Events in Music in 1988

  • Jan 10 "Don't Get God Started" closes at Longacre Theater NYC after 86 performances
  • Jan 17 "Teddy & Alice" closes at Minskoff Theater NYC after 77 performances

Music awardsMusic Awards

Jan 25 15th American Music Awards: Anita Baker, Paul Simon & Whitney Houston

Singer and actress Whitney Houston
Singer and actress
Whitney Houston

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 25 George Harrison releases "When We Was Fab"

Singer-Songwriter George Harrison
Singer-Songwriter
George Harrison
  • Jan 26 "Phantom of the Opera" opens at Majestic Theater NYC for 4,000+ performances
  • Jan 28 "Saratina!" opens at Cort Theater NYC for 597 performances

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Feb 25 Bruce Springsteen's "Tunnel of Love" Tour begins in Worcester, Massachusetts

Singer-Songwriter Bruce Springsteen
Singer-Songwriter
Bruce Springsteen
  • Mar 2 30th Grammy Awards: Graceland, Joshua Tree, Jody Watley
  • Mar 17 "Les Miserables" opens at Det Norske Teatret, Oslo

Music awardsMusic Awards

Mar 21 23rd Academy of Country Music Awards: Hank Williams Jr, Randy Travis, and Reba McEntire win

Country Music Singer and Songwriter Hank Williams Jr
Country Music Singer and Songwriter
Hank Williams Jr
  • Mar 24 "Gospel at Colonus" opens at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC for 61 performances
  • Mar 25 "Les Miserables" opens at Chunichi Theatre, Nagoya, Japan
  • Mar 29 "Oba Oba" opens at Ambassador Theater NYC for 46 performances

Music awardsMusic Awards

Mar 30 2nd Soul Train Music Awards: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston win

King of Pop Michael Jackson
King of Pop
Michael Jackson
Singer and actress Whitney Houston
Singer and actress
Whitney Houston
  • Apr 9 "Les Miserables" opens at Umeda-Koma Theatre, Osaka
  • Apr 14 "Mail" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 36 performances

Music releaseMusic Recording

Apr 18 Barbra Streisand records "Warm All Over"

Singer-songwriter & Actress Barbra Streisand
Singer-songwriter & Actress
Barbra Streisand

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 30 33rd Eurovision Song Contest: Celine Dion for Switzerland wins singing "Ne partez pas sans moi" in Dublin

Singer Celine Dion
Singer
Celine Dion
  • May 1 "Romance/Romance" opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 297 performances
  • May 8 "Oba Oba" closes at Ambassador Theater NYC after 46 performances
  • May 12 "Carrie" opens at Virginia Theater NYC for 5 performances
  • May 14 "Mail" closes at Music Box Theater NYC after 36 performances
  • May 15 "Carrie" closes at Virginia Theater NYC after 5 performances
  • May 15 "Gospel at Colonus" closes at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC after 61 performances
  • May 21 "Da'Butt" by EU hits #35

Event of interestEvent of Interest

May 21 "Fat" by Weird Al Yankovic hits #99

Parody Singer and Comedian Weird Al Yankovic
Parody Singer and Comedian
Weird Al Yankovic
  • Jun 1 "Les Miserables" opens at Shubert Theatre, LA
  • Jun 4 "Cabaret" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 262 performances
  • Jun 4 42nd Tony Awards: "M Butterfly" and "Phantom of the Opera" win
  • Jun 6 22nd Music City News Country Awards: Randy Travis & Statler Brothers
  • Jun 13 George Harrison releases "This is Love"
  • Jun 25 "Chess" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 68 performances
  • Jul 8 Rockers Jonathan "Chico" & Robert DeBarge indicted on drug trafficking

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jul 8 Stevie Wonder announces he will run for mayor of Detroit in 1992

Singer-Songwriter Stevie Wonder
Singer-Songwriter
Stevie Wonder

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jul 9 Jessye Norman begins recording Bizet's "Carmen"

Composer Georges Bizet
Composer
Georges Bizet

Music concertMusic Concert

Jul 13 Sting performs his 1st Rain Forest benefit concert

Singer and Actor Sting
Singer and Actor
Sting
  • Aug 15 "Ain't Misbehavin'" opens at Ambassador Theater NYC for 176 performances
  • Sep 7 5th MTV Video Music Awards: INXS wins
  • Sep 15 "Les Miserables" opens at Raimund Theatre, Vienna
  • Sep 16 Fish leaves rock group Marillion

Music releaseAlbum Release

Sep 19 Bon Jovi release their 4th album "New Jersey" - most top ten hits of any rock/glam metal album (5)

Rock guitarist Richie Sambora
Rock guitarist
Richie Sambora
  • Oct 10 22nd Country Music Association Award: Highway 101, K T Oslin win
  • Oct 17 Traveling Wilbury's 1st release "Handle With Care"

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Oct 22 Elton John sells out Madison Square Garden for a record 26th time

Singer Elton John
Singer
Elton John
  • Oct 27 "Les Miserables" opens at Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia
  • Nov 9 "Prince of Central Park" opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 4 performances
  • Nov 20 "Les Miserables" opens a Bus & Truck tour in Tampa
  • Dec 26 "Legs Diamond" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 64 performances