January 1940 in Music History

Events in Music

Jan 11 Sergei Prokofiev's ballet "Romeo & Juliet" premieres in Leningrad

Music History

Jan 30 Benjamin Britten's "Lesson Illuminations" premieres in London

Birthdays in Music

Jan 1 László Sáry, Hungarian classical pianist and composer (12 Haiku; Flowers of Heaven), born in Győrasszonyfa, Hungary
Jan 1 Richard Henry Orton, composer
Jan 5 Athol Guy, Australian singer (The Seekers), born in Colac, Australia
Jan 6 Laudir de Oliveira, Brazilian percussionist (Sérgio Mendes; Chicago, 1973-81), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 2017)
Jan 6 Van McCoy, American musician and songwriter ("The Hustle"), born in Englewood, New Jersey (d. 1979)
Jan 8 Cristy Lane, American country music and gospel singer, born in Peoria, Illinois
Jan 9 Al Downing, American rockabilly piano player and singer (Big Al & The Chartbusters), born in Centralia, Oklahoma (d. 2005)
Jan 9 Barbara Buczek, Polish pianist, composer (Anekumena – Concerto for 89 Instruments; Two Impressions), and teacher, born in Kraków, Poland (d. 1993)
Jan 9 Jimmy Boyd, American singer ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"), and actor (Bachelor Father - "Howard"), born in Jayess, Mississippi (d. 2009)
Jan 11 Mark DeVoto, American composer (Hodayot; Pavane and Zortzico), and musicologist (Schubert), born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Jan 12 Ronald Shannon Jackson, American avant-garde jazz and funk drummer, and composer (Cecil Taylor; Last Exit; Decoding Society), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2013)
Jan 18 Pat Britt, American jazz saxophonist, flute player, and producer, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jan 20 Jorge Peixinho, Portuguese pianist, composer, and conductor, born in Montijo, Portugal (d. 1995)
Jan 22 Addie "Micki" Harris, American pop singer (Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"; "Soldier Boy"), born in Passaic, New Jersey (d. 1982)
Jan 22 Eberhard Weber, German acoustic and electric double bassist, cellist and chamber jazz and ambient music composer, born in Stuttgart, Germany
Jan 22 Tilo Medek, German composer, born in Jena, Germany
Jan 23 Jimmy Castor, American pop & funk musician ("Troglodyte (Cave Man)", Jimmy Castor Bunch), born in NYC, New York (d. 2012)
Jan 23 Johnny Russell, American country singer, born in Moorhead, Mississippi (d. 2001)
Jan 29 Justino DÍaz, Puerto Rican opera singer, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Jan 30 David Johnson, American composer, born in Batavia, New York