– The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards event took place at Paramount Studios, Hollywood also being called Britney Spears' night who won the awards for Video Of The Year, Best Pop Video and Best Female Video for Piece of Me.
- Christina Aguilera makes a return to music since giving birth to her first child. She debuted her single Keeps Gettin' Better in the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards
10 September – The 22nd Annual ARIA Music Awards are held in Sydney, Australia, recognizing Australian music in 2008. Dance-punk group The Presets win Album of the Year. 11 - Christian Älvestam, Quits, Scar Symmetry. 12 September – Season 4 of the Finnish talent contest, Idols, begins. 18 September – Soilwork, Hires Peter Wichers Ben Folds Five play a sold out reunion show in Chapel Hill, NC performing the entirety of their 1999 album The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, that was filmed for DVD and web release by MySpace in benefit for Operation Smile 36 Crystal Castles play their biggest headline show to date, at Electric Ballroom in Camden, London. 19 September – Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein (DJ AM) survive a plane crash that claims four lives. 20 September – Pink scores her first solo number-one hit in her native USA, with "So What". 21 September – At the Gates play their final Show. The Eric Burdon show in Oklahoma is cancelled due his health problems. 24 September – Within Temptation release Black Symphony DVD, featuring the Metropole Orchestra and guest musicians. 25 September – Former Beatle Paul McCartney performs at Tel Aviv park, his first performance in Israel since The Beatles were banned from the country in 1965. October 1 October - Tina Turner leaves semi-retirement to embark on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, which grossed over US$130 million dollars. 5 October – Stephanie Jeong wins the Second Prize (no First Prize was awarded) in the Premio Paganini international violin competition in Genoa.37 8 October – Beyoncé releases first two singles off I Am... Sasha Fierce titled "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".citation needed The Cheetah Girls start on their final tour One World Tourcitation needed 10 October – The Fourth Waakirchener Zither Festival takes place in Waakirchen, Bavaria.38 Ringo Starr announced on his website that after the 20th, October he doesn't want anymore fan mail.citation needed 12 October – Opening of the VII Festival Internazionale di Musica e Arte Sacra, in Rome and the Vatican City (until 30 November).39 14 October – Sean Combs officially sets the record straight on his platinum-selling girl group Danity Kane. Both Aubrey O'Day and D. Woods are kicked out of the band in the live finale, leaving the remaining members- Dawn Richards, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres to ponder the group's future as a threesome.citation needed 16 October – Britney Spears sets a new record for the biggest jump to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, rising from number 96 to number one in just one week, with her single "Womanizer". It is Spears' first American number one since her debut single "...Baby One More Time".40 It also garnered first-week download sales of 286,000, the biggest opening-week tally by a female artist. 18 October – Rihanna scores her fifth number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 (as a featured artist on T.I.'s "Live Your Life", which followed "SOS", "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia"), becoming the leading solo female artist with the most number ones to have charted in this decade Until Beyoncé Knowles break her record (as a solo artist).41 22 October Coheed and Cambria begin the much anticipated series of concerts called Neverender.citation needed Guns N' Roses release their first single in 9 years, the title track from their Chinese Democracy album.citation needed November In Australia, Lady GaGa becomes the only artist to achieve two number-one singles in 2008 with "Just Dance" and "Poker Face".citation needed 2 November – The Fauxharmonic Orchestra loses in its debut confrontation with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra in a Bargemusic concert.42 AC/DC become the first band to have their own version of the video game Rock Band, following the release of "AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack"citation needed 6 November – Michael Tilson Thomas makes his Philadelphia Orchestra subscription-concert conducting debut.43 17 November – Korean violinist Hyun-Su Shin wins First Prize in the Jacques Thibaud International Violin Competition in Paris44 24 November – The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Pinchas Zukerman as principal guest conductor, to begin in January 2009.45 December December – Beyoncé makes Billboard history along with rapper T.I. by both having two singles simultaneously in the top 4 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; with Beyoncé having "If I Were a Boy" at #3 and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" at #2, and T.I. with "Whatever You Like" at #4 and "Live Your Life (ft. Rihanna)" at #1.citation needed 2 December – Britney Spears becomes the only artist in music history to have four albums (which is the most number of albums) to have a first-week sales of at least 500,000 units, with the albums Oops!...I Did It Again, Britney, In The Zone and Circus.citation needed 9 December – Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon say that Blur will reunite for a concert at Hyde Park on July 3, 2009. Tickets for the concert sell out within two minutes of release, and Blur announce another date on July 2, 2009.4647 13 December – Joel Feldman and Shayna Cohen rewrite the American classic "Baby, It's Cold Outside", making it more suitable for the 21st century.citation needed Alexandra Burke becomes the winner of the UK's X Factor 2008 with the majority vote over fellow finalists Eoghan and JLS.citation needed Beyoncé Knowles scores her fifth number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", which followed "Crazy in Love", "Baby Boy", "Check on It", and "Irreplaceable", tying with Rihanna as the leading solo female artist with the most number ones to have charted in this decade.41 20 December – Britney Spears scores her first top ten debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Circus" selling 212,000 copies only with download sales. With "Womanizer" at #10, she also has two singles in the top ten for the first time in her career.citation needed 21 December – Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" becomes the first song to simultaneously reach the first and second positions in the UK Singles Chart since 1957 with Alexandra Burke's and Jeff Buckley's covers.citation needed 22 December – Live Nation announced Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour is the highest-grossing tour for solo artist with US$280 million in ticket sales and 2,350,282 fans attending the 58 shows during the 3 leg tour across Europe and the Americas.48 Bands formed See Category:Musical groups established in 2008 Bands reformed This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008) Amebix49 Atomic Kittencitation needed Bad Company (reformed for a one-off show)citation needed Ben Folds Five (reformed for a one time reunion show for Operation Smile on September 18, 2008 as part of myspace's Front to Back series) Big Drill Car (reformed for six shows only)citation needed Bleed the Dream (the three remaining founding members started playing and writing music again)citation needed Blind Faith (Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, reformed for three performances)citation needed Blur Bone Thugs-N-Harmonycitation needed Boyzone Carcass Died Pretty (reformed for five shows only)citation needed Dogs Die In Hot Cars 50 Dynamite Boy (reformed for two shows only)citation needed En Vogue51 Eraserheads (reformed for one night only)citation needed Eve 6citation needed Face to Facecitation needed The Fat Boys The Get Up Kids Green River (reformed for a one-off show)citation needed Jane's Addiction Kara Kidneythievescitation needed The Kinks52 Liberty X (reformed for a one-off show)citation needed Living Sacrificecitation needed New Kids on the Block53 No Doubt54 The Pharcydecitation needed Pestilencecitation needed Polvo Rival Schoolscitation needed Sixpence None the Richercitation needed Snotcitation needed Spineshank (shortly after the official break-up, the band reformed with Jonny Santos)citation needed Stone Temple Pilots55 Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (reformed for a one-off show)56 That Petrol Emotion (reformed for two warm up dates before playing at the Electric Picnic festival)57 Vision of Disordercitation needed Returning performers AC/DC (first album since 2000) Anastacia (last studio album released in 2004) Ashanti (last studio album released in 2004) Ashlee Simpson (last studio album released in 2005) Billy Bragg (first studio album since 2002, first under his own name since 1996) Bomb the Bass (first full-length album since 1995) Boyzone (first studio album released in 1999) Brandy (last studio album released in 2004) David Byrne & Brian Eno (first album since 1981) Dido (last studio album released in 2003) Donna Summer (first studio album since 1991) Erykah Badu (first album since 2003) Extreme (first studio album since 1995) Grace Jones (first studio album since 1989) Guns N' Roses (first album of original material since 1991) Jason Donovan (first studio album since 1993) Lenny Kravitz (first album since 2004) Metallica (first album since 2003) Mötley Crüe (first album with all members since 1997) New Kids on the Block (first album since 1994) Polvo (first tour since 1998) Queen (first studio album since 1995, and first with Paul Rodgers on lead vocals) The Cure (first studio album since 2004) The Offspring (first album since 2003) The Screaming Jets (first studio album since 2000) The Specials (as "Terry Hall and Friends") The Verve (first album since 1997) Third Eye Blind (first single/release since 2003) Toadies (first album since 2001) Vanessa Amorosi (debut international album and first Australian Album since 1999) Bands disbanded This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) 3LW Across Five Aprils An Angle Banaroo Battle Beneath the Sky Be Your Own Pet58 Blinded Black59 Boy Kill Boy CBC Radio Orchestra60 The Chalets61 The Dead 60s Dead To Fall62 Dirty Pretty Things63 The Departure Elle Milano64 Fastlane Fear of Music Folly From a Second Story Window From Autumn To Ashes The Fully Down Harrisons Heavens The Hellacopters Help She Can't Swim Himsa65 Hootie & the Blowfish Hopesfall I Was A Cub Scout Jakobinarina Johnny Truant Junior Senior 66 Kubichek! Life in Your Way67 The Long Blondes68 Meet Me In St. Louis Milburn Ministry Modern Life Is War Moros Eros Mumm-Ra69 The Police The Procussions Quiet Riot Raging Speedhorn The Receiving End of Sirens Ride the Sky The Servant Shot Down Sun Sound the Alarm Spice Girls (disbanded a day after their final concert together) SikTh Spineshank (on hiatus since 2004 and officially announced split in February 2008) Still Remains Submersed This Et Al Toto Trick Pony Vega 4 Vincent Vincent and the Villains Yellow Swans YouInSeries Bands on hiatus This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) ¡Forward, Russia! (indefinite hiatus)70 Big & Rich (until 2009, due to a neck injury suffered by Big Kenny)71 The Dresden Dolls (indefinite break) Evanescence – Consisting of Amy Lee, Tim McCord, Terry Balsamo. Fear Factory Foo Fighters The Format From Autumn to Ashes Glue Gun Hell Is for Heroes Incubus (on break from touring and recording)72 Monkey Swallows the Universe (indefinite hiatus) My Chemical Romance (on an extended break after a US tour) Kaddisfly (On hiatus after bassist Kile Brewer left. Remaining members now called Waters & Bodies) Phantom Planet Red Hot Chili Peppers (two year hiatus)73 Rhapsody of Fire Reuben Rilo Kiley (due to the success of lead singer Jenny Lewis' solo career) Social Distortion (due to their lead singer undertaking a solo tour) The Starting Line (indefinite break)74 Velvet Revolver (while looking for a new lead singer) Westlife (a one year break) Wolfmother (whilst looking for new musicians) Yellowcard (indefinitely) Albums released Main article: List of albums released in 2008 Best-selling albums globally & United StatesThe best-selling records in 2008 according to IFPI:75
Position Album Title Artist 1 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay 2 Black Ice AC/DC 3 Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack Various Artists 4 Rockferry Duffy 5 Death Magnetic Metallica 6 Spirit Leona Lewis 7 Back to Black Amy Winehouse 8 High School Musical 3: Senior Year Various Artists 9 One of the Boys Katy Perry 10 Good Girl Gone Bad RihannaThe best-selling album in United States:76
Position Album Title Artist 1 Tha Carter III Lil' Wayne 2 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay 3 Fearless Taylor Swift 4 Rock N Roll Jesus Kid Rock 5 Black Ice AC/DC 6 Taylor Swift Taylor Swift 7 Death Magnetic Metallica 8 Paper Trail T.I. 9 Sleep Through the Static Jack Johnson 10 I Am ... Sasha Fierce Beyonce Hit records The examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. United States See also: Hot 100 number-one hits of 2008 (USA)Billboard Hot 100 #1 Hits:
"Low" – Flo Rida featuring T-Pain (10 weeks) "Love in This Club" – Usher featuring Young Jeezy (3 weeks) "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis (4 weeks) "Touch My Body" – Mariah Carey (2 weeks) "Lollipop" – Lil Wayne featuring Static Major (5 weeks) "Take a Bow" – Rihanna (1 week) "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay (1 week) "I Kissed a Girl" – Katy Perry (7 weeks) "Disturbia" – Rihanna (2 weeks) "Whatever You Like" – T.I. (7 weeks) "So What" – Pink (1 week) "Live Your Life" – T.I. featuring Rihanna (6 weeks) "Womanizer" – Britney Spears (1 week) "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" – Beyoncé (2 weeks in 2008/2 weeks in 2009)Singles which have ranked within Top 20 within the Billboard Hot 100 Hits
"4 Minutes" – Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland (#3) "7 Things" – Miley Cyrus (#9) "A Little Bit Longer" – Jonas Brothers (#11) "A Milli" – Lil Wayne (#6) "Addicted" – Saving Abel (#20) "All I Want to Do" – Sugarland (#18) "All Summer Long" – Hit Masters (#19) "American Boy" – Estelle featuring Kanye West (#9) "Apologize" – Timbaland featuring OneRepublic (#3) "Beat It" – Fall Out Boy featuring John Mayer (#19) "Beautiful" – Akon featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall (#19) "Better In Time" – Leona Lewis (#11) "Big Girls Don't Cry" – Fergie (#20 – Hit #1 in 2007) "The Boss" – Rick Ross featuring T-Pain (#17) "Bubbly" – Colbie Caillat (#7) "Burnin' Up" – Jonas Brothers (#5) "Bust It Baby Part 2" – Plies featuring Ne-Yo (#7) "Bye Bye" – Mariah Carey (#19) "Can't Believe It" – T-Pain featuring Lil Wayne (#7) "Change" – Taylor Swift (#10) "Chicken Fried" – Zac Brown Band (#20) "Circus" – Britney Spears (#3) "Closer" – Ne-Yo (#7) "Clumsy" – Fergie (#5) "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" – Soulja Boy Tell'em (#5 – Hit #1 in 2007) "Crush" – David Archuleta (#2) "Cyclone" – Baby Bash featuring T-Pain (#11) "Damaged" – Danity Kane featuring Diddy (#10) "Dangerous" – Kardinal Offishall (#5) "Don't Stop the Music" – Rihanna (#3) "Dream Big" – David Cook (#15) "Dreamer" – Chris Brown (#16) "Elevator" – Flo Rida featuring Timbaland (#16) "Fearless" – Taylor Swift (#9) "Feedback" – Janet Jackson (#19) "Forever" – Chris Brown (#2) "Get Like Me" – David Banner featuring Chris Brown (#16) "Good Life" – Kanye West featuring T-Pain (#14) "Got Money" – Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain (#10) "Gotta Be Somebody" – Nickelback (#10) "Hate That I Love You" – Rihanna featuring Ne-Yo (#10) "Heartless" – Kanye West (#4) "Hot n Cold" – Katy Perry (#3) "Hypnotized" – Plies featuring Akon (#17) "I Luv Your Girl" – The-Dream (#20) "If I Were a Boy" – Beyoncé (#3) "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz (#6) "In the Ayer" – Flo Rida featuring will.i.am (#9) "Independent" – Webbie featuring Lil Boosie and Lil Phat (#9) "It's Not My Time" – 3 Doors Down (#17) "Just Dance" – Lady GaGa featuring Colby O'Donis (#3) "Just Stand Up!" – Artists Stand Up to Cancer (#11) "Keeps Gettin' Better" – Christina Aguilera (#7) "Kiss Kiss" – Chris Brown featuring T-Pain (#4 – Hit #1 in 2007) "Last Name" – Carrie Underwood (#19) "Leavin'" – Jesse McCartney (#10) "Let It Rock" – Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne (#5) "Light On" – David Cook (#17) "Like You'll Never See Me Again" – Alicia Keys (#12) "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)" – Three 6 Mafia featuring Project Pat, Young D, and SuperPower (#18) "Love in This Club, Part II" – Usher featuring Beyoncé and Lil Wayne (#18) "Love like This" – Natasha Bedingfield featuring Sean Kingston (#11) "Love Lockdown" – Kanye West (#3) "Love Song" – Sara Bareilles (#4) "Love Story" – Taylor Swift (#5) "Miss Independent" – Ne-Yo (#7) "Mrs. Officer" – Lil Wayne featuring Bobby Valentino (#16) "New Soul" – Yael Naïm" (#7) "No Air" – Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown (#3) "No One" – Alicia Keys (#2 – Hit #1 in 2007) "One Step At A Time" – Jordin Sparks (#17) "Our Song" – Taylor Swift (#16) "Paper Planes" – M.I.A. (#4) "Paralyzer" – Finger Eleven (#6) "Piece of Me" – Britney Spears (#18) "Play My Music" – Jonas Brothers (#20) "Pocketful of Sunshine" – Natasha Bedingfield (#5) "Pushin' Me Away" – Jonas Brothers (#16) "Put On" – Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West (#12) "Realize" – Colbie Caillat (#20) "Right Now (Na Na Na)" – Akon (#8) "Say" – John Mayer (#12) "See You Again" – Miley Cyrus (#10) "Sensual Seduction" – Snoop Dogg (#7) "Sexy Can I" – Ray J featuring Yung Berg (#3) "Shadow of the Day" – Linkin Park (#15) "Shake It" – Metro Station (#10) "Shawty Get Loose" – Lil Mama featuring Chris Brown and T-Pain (#10) "Sorry" – Buckcherry (#9) "Stop and Stare" – OneRepublic (#12) "Stronger" – Kanye West (#14 – Hit #1 in 2007) "Suffocate" – J. Holiday (#18) "Superstar" – Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos (#10) "Swagga Like Us" – Jay-Z featuring T.I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne (#5) "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" – Wyclef Jean featuring Akon, Lil Wayne, and Niia (#12) "Take You There" – Sean Kingston (#7) "Tattoo" – Jordin Sparks (#8) "Teardrops on My Guitar" – Taylor Swift (#13) "This Is Me" – Demi Lovato featuring Joe Jonas (#9) "The Time of My Life" – David Cook (#3) "Tonight" – Jonas Brothers (#8) "What About Now" – Daughtry (#18) "What You Got" – Colby O'Donis featuring Akon (#14) "When I Grow Up" – The Pussycat Dolls (#9) "White Horse" – Taylor Swift (#13) "With You" – Chris Brown (#2) "You Belong with Me" – Taylor Swift (#12) "You Found Me" – The Fray (#15) "You're Gonna Miss This" – Trace Adkins (#12) "You're Not Sorry" – Taylor Swift (#11) United KingdomUK Official Top 75 #1 Hits
"When You Believe" – Leon Jackson (1 week in 2007/2 weeks in 2008) "Now You're Gone" – Basshunter (5 weeks) "Mercy" – Duffy (5 weeks) "American Boy" – Estelle featuring Kanye West (4 weeks) "4 Minutes" – Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland (4 weeks) "That's Not My Name" – The Ting Tings (1 week) "Take a Bow" – Rihanna (2 weeks) "Singin' in the Rain" – Mint Royale (2 weeks) "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay (1 week) "Closer" – Ne-Yo (1 week) "Dance wiv Me" – Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome (4 weeks) "All Summer Long" – Kid Rock (1 week) "I Kissed a Girl" – Katy Perry (5 weeks) "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon (3 weeks) "So What" – Pink (3 weeks) "The Promise" – Girls Aloud (1 week) "Hero" – The X Factor Finalists 2008 (3 weeks) "If I Were a Boy" – Beyoncé (1 week) "Greatest Day" – Take That (1 week) "Run" – Leona Lewis (2 weeks) "Hallelujah" – Alexandra Burke (2 weeks)UK Official Top 75 Hits – Singles which have ranked within Top 20
"Us Against the World" - Westlife (#8) AustraliaAustralia Official Top 50 #1 Hits
Australia Official Top 50 Hits – Singles which have ranked within Top 20
Classical music Instrumental music Martin Bresnick – Joaquin is Dreaming Elliott Carter Concerto for flute and orchestra Duetto for violin and cello (first of the Due Duetti) Tinntinabulation, for percussion sextet Wind Rose, for wind ensemble Lorenzo Ferrero Freedom Variations 2 Agosto. Prima variazione (from Quatro variazioni su un tema di Banchieri) Tourists and Oracles Opera John Adams – Doctor Atomic Other Elliott Carter Poems of Louis Zukofsky, for mezzo-soprano and clarinet On Conversing with Paradise, for baritone and chamber orchestra Karl Jenkins – Stabat Mater Deaths This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008) January January 3 – Henri Chopin, 85, French sound poet January 10 – Dave Day, 66 (heart attack), American guitarist (The Monks) January 11 – Pete Candoli, 84 (prostate cancer), American jazz trumpeter January 13 – Sergejus Larinas, 51, Russian tenor January 17 – Madeleine Michaud, 105, French librettist January 19 Andy Palacio, 47, Belizean Punta musician Trevor Taylor, 50 (heart attack), German singer (Bad Boys Blue) John Stewart, 68, American singer-songwriter (The Kingston Trio) January 20 – Tommy McQuater, 93, British jazz trumpeter January 25 – Evelyn Barbirolli, 97, British oboist January 30 – Miles Kington, 66, British bassist February February 3 – Jackie Orszaczky, 60, Hungarian jazz bass-guitarist and composer February 4 – Tata Güines, 77, Cuban percussionist and composer February 10 Freddie Bell, 76, American musician Inga Nielsen, 61 (cancer), Danish soprano February 13 – Henri Salvador, 90 (ruptured aneurysm), French singer February 15 – Willie P. Bennett, 56 (heart attack), Canadian folk singer-songwriter February 19 Yegor Letov, 43 (heart stopped), Russian punk singer Teo Macero, 82, American jazz saxophonist, record producer and composer February 21 – Joe Gibbs, 65 (heart attack), Jamaican record producer February 24 – Larry Norman, 60, American musician February 25 – Stephen "Static Major" Garrett, 33, American rapper February 26 – Buddy Miles, 60, American drummer (Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys) February 27 Ray Kane, 82, American slack-key guitarist Ivan Rebroff, 76, German singer February 28 Mike Conley, 48, American punk singer (M.I.A.) Mike Smith, 64 (pneumonia), British singer and producer (The Dave Clark Five) March March 2 – Jeff Healey, 41 (cancer), Canadian blues guitarist March 3 Giuseppe Di Stefano, 86, Italian tenor Norman Smith, 85, British record producer and musician March 4 – Leonard Rosenman, 83 (heart attack), American composer March 12 – Alun Hoddinott, 78, British composer March 13 – Bill Bolick, 90, country musician (The Blue Sky Boys) March 15 – Mikey Dread, 53 (brain tumor), Jamaican reggae musician and broadcaster March 16 Ola Brunkert, 61 (fatal cut), Swedish drummer (ABBA; as a session drummer) Daniel MacMaster, 39 (Group A streptococcal infection), Canadian vocalist (Bonham) March 21 Klaus Dinger, 61, German drummer (Neu!) Shusha Guppy, 72, Iranian folk-singer and composer March 22 – Cachao López, 89 (kidney failure), Cuban bassist March 23 – Neil Aspinall, 66 (lung cancer), British music industry executive March 29 – Allan Ganley, 77, British jazz drummer March 30 – Sean LeVert, 39, American vocalist (LeVert) April April 6 – Larry Brown, 63 (respiratory condition), American vocalist (Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes) April 15 Sean Costello, 28 (drug overdose), American blues musician Brian Davison, 65, British drummer (The Nice) April 17 – Danny Federici, 58 (melanoma), American rock multi-instrumentalist (E Street Band) April 20 Bebe Barron, 82, American electronic music pioneer VL Mike, 30 (shot), American rap artist April 22 – Paul Davis, American singer-songwriter April 24 Tristram Cary, 82, British composer Jimmy Giuffre, 86 (pnuemonia), 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 (congestive heart failure), American country music singer May 6 – Franz Jackson, 95, American jazz saxophonist May 8 Eddy Arnold, 89, American country music singer Larry Levine, 80, American audio engineer May 10 – Leyla Gencer, 79, Turkish soprano May 11 Dottie Rambo, 74 (bus accident), American gospel singer John Rutsey, 54 or 55 (heart attack), Canadian drummer (Rush) May 15 Alexander Courage, 88, American composer 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 (heart disease), American folk singer-songwriter May 24 – Jimmy McGriff, 72 (multiple sclerosis), American jazz organist May 26 – Earle Hagen, 88, American composer May 28 – Danny Moss, 80, British jazz saxophonist May 30 Campbell Burnap, 68 (cancer), British jazz trombonist and broadcaster Nat Temple, 94, British big band leader June June 1 – Al Jones, 62, British folk musician June 2 – Bo Diddley, 79 (heart failure), 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 (heart attack), Serbian Roma musician June 12 – Danny Davis, 83 (heart attack), American band leader June 14 Jamelão, 95 (multiple organ failure), Brazilian samba singer Esbjörn Svensson, 44, Swedish jazz pianist June 16 – Margaret Kitchin, 94, Swiss pianist June 17 – Cyd Charisse, 86 (heart attack), American dancer and actress June 24 – Ira Tucker, 83 (cardiovascular disease), American gospel singer (The Dixie Hummingbirds) June 27 Raymond Lefèvre, 78, French easy listening musician Daihachi Oguchi, 84 (car accident), Japanese drummer Leonard Pennario, 83 (Parkinson's disease), American pianist June 30 – Ángel Tavira, 83 (kidney complications), Mexican violinist and composer July July 1 – Mel Galley, 60 (esophagus cancer), British guitarist (Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena) July 2 – Natasha Shneider, 52 (cancer), Russian keyboardist and vocalist July 3 – Oliver Schroer, 52 (leukemia), 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 (congestive heart failure), American singer July 18 Tauno Marttinen, 95, Finnish composer Dennis Townhill, 83, British organist and composer July 20 – Artie Traum, 65, American folk musician and composer July 22 – Joe Beck, 62 (lung cancer), American jazz guitarist July 24 – Norman Dello Joio, 95, American composer July 25 Hiram Bullock, 52 (throat cancer), American jazz fusion guitarist Johnny Griffin, 80 (heart attack), 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 Louis Teicher, 83, American pianist August 4 – Nicola Rescigno, 92, Italian American conductor August 5 Robert Hazard, 59, American songwriter Reg Lindsay, 79, Australian country music singer August 10 Isaac Hayes, 65, American rhythm and blues musician 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 Ronnie Drew, 73, Irish folk musician (The Dubliners) 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 Buddy Harman, 79, American session drummer August 25 – Pehr Henrik Nordgren, 64, Finnish composer August 31 – Jerry Reed, 71, American country musician September September 2 – Arne Domnérus, 83, Swedish jazz saxophonist September 6 – Nicole Lai, 34 (skin cancer), Singaporean singr September 7 Christian Dudek, 42, German drummer (Sodom) Dino Dvornik, 44, Croatian singer, songwriter and music producer Peter Glossop, 80, British opera singer September 8 Bheki Mseleku, 53 (diabetes-related), jazz musician Jason Stuart, 39, British keyboardist (Hawkwind) Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, 73, Indian violinist Hector Zazou, 60, French composer and producer September 10 – Vernon Handley, 77, British conductor September 12 Marjorie Thomas, 85, British contralto 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 (émigré/defector) composer, conductor and harpischordist September 18 Opal Courtney Jr, 71, American R&B/doo-wop singer (The Spaniels) Mauricio Kagel, 76, Argentine composer September 19 Earl Palmer, 84, American drummer, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 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 Yonty Solomon, 71, South African pianist October October 1 – Nick Reynolds, 75, American folk musician October 3 – Johnny "J", 39, American songwriter, music producer and rapper October 4 Levi Kereama, 27, Australian musician Alfred Gallodoro, 95, American jazz musician October 9 – Gidget Gein, 39, American bassist (Marilyn Manson) October 10 Alton Ellis, 70, Jamaican rocksteady musician Dave Wright, 64, The Troggs October 11 Russ Hamilton, 78, British singer Neal Hefti, 85, American jazz trumpeter and composer October 13 – Gus Chambers, 52, British vocalist October 15 – Frankie Venom, 51, Canadian vocalist (Teenage Head) October 17 – Levi Stubbs, 72, American vocalist (The Four Tops) October 18 Peter Gordeno, 69, Burmese singer Dave McKenna, 78, American jazz pianist Dee Dee Warwick, 63, American soul singer October 24 – Merl Saunders, 74, American musician77 October 27 – Ray Ellis, 85, American musician78 October 29 – Mike Baker, 45, American singer (Shadow Gallery)79 October 31 – Frank Navetta, 46, American punk rock guitarist (Descendents)80 November November 1 Jack Reno, 72, American country singer Jimmy Carl Black, 70, American drummer (The Mothers of Invention) Nathaniel Mayer, 64, American R&B singer81 November 4 – Alan Hazeldine, 60, Scottish conductor and pianist82 Byron Lee, 73, Jamaican musician November 7 – Jody Reynolds, 75, American singer November 10 – Miriam Makeba, 76, South African singer November 12 – Mitch Mitchell, 61, British drummer (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) November 22 – MC Breed, 37, American Rapper November 23 – Richard Hickox, 60, British conductor November 24 Michael Lee, 39, British drummer (The Cult) Kenny MacLean, 52, Canadian bassist (Platinum Blonde) November 26 – Pekka Pohjola, 56, Finnish composer November 30 – Munetaka Higuchi, 49, Japanese drummer (Loudness) December December 2 – Odetta, 77, American folk musician December 9 Steve Isham, 56, American keybordist (Autograph) Dennis Yost, 65, American vocalist (Classics IV) December 14 – Jay E. Welch, American Musician December 15 Davey Graham, 68, British guitarist Sandeé, 46, Freestyle singer (Exposé) (Seizure) December 17 John Sean Byrne, 61, Irish guitarist (Count Five) Feliciano Vierra Tavares, 88, American Musician December 25 Eartha Kitt, 81, American singer and actress Robert Ward, 70, American blues musician December 27 – Roque Cordero, 91, composer December 28 – Vincent Ford, 68, Jamaican reggae songwriter December 29 – Freddie Hubbard, 70, American jazz trumpeter Musical Films The Cheetah Girls: One World premiered August 22 bringing over 6.2 million viewers in the U.S. although the lowest viewing of the series had amazing success.citation needed See also List of albums released in 2008 Timeline of musical events References ^ Agence France Presse, 4 January 2008. ^ Anon., "Concerts, Museums & Performances", Korea Times (3 January 2008). ^ a b unattributed (2008-01-29). "We’re back!……….sort of". FaceToFace.com. http://www.facetofacemusic.com/blog/?p=4. 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