This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.

List of years in music (table)
In radio
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
In television
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
+...

Specific locations

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Specific genres

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Events

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January–February

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March–April

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May–August

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September–October

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November–December

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Also in 1987

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Bands formed

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Bands disbanded

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Bands reformed

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Albums released

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January–March

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Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
12 The House of Blue Light Deep Purple -
14 Don't Disturb This Groove The System -
16 Carne Humana Zero -
19 Warehouse: Songs and Stories Hüsker Dü double album
20 Echelons For Against -
The Return of Bruno Bruce Willis Debut
? Blame the Messenger David Thomas
& The Wooden Birds
-
The First Chapter The Mission Compilation
Gaudi The Alan Parsons Project -
I Hear You Rockin Dave Edmunds Live
Up for a Bit with The Pastels The Pastels -
Best of the West Riders in the Sky Compilation
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
9 Life as We Know It REO Speedwagon -
10 Yo! Bum Rush the Show Public Enemy -
13 All in the Name of Love Atlantic Starr -
Pictures in the Sky Rich Mullins -
17 Fighting the World Manowar -
Lee Aaron Lee Aaron -
23 Jody Watley Jody Watley -
The World Won't Listen The Smiths Compilation
24 Sheila E. Sheila E. -
? The Cost of Loving The Style Council UK
Freedom Santana -
Midnight to Midnight The Psychedelic Furs -
Ready or Not Lou Gramm -
M
A
R
C
H
2 Wild Frontier Gary Moore -
Boi-ngo Oingo Boingo -
Exposure Exposé -
Saint Julian Julian Cope -
Through the Looking Glass Siouxsie and the Banshees -
Trio Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton -
3 Criminal Minded Boogie Down Productions -
9 The Joshua Tree U2 -
Men and Women Simply Red -
16 Running in the Family Level 42 -
Among the Living Anthrax -
Smooth Sailin' The Isley Brothers -
23 Big Life Night Ranger -
Now That's What I Call Music 9 (UK series) Various Artists Compilation
30 Whitesnake (1987) Whitesnake -
Sign o' the Times Prince double album
Into the Fire Bryan Adams -
The Circus Erasure UK
Louder Than Bombs The Smiths US, compilation
? Even If and Especially When Screaming Trees -
Breakfast Club Breakfast Club -
Come as You Are Peter Wolf -
Locust Abortion Technician Butthole Surfers -
Taking Over Overkill -

April–June

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Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
1 Solitude Standing Suzanne Vega -
2 Incognito Céline Dion -
6 Electric The Cult -
Close to the Bone Thompson Twins -
Meet Danny Wilson Danny Wilson -
Raindancing Alison Moyet -
7 Rock the House DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince -
13 F.L.M. Mel and Kim UK & Canada
Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town Johnny Cash -
Tango in the Night Fleetwood Mac -
Tell No Tales TNT -
15 Death Before Dishonour The Exploited -
21 Never Let Me Down David Bowie -
The Legacy Testament -
23 Introduce Yourself Faith No More -
The Ultra-Violence Death Angel -
27 Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers -
Dead Letter Office R.E.M. Compilation
You Boyz Make Big Noize Slade -
? Tribute Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads Live 1981
Coming Around Again Carly Simon -
The Ideal Copy Wire -
One Voice Barbra Streisand Live
Out & Intake Hawkwind Compilation
Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People
Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)
Happy Mondays -
Uptown The Neville Brothers -
Will Power Joe Jackson -
The Young Gods The Young Gods -
M
A
Y
1 Never Mind the Ballots Chumbawamba -
Raintown Deacon Blue debut
4 Always & Forever Randy Travis -
Dawnrazor Fields of the Nephilim debut
8 Red Hot Rhythm & Blues Diana Ross -
11 It's Better to Travel Swing Out Sister -
Under the Sign of the Black Mark Bathory -
15 Bad Animals Heart -
Jane's Addiction Jane's Addiction Live
18 Beverly Hills Cop II Various Artists Soundtrack
Exit 0 Steve Earle -
20 Girls, Girls, Girls Mötley Crüe -
Open Sesame Whodini -
21 Sandbox Guided By Voices -
22 Dana Dane with Fame Dana Dane -
23 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1 Helloween -
25 Scream Bloody Gore Death -
26 Live in the City of Light Simple Minds Live
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me The Cure Double album
29 Bring the Family John Hiatt -
? Blow Your Cool! Hoodoo Gurus -
Chayanne Chayanne -
Greatest Hits Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Compilation
Living in a Box Living in a Box -
J
U
N
E
1 Whitney Whitney Houston -
Priest...Live! Judas Priest Live
Into the Pandemonium Celtic Frost -
R.I.P. Coroner Debut
9 Join the Army Suicidal Tendencies -
11 Bigger and Deffer LL Cool J -
15 First Hand Steven Curtis Chapman -
Radio K.A.O.S. Roger Waters -
Richard Marx Richard Marx -
Abigail King Diamond -
22 Clutching at Straws Marillion
Pride White Lion -
Strength of Steel Anvil -
23 Bangin' The Outfield -
I Never Said Goodbye Sammy Hagar original title was Sammy Hagar
25 Cleanse Fold and Manipulate Skinny Puppy -
26 King's Record Shop Rosanne Cash -
29 Pop Goes the World Men Without Hats -
30 La Bamba Los Lobos et al. Soundtrack
Life Neil Young & Crazy Horse -
? Keel Keel -
Wild in the Streets Helix -
Contagious Y&T -
1987 (What the Fuck Is Going On?) The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu recalled over copyright violation claim
Dry As a Bone Green River Extended play
Female Trouble Nona Hendryx -
Let It Loose Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine -
Pleased to Meet Me The Replacements -
Sister Sonic Youth -
Sold Boy George -
Tallulah The Go-Betweens -

July–September

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Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
1 Scum Napalm Death -
Neo Geo Ryuichi Sakamoto -
3 Love Is for Suckers Twisted Sister -
6 No Protection Starship -
Echo & the Bunnymen Echo & the Bunnymen -
In the Dark The Grateful Dead -
Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Elton John Live
7 Buster Poindexter Buster Poindexter -
Faster Pussycat Faster Pussycat -
Frehley's Comet Ace Frehley -
Hold On Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -
Paid in Full Eric B. & Rakim -
Touch Laura Branigan -
13 Introducing the Hardline According to... Terence Trent D'Arby UK
15 Soy Como Quiero Ser Luis Miguel -
20 Born to Mack Too Short Debut
21 Appetite for Destruction Guns N' Roses Debut
Dream Evil Dio -
Who's That Girl Madonna et al. Soundtrack
Dangerous Attraction Lion -
27 Surveillance Triumph -
Within the Realm of a Dying Sun Dead Can Dance -
In My Tribe 10,000 Maniacs -
30 Reservations for Two Dionne Warwick -
? Once Bitten Great White -
Missing Links The Monkees Compilation
One Way Home The Hooters -
The Poison Boyfriend Momus -
Recently Joan Baez -
Strange Weather Marianne Faithfull -
A
U
G
U
S
T
3 Hysteria Def Leppard -
4 Dirty Dancing Various Artists Soundtrack
7 Hurricane Eyes Loudness Japan
10 Between the Lines Five Star -
14 Crushin' Fat Boys -
17 Substance 1987 New Order Compilation
Rock 'n' Roll Motörhead -
Franks Wild Years Tom Waits -
18 Out of the Blue Debbie Gibson -
19 Yo Te Avise Los Fabulosos Cadillacs -
21 The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited Metallica Covers EP
24 The Lonesome Jubilee John Mellencamp -
Wendy and Lisa Wendy & Lisa -
25 Door to Door The Cars -
31 Bad Michael Jackson -
Permanent Vacation Aerosmith -
Document R.E.M. -
Darklands The Jesus and Mary Chain -
Move Somethin' 2 Live Crew -
? Deathcrush Mayhem Debut/EP
Sentimental Hygiene Warren Zevon -
Diesel and Dust Midnight Oil -
Hearsay Alexander O'Neal -
Psonic Psunspot The Dukes of Stratosphear Pseudonym of XTC
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
7 A Momentary Lapse of Reason Pink Floyd -
Actually Pet Shop Boys -
Crest of a Knave Jethro Tull -
The Last One to Know Reba McEntire -
8 Hold Your Fire Rush -
Go On... Mr. Mister -
9 Earth, Sun, Moon Love and Rockets -
10 Songs About Fucking Big Black Final album
11 Together Again The Temptations -
14 Primitive Cool Mick Jagger -
Always Guaranteed Cliff Richard -
Bridge of Spies T'Pau -
Happy? Public Image Ltd -
15 All Systems Go Donna Summer -
Halfway to Sanity Ramones -
Tiffany Tiffany -
16 Visual Lies Lizzy Borden -
17 London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II Frank Zappa -
18 Wonderful Life Black -
21 Crazy Nights Kiss -
E.S.P. Bee Gees -
Man of Colours Icehouse Australia
Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 World Wrestling Federation Soundtrack
22 The Hunger Michael Bolton -
24 The Right Night & Barry White Barry White -
28 Big Generator Yes -
Islands Mike Oldfield -
Come On Pilgrim Pixies Debut/EP
Hall of the Mountain King Savatage -
Music for the Masses Depeche Mode -
Popped In Souled Out Wet Wet Wet UK
Strangeways, Here We Come The Smiths -
29 The Uplift Mofo Party Plan Red Hot Chili Peppers -
Triumph and Agony Warlock Final album
? Raising Fear Armored Saint -
Rock You to Hell Grim Reaper Final album
Babylon and On Squeeze -
Vital Idol Billy Idol US/Remix
Honor Among Thieves The Brandos -
Just Us Alabama -
Neighbors The Reels -
The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death Housemartins -
The Perfect Prescription Spacemen 3 -
Poetic Champions Compose Van Morrison -
Wildside Loverboy -
Wow! Bananarama -

October–December

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Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
5 Tunnel of Love Bruce Springsteen -
The Lion and the Cobra Sinéad O'Connor -
Heaven on Earth Belinda Carlisle -
Red The Communards -
7 Pleasures of the Flesh Exodus -
9 Unchain My Heart Joe Cocker -
12 Alphabet City ABC UK
George Best The Wedding Present -
Perfect Timing McAuley Schenker Group -
A Very Special Christmas Various Artists Christmas
13 Touch the World Earth, Wind & Fire -
15 Surfing with the Alien Joe Satriani -
16 ...Nothing Like the Sun Sting -
Masque Manfred Mann's Earth Band -
1987: The JAMs 45 Edits Justified Ancients of Mu-Mu Re-release of 1987 without the uncleared samples
19 Kick INXS -
Secrets of the Beehive David Sylvian -
23 Free as a Bird Supertramp -
26 Live at Wembley Meat Loaf UK; Live
Best Shots Pat Benatar Greatest Hits
Box Frenzy Pop Will Eat Itself -
Mainstream Lloyd Cole and the Commotions -
27 Robbie Robertson Robbie Robertson -
29 Got Any Gum? Joe Walsh -
30 Schizophrenia Sepultura -
? Screaming Life Soundgarden EP
Raise Your Fist and Yell Alice Cooper -
Blues for Salvador Carlos Santana -
The Christians The Christians -
Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Chuck Berry Soundtrack
Outside Looking In BoDeans -
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
2 Faith George Michael -
All the Best! Paul McCartney Compilation
Cloud Nine George Harrison -
Bête Noire Bryan Ferry -
Back for the attack Dokken -
Don't Let's Start They Might Be Giants EP
3 How Ya Like Me Now Kool Moe Dee -
4 Master-Dik Sonic Youth EP
Rhyme Pays Ice-T -
6 Control: The Remixes Janet Jackson Remix
Characters Stevie Wonder -
Less than Zero Various Artists Soundtrack
N.W.A and the Posse N.W.A Compilation "debut"
9 Nightfall Candlemass -
Calm Before the Storm Venom -
Savage Eurythmics -
10 Cher Cher -
Hot August Night II Neil Diamond Live
13 Floodland The Sisters of Mercy -
16 Whenever You Need Somebody Rick Astley -
17 You Can Dance Madonna Remix
23 Now That's What I Call Music 10 (UK series) Various Artists Compilation
24 Canciones de Mi Padre Linda Ronstadt -
Make It Last Forever Keith Sweat -
27 Live... in the Raw W.A.S.P. Live
? The Eternal Idol Black Sabbath -
Calenture The Triffids -
Love Aztec Camera -
The Princess Bride Mark Knopfler Soundtrack
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
1 Persecution Mania Sodom -
7 Inside Information Foreigner -
8 I'm the Man Anthrax EP
14 You're Living All Over Me Dinosaur Jr. -
? The Initial Command Front Line Assembly Debut
The Old Masters Box Frank Zappa | Box Set
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism Aretha Franklin Live
Sinitta! Sinitta UK
Thunder Up The Sound Final Album

Release date unknown

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Biggest hit singles

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The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1987.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1 Los Lobos La Bamba 1987   UK 1 – Jul 1987, US BB 1 – Jul 1987, Switzerland 1 – Aug 1987, Italy 1 of 1987, Republic of Ireland 1 – Jul 1987, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks Aug 1987, Australia 1 for 7 weeks Apr 1988, Netherlands 2 – Aug 1987, Australia 2 of 1987, Austria 4 – Oct 1987, Norway 4 – Aug 1987, US BB 8 of 1987, POP 8 of 1987, Germany 9 – Aug 1987, US CashBox 11 of 1987, Sweden 12 – Aug 1987, Poland 17 – Sep 1987, South Africa 17 of 1987, Scrobulate 75 of Latin, KROQ 81 of 1987, RYM 116 of 1987, Party 227 of 1999, Acclaimed 2050
2 Rick Astley Never Gonna Give You Up 1987   UK 1 – Aug 1987, US BB 1 – Jan 1988, Netherlands 1 – Sept 1987, France 1 – Aug 1987, Norway 1 – Oct 1987, Germany 1 – Sept 1987, New Zealand 1 for 1 weeks Feb 1988, Australia 1 for 7 weeks Jun 1988, South Africa 1 of 1988, US CashBox 2 of 1988, Switzerland 2 – Sept 1987, Sweden 3 – Sept 1987, Austria 4 – Nov 1987, Australia 5 of 1988, Italy 13 of 1987, US BB 34 of 1988, POP 61 of 1988, Germany 140 of the 1980s, OzNet 765
3 Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me 1987   UK 1 – May 1987, US BB 1 – May 1987, Netherlands 1 – May 1987, Switzerland 1 – May 1987, Norway 1 – May 1987, Germany 1 – May 1987, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks Jun 1987, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Jan 1988, US CashBox 2 of 1987, Sweden 2 – May 1987, Austria 3 – Jun 1987, Poland 4 – Jun 1987, South Africa 4 of 1987, France 10 – Jun 1987, Italy 10 of 1987, Australia 11 of 1987, POP 22 of 1987, Germany 67 of the 1980s
4 Pet Shop Boys It's a Sin 1987   Sweden 1 – Oct 1987, Austria 1 – Oct 1987, Switzerland 1 – Nov 1987, Norway 1 – Nov 1987, Poland 1 – Nov 1987, Germany 1 – Dic 1987, Republic of Ireland 1 – Dic 1987, Netherlands 3 – Dic 1987, France 5 – Jan 1988, US BB 9 – Jan 1988, South Africa 18 of 1987, Italy 21 of 1987, KROQ 27 of 1987, RYM 34 of 1987, Germany 94 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 1308
5 Madonna Who's That Girl 1987   US BB 1 – Apr 1987, Poland 1 – Mar 1987, Republic of Ireland 1 – Apr 1987, Netherlands 2 – Mar 1987, UK 4 – Mar 1987, Sweden 5 – Apr 1987, Europe 5 of the 1980s, RYM 6 of 1987, Germany 7 – Apr 1987, KROQ 9 of 1987, Switzerland 10 – Apr 1987, POP 10 of 1987, US CashBox 12 of 1987, US BB 14 of 1987, Poland 14 of all time, Austria 15 – Jun 1987, Belgium 24 of all time, OzNet 44, TheQ 47, Scrobulate 93 of rock, WXPN 116, Rolling Stone 131, Party 168 of 2007, Acclaimed 309

Top 40 Chart hit singles

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Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"Alone" Heart May 1987 1 3 1 (Canada, United States) See chart performance entry
"Always" Atlantic Starr May 1987 1 3 1 (Canada, United States) 1 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 1 (U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) - 1 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 2 (Canada Adult Contemporary) - 6 (South Africa) - 7 (New Zealand) - 66 (Australia)
"Always on My Mind" Pet Shop Boys November 1987 4 1 1 (8 countries) See chart performance entry
"Animal" Def Leppard May 1987 19 6 3 (Ireland) See chart performance entry
"Another Step (Closer to You)" Kim Wilde & Junior March 1987 n/a 6 6 (United Kingdom) 88 (Australia) - 95 (Netherlands [Single Top 100])
"Anyone Can Do the Heartbreak" Anne Murray September 1987 27 n/a 27 (United States) 4 (Canada Adult Contemporary)
"Are You Still in Love with Me" Anne Murray May 1987 n/a n/a n/a 8 (Canada Adult Contemporary) - 10 (Canada Country Tracks) - 20 (U.S. Hot Country Songs) - 33 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary)
"At This Moment" Billy Vera and the Beaters January 1987 1 97 1 (Canada, United States) See chart performance entry

Other Chart hit singles

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Notable singles

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Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Alex Chilton" The Replacements June 1987 n/a
"April Skies" The Jesus and Mary Chain July 1987 6 (Ireland) - 8 (UK Singles Chart) - 16 (New Zealand) - 44 (Europe)
"Beds Are Burning" Midnight Oil August 1987 See chart performance entry
"Behind the Wheel" Depeche Mode December 1987 See chart performance entry
"Birthday" (Icelandic) The Sugarcubes August 1987 n/a English version would chart the following year
"Bury Me Deep in Love" The Triffids October 1987 48 (Australia)
"Don't Let's Start" They Might Be Giants November 1987 94 (Australia)
"Fairytale of New York" The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl November 1987 1 (Ireland) - 2 (UK Singles Chart)
"Just Like Heaven" The Cure October 1987 See chart performance entry
"Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" The Smiths December 1987 2 (UK Indie Singles Chart) - 17 (New Zealand) - 30 (UK Singles Chart)
"Mandinka" Sinéad O'Connor December 1987 See chart performance entry
"My Island Home" Warumpi Band January 1987 67 (Australia)
"Never Let Me Down Again" Depeche Mode August 1987 See chart performance entry
"The One I Love" R.E.M. August 1987 See chart performance entry
"Paid in Full" Eric B. & Rakim October 1987 See chart performance entry
"True Faith" New Order July 1987 See chart performance entry
"What's My Scene?" Hoodoo Gurus March 1987 3 (Australia) - 35 (New Zealand)

Other Notable singles

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Classical music

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Opera

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Jazz

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Musical theater

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Musical films

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Births

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Deaths

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Awards

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Grammy Awards

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Country Music Association Awards

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Eurovision Song Contest

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Charts

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Giles, Jeff (December 23, 2015). "How Roger Waters' Split From Pink Floyd Was Eventually Finalized". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  2. ^ Hearsay Fake was R&B big hit in 1987. Retrieved 23 July 2022
  3. ^ Holmes, Ann (October 18, 1987). "Nixon in China/HGO presents world premiere of unusual opera". Houston Chronicle. p. Zest 15. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  4. ^ Jay Robert Nash (April 1, 1997). The Motion Picture Guide 1988 Annual: The Films of 1987. Cinebooks. p. 371. ISBN 978-0-933997-16-5.
  5. ^ Roger D. Kinkle (1997). Leading musical performers (popular music and jazz) 1900-1950: 2150 biographies updated to 1996 with additions and corrections. Windmill Publications. p. 159.
  6. ^ Anthony Slide (March 12, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-61703-250-9.
  7. ^ Colin Larkin (2004). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin. p. 429. ISBN 978-1-85227-183-1.
  8. ^ Richard Cook (2004). Blue Note Records: The Biography. Justin, Charles & Co. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-932112-27-6.
  9. ^ Wisconsin Magazine of History. State Historical Society of Wisconsin. 2008. p. 27.
  10. ^ Year Book Covering the Year ... Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation. 1987. p. 413.
  11. ^ "Anni Frind, Soprano, Is Dead; Performed in 20's and 30's". The New York Times. April 11, 1987. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 5, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  12. ^ Dalida's Official Website, Biography Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved December 29, 2009
  13. ^ "Dalida". The New York Times. May 5, 1987. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  14. ^ Bar-Kays: Bio. Accessed 22 July 2014