In the music
- DJ Kool Herc begins spinning two turntables at neighbourhood parties playing the instrumental breakdown section of his favourite funk, soul and reggae songs sending partygoers to the dancefloor in droves. His innovations inspired other NY DJs to do the same.
- The first major article citing disco and its rapid spreading social phenomenon appears in US Billboard Magazine.
- Roberta Flack releases the awesome classic Killing Me Softly taken from her fifth album of the same name. It's an instant smash and goes on to win four Grammies. It was later covered by the Fugees in 1996 reaching No 1 in the US and UK charts
- Jamaica was about to put reggae on the map with the release of the underground movie classic The Harder They Come starring Jimmy Cliff. The theme tune to the movie, sung by Jimmy Cliff turned him from a Jamaican pop star into an internationally acclaimed reggae artist.
- Bob Marley and the Wailers released Catch a Fire. This was their first major label debut on Island, and the first of their albums to be released outside Jamaica. It immediately earned worldwide acclaim. It is now thought to be one of the finest reggae albums ever. Six months later they released Burnin spawning hits like Get Up Stand Up and I Shot the Sheriff.
