1949 in Music

Events in Music

Theater Premiere

Feb 10 Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman" opens at Morosco Theater, NYC

Playwright Arthur Miller — Playwright
Arthur Miller

Music Single

Feb 11 "Lovesick Blues" single released by Hank Williams (Cashbox "Best Hillbilly Record of the Year", Billboard Song of the Year 1949)

Country Music Singer and Songwriter Hank Williams — Country Music Singer and Songwriter
Hank Williams

Feb 12 "Annie Get Your Gun" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 1147 performances

Event of Interest

Feb 15 Dmitri Shostakovich' "Song of the Woods" premieres in Leningrad

Composer Dmitri Shostakovich — Composer
Dmitri Shostakovich

Feb 19 "Inside USA" closes at Century Theater NYC after 339 performances
Apr 7 "South Pacific" opens at Majestic Theater NYC for 1928 performances
May 14 "Love Life" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 252 performances
Jun 18 "Along Fifth Avenue" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 180 performances
Jul 2 "High Button Shoes" closes at Century Theater NYC after 727 performances

Jul 7 "Cabatgata (A Night in Spain)" opens at Broadway NYC for 76 performances
Jul 9 Benjamin Britten's Jump Symphony premieres
Jul 15 "Miss Liberty" opens at Imperial Theater NYC for 308 performances
Aug 7 "All after Love" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 121 performances
Aug 18 Ralph Flanagan & his orchestra records "You're Breaking My Heart"
Sep 10 "Cabatgata (A Night in Spain)" closes at Broadway NYC after 76 performances
Oct 9 English ballerina Margot Fonteyn debuts in America with her performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York
Oct 13 "Touch & Go" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 176 performances
Oct 30 "Lost in the Stars" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 281 performances
Oct 30 Kurt Weill & Maxwell Anderson's musical premieres in NYC
Oct 31 "Regina" opens at 46th St Theater NYC for 86 performances
Nov 25 "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" appears on music charts
Nov 28 "Texas, Li'l Darlin'" opens at Mark Hellinger NYC for 293 performances
Dec 8 Jule Styne's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" opens at Ziegfeld Theater NYC for 740 performances

Film Release

Dec 8 "On the Town", the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen, is released

Singer and Actor Frank Sinatra — Singer and Actor
Frank Sinatra

Dec 17 "Regina" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 86 performances

Birthdays in Music

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 270

Jan 1 Daniel E Gawthrop, American composer
Jan 2 Chick Churchill, Wales, keyboardist (Ten Years After-I'm Going Home)
Jan 5 George Brown, American rock drummer (Kool & the Gang-Celebration), born in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jan 7 Marshall Chapman, American country singer, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Jan 11 Tom Netherton, singer (Lawrence Welk Show), born in Munich. Germany
Jan 11 [Frederick] Dennis Greene, American singer (Sha Na Na), born in New York, (d. 2015)
Jan 11 Daryl Braithwaite, Australian rock singer
Jan 12 Wayne Wang, American film director (Chan is Missing, Slamdance), born in Hong Kong
Jan 12 Kentaro Haneda, Japanese composer, born in Tokyo, Japan (d. 2007)
Jan 19 Robert Palmer, English singer-songwriter (Power Station), born in Batley, United Kingdom (d. 1997)
Jan 22 James P Pennington, rocker (Exile)
Jan 22 Steve Perry, vocalist (Journey-Open Arms, Oh Sherry), born in Hanford, California
Jan 24 John Belushi, American comedian and actor (SNL, Blues Brothers), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1982)
Jan 26 Derek Holt, rocker (Climax Blues Band)
Jan 29 Tommy Ramone [Tamás Erdélyi], Hungarian-American rock drummer and bassist (Ramones), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2014)
Feb 2 Jetty Weels, Surinamese/Dutch vocalist (Mai Tai)
Feb 2 Ross Valory, rock bassist (Journey - Who's Crying Now, Open Arms), born in San Francisco, California
Feb 2 Tom Tripplehorn, rocker (Gary Lewis & Playboys-This Diamond Ring)
Feb 3 Oscar Benton, Dutch blues vocalist/guitarist (Ze is Zoals Jij)
Feb 3 Arthur Kane, American musician (New York Dolls), born in NYC, New York (d. 2004)
Feb 4 Roy Yeager, American musician (Atlanta Rhythm Section), born in Greenwood, Mississippi
Feb 6 Mike Batt, British director, actor, composer, and former Deputy Chairman (British Phonographic Industry), born in Southampton, England
Feb 7 Alan Lancaster, English bassist (Status Quo), born in London, England
Feb 7 Joe English, American musician (Wings, Sea Level), born in Rochester, New York
Feb 10 Nigel Olsson, British rock guitarist and drummer (Elton John's Band), born in Wallasey, Cheshire
Feb 10 Maxime Le Forestier, French singer
Feb 11 Charlie Hargrett, rock guitarist (Blackfoot)
Feb 12 Stanley Knight, country artist (Black Oak Arkansas-High on the Hog)
Feb 14 Jimmy Randell, rocker
Feb 15 Christopher Rouse, composer
Feb 15 Hans Graf, Austrian conductor
Feb 17 Fred Frith, English guitarist, violinist and bassist (Skeleton Crew), born in Heathfield, England
Feb 19 Eddie Hardin, English rock pianist and singer (Spencer Davis Group), born in London, England
Feb 21 Jerry Harrison, rock keyboardist (Talking Heads), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Feb 23 Larry Demps, US R&B vocalist (Dramatics-Me & Mrs Jones)
Feb 23 Terry "Tex" Comer, bassist/guitarist
Feb 26 Emma Kirkby, British(?) soprano
Feb 28 Arthur "T-Boy" Ross, American songwriter, brother of Diana, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1996)
Mar 1 Sido Martens, Dutch guitarist/singer/mandolin player (Fungus)
Mar 2 Alain Chamfort [Le Govic ], French singer, born in Paris, France
Mar 4 Carroll Baker, Canadian country singer and songwriter, born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Mar 6 Donald York, rocker (Sha Na Na)
Mar 9 Kalevi Aho, Finnish composer, born in Forssa, Finland
Mar 9 Tapani Kansa, Finnish singer, born in Hamina, Finland
Mar 11 Richard de Bois, Dutch drummer/producer
Mar 12 Bill Payne, rock keyboardist (Little Feat-Time Loves a Hero), born in Waco, Texas
Mar 12 Mike Gibbons, Welsh musician and drummer (Badfinger), born in Swansea, Wales (d. 2005)
Mar 12 Michael "Mike" Gibbins, Welsh musician (Badfinger), born in Swansea, Wales (d. 2005)
Mar 13 Julia Migenes, American soprano, born in NYC, New York
Mar 16 Elliott Murphy, US singer/songwriter
Mar 18 Starr Danias, American ballerina (Turning Point), born in NYC, New York
Mar 18 Åse Kleveland, Norwegian singer and politician
Mar 20 Marcia Ball, American singer and pianist
Mar 21 Eddie Money, [Mahoney], singer/guitarist (Take Me Home Tonight), born in Brooklyn, New York
Mar 23 Ric Ocasek [Richard Otcasek], American rocker (The Cars - Best Friend's Girl; Shake It Up), born in Baltimore, Maryland
Mar 24 Steve Lang, rock bassist (April Wine), born in Montreal, Quebec
Mar 24 Nick Lowe, England, rock vocalist (Rockpile-Cruel to be Kind)
Mar 25 Neil Jones, musician (Bend Me Shape Me)
Mar 26 Fran Sheehan, American rock bassist (Boston- "More Than A Feeling"), born in Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 28 Milan Williams, American keyboardist (Commodores-Three Times a Lady), born in Okolona, Mississippi
Mar 29 Michael Brecker, American jazz saxophonist (Brecker Brothers), born in Chetelham, Pennsylvania (d. 2007)
Mar 30 Dana [Richenda Antoinette de Winterstein] Gillespie, English actress and singer (Jesus Christ Superstar), born in Surrey, England
Mar 30 Lene Lovich, English-American singer, songwriter and musician (Lucky Number), born in Detroit, Michigan
Apr 1 Gill Scott-Heron, American writer, poet and singer (Whities on the Moon), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2011)
Apr 2 Joseph "Joe" Vitale, American singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist (Roller Coaster Weekend), born in Canton, Ohio
Apr 3 Jan Keizer, Dutch singer (BZN-Rhythm of My Heart), born in Volendam, Netherlands
Apr 3 Richard Thompson, English vocalist and guitarist (Shoot Out the Lights), born in Notting Hill Gate, London
Apr 3 Greg Calbi, American mastering engineer (associated with Eric Carmen, John Lennon, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen), born in Yonkers, New York
Apr 4 Larry Lingle, American rocker (The Four Seasons), born in Kansas City, Missouri
Apr 4 Michael Fennelly, American musician (The Millennium, Crabby Appleton), born in New York, New York
Apr 7 John Oates, American rock guitarist/vocalist (Hall & Oates-Rich Girl), born in NYC, New York
Apr 9 Chico Ryan, rock vocalist (Sha Na Na)
Apr 9 Steve Gadd, American jazz drummer ('Late In The Evening', '50 Ways To Leave Your Lover'), born in Irondequoit, New York
Apr 10 Frank de Leeuw, Dutch rock guitarist (Bob Color)
Apr 14 Sonja Kristina [Shaw], English songwriter and actress (Hair, Curved Air), born in Brentwood, England
Apr 15 Alla Pugacheva, Russian singer
Apr 18 Andrew Powell, British composer, performer, and music producer (Donovan, Kate Bush- "The Kick Inside"), born in Surrey, England
Apr 21 Patti LuPone, actress/singer (Evita, Life Goes On), born in Northport, New York
Apr 23 John Miles, vocal/guitar/keyboards (John Miles Band-Rebel, Zaragon)
Apr 24 Véronique Sanson, French singer and songwriter, born in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris
Apr 25 Watermelon Slim [William Homans], American blues musician (The Wheel Man), born in Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 25 Michael Brown, American musician and songwriter, (Don't Walk Away Renee), born in New York City (d. 2015)
Apr 26 Jimmy Hall, rocker (Wet Willie)
May 1 Tim Hodgkinson, English composer and musician (Henry Cow)
May 1 James "Jim" Clench, Canadian bassist and songwriter (April Wine and Bachman-Turner Overdrive), born in Canada (d. 2010)
May 4 Zal Cleminson, Scottis guitarist (Alex Harvey Band), born in Glasgow

Billy Joel

May 9 Billy Joel, American rock vocalist (Pianoman, Capt Jack, Bridge), born in The Bronx, New York

May 13 Franklin Ajaye, American comedian and actor (Jazz Singer, Car Wash), born in Brooklyn, New York
May 13 Jane Glover, British conductor
May 15 Eric J Beekes, actor/singer (Hunk)
May 17 Bill Bruford, English drummer (Yes, King Crimson, Genesis), born in Sevenoaks, Kent
May 17 Andrew Latimer, English musician (Camel), born in Guilford
May 18 Bill Wallace, rocker/actor (Fear, Avenging Force, Desperate)
May 18 Rick Wakeman, English, rock keyboardist (Yes), born in London
May 18 William Wallace, rocker (Guess Who)
May 19 Dusty Hill, rocker (ZZ Top)
May 21 Arno Hintjens, Belgian singer (T C Matic)
May 21 Rosalind Plowright, British soprano (Aida, Senta)

Hank Williams Jr

May 26 Hank Williams Jr, country singer (Honky Tonk), born in Shreveport, Louisiana

May 28 Wendy O. Williams, American musician (The Plasmatics) (d. 1998)

Weddings in Music

Wedding of Interest

Jun 30 Filmmaker Billy Wilder (43) weds former singer Audrey Young

Divorces in Music

Divorce of Interest

May 31 Actress Doris Day (27) divorces saxophonist George Weidler (23) after 3 years of marriage

Singer and Actress Doris Day — Singer and Actress
Doris Day

Deaths in Music

Jan 9 Amilcare Zanella, Italian composer and conductor, dies at 75
Jan 14 Joaquín Turina, Spanish pianist and composer (Rima), dies at 66
Jan 25 Emil Axman, Czech composer, dies at 61
Jan 27 Boris Asafiev, composer, dies at 64
Jan 28 Gustaf Lazarus Nordqvist, Swedish organist and composer, dies at 62
Feb 1 Herbert Stothart, American composer, dies at 63
Feb 5 Juozas Tallat-Kelpsa, composer, dies at 50
Feb 8 Franco Leoni, Italian composer, dies at 81
Feb 8 Leonid Alexeyevich Polovinkin, Russian composer, dies at 54
Feb 9 Poul Schierbeck, Danish organist and composer, dies at 60
Feb 19 Auguste Jean Maria Charles Serieyx, composer, dies at 83
Feb 21 Ernest Walker, composer, dies at 78
Feb 28 Stanley Marchant, English composer, dies at 65
Mar 11 Juan Lamonte de Grignon, composer, dies at 76
Mar 28 Grigoras Dinicu, Romanian violin virtuoso and composer, dies at 59
Apr 3 Basil Harwood, English composer, dies at 89
May 22 Hans Erich Pfitzner, Russian/German composer, dies at 80
Jun 2 Dynam-Victor Fumet, French composer, dies at 82
Jul 7 Bunk Johnson, American musician (b. 1879 or 1889)
Jul 8 Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli, Italian composer, dies at 66
Jul 9 Fritz Bennicke Hart, composer, dies at 75
Jul 18 Vítězslav Novák, Czech composer, dies at 78
Aug 11 Karl Weigl, Austrian-American composer, dies at 68
Aug 18 Paul J Mares, US jazz trumpetist/composer (Tin Roof Blues), dies at 49
Aug 21 Gerhard von Keussler, German composer, dies at 75
Aug 31 Paul Hoffer, German composer, dies at 53
Sep 8 Richard Strauss, German composer (Also sprach Zarathustra), dies at 85
Sep 11 Henri Rabaud, French composer/conductor (L'ete), dies at 75
Sep 20 Nikolaos Skalkottas, composer, dies at 45
Sep 24 Pierre de Bréville, French composer, author and professor (Une histoire du théâtre lyrique en France), dies at 88
Oct 4 Edmund Eysler, Austrian composer, dies at 75
Oct 9 Viktor Alexandrovich Uspensky, composer, dies at 70
Oct 16 Hale A. VanderCook, American composer, dies at 85
Oct 24 Joaquin Nin y Castellanos, composer, dies at 70
Oct 27 Ginette Neveu, French violinist (b. 1919)

Bill Robinson

Nov 25 Bill Robinson "Bojangles" American famed tap dancer (The Little Colonel, Stormy Weather), dies at 71

Lead Belly

Dec 6 Lead Belly, [Huddie William Ledbetter], blues singer, dies at 64

Dec 17 David Stanley Smith, American composer (Merrymount), dies at 72

1948
On This Day in Music
1950