1986 in music



This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.

Specific locations

 * 1986 in British music
 * 1986 in Norwegian music

Specific genres

 * 1986 in country music
 * 1986 in heavy metal music
 * 1986 in hip hop music
 * 1986 in jazz

Events

 * January 30 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame holds its first induction ceremony with many rock pioneers attending.
 * May 28 – The Monkees held a press conference at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City to officially announce that they would embark on a 100-plus city tour. The tour became one of the biggest grossing tours of the year.
 * June 10 – Bob Geldof is awarded with a knighthood in recognition of his work in organizing Live Aid and other concerts that raised millions of dollars for the starving people of Africa.
 * June 30 – Madonna releases her "True Blue" album, which tops the charts in over 28 countries & becomes the best selling album of 1986.
 * September 27 – A tour bus carrying the heavy metal band Metallica crashes in Sweden, killing their influential bassist, Cliff Burton.
 * November 17–18 – Billy Eckstine makes his final recordings, later released on his album Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter.
 * December 12 – The Smiths play Brixton Academy, their last ever gig before their dissolution.
 * Approximate date – Axé (music) originates in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Bands formed

 * See Musical groups established in 1986

Bands disbanded

 * See Musical groups disestablished in 1986

EPs released

 * 1) Love's Easy Tears Cocteau Twins

Release date unknown

 * 3.V – Zebra
 * Awaken the Guardian – Fates Warning
 * American Girls – American Girls
 * Back in Line – Steeleye Span
 * Between the Earth & Sky – Luba
 * The Blind Leading the Naked – Violent Femmes
 * BTO's Greatest – Bachman–Turner Overdrive
 * Charlotte for Ever – Charlotte Gainsbourg
 * Chasing Shadows – The Comsat Angels
 * The Circle & The Square – Red Box
 * The Colour of Spring – Talk Talk
 * Concrete Blonde – Concrete Blonde
 * A Date with Elvis – The Cramps
 * David Foster – David Foster
 * Dreaming in Sequence – Chrome
 * Emotional – Juice Newton
 * Especially for You – The Smithereens
 * Good Earth – The Feelies
 * Gruts – Ivor Cutler
 * Hand to Mouth – General Public
 * Headed for the Future – Neil Diamond
 * Hey... Bo Diddley in Concert – Bo Diddley with Mainsqueeze
 * Highlights of a Dangerous Life – The Johnnys
 * Horse Bites Dog Cries – D.I.
 * Horse Rotorvator – Coil
 * Hwgr Grawth-Og – Datblygu
 * In America EP – Britny Fox
 * Inside – Matthew Sweet
 * Isyu! – Ebiet G. Ade
 * Journey to The Urge Within – Courtney Pine (debut)
 * Keys to Imagination – Yanni
 * Kings of Punk – Poison Idea
 * Klymaxx – Klymaxx
 * The Knife Feels Like Justice – Brian Setzer
 * Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares – Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares
 * Le Visage de l'Amour – Dalida
 * Le sixième Jour – Dalida
 * Letters Home – News from Babel
 * Live Chronicles – Hawkwind
 * London 0 Hull 4 – The Housemartins
 * Love in Bright Landscapes – The Triffids
 * Lyle Lovett – Lyle Lovett


 * Mad – Raven
 * The Man – Bill Drummond
 * Mind's Eye – Vinnie Moore
 * Minuteflag – Minutemen/Black Flag
 * Nerve War – Front Line Assembly
 * Nine Lives – Bonnie Raitt
 * Not of This Earth – Joe Satriani
 * Nuovi eroi – Eros Ramazzotti
 * On the Beach – Chris Rea
 * One Foot in Hell – Cirith Ungol
 * Paint Your Wagon – Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
 * Permanent Sleep – Lowlife
 * Prince Ivor – Ivor Cutler
 * R&B Skeletons in the Closet – George Clinton
 * The Rainmakers – The Rainmakers
 * Reivax Au Bongo – Hector Zazou
 * Running the Endless Mile – John Parr
 * Sex Mad – NoMeansNo
 * Shakin' Like a Human Being – Kim Mitchell
 * Siempre Contigo – José José
 * Strange Behavior – Animotion
 * Songs from Liquid Days – Philip Glass
 * Tacky Souvenirs of Pre-Revolutionary America – Culturcide
 * They Don't Make Them Like They Used To – Kenny Rogers
 * Thrill of a Lifetime – King Kobra
 * Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses
 * Tones – Eric Johnson
 * Total Terror – Front Line Assembly
 * The Touch – Alabama
 * Transit – Ira Stein and Russel Walder
 * Tutu – Miles Davis
 * U-Vox – Ultravox
 * Velvet & Steel – Dion DiMucci
 * Vicious Pink – Vicious Pink
 * Vicious Rumors – Timex Social Club
 * Walkabout – The Fixx
 * Wants You – Rough Cutt
 * The Wedge – Pallas
 * Weird Love – The Scientists
 * Welcome Home – 'Til Tuesday
 * While the City Sleeps... – George Benson
 * Whispering Jack – John Farnham
 * White Fields – The Escape Club
 * Yemenite Songs – Ofra Haza
 * Yesterday Started Tomorrow (EP) – Angry Samoans

Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1986.

Notable hits

 * "Absolute Beginners" – David Bowie
 * "Addicted To Love" (1985) – Robert Palmer
 * "All Cried Out" – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
 * "All I Ask of You" – Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman
 * "All I Need Is a Miracle" (1985) – Mike + The Mechanics
 * "All The Things She Said" (1985) – Simple Minds
 * "Amanda" (recorded 1981) – Boston
 * "Baby Love" – Regina Richards
 * "Bad Boy" – Miami Sound Machine
 * "Be Good to Yourself" – Journey
 * "Best of Both Worlds" – Van Halen
 * "Brand New Lover" – Dead or Alive
 * "Breakout" – Swing Out Sister (charted in 1987 in U.S.)
 * "Bigmouth Strikes Again" – The Smiths
 * "Big Time" – Peter Gabriel
 * "Bizarre Love Triangle" – New Order
 * "Brother Louie" – Modern Talking
 * "Both to Each Other (Friends and Lovers)" – Juice Newton and Eddie Rabbitt
 * "Burning Heart" – Survivor
 * "Calling America" – Electric Light Orchestra
 * "Can't Wait Another Minute" – Five Star
 * "Candy" – Cameo
 * "Capitaine abandonné" – Gold
 * "The Captain of Her Heart" – Double (released in 1985)
 * "Chain Reaction" – Diana Ross
 * "Cheap Love" – Juice Newton
 * "Coming Around Again" – Carly Simon (released in UK in 1987)
 * "Conga" – Miami Sound Machine
 * "Crush on You" – The Jets
 * "Cry to Heaven" – Elton John
 * "Dancing on the Ceiling" – Lionel Richie
 * "Danger Zone" – Kenny Loggins
 * "(I Just) Died In Your Arms" – Cutting Crew (charted in 1987 in the U.S.)
 * "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" – Glass Tiger
 * "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" – The Police
 * "Dreams" – Van Halen
 * "The Edge of Heaven" – Wham!
 * "En Rouge et Noir" – Jeanne Mas
 * "Ève lève-toi" – Julie Pietri
 * "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" – Wang Chung
 * "The Final Countdown" – Europe
 * "Flash" – Princess Stéphanie of Monaco
 * "Friends and Lovers" – Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson
 * also recorded as "Both to Each Other" by country music artists Juice Newton and Eddie Rabbitt
 * "French Kissin' In The USA" – Debbie Harry
 * "Girl Can't Help It" – Journey
 * "Glory of Love" – Peter Cetera
 * "Go Home" – Stevie Wonder
 * "The Greatest Love of All" – Whitney Houston
 * "Harlem Shuffle" – The Rolling Stones
 * "Heartbeat" – Don Johnson
 * "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)" – Alice Cooper
 * "Higher Love" – Steve Winwood
 * "Hip to Be Square" – Huey Lewis and the News
 * "Holding Back the Years" (1985) – Simply Red (originally released in 1985, but flopped)
 * "Human" – Human League
 * "I Can't Wait" – Nu Shooz
 * "I Want to Wake Up with You" – Boris Gardiner
 * "If I Say Yes" – Five Star
 * "If She Knew What She Wants" – Bangles
 * "If You Leave" – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
 * "In the Army Now" – Status Quo
 * "Invisible Touch" – Genesis
 * "In Too Deep" – Genesis (charted in 1987 in the U.S.)
 * "Jody" – Jermaine Stewart
 * "Jumpin' Jack Flash" – Aretha Franklin
 * "A Kind of Magic" – Queen
 * "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" — The Georgia Satellites
 * "The Kid's American" – Jermaine Stewart
 * "Kiss" – Prince and the Revolution
 * "Kyrie" – Mr. Mister
 * "La puerta de Alcalá" – Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel
 * "The Lady in Red" – Chris de Burgh (charted in 1987 in the U.S.)
 * "La Isla Bonita" – Madonna
 * "Land of Confusion" – Genesis
 * "Le Sixième Jour" – Dalida
 * "Leave Me Alone" – Michael Jackson
 * "Les Bêtises" – Sabine Paturel
 * "Les Démons de minuit" – Images
 * "Lessons in Love" – Level 42
 * "Libertine" – Mylène Farmer
 * "Live to Tell" – Madonna
 * "Living In America" – James Brown
 * "Living Doll" – Cliff Richard and The Young Ones featuring Hank B. Marvin
 * "Livin' On a Prayer" – Bon Jovi
 * "Locked In" – Judas Priest
 * "Love Touch" – Rod Stewart
 * "Love Walks In" – Van Halen
 * "Mad About You" – Belinda Carlisle
 * "Manic Monday" – The Bangles
 * "Master of Puppets" – Metallica
 * "A Matter of Trust" – Billy Joel
 * "Misfit" – Curiosity Killed the Cat
 * "Modern Woman" – Billy Joel
 * "Mountains" – Prince
 * "Move Away" – Culture Club
 * "My Hometown" (1984) – Bruce Springsteen
 * "Nasty" – Janet Jackson
 * "Never as Good as the First Time" – Sade
 * "The Next Time I Fall" – Peter Cetera and Amy Grant
 * "Nikita" – Elton John
 * "No One Is to Blame" (originally recorded in 1985) – Howard Jones
 * "No Promises" – Icehouse
 * "Nobody's Fool" – Cinderella
 * "Notorious" – Duran Duran
 * "Now and Forever (You and Me)" – Anne Murray
 * "Old Flame" – Juice Newton
 * "On My Own" – Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
 * "Open Your Heart" – Madonna
 * "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" – Pet Shop Boys
 * "Ouragan" – Princess Stéphanie of Monaco
 * "Overjoyed" – Stevie Wonder
 * "Papa Don't Preach" – Madonna
 * "Peace Sells" – Megadeth
 * "Point of No Return" – Nu Shooz
 * "Pressure Down" – John Farnham
 * "Pretty in Pink" – The Psychedelic Furs
 * "Private Number" – The Jets
 * "A Question of Lust" – Depeche Mode
 * "A Question of Time" – Depeche Mode
 * "¿A quién le importa?" – Alaska
 * "Raining Blood" – Slayer
 * "Rain or Shine" – Five Star
 * "Rock Me Amadeus" – Falco
 * "Rough Boy" (1985) – ZZ Top
 * "The Rumour" – Jeanette Jurado and George Michael
 * "Rumors" – Timex Social Club
 * "Ruthless People" – Mick Jagger
 * "Sara" (1985) – Starship
 * "Say You Really Want Me" – Kim Wilde (North American issue)
 * "Schoolgirl" – Kim Wilde
 * "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" – Mel and Kim
 * "Silent Running" (1985) – Mike + The Mechanics
 * "Skin Trade" (song) - Duran Duran
 * "Sledgehammer" – Peter Gabriel
 * "Slice of Heaven" – Dave Dobbyn
 * "Slow Rivers" – Cliff Richard and Elton John
 * "Small Town" (1985) – John Cougar Mellencamp
 * "So Far, So Good" – Sheena Easton
 * "Something About You" (1985) – Level 42
 * "Sometimes" – Erasure
 * "Somewhere" – Barbra Streisand
 * "Stripped" – Depeche Mode
 * "Stuck with You" – Huey Lewis and the News
 * "Suburbia" – Pet Shop Boys
 * "Sweet Freedom" – Michael McDonald
 * "The Sweetest Taboo" (1985) – Sade
 * "System Addict" – Five Star
 * "Take Me Home Tonight" – Eddie Money
 * "Take My Breath Away" – Berlin
 * "Taken In" – Mike + The Mechanics
 * "That Was Then, This Is Now" – The Monkees
 * "Tender Love" – Force MD's
 * "That's What Friends Are For" – Dionne Warwick (duets with Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder)
 * "The Rain" – Oran "Juice" Jones
 * "The Themes from 'EastEnders' and 'Howards Way'" – The Shadows
 * "Teenage Frankenstein" – Alice Cooper
 * "(There's Gonna Be) A Showdown" – The Johnnys
 * "These Dreams" (1985) – Heart
 * "Throw Your Arms Around Me" – Hunters & Collectors
 * "Throwing It All Away" – Genesis
 * "Thorn in My Side" – Eurythmics
 * "Turbo Lover" – Judas Priest
 * "True Blue"- Madonna
 * "True Colors" – Cyndi Lauper
 * "Twist and Shout" – The Beatles
 * "Two People" – Tina Turner
 * "Two of Hearts" – Stacey Q
 * "Typical Male" – Tina Turner
 * "Venus" – Bananarama
 * "Voyage, voyage" – Desireless
 * "Walk Like an Egyptian" – The Bangles
 * "Walk This Way" – Run DMC featuring Aerosmith
 * "War" – Bruce Springsteen
 * "Wasted Years" – Iron Maiden
 * "The Way It Is" – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
 * "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" – Jermaine Stewart
 * "We're Ready" (recorded 1981) – Boston
 * "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" – Metallica
 * "What Have You Done for Me Lately" – Janet Jackson
 * "What You Need" – INXS
 * "When You Gonna" – Rick Astley
 * "When I Think of You" – Janet Jackson
 * "Who's Johnny?" – El DeBarge
 * "Why Can't This Be Love" – Van Halen
 * "Word Up!"- Cameo
 * "Words Get in the Way" – Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
 * "Wouldn't It Be Good" – Nik Kershaw
 * "You Can Call Me Al" – Paul Simon
 * "You Give Love a Bad Name" – Bon Jovi
 * "You Got It All" – The Jets
 * "You Keep Me Hangin' On" – Kim Wilde
 * "Your Love" – The Outfield
 * "Your Wildest Dreams" – The Moody Blues

Published popular music

 * "All I Ask of You" w.m. Andrew Lloyd Webber
 * "Crush On You"    w.m. Jerry Knight & Aaron Zigman
 * "I Used To Be An Animal, But I'm Alright Now" w.m. Eric Burdon
 * "The Lady in Red"    w.m. Chris de Burgh
 * "True Colors" Cyndi Lauper
 * Montego Bay Amazulu – a minor hit in the U.S. in September.

Classical music

 * Malcolm Arnold – Symphony No. 9
 * Pascal Bentoiu – Symphony No. 7 ("Volume"), Op.29
 * Elliott Carter – String Quartet No.4
 * George Crumb – An Idyll for the Misbegotten (Images III) for amplified flute and percussion (three players).
 * George Crumb – Federico's Little Songs for Children for soprano, flute/piccolo/alto flute/bass flute, and harp
 * Mario Davidovsky – Salvos for flute, clarinet, harp, percussion, violin and cello
 * Jacob Druckman – Reflections on the Nature of Water, for solo marimba
 * Ludovico Einaudi – Movimento
 * Peter Eötvös – Chinese Opera
 * Morton Feldman
 * For Christian Wolff, for flute and piano/celesta
 * For Stefan Wolpe, for choir and 2 vibraphones
 * Lorenzo Ferrero
 * La fuga di Foscolo
 * Anemia (film score)
 * Passacaglia, for flute, clarinet, and string quartet
 * Intermezzo "Portella della Ginestra"
 * Ninna-nanna
 * Karel Goeyvaerts –
 * De Heilige Stad (The Holy City), for chamber orchestra
 * De Zeven Segels (The Seven Seals), for string quartet
 * Martun Israelyan
 * Violin Concerto
 * Sonata No. 2 for cello and piano
 * György Kurtág – Three Ancient Inscriptions, for voice and piano
 * Alvin Lucier – Hommage to James Tenney, for double bass and pure wave oscillator
 * Witold Lutoslawski – Chain 3 for Orchestra
 * Per Nørgård
 * Viola Concerto No. 1 Remembering Child
 * Najader (The Naiads)
 * Krzysztof Penderecki – The Song of Cherubin
 * Paul Schoenfield – Café Music for Piano Trio

Opera

 * Harrison Birtwistle's opera The Mask of Orpheus is premiered in London, UK on May 21
 * Rudolf Brucci – Gilgamesh
 * Lorenzo Ferrero's opera Salvatore Giuliano is premiered at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma on January 25
 * Lee Hoiby – The Tempest
 * Gian-Carlo Menotti – Goya
 * Michael Nyman – The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

Musical theater

 * La Cage aux Folles – London production
 * Charlie Girl – London revival
 * Chess – London production
 * Me and My Girl – Broadway revival
 * The Phantom Of The Opera – London production
 * Time (musical) – London production
 * Sweet Charity – Broadway revival

Musical films

 * Absolute Beginners
 * HMS Pinafore
 * Long Da Lishkara
 * Little Shop of Horrors
 * Naam
 * Otello

Musical television

 * Barnum

Music festivals

 * Inaugural Festival International de Louisiane

Births

 * January 2 – Trombone Shorty, American trumpet and trombone player
 * January 3 – Lloyd Polite, American singer (N-Toon)
 * January 5 — Teppei Koike, Japanese singer and actor
 * January 6 – Alex Turner, singer and guitarist (Arctic Monkeys)
 * January 7 – Megan Washington, Australian musician and singer-songwriter
 * January 11 – Mithoon, Indian film score composer and singer
 * January 17 – Chloe Rose Lattanzi, American singer and actress
 * January 20
 * Victoria Asher, American keyboard player
 * Kevin Parker (musician), Australian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer
 * January 26 – Katie Waissel, English singer-songwriter
 * January 26
 * Hero, Korean singer (TVXQ)
 * Matt Heafy, singer, and guitarist (Trivium)
 * January 28 – Michael Paynter, Australian singer-songwriter and musician
 * February 2 – Blaine Larsen, US country singer
 * February 6 — U-Know, Korean singer (TVXQ)
 * February 14 – Tiffany Thornton, American actress
 * February 15 – Amber Riley, American actress, stage performer, singer and author
 * February 19 – Maria Mena, Norwegian singer
 * February 21 – Charlotte Church, Welsh singer
 * February 23 – Skylar Grey, American singer songwriter
 * February 25 — Danny Saucedo, Swedish singer
 * February 26
 * Crystal Kay, Japanese singer, songwriter, radio host and actress.
 * Juliet Simms, American Singer-songwriter, model and former front woman of the band Automatic Loveletter..
 * March 3 – Stacie Orrico, American singer, songwriter and occasional actress
 * March 6 – Maya Postepski, Canadian musician and producer
 * March 9
 * Brittany Snow, American actress, producer and singer
 * Young Fyre, American record producer (Britney Spears, Tech N9ne, Jaden Smith)
 * March 12 – Danny Jones, British musician, singer and guitarist (McFLY)
 * March 13 – Rose Elinor Dougall, English singer, songwriter and musician (Mark Ronson, The Pipettes)
 * March 14 – Este Arielle Haim, Multi-instrumentalist, and singer, member of sisterhood and band Hiam (Haim, American pop rock band from Los Angeles)
 * March 15
 * Adrianne Leon, American actress and singer
 * Natalie Prass, American singer-songwriter
 * March 17 – Andrew Goldstein (musician), American singer, songwriter and record producer
 * March 18 – Lykke Li, Swedish singer, songwriter and model
 * March 20
 * Ruby Rose, Australian model, DJ, recording artist, actress, television presenter, and former MTV VJ
 * Dean Geyer, South African–Australian singer-songwriter and actor
 * Oscar Görres, Swedish songwriter, record producer and musician
 * March 22 – Amy Studt, English singer, songwriter and musician
 * March 26
 * Jonny Craig, Canadian singer and songwriter
 * Jonathan Groff, American singer and actor
 * March 28 – Lady Gaga, American singer, songwriter, activist and pianist
 * April 2
 * Lee DeWyze, American singer-songwriter
 * Mykki Blanco, American rapper, performance artist, poet and activist.
 * April 4 — Eunhyuk, Korean singer (Super Junior)
 * April 8
 * Bridget Kelly, American singer-songwriter
 * Erika Sawajiri, Japanese actress and singer
 * April 28 – Jenna Ushkowitz, South Korean-born American actress, singer, and podcast host
 * April 30 – Dianna Agron, American actress, singer, and dancer.
 * May 13 — Alexander Rybak, Norwegian singer
 * May 14
 * Alyosha, Ukrainian singer
 * Joseph Attieh, Lebanese singer
 * Amy Shark, Australian indie singer-songwriter and producer
 * May 17 – Hannah Lux Davis, American music video director
 * May 21
 * Myra, American singer
 * Da'Vine Joy Randolph, American actress and singer
 * May 30 – Claudia Beni, Croatian pop singer.
 * May 31 — Sopho Khalvashi, Georgian musician
 * June 5 – Gin Wigmore, New Zealand singer-songwriter
 * June 10 — Tinchy Stryder, English rapper and producer
 * June 13 – DJ Snake, French DJ and record producer
 * June 24 – Solange Knowles, American singer, songwriter, activist, model, and actress (Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams)
 * June 25 – Aya Matsuura, Japanese singer
 * June 27 – Drake Bell, American actor/singer/musician
 * June 28 – Kellie Pickler, American Idol singer
 * June 29 – Austin Drage, British actor and singer
 * July 2 – Lindsay Lohan, American actress, musician, singer/songwriter, businesswoman and model
 * July 5 – Adam Young, American singer-songwriter and producer (Owl City and Sky Sailing)
 * July 21 – Rebecca Ferguson (singer), British singer and songwriter
 * August 1 – Marissa Paternoster, American artist, singer and guitarist (Screaming Females)
 * August 19 – Christina Perri, American singer/songwriter, musician and artist
 * August 26
 * Laza Morgan, singer
 * Cassie, American singer, dancer
 * August 28 – Florence Welch, English musician, singer-songwriter, music producer, author, poet and performer, (Florence and the Machine).
 * August 29 – Lea Michele, American singer, actress
 * September 12 – Emmy Rossum, American actress and singer
 * September 19 – Ilya Salmanzadeh, Swedish music producer
 * September 21 – Lindsey Stirling, American violinist, dancer, youtuber, record producer and performance artist
 * September 27 – Alison Wonderland, Australian electronic dance music DJ, producer and singer
 * October 6 – Meg Myers, American singer-songwriter
 * October 22 – Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, actress
 * October 24 – Drake, Canadian rapper, actor, entertainer.
 * October 29 – Nataly Dawn, American musician
 * November 3 – Jasmine Trias, Filipino-American singer-entertainer
 * November 5 – BoA, South Korean singer
 * November 8 – Nikola Rachelle, British recording artist and songwriter
 * November 15 – Jerry Roush, American singer-songwriter (Of Mice & Men, Sky Eats Airplane, and Glass Cloud)
 * November 20 — Oliver Sykes, English heavy metal vocalist (Bring Me the Horizon)
 * November 21 – Colleen Ballinger, American comedian, actress, singer and YouTube personality
 * November 25 – Katie Cassidy, American actress, singer, voice actress
 * December 8 – Kate Voegele, American singer-songwriter and actress
 * December 15 — Xiah, Korean singer (TVXQ)
 * December 20 — Anoop Desai, American singer-songwriter
 * December 30
 * Ellie Goulding, English singer-songwriter
 * Caity Lotz, American singer, dancer, actor, martial artist
 * unknown:

Deaths

 * January 4 – Phil Lynott, bassist/singer and co-founder of Thin Lizzy, 36 (heart failure & pneumonia)
 * January 6 – Joe Farrell, jazz saxophonist, 48 (bone cancer)
 * January 8 – Pierre Fournier, cellist, 79
 * February 2 – Francisco Mignone, composer, 88
 * February 14 – Edmund Rubbra, composer, 84
 * February 15 – Galliano Masini, operatic tenor, 90
 * March 4
 * Richard Manuel (The Band), 42 (suicide)
 * Howard Greenfield, songwriter, 49 (AIDS)
 * March 11 – Sonny Terry, blues musician, 74
 * March 21 – Raymond Burke, jazz clarinetist, 81
 * March 22 – Mark Dinning, US singer, 52 (heart attack)
 * March 30 – James Cagney, US actor, singer and dancer, 86
 * March 31 – O'Kelly Isley of the Isley Brothers, 48 (heart attack)
 * April 1 – Donald Grobe, operatic tenor, 56
 * April 3 – Peter Pears, opera singer and partner of Benjamin Britten, 75
 * April 6 – Boris Gutnikov, violinist, 54
 * April 8 – Yukiko Okada, singer, 18 (suicide)
 * April 13 – Dorothy Ashby, jazz harpist and composer, 53 (cancer)
 * April 19
 * Dag Wirén, composer, 80
 * Estelle Yancey, blues singer, 90
 * June 3 – Anna Neagle, actress, singer and dancer, 81
 * June 13 – Benny Goodman, bandleader, 77
 * June 14 – Alan Jay Lerner, lyricist, 67
 * June 16 – Maurice Duruflé, composer, 84
 * June 17 – Kate Smith, singer, 79
 * June 29 – Dusolina Giannini, operatic soprano, 83
 * July 3 – Rudy Vallee, singer, 84
 * July 18 – Don Wilkerson, saxophonist
 * July 31 – Teddy Wilson, jazz pianist, 73
 * September 27 – Cliff Burton (Metallica), 24 (tour bus accident)
 * September 28 – Robert Helpmann, dancer and choreographer, 77
 * October 16 – Arthur Grumiaux, violinist, 65
 * October 22 – Thorgeir Stubø, Norwegian jazz guitarist, 42
 * November 1 – Sippie Wallace, blues singer, 88
 * November 3 – Eddie Davis, saxophonist, 64
 * November 6 – Elisabeth Grümmer, operatic soprano, 75
 * November 7 – Tracy Pew, bass guitarist, 28 (brain hemorrhage)
 * November 13 – Rudolf Schock, operatic tenor, 71
 * November 18 – Lajos Bárdos, composer and conductor, 87
 * November 22 – Scatman Crothers, singer, dancer and musician, 76
 * December 1 – Horace Heidt, pianist and bandleader, 85
 * December 10 – Kate Wolf, folk singer and songwriter, 44 (leukemia)
 * December 30 – Charles Magnante, accordionist, composer, arranger, author, and educator, 81

Awards

 * Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened; the following artists were the first inductees: Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and record producer Sam Phillips.
 * Grammy Awards of 1986
 * Eurovision Song Contest 1986
 * 28th Japan Record Awards

List of no. 1 hits

 * Hot 100 no. 1 hits of 1986 – U.S.