 2008
*The PharcydeFact|date=September 2008
*PestilenceFact|date=September 2008
*Rival SchoolsFact|date=September 2008
*Sixpence None the RicherFact|date=September 2008
*SnotFact|date=September 2008
*Spineshank (shortly after the official break-up, the band reformed with Jonny Santos)Fact|date=October 2008
*Stone Temple Pilots [cite news|title=Stone Temple Pilots reveal reunion tour dates|date=8 April 2008|publisher=NME|accessdate-2008-09-18]
*Teenage Jesus & the Jerks (reformed for a one-off show)Fact|date=September 2008
*Vision of DisorderFact|date=September 2008

Returning Performers

*New Kids on the Block
*No Doubt
*Vanessa Amorosi
*Boyzone
*Anastacia
*Dido
*AC/DC
*CDB

Bands disbanded

* 3LW
* Across Five Aprils
* Beneath the Sky
* Be Your Own Pet
* Blinded Black [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=306576|title=Blinded Black Break Up|last=Tate|first=Jason|date=24 March 2008|publisher=AbsolutePunk, LLC|accessdate=2008-07-02]
* The Chalets [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/4446834.html|title=The Chalets split|last=unattributed|date=15 February 2008|publisher=Hot Press|accessdate=2008-07-02]
* The Dead 60s
* Dead To Fall [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=310430|title=Dead To Fall Breaks Up|last=Kohli|first=Rohan|date=8 April 2008|publisher=AbsolutePunk, LLC|accessdate=2008-07-02]
* Dirty Pretty Things [cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/146124-dirty-pretty-things-to-split-after-fall-tour|title=Dirty Pretty Things to Split After Fall Tour|last= Sargeant|first=Roger|date=3 October 2008|publisher=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=2008-10-10]
* The Departure
* Etan
* Folly
* From a Second Story Window
* From Autumn To Ashes
* The Fully Down
* The Hellacopters
* Himsa [cite web|url=http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=31261|title=And Himsa Have Now Broken Up|first=Aaron|date=21 June 2008|publisher=decoymusic.com|accessdate=2008-07-02]
* Hopesfall
* I Was A Cub Scout
* Junior Senior [ [http://gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php/news_id=23340/artist_focus=20964 GAFFA.dk: "Junior Senior opløst" en: "Junior Senior disbanded"] ]
* Meet Me In St. Louis
* Milburn
* Ministry
* Modern Life Is War
* Moros Eros
* Mumm-Ra
* Pink Floyd (on hiatus since 1996; official split on September 12 2008)
* The Police
* The Procussions
* Quiet Riot
* Raging Speedhorn
* The Receiving End of Sirens
* Ride the Sky
* The Servant
* Shot Down Sun
* Spice Girls (abandoned after their final concert together)
* SikTh
* Spineshank (on hiatus since 2004 and officially announced split in February 2008)
* Still Remains
* Submersed
* The Summer Obsession
* This Et Al
* Toto
* Trick Pony
* Yellow Swans
* YouInSeries

Bands on hiatus

* ¡Forward, Russia! (indefinite hiatus) [cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/forward-russia/38864|title=¡Forward, Russia! to Split?|last=unattributed|date=13 August 2008|publisher=nme.com|accessdate=2008-08-14]
* Big & Rich (until 2009, due to a neck injury suffered by Big Kenny) [cite web|url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,,GAC_26063_5795670,00.html|title=Big Kenny On Big & Rich's Hiatus|last=unattributed|date=29 January 2008|publisher=Great American Country|accessdate=2008-09-12]
* Fear Factory
* Foo Fighters
* The Format
* From Autumn to Ashes
* Glue Gun
* Guns N' RosesFact|date=October 2008
* Incubus (on break from touring and recording) [cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/incubus_to_take_a_break.html|title=Incubus To Take A Break|last=unattributed|date=1 July 2008|publisher=Ultimate-Guitar.com|accessdate=2008-07-02]
* Monkey Swallows the Universe (indefinite hiatus)
* June (indefinite hiatus)
* Red Hot Chili Peppers (hiatus for at least one year) [cite web|url=http://www.muchmusic.com/news/story.asp?id=20996|title=Chili Peppers (Sort Of) Break-Up|last=unattributed|date=22 May 2008|publisher=muchmusic.com|accessdate=2008-06-30]
* Reuben
* Social Distortion (due to their lead singer undertaking a solo tour)
* The Starting Line (indefinite break) [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=301596|title=The Starting Line Press Conference|last=Jason|first=Tate|date=5 March 2008|publisher=AbsolutePunk, LLC|accessdate=2008-06-30]
* Velvet Revolver (whilst looking for a new lead singer)
* Westlife (a one year break)
* Wolfmother (whilst looking for new musicians)
* Yellowcard

Top selling singles in the world

These were the top selling singles in 2008 as of the week of October 11-18, 2008 (Week 42), according to United World Chart. [cite web|url=http://www.mediatraffic.de/tracks.htm|title=United World Chart|last=unattributed|year=2008|publisher=Media Traffic|accaessdate=2008-08-15]

Best selling albums in the world

The best sold records in 2008 according to UWC as of the week of October 11-18, 2008 (Week 42). Some records were released in 2006 and 2007, their total sales are behind their sales in 2008 (plus the estimated +7.5% that UWC doesn't cover). All album sales information is from the United World Chart. [ [http://www.mediatraffic.de/previous2.htm UWC Albums] ]

Deaths

January

*January 3 - Henri Chopin, 85, French sound poet
*January 11 - Pete Candoli, 84, American jazz trumpeter
*January 13 - Sergejus Larinas, 51, Russian tenor
*January 17 - Madeleine Milhaud, 105, French librettist
*January 19 - Andy Palacio, 47, Belizean Punta musician
*January 19 - Trevor Taylor, 50, German singer (Bad Boys Blue)
*January 19 - John Stewart, 68, American singer-songwriter
*January 20 - Tommy McQuater, 93, British jazz trumpeter
*January 25 - Evelyn Barbirolli, 97, British oboist
*January 30 - Miles Kington, 66, British bassist

February

*February 4 - Tata Güines, 77, Cuban percussionist and composer
*February 10 - Freddie Bell, 76, American musician
*February 10 - Inga Nielsen, 61, Danish soprano
*February 13 - Henri Salvador, 90, French singer
*February 15 - Willie P. Bennett, 56, Canadian folk singer-songwriter
*February 19 - Yegor Letov, 43, Russian punk singer
*February 19 - Teo Macero, 82, American jazz saxophonist, record producer and composer
*February 21 - Joe Gibbs, Jamaican record producer
*February 24 - Larry Norman, 60, American musician
*February 25 - Stephen "Static Major" Garrett, 33, singer
*February 26 - Buddy Miles, 60, American drummer
*February 27 - Ray Kane, 82, American slack-key guitarist
*February 27 - Ivan Rebroff, 76, German singer
*February 28 - Mike Smith, 64, British singer and producer (The Dave Clark Five)

March

*March 2 - Jeff Healey, 41, blind Canadian musician and actor.
*March 3 - Giuseppe Di Stefano, 86, Italian tenor
*March 3 - Norman Smith, 85, British record producer and musician
*March 4 - Leonard Rosenman, 83, American composer
*March 12 - Alun Hoddinott, 78, British composer
*March 13 - Bill Bolick, 90, country musician
*March 15 - Mikey Dread, 53, Jamaican reggae musician and broadcaster
*March 16 - Ola Brunkert, 61, Swedish drummer
*March 21 - Klaus Dinger, 61, German drummer
*March 21 - Shusha Guppy, 72, Iranian folk-singer and composer
*March 22 - Cachao López, 89, Cuban bassist
*March 23 - Neil Aspinall, 66, British music industry executive
*March 29 - Allan Ganley, 77, British jazz drummer

April

*April 15 - Sean Costello, 28, American blues musician
*April 15 - Brian Davison, 65, British drummer
*April 17 - Danny Federici, 58, American rock multi-instrumentalist
*April 20 - Bebe Barron, 82, American electronic music pioneer
*April 20 - VL Mike, 30, American rap artist
*April 24 - Tristram Cary, 82, British composer
*April 24 - Jimmy Giuffre, 86, American jazz musician
*April 25 - Humphrey Lyttelton, 86, British jazz musician
*April 26 - Henry Brant, 94, American composer
*April 27 - Frances Yeend, 95, American soprano
*April 29 - Micky Waller, 66, British drummer

May

*May 4 - Kishan Maharaj, 84, Indian tabla player
*May 5 - Jerry Wallace, 79, American country music singer
*May 6 - Franz Jackson, 95, American jazz saxophonist
*May 8 - Eddy Arnold, 89, American country music singer
*May 8 - Larry Levine, 80, American audio engineer
*May 10 - Leyla Gencer, 79, Turkish soprano
*May 11 - Dottie Rambo, 74, American gospel singer
*May 11 - John Rutsey, 54 or 55, Canadian drummer
*May 15 - Alexander Courage, 88, American composer
*May 15 - Bob Florence, 75, American jazz pianist
*May 17 - Wilfrid Mellers, 94, British musicologist and composer
*May 21 - Siegmund Nissel, 86, Austrian violinist
*May 23 - Utah Phillips, 73, American folk singer-songwriter
*May 24 - Jimmy McGriff, 72, American jazz organist
*May 26 - Earle Hagen, 88, American composer
*May 28 - Danny Moss, 80, British jazz saxophonist
*May 30 - Campbell Burnap, 68, British jazz trombonist and broadcaster
*May 30 - Nat Temple, 94, British big band leader

June

*June 1 - Al Jones, 62, British folk musician
*June 2 - Bo Diddley, 79, American rock and roll and blues singer, songwriter and guitarist
*June 4 - Bill Finegan, 91, American jazz pianist and arranger
*June 8 - Šaban Bajramović, 72, Serbian Roma musician
*June 12 - Danny Davis, 83, American band leader
*June 14 - Jamelão, 95, Brazilian samba singer
*June 14 - Esbjörn Svensson, 44, Swedish jazz pianist
*June 16 - Margaret Kitchin, 94, Swiss pianist
*June 17 - Cyd Charisse, 86, American dancer and actress
*June 24 - Ira Tucker, 83, American gospel singer
*June 27 - Raymond Lefèvre, 78, French easy listening musician
*June 27 - Daihachi Oguchi, 84, Japanese drummer
*June 27 - Leonard Pennario, 83, American pianist
*June 30 - Ángel Tavira, 83, Mexican violinist and composer

July

*July 1 - Mel Galley, 60, British guitarist
*July 3 - Oliver Schroer, 52, Canadian fiddler and composer
*July 6 - Bobby Durham, 71, American jazz drummer
*July 7 - Hugh Mendl, 88, British record producer
*July 13 - Gerald Wiggins, 86, American jazz pianist
*July 16 - Jo Stafford, 90, American singer
*July 18 - Tauno Marttinen, 95, Finnish composer
*July 18 - Dennis Townhill, 83, British organist and composer
*July 20 - Artie Traum, 65, American folk musician and composer
*July 22 - Joe Beck, 62, American jazz guitarist
*July 24 - Norman Dello Joio, 95, American composer
*July 25 - Hiram Bullock, 52, American jazz fusion guitarist
*July 25 - Johnny Griffin, 80, American jazz saxophonist
*July 27 - Horst Stein, 80, German conductor
*July 28 - Wendo Kolosoy, 83, Congolese rumba musician
*July 31 - Lee Young, 94, American jazz drummer and singer

August

*August 3 - Erik Darling, 74, American folk musician
*August 3 - Louis Teicher, 83, American pianist
*August 4 - Nicola Rescigno, 92, Italian American conductor
*August 5 - Robert Hazard, 59, American songwriter
*August 5 - Reg Lindsay, 79, Australian country music singer
*August 10 - Isaac Hayes, 65, American rhythm and blues musician
*August 10 - Alexander Slobodyanik, 66, Ukrainian pianist
*August 11 - Don Helms, 81, American steel guitarist
*August 12 - Donald Erb, 81, American composer
*August 14 - Lita Roza, 82, British singer
*August 15 - Jerry Wexler, 91, American producer
*August 16 - Dorival Caymmi, 94, Brazilian singer-songwriter
*August 16 - Ronnie Drew, 73, Irish folk musician (The Dubliners)
*August 16 - Johnny Moore, 70, Jamaican trumpeter (The Skatalites)
*August 18 - Pervis Jackson, 70, American R&B singer (The Spinners)
*August 19 - LeRoi Moore, 46, American saxophonist (Dave Matthews Band)
*August 20 - Phil Guy, 68, American blues guitarist
*August 21 - Jerry Finn, 39, American record producer, brain haemorrhage
*August 21 - Buddy Harman, 79, American session drummer
*August 25 - Pehr Henrik Nordgren, 64, Finnish composer
*August 31 - Jerry Reed, 71, American country musician

eptember

*September 2 - Arne Domnérus, 83, Swedish jazz saxophonist
*September 7 - Christian Dudek, 42, German drummer of (Sodom)
*September 7 - Peter Glossop, 80, British opera singer
*September 8 - Hector Zazou, 60, French composer and producer
*September 8 - Jason Stuart, 39, Keyboardist (Hawkwind)
*September 9 - Bheki Mseleku, 53, South African jazz musician
*September 10 - Vernon Handley, 77, British conductor
*September 12 - Marjorie Thomas, 85, British contralto
*September 12 - Charlie Walker, 81, American country musician
*September 15 - Richard Wright, 65, British keyboardist (Pink Floyd)
*September 16:
** Norman Whitfield, 68, American songwriter and producer
** Andrei Volkonsky, 75, Russian (emigré/defector) composer, conductor and harpischordist
*September 18 - Opal Courtney Jr, 71, American R&B doo-wop singer (The Spaniels)
*September 18 - Mauricio Kagel, 76, Argentine composer
*September 19 - Earl Palmer, 84, American drummer, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
*September 19 - Dick Sudhalter, 70, American jazz trumpeter and critic
*September 20 - Nappy Brown, 78, American blues singer
*September 22 - Connie Haines, 87, American singer
*September 24 - Vice Vukov, 72, Croatian singer
*September 25 - Horaţiu Rădulescu, 66, Romanian composer
*September 26 - Bernadette Greevy, 68, Irish mezzo-soprano

October

*October 1 - Nick Reynolds, 75, American folk musician
*October 3 - Johnny "J", 39, American multi-platinum songwriter, music producer & rapper
*October 4 - Levi Kereama, 27, Australian musician
*October 4 - Alfred Gallodoro, 95, American Jazz musician

ee also

* 2008 in British music
* 2008 in heavy metal music
* 2008 in hip hop
* List of albums released in 2008
* Timeline of musical events

References