On This Day

January 1946 in Music History

Events in Music

  • Jan 5 "Show Boat" opens at Ziegfeld Theater NYC for 417 performances
  • Jan 9 "Would-Be Gentleman" opens at Booth Theater NYC for 77 performances
  • Jan 12 "Polonaise" closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 113 performances
  • Jan 21 "Nellie Bly" opens at Adelphi Theater NYC for 16 performances

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Jan 25 Richard Strauss' "Metamorphosis" premieres in Zurich

Composer and Conductor Richard Strauss
Composer and Conductor
Richard Strauss

Birthdays in Music

  • Jan 2 Richard Cole, American tour manager (Led Zeppelin)

Person of interestJohn Paul Jones

Jan 3 John Paul Jones [John Baldwin], English rock bassist and songwriter (Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven), born in London

Musician John Paul Jones
Musician
John Paul Jones
  • Jan 4 Arthur Conley, American soul singer ("Sweet Soul Music"), born in McIntosh County, Georgia (d. 2003)
  • Jan 4 Susannah McCorkle, American jazz singer, born in Berkeley, California (d. 2001)

Person of interestSyd Barrett

Jan 6 Syd Barrett, English guitarist and early vocalist of the band Pink Floyd, born in Cambridge, England (d. 2006)

Rocker Syd Barrett
Rocker
Syd Barrett
  • Jan 7 Jann S Wenner, American publisher (Rolling Stone), born in NYC, New York
  • Jan 8 Robby Krieger, American guitarist (The Doors-Light My Fire), born in Los Angeles, California
  • Jan 10 Aynsley Dunbar, English drummer (Journey, Jefferson Starship), born in Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • Jan 10 Bob Lang, English bassist (Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders), born in Manchester, United Kingdom
  • Jan 11 Naomi Judd [Diana Ellen], American country singer (Judds - Why Not Me), born in Ashland, Kentucky
  • Jan 11 Tony Kaye [Anthony John Selvidge], English piano and organ player (Yes, 1968-71; 1983-94; 2018–19), born in Leicester, England
  • Jan 12 Cynthia Robinson, American musician (Sly & Family Stone - "Everyday People"), born in Sacramento, California (d. 2015)
  • Jan 12 George Duke, American keyboard pioneer & composer, born in San Rafael, California (d. 2013)
  • Jan 13 Eero Koivistoinen, Finnish musician
  • Jan 16 Katia Ricclarelli, Italian soprano and actress (Falstaff, Otello, Turandot), born in Rovigo, Italy

Person of interestDolly Parton

Jan 19 Dolly Parton, American country singer (Dolly, 9 to 5), born in Sevierville, Tennessee

Country Singer Dolly Parton
Country Singer
Dolly Parton

Person of interestMalcolm McLaren

Jan 22 Malcolm McLaren, British band manager (the Sex Pistols), born in London (d. 2010)

Band Manager and Pioneer of Punk Malcolm McLaren
Band Manager and Pioneer of Punk
Malcolm McLaren
  • Jan 28 Rick Allen, Ark, rock bassist (Box Tops-Letter)
  • Jan 29 Bettye LaVette [Betty Jo Haskins], American soul singer (I've Got My Own Hell to Raise), born in Muskegon, Michigan
  • Jan 31 Terry Kath, American musician & songwriter (Chicago), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1976)

Deaths in Music

  • Jan 5 Kitty Cheatham, American singer (b. 1864)
  • Jan 7 Adamo Didur, Polish tenor (b. 1874)
  • Jan 17 Gottfried Rudinger, German composer, dies at 59
  • Jan 18 Feliks Nowowiejski, Polish organist and composer, dies at 68
  • Jan 29 Sidney Jones, British conductor and composer (The Geisha, A Gaiety Girl), dies at 84