Year 1923 in Music History

Events in Music

Event of Interest

Feb 1 Noël Coward's "Young Idea" premieres in London

Playwright, Director and Singer Noël Coward — Playwright, Director and Singer
Noël Coward

Music Premiere

Feb 19 Jean Sibelius' 6th Symphony premieres

Composer Jean Sibelius — Composer
Jean Sibelius

Feb 21 Andre Charlot's musical "Rats" premieres in London

Event of Interest

Mar 7 Carlos Gardel applies for Argentine citizenship

Singer Carlos Gardel — Singer
Carlos Gardel

Mar 23 Frank Silver & Irving Conn release "Yes, We Have No Bananas"
Mar 31 First dance marathon in New York City; Alma Cummings sets record of 27 hours with 6 different partners

Music Premiere

May 30 Howard Hanson's 1st Symphony "Nordic" premieres

Composer and Conductor Howard Hanson — Composer and Conductor
Howard Hanson

Jun 14 Recording of 1st country music hit (Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane)
Oct 29 Gibbs/Grey/Wood's revue "Runnin' Wild" (introducing Charleston) opens on Broadway, New York City

Event of Interest

Nov 19 Béla Bartòk's "Tancsuite" premieres

Composer and Pianist Béla Bartok — Composer and Pianist
Béla Bartok

Dec 31 Harry Tierney and Joseph McCarthy's musical "Kid Boots," premieres in New York City

Birthdays in Music

Jan 1 Milt [Bags] Jackson, American jazz vibraphonist (Modern Jazz Quartet), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1999)
Jan 1 Barbara Baxley, American actress and singer (Norma Rae, Countdown), born in Stockton, California (d. 1990)
Jan 3 Dragutin Gostuški, Serbian composer, and musicologist (d. 1988)
Jan 4 Flavio Testi, Italian composer and musicologist, born in Florence, Italy (d. 2014)
Jan 5 Sam Phillips, American record producer and founder of Sun Records (launched Elvis Presley's career), born in Florence, Alabama (d. 2003)
Jan 7 (Charles) Russell Woolen, American classical keyboardist and composer (In Martyrum Memoriam), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 1994)
Jan 8 Giorgio Tozzi, American operatic bass (dubbed vocals of Emile de Becque for "South Pacific" film), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2011)
Jan 13 Danil Shafran, cellist
Jan 16 Roy Lanham, American western swing and jazz guitarist (The Whippoorwills; Sons of the Pioneers, 1961-86), born in Corbin, Kentucky (d. 1991)
Jan 20 Nora Brockstedt, Norwegian pop and jazz singer, born in Oslo, Norway (d. 2015)
Jan 20 (Ottis) "Slim" Whitman, American country singer (Rose Marie), born in Tampa, Florida (d. 2013)
Jan 21 Lola Flores, Spanish singer, dancer and actress (Kuma Ching, Faraona), born in Cadiz, Spain (d. 1995)
Jan 22 Friedrich Zehm, German pianist and composer, born in Neusalz, Lower Silesia, Germany (d. 2007)
Jan 22 Leslie Bassett, American classical composer (Variations for Orchestra - Pulitzer Prize 1966), and educator (University of Michigan, 1952-92), born in Hanford, California (d. 2016)
Jan 24 Simeon ten Holt, Dutch minimalist composer (Canto Ostinato), born in Bergen, Netherlands (d. 2012)
Jan 25 Rusty Draper, American country & pop singer, born in Kirksville, Missouri (d. 2003)
Jan 26 Anne Jeffreys [Annie Carmichael], American singer and actress (Dick Tracy, Topper, General Hospital), born in Goldsboro, North Carolina (d. 2017)
Jan 26 Talib Dawud [Alfonso Rainey], Antiguan-American jazz trumpeter (Dizzy Gillespie Big Band), born in Antigua (d. 1999)
Feb 1 Ursula Mamlok (nee Meyer), German-American avant-garde composer, and teacher, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 2016)
Feb 3 Alys Robi, Quebec singer
Feb 5 Claude King, American country music singer (Wolverton Mountain), born in Keithville, Louisiana (d. 2013)
Feb 6 Maurice Le Roux, French composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1992)
Feb 7 George Lascelles, English Earl of Harewood, Director of the Royal Opera House, born in London (d. 2011)
Feb 10 Cesare Siepi, Italian operatic basso (NY Metropolitan Opera, 1950-74), born in Milan, Italy (d. 2010)
Feb 12 Mel Powell, American composer (Pulitzer Prize Music 1990), born in NYC, New York (d. 1998)
Feb 13 Yfrah Neaman, Lebanese violinist (d. 2003)
Feb 17 Boniface "Buddy" DeFranco, Italian-American jazz clarinetist and bandleader (Glenn Miller Orchestra), born in Camden, New Jersey (d. 2014)
Feb 19 Donald Lybbert, American composer (Zap; Lines for the Fallen), and educator (Hunter College, 1954-80), born in Cresco, Iowa (d. 1981)
Feb 21 Zvi Zeitlin, Russian-American classical violinist and music professor (Eastman School, 1967-2012), born in in Dubroŭna, Russia (now Belarus) (d. 2012)
Feb 22 Norman "Hurricane" Smith, English musician and producer (Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?, Don't Let It Die), born in Edmonton, London (d. 2008)
Feb 22 Gigliola Frazzoni, Italian operatic soprano, born in Bologna, Italy (d. 2016)
Feb 24 David Soyer, American cellist
Feb 27 Dexter Gordon, American jazz tenor saxophonist and actor (Round Midnight, The Other Side of Round Midnight), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1990)
Feb 27 Viktor Kalabis, Czech composer (Two Worlds), born in Červený Kostelec (d. 2006)
Mar 2 Orrin Keepnews, American jazz producer and founder of Riverside Records label, born in The Bronx, New York
Mar 3 Doc Watson, American bluegrass musician, (d. 2012)
Mar 4 Willie Johnson, American electric blues guitarist (Howlin' Wolf's "How Many More Years"), born in Senatobia, Mississippi (d. 1995)
Mar 6 Erhard Karkoschka, composer
Mar 6 John "Wes" Montgomery, American musician and composer, considered one of the world's greatest jazz guitarists, born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1968)
Mar 12 Norbert Brainin, violinist
Mar 19 Janine Dacosta, French pianist
Mar 21 Mort Lindsey, orchestra leader (Merv Griffin Show), born in Newark, New Jersey
Mar 25 Bonnie Guitar [Buckingham], American guitarist, singer and record executive (Dark Moon), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2019)
Mar 26 Clifton Williams, American composer (The Ramparts, Sinfonians), born in Traskwood, Arkansas (d. 1976)
Mar 27 Victor Hochhauser, British impresario (Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra), born in Košice, Czechoslovakia (d. 2019)
Apr 8 Franco Corelli, Italian tenor (Don Jose-Carmen), born in Ancona, Italy (d. 2003)
Apr 9 Bruno Kiefer, German-born Brazilian composer, born in Baden-Baden, Germany (d. 1987)
Apr 12 Ann Miller, American actress and dancer (On the Town), born in Chireno, Texas (d. 2004)
Apr 20 Tito Puente, American bandleader (Dance Mania), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2000)
Apr 23 Nathan "Dambuza" Mdledle, South African singer (Manhattan Brothers) and actor
Apr 25 Albert King [Nelson], American blues guitarist and singer (BB King & Friends, Blues Alive), born in Indianola, Mississippi (d. 1992)
Apr 25 Melissa Hayden, Canadian ballerina (1961 Silver Bowl), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2006)
Apr 28 Adele Mara [Adelaida Delgado], American actress, singer and dancer (Cool Million, Wheels), born in Highland Park, Michigan (d. 2010)
May 2 Christina Spierenburg, Dutch singer, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1979)
May 3 George Hadjinikos, Greek pianist and conductor, born in Volos, Greece (d. 2015)
May 4 Edward "Ed" Cassidy, American musician (Spirit), born in Harvey, Illinois (d. 2012)
May 4 Assi Rahbani, Lebanese composer and author, born in Antelias, Lebanon (d. 1986)
May 7 Anne Baxter, American actress, and singer (The Razor's Edge, All About Eve), born in Michigan City, Indiana (d. 1985)
May 13 Red [William] Garland, American jazz pianist (Miles Davis Quintet), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 1984)
May 15 John Lanchbery, English composer (d. 2003)
May 17 Peter Mennin[i], American composer (Moby Dick) and educator (Juilliard), born in Erie, Pennsylvania (d. 1983)
May 18 Liam Sullivan, American singer and actor (Star Trek, The Magic Sword, Monroes), born in Jacksonville, Illinois (d. 1998)
May 21 Doris Mae Akers, American gospel singer-songwriter (Sky Pilot Choir - Sweet, Sweet Spirit), born in Brookfield, Missouri (d. 1995)
May 23 Alicia de Larrocha, Spanish pianist (Orquesta Sinfonica), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2009)
May 28 Gyorgy Ligeti, Hungarian classical composer (Le Grand Macabre), born in Transylvania, Romania (d. 2006)
May 29 "The Senator" Eugene Wright, American jazz bassist (The Dave Brubeck Quartet), born in Chicago, Illinois
Jun 2 Del Simmons [James Joseph Simonian], American saxophonist (Captain Beefheart) (d. 2011)
Jun 5 Daniel Pinkham, American organist, composer (Signs of the Zodiac) and educator (New England Conservatory), born in Lynn, Massachusetts (d. 2006)
Jun 6 Allan Wicks, British cathedral organist and choral conductor (Canterbury, 1961-88), born in Harden, England (d. 2010)
Jun 8 Karel Goeyvaerts, Flemish composer (Summer Games), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1993)
Jun 14 Theodore Bloomfield, American conductor, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1998)

Erroll Garner

Jun 15 Erroll Garner, American jazz pianist (Misty), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Jun 16 Åke Hermanson, Swedish composer, born in Mollösund, Sweden (d. 1996)
Jun 16 Henryk Czyz, Polish composer and musician, born in Grudziądz (d. 2003)
Jun 18 Herman Krebbers, Dutch violist/concert master
Jun 23 George Russell, American jazz pianist (The Jazz Workshop), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2009)
Jun 29 Chou Wen-chung, Chinese-American composer (Mode of Shang), born in Yantai, Shandong, China (d. 2019)
Jul 6 Marie McDonald, American singer and actress known as "The Body Beautiful" (Promises Promises), born in Burgin, Kentucky (d. 1965)
Jul 7 Roberto Caamano, composer
Jul 10 Amalia Mendoza, Mexican singer (Échame a mi la culpa), born in Huetamo de Núñez, Michoacán, Mexico (d. 2001)
Jul 10 Rudolf Kehrer, Soviet classical pianist of German heritage, born in Tiflis, Georgia (d. 2013)
Jul 15 [Joseph Rudolph] Philly Joe Jones, American jazz drummer (Miles Davis Quintet), born in Philadelphia (d. 1985)
Jul 18 Héctor Tosar, Uruguayan pianist and composer, born in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 2002)
Jul 22 Mukesh [Mathur], Indian "playback singer" for Bollywood films, born in Delhi, British India (d. 1976)
Aug 1 Yoshinao Nakada, Japanese composer, born in Shibuya, Tokyo (d. 2000)
Aug 4 Arthur Butterworth, British classical trumpet player and composer, born in New Moston, England (d. 2014)
Aug 6 Jack Parnell, orchestra leader (Englebert Humperdick Show), born in London, England
Aug 10 Rhonda Fleming [Marilyn Louis], American actress and singer nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor" (Spellbound), born in Hollywood, California
Aug 14 William Flanagan, American composer (d. 1969)
Aug 14 Alice Ghostley, American singer and actress (Bewitched, Designing Women), born in Eve, Vernon County, Missouri (d. 2007)
Aug 15 Rose Marie [Mazzetta], American actress, comedienne and singer (The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Doris Day Show), born in NYC, New York (d. 2017)
Aug 17 Anton Kersjes, Dutch violinist and conductor (Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) (d. 2004)
Aug 20 Jim Reeves, American country singer and actor (Gun Fury, Kimberley Jim), born in Panola County, Texas (d. 1964)
Aug 26 Wolfgang Sawallisch, German conductor (Vienna Symphony, 1960-70; Philadelphia Orchestra, 1993-2003), and pianist, born in Munich, Germany (d. 2013)
Aug 29 Lester Trimble, American composer, music critic and educator, born in Bangor, Wisconsin (d. 1986)
Aug 30 Gerhard Wimberger, Austria composer (Glove), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2016)
Sep 6 William Kraft, American composer and percussionist, born in Chicago, Illinois
Sep 15 Anton Heiller, composer

Hank Williams

Sep 17 Hank Williams, American country singer (Cold, Cold Heart, Hey Good Lookin'), born in Mount Olive, Alabama (d. 1953)

Sep 24 Theodore "Fats" Navarro, American jazz trumpet player, born in Key West, Florida (d. 1950)

Weddings in Music

Wedding of Interest

May 17 Actress and singer Marlene Dietrich (21) weds assistant director Rudolf Sieber (26) in Berlin, Germany

Divorces in Music

Divorce of Interest

Dec 18 Jazz musician Louis Armstrong (22) divorces Daisy Parker after 5 years of marriage

Deaths in Music

Feb 19 Gerónimo Giménez, Spanish composer, dies at 68
Feb 27 Charles Francis Abdy Williams, composer, dies at 67
Apr 19 Thomas Paine Westendorf, composer, dies at 75
May 30 Camille Chevillard, French composer, dies at 63
Jun 20 Joseph Leopold Rockel, composer, dies at 85
Jun 29 Gustave Adolph Kerker, composer, dies at 66
Jun 30 Claude Antoine Terrasse, composer, dies at 56
Jul 13 Asger Hamerik [Hammerich], Danish composer, dies at 80
Jul 14 Louis Ganne, French composer, dies at 61
Sep 15 Sayed Darwish, composer, dies at 31
Oct 14 George Elbridge Whiting, American composer, dies at 83
Dec 2 Tomas Breton y Hernandez, composer, dies at 72
Dec 8 Dom Joseph Pothier, French monk and musicologist, dies at 88
Dec 14 Giuseppi Gallignani, Italian composer and conductor, takes his own life at 72
Dec 16 Kacsóh Pongrác, Hungarian composer, dies at 50
Dec 22 Arthur H. Bird, American composer, dies at 67