November 1951 in Music History

Events in Music

Music History

Nov 1 Johnny Mercer's "Top Banana", starring Phil Silvers, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 356 performances, winning a Tony Award

Nov 12 "Paint Your Wagon" opens at Shubert Theater NYC for 289 performances
Nov 13 Janet Collins is the first 1st African-American dancer to appear at the Metropolitan Opera, in a production of Aida
Nov 24 "17" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 180 performances
Nov 24 "Music in the Air" closes at Ziegfeld Theater NYC after 56 performances

Birthdays in Music

Nov 1 Ronald Bell, American rock singer, saxophonist, arranger, and songwriter (Kool & The Gang), born in Youngstown, Ohio (d. 2020)
Nov 2 Lindy Morrison, Australian drummer (The Go-Betweens - "Cattle and Cane"), born in Queensland, Australia
Nov 7 Kevin Macmichael, Canadian guitarist, songwriter and record producer (Cutting Crew - "(I Just) Died in Your Arms"), born in St. John, New Brunswick (d. 2002)
Nov 8 Larry Burnett, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Firefall, 1974-81 - "You Are The Woman"), born in Washington, D.C.
Nov 11 Paul Cowsill, American rock keyboardist (The Cowsills - "We Can Fly"), born in Newport, Rhode Island
Nov 13 Bill Gibson, American rock drummer (Huey Lewis & The News), born in Sacramento, California
Nov 14 Alec John Such [Szűcs], American rock bassist (Bon Jovi, 1983-94 - "Wanted Dead or Alive"), born in Yonkers, New York (d. 2022)
Nov 14 Barry Brandt, American rock drummer (Angel), born in Washington, D.C.
Nov 14 Frankie Banali, American heavy metal drummer (Quiet Riot - "Cum on Feel the Noize"), born in Queens, NewYork City (d. 2020)
Nov 14 Stephen Bishop, American singer-songwriter ("On And On"; "Save It For A Rainy Day"), born in San Diego, California
Nov 17 Dean Paul Martin, Jr, American pop singer (Dino, Desi & Billy), and actor (Misfits of Science), born in Santa Monica, California (d. 1987)
Nov 18 Heinrich Schiff, Austrian cellist and conductor, born in Gmunden, Austria (d. 2016)
Nov 22 Kent Nagano, Japanese-American conductor (Berkely Symphony, 1978-2009; Montreal Symphony, 2006-20), opera administrator (Lyon National, 1988-98; LA opera, 2003-06; Bavarian State, 206-13), and new music advocate, born in Berkeley, California
Nov 25 Bill Morrissey, American folk singer-songwriter (Inside), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2011)
Nov 27 Kevin Kavanaugh, American rock keyboard player (Asbury Jukes), born in West Orange, New Jersey (d. 2011)
Nov 29 Barry Goudreau, American rock guitarist (Boston - "More Than A Feeling"), born in Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 29 Roger Troutman, American funk musician (Zapp), born in Hamilton, Ohio (d. 1999)

Weddings in Music

Ava Gardner & Frank Sinatra

Nov 7 American entertainer Frank Sinatra (35) marries 2nd wife American film star Ava Gardner (26); divorce in 1957

Louis Jordan

Nov 14 American swing musician Louis Jordan (43) weds dancer Vicky Hayes

Deaths in Music

Nov 5 Agrippina J Vaganova, Russian ballet dancer and pedagogue (Fundamentals of the Classical Dance), dies at 72
Nov 5 Bedrich Antonin Wiedermann, Czech organist and composer, dies at 67
Nov 9 Resurreccion Maria de Azkue, composer, dies at 87
Nov 9 Sigmund Romberg, Hungarian/American composer (Blossom Time), dies at 64
Nov 13 Hugo Leichtentritt, German Jewish composer and musicologist, dies at 77
Nov 13 Nikolai Karlovich Metner, composer, dies at 71
Nov 13 Nikolai Medtner, Russian pianist and composer (Skazi), dies at 71
Nov 18 Václav Kálik, Czech composer, dies at 60
Nov 18 Will Vodery, African-American composer, dies at 66
Nov 20 Thomas Quinlan, English opera impresario, dies at 70