Timeline of UK LGBT Music

This is a Timeline of UK LGBT Music, created in connection with the theme of Music being adopted for LGBT History Month 2014.

Musicians born up to 1899

• Blondel (c. 1155–1202) – minstrel, composer, possibly lover of King Richard I.
• Mark Smeaton (c. 1512–1536) – young court musician executed for alleged adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn.
• Arabella Hunt (1662–1705) – musician whose "husband" turned out to be a woman.
• George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) – said by Beethoven to be "the greatest composer that ever lived".
• Dame Ethel Smyth (1858–1944) – composer and suffragette.
• Clement Harris (1871–1897) – composer, lover of Siegfried Wagner.
• Edward J Dent (1876–1967) – Cambridge Professor of Music.
• Roger Quilter (1877–1953) – composer of songs and light music.
• John Ireland (1879–1962) – composer of chamber music.
• Lord Berners (1883–1950) – eccentric composer, painter and novelist.
• Fred Barnes (1885–1938) – music hall performer.
• Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892–1988) – reclusive composer of piano works.
• Ivor Novello (1893–1951) – singer, songwriter, composer of musical comedies.
• Douglas Byng (1893–1987) – music hall artist and pantomime dame.
• Sir Noël Coward (1899–1973) – actor, singer, playwright, composer.

• 
  Blondel
• 
  Arabella Hunt
• 
  George Frideric Handel
• 
  Dame Ethel Smyth
• 
  Edward J Dent
• 
  Roger Quilter
• 
  John Ireland
• 
  Lord Berners
• 
  Fred Barnes
• 
  Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji
• 
  Ivor Novello
• 
  Douglas Byng
• 
  Sir Noël Coward

Musicians born 1900–1929

• Leslie Hutchinson, "Hutch" (1900–1969) – cabaret star.
• Sir Lennox Berkeley (1903–1989) – composer, sometime lover of Benjamin Britten.
• Richard Addinsell (1904–1977) – composer of the Warsaw Concerto.
• Sir Michael Tippett (1905–1998) – composer of A Child of Our Time.
• Sir Peter Pears (1910–1986) – singer, life partner of Benjamin Britten.
• Stanley Bate (1911–1959) – composer of symphonies and other works.
• Benjamin Britten, Lord Britten, (1913–1976) – composer of Peter Grimes, founder of the Aldeburgh Festival.
• Sir John Pritchard (1921–1989) – conductor, Musical Director of the Glyndebourne opera.
• Noel Mewton-Wood (1922–1953) – concert pianist.
• John Lanchbery (1923–2003) – composer and arranger of ballet music.
• Angela Morley, previously Wally Stott (1924–2009) – composer for films and TV.
• James Bernard (1925–2001) – composer for the Hammer horror films.
• Johnny Brandon (born 1925) – singer and composer of stage musicals.
• George Melly (1926–2007) – Jazz musician and writer.
• Joe Meek (1929–1967) – record producer who composed the best-selling "Telstar".

• 
  Leslie Hutchinson
• 
  Lennox Berkeley
• 
  Richard Addinsell
• 
  Sir Michael Tippett
• 
  Sir Peter Pears
• 
  Stanley Bate
• 
  Benjamin Britten
• 
  Noel Mewton-Wood
• 
  John Lanchbery
• 
  Angela Morley
• 
  James Bernard
• 
  George Melly
• 
  Joe Meek

Musicians born 1930–1949

• Lionel Bart (1930–1999) – writer and composer of Oliver!
• Peter Katin (1930–2015) – pianist and CHE supporter.
• Malcolm Williamson (1931–2003) – Master of the Queen's Music.
• Brian Epstein (1934–1967) – the man who discovered The Beatles.
• Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016) – composer, Master of the Queen's Music.
• Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (1936–2012) – classical and film composer, jazz pianist.
• Kathy Kirby (1938–2011) – blonde bombshell who sang Secret Love.
• Dusty Springfield (1939–1999) – icon of the swinging sixties who sang "You don't have to say you love me".
• Long John Baldry (1941–2005) – blues singer known for "Let the heartaches begin".
• Patrick Fyffe (1942–200) – "Bracket" of Hinge and Bracket.
• George Logan (born 1944) – "Hinge" of Hinge and Bracket.
• Labi Siffre (born 1945) – poet, singer, author of "Something Inside So Strong".
• Freddie Mercury (1946–1991) – lead singer with Queen.
• Sir Elton John (born 1947) – singer/songwriter who has sold over 250 million records.
• David Bowie (born 1947) – influential singer and songwriter who has reinvented himself several times.
• Dave Davies (born 1947) – singer and guitarist with The Kinks.
• Mark Bunyan (born 1949) – cabaret artist, co-founder of the Pink Singers.
• Paul Gambaccini (born 1949) – radio presenter with an encyclopaedic knowledge of music.

• 
  Lionel Bart
• 
  Peter Katin
• 
  Malcolm Williamson
• Brian Epstein
  Brian Epstein
• 
  Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
• 
  Sir Richard Rodney Bennett
• 
  Kathy Kirby
• 
  Dusty Springfield
• 
  Long John Baldry
• 
  Hinge and Bracket
• 
  Labi Siffre
• 
  Freddie Mercury
• 
  Sir Elton John
• 
  David Bowie
• 
  Dave Davies
• 
  Mark Bunyan
• 
  Paul Gambaccini

Musicians born 1950–1959

• Stephen Oliver (1950–1992) – prolific opera composer.
• Kris Kirk (1950–1993) – music journalist and gay activist.
• Carole Pope (born 1950 – singer-songwriter who moved to Canada as a child.
• Graham Johnson (born 1950) – pianist and accompanist.
• Tom Robinson (born 1950) – writer of "Glad to be Gay".
• Joan Armatrading (born 1950) – blues singer originally from St Kitts.
• Rob Halford (born 1951) – lead singer with Judas Priest.
• Andy Fraser (born 1952) – bassist with Free.
• Billy Lyall (1953–1989) – one of the Bay City Rollers.
• Richard Fairbrass (born 1953) – Lead singer with Right Said Fred.
• Neil Tennant (born 1954) – half of the Pet Shop Boys.
• Bobby Crush (born 1954) – pianist and singer.
• Annie Whitehead (born 1955) – Jazz trombonist.
• Les McKeown (1955-2021) – lead singer with the Bay City Rollers.
• Peter Christopherson (1955–2010) – half of the experimental music group Coil.
• Douglas P. (born 1956) – neo-folk musician performing as "Death in June".
• Marc Almond (born 1957) – singer/songwriter.
• Jennifer Maidman (born 1958) – musician, partner of Annie Whitehead.
• Horse McDonald (born 1958) – singer/songwriter who fled homophobia in her home town.
• Limahl (born 1958) – lead singer with Kajagoogoo.
• Morrissey (born 1959) – formerly with The Smiths.
• Pete Burns (born 1959) – singer and TV personality.
• Steve Strange (1959-2015) – singer and club promoter.
• Paul Rutherford (born 1959) – backing vocalist with Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

• 
  Stephen Oliver
• 
  Kris Kirk
• 
  Carole Pope
• 
  Tom Robinson
• 
  Joan Armatrading
• 
  Rob Halford
• 
  Andy Fraser
• 
  Billy Lyall
• 
  Richard Fairbrass
• 
  Neil Tennant
• 
  Bobby Crush
• 
  Annie Whitehead
• 
  Les McKeown
• 
  Peter Christopherson
• 
  Douglas P.
• 
  Marc Almond
• 
  Jennifer Maidman
• 
  Horse McDonald
• 
  Limahl
• 
  Morrissey
• 
  Pete Burns
• 
  Steve Strange
• 
  Paul Rutherford

Musicians born 1960–1969

• Holly Johnson (born 1960) – lead singer with Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
• Jimmy Somerville (born 1961) pop singer who wrote "Smalltown Boy".
• John Foster (born 1961) – singer with Bronski Beat.
• Boy George (born 1961) – singer/songwriter, DJ.
• Rev Richard Coles (born 1962) – priest, broadcaster, formerly with Bronski Beat.
• John Balance (1962–2004) – partner of Peter Christopherson and the other half of Coil.
• Marilyn (born 1962) – pop singer with the androgynous look.
• Ian Shaw (born 1962) – voted Britain's best male jazz singer.
• George Michael (1963–2016) – singer/songwriter, formerly with Wham!
• Alison Goldfrapp (born 1963) – half of the band Goldfrapp.
• John Mark Ainsley (born 1963) – lyric tenor.
• Richard Thomas (born 1964) – Composer of Jerry Springer the opera.
• Andy Bell (born 1964) – Lead singer with Erasure.
• Brian Kennedy (born 1966) – sang for Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest.
• Samantha Fox (born 1966) – singer and former Page 3 model,
• David McAlmont (born 1967) – singer/songwriter.
• Skin (born 1967) – lead singer with Skunk Anansie.
• Matt Goss (born 1968) – singer, formerly with Bros.

• 
  Holly Johnson
• 
  Jimmy Somerville
• 
  Boy George
• 
  Rev Richard Coles
• 
  John Balance
• 
  Marilyn
• 
  Ian Shaw
• 
  George Michael
• 
  Alison Goldfrapp
• 
  John Mark Ainsley
• 
  Richard Thomas
• 
  Andy Bell
• 
  Brian Kennedy
• 
  Samantha Fox
• 
  David McAlmont
• 
  Skin
• 
  Matt Goss

Musicians born 1970 onwards

• William Whitehead (born 1970) – organist.
• Thomas Adès (born 1971) – composer, pianist and conductor.
• Beverley Knight (born 1973) – singer/songwriter, straight campaigner against homophobia.
• Stephen Gately (1976–2009) – singer with BoyZone.
• Samantha Ronson (born 1977) – London-born American DJ.
• QBoy (born 1978) – Homo Hop rapper.
• Dan Gillespie Sells (born 1978) – lead singer with The Feeling.
• Jill Jackson (born 1979) – singer/songwriter.
• Will Young (born 1979) – singer/songwriter, first winner of Pop Idol.
• Kele Okereke (born 1981) – singer and guitarist, rated "Sexiest Out Gay Male Artist".
• Jessie J (born 1988) – singer/songwriter.
• Marcus Collins (born 1988) – singer and X Factor runner-up.
• Rylan Clark (born 1988) – X Factor contestant, winner of Celebrity Big Brother.
• Joe McElderry (born 1991) – singer/songwriter, winner of Popstar to Operastar.
• Lucy Spraggan (born 1991) – X Factor contestant.
• Sam Smith (born 1992) – soul singer.

• 
  William Whitehead
• 
  Thomas Adès
• 
  Beverley Knight
• 
  Stephen Gately
• 
  Samantha Ronson
• 
  QBoy
• 
  Dan Gillespie Sells
• 
  Jill Jackson
• 
  Will Young
• 
  Kele Okereke
• 
  Jessie J
• Marcus Collins
  Marcus Collins
• 
  Rylan Clark
• 
  Joe McElderry
• 
  Lucy Spraggan
• 
  Sam Smith

Key dates in LGBT music

• 1970: Dusty Springfield discusses her bisexuality in an interview with the Evening Standard, one of the first British pop stars to speak openly about her sexuality in a mainstream newspaper.
• 1972: CHE Music Group founded (now the Allegro Music Group).
• 1976: Tom Robinson first performs "(Sing If You're) Glad to Be Gay" at the Gay Pride march in London.
• 1976: Elton John comes out as bisexual in a cover interview with Rolling Stone.
• 1978: The Tom Robinson Band releases "Glad to be Gay".
• 1983: Pink Singers founded.
• January 1984: BBC Radio 1 bans "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood; the single reaches number one.
• 1984: Bronski Beat release "Smalltown Boy" and the album The Age of Consent.
• 1988: Section 28 of the Local Government Act prohibits local authorities from "promoting" homosexuality.
• 1991: London Gay Men's Chorus founded.
• 23 November 1991: Freddie Mercury publicly announces he has AIDS; he dies the following day, aged 45.
• 20 April 1992: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness is held at Wembley Stadium before 72,000 people and broadcast to an estimated one billion television viewers worldwide.
• 1992: Andy Bell of Erasure publicly discloses his HIV-positive status.
• 1992: Diversity Choir founded.
• 1993: Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood publicly discloses his HIV-positive status.
• 1996: London Gay Symphony Orchestra founded.
• 1997: Gay Abandon choir founded in Leeds.
• 1997: Rainbow Chorus founded in Brighton.
• 1998: George Michael releases "Outside" following his public outing; the song directly addresses the circumstances of his disclosure.
• 2002: Will Young becomes the first openly gay winner of a UK television talent competition, taking the inaugural series of Pop Idol.
• 2003: Reading Gay Men's Chorus founded (now Thames Valley Gay Chorus).
• 2004: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is appointed Master of the Queen's Music, the first openly gay holder of the post.
• 2005: Actually Gay Men's Chorus founded in Brighton.
• 2005: Actually Gay Women's Chorus founded.
• 2005: Brighton Gay Men's Chorus founded.
• 2005: Loud and Proud Choir founded in Edinburgh.
• 2005: London Gay Symphonic Winds founded.
• 2006: Out Aloud choir founded in Sheffield.
• 2007: Edinburgh Gay Men's Chorus founded.
• 2007: Sing Out choir formed in Bristol.
• 2008: Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra founded.
• 2008: South Wales Gay Men's Chorus founded.
• 2009: Various Voices European LGBT choir festival held in London.
• 2009: Liverpool LGBT Choir founded.
• 2011: London Gay Big Band founded.
• 2011: L Fest music festival founded.
• 2011: Proud Voices network of LGBT choirs founded.
• 2013: London Alternative Choir founded.
• 2013: The Fourth Choir founded.
• 2013: Glow Choir East founded in Ipswich.
• 2014: Sam Smith comes out as gay; their debut album In the Lonely Hour, addressing same-sex love, wins four Grammy Awards.
• 2015: Years & Years, fronted by openly gay singer Olly Alexander, reach number one in the UK with their debut album Communion.

• 
  Actually Gay Men's Chorus
• 
  Actually Gay Women's Chorus
• 
  Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra
• 
  Brighton Gay Men's Chorus
• 
  Diversity Choir
• 
  Edinburgh Gay Men's Chorus
• 
  Gay Abandon
• 
  London Alternative Choir
• 
  London Gay Big Band
• 
  London Gay Men's Chorus
• 
  London Gay Symphony Orchestra
• 
  Loud & Proud Choir
• 
  Out Aloud
• 
  Pink Singers
• 
  Proud Voices
• 
  Rainbow Chorus
• 
  Reading Gay Chorus
• 
  Sing Out
• 
  The Fourth Choir
• 
  Various Voices 2009

See also

• Timeline of UK LGBT History

External links

• http://www.s368878229.websitehome.co.uk/FyneWinter13/#/6-7/