1954 in Music

Events in Music

Music Recording

Jan 4 Elvis Presley records a 10 minute demo in Nashville

Singer & Cultural Icon Elvis Presley — Singer & Cultural Icon
Elvis Presley

Event of Interest

Jan 29 Arnold Schoenberg's "De Profundis" premieres in Cologne

Composer and Painter Arnold Schoenberg — Composer and Painter
Arnold Schoenberg

Mar 5 "Girl in Pink Tights" opens at Mark Hellinger NYC for 115 performances
Mar 12 1st performance of Arnold Schoenberg's "Moses und Aaron"
Mar 20 "King & I" closes at St James Theater NYC after 1246 performances
Apr 3 "Me & Juliet" closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 358 performances
Apr 5 Elvis Presley records his debut single "That's All Right"
Apr 8 "By the Beautiful Sea" opens at Majestic Theater NYC for 270 performances

Event of Interest

Apr 12 Bill Haley and the Comets record "Rock Around Clock"

Father of Rock 'n' Roll Bill Haley — Father of Rock 'n' Roll
Bill Haley

Apr 20 "Golden Apple" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 125 performances
Apr 30 Darius Milhauds 4th Concert for piano and orchestra premieres in Haifa
May 13 "Pajama Game" opens at St James Theater NYC for 1063 performances
Jun 12 "Girl in Pink Tights" closes at Mark Hellinger NYC after 115 performances
Jun 12 Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" is originally released
Jun 24 "John Murray Anderson's Almanac" closes at Imperial NYC after 229 performances
Jul 3 "Wonderful Town" closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 559 performances
Jul 30 Elvis Presley joins Memphis Federation of Musicians, Local 71
Aug 7 "Golden Apple" closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 125 performances
Sep 6 WINS NYC begins playing rock n roll with Alan Freed Show
Sep 14 Benjamin Britten's opera 'Turn of the Screw' premieres in Venice

Event of Interest

Sep 27 Steve Allen's "Tonight Show" premieres

TV Personality, Comedian and Composer Steve Allen — TV Personality, Comedian and Composer
Steve Allen

Sep 30 "Boy Friend" opens at Royale Theater NYC for 483 performances
Oct 11 "On Your Toes" opens at 46th St Theater NYC for 64 performances
Oct 20 "Peter Pan" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 149 performances
Nov 4 "Fanny" opens at Majestic Theater NYC for 888 performances
Nov 27 "By the Beautiful Sea" closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 270 performances
Dec 2 "Hit the Trail" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 4 performances

Event of Interest

Dec 3 Samuel Barber's "Prayers of Kierkegaard" premieres

Composer Samuel Barber — Composer
Samuel Barber

Dec 3 William Walton's opera "Troilus & Cressida" premieres in London
Dec 4 "Hit the Trail" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 4 performances
Dec 4 "On Your Toes" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 64 performances
Dec 9 Dmitri Shostakovitch appointed honored guest of Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Dec 27 "Saint of Bleecker Street" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 92 performances
Dec 27 Gian Carlo Menotti's opera "Saint" premieres in NYC
Dec 30 "House of Flowers" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 165 performances

Music Premiere

Dec 30 Harold Arlen and Truman Capotes musical "House of Flowers" premieres in NYC

Author Truman Capote — Author
Truman Capote

Birthdays in Music

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 177

Jan 1 Fr David, rocker, born in Paris, France
Jan 2 Dawn Silva, American singer (The Brides of Funkenstein, P-Funk)
Jan 3 Ross The Boss [Ross Friedman], American guitarist (The Dictators), born in the Bronx, New York
Jan 4 Eugene Chadbourne, American composer and musician
Jan 5 Bryan Hitt, rocker (REO Speedwagon-Keep on Loving You)
Jan 9 Lance Hoppens, rocker (Orleans-Still the One, Dance With Me)
Jan 19 Katey Sagal, singer/actress (Peggy Bundy-Married With Children), born in Los Angeles, California
Jan 23 Edward Ka-spel, English singer/songwriter (Legendary Pink Dots)
Jan 23 Franco De Vita, Venezuelan spanish singer (Extranjero), born in Caracas
Jan 23 Rick Finch, rocker (KC & Sunshine Band-Give It)
Jan 23 Richard Finch, American composer, producer, engineer, and song arranger (KC and the Sunshine Band), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
Jan 28 Shawn Murray, rock drummer (Mink Deville)
Jan 29 Dick Manitoba, vocalist (Dictators)
Jan 30 Alides Hidding, singer/guitarist (Time Bandits)
Jan 31 Adrian Vandenberg, Amsterdam Neth, rock guitarist (Whitesnake)
Feb 1 Chuck Dukowski, American musician (Black Flag)
Feb 2 Hansi Hinterseer, Austrian singer, actor, former skier
Feb 5 Cliff Martinez, American musician
Feb 6 Scott Kempner, "Top Ten" rocker (Del Lords)
Feb 7 Dieter Bohlen German composer
Feb 11 Noriyuki Asakura, Japanese composer
Feb 12 Tzimis Panousis, Greek musician and stand-up comedian

John Travolta

Feb 18 John Travolta, American actor (Grease, Pulp Fiction), born in Englewood, New Jersey

Feb 19 Frances Bucholz, rocker (Scorpions-Wind of Change)
Feb 19 Jamie West-Oram, rock guitarist (Fixx)
Feb 20 Jon Brant, rock bassist (Cheap Trick)
Feb 25 John Doe, American musician
Feb 27 Neal Schon, rock guitarist (Journey-Open Arms, Bad English)
Mar 1 Janis Gill, singer (Sweethearts of Rodeo-Midnight Girl), born in Torrance, California
Mar 3 Chris Hughes, English record producer and rock drummer (Adam & The Ants), born in London, England
Mar 7 Matt Frenette, rock drummer (Loverboy)
Mar 8 Cheryl Baker, rock vocalist (Bucks Fizz-My Camera Never Lies)
Mar 9 Charmain Elaine Sylvers, American rocker (The Sylvers), born in Watts, Los Angeles
Mar 14 Adrian Zmed, actor (TJ Hooker, Dance Fever), born in Chicago, Illinois
Mar 14 Jann Browne, country singer (Mexican Wind)
Mar 16 Jimmy Nail, singer/actor (Evita, Spender, Howling II)
Mar 16 Nancy Wilson, rock guitarist (Heart-Never, What about Love), born in San Francisco, California
Mar 17 Lesley-Anne Down, actress (A Little Night Music, Moonraker), born in London, England
Mar 17 Rena Jones, rock vocalist
Mar 20 Jim Seales, Hamilton Ala, singer (Shenandoah-Sunday in the South)
Mar 31 Tony Brock, England, rock drummer (Isn't It Time, Every Time I Think of You)
Apr 1 Jeff Porcaro, drummer/percussionist (Toto-Roxanne, Africa), born in Los Angeles, California
Apr 1 Susumu Hirasawa, Japanese electropop musician, born in Nakagawa, Adachi, Tokyo
Apr 3 Elisabetta Brusa, Italian composer, born in Milan
Apr 5 Stan Ridgway, American singer-songwriter (Wall Of Voodoo), born in Bartsow, California
Apr 10 Lenny Pickett, American saxophonist and musical director (Saturday Night Live band, Tower of Power), born in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Apr 12 Pat Travers, Canadian rock guitarist (Puttin' it Straight), born in Toronto, Ontario
Apr 13 Jimmy Destri, rock keyboardist (Blondie-Heart of Glass, Rapture)
Apr 13 Niels Olsen, Danish singer
Apr 15 Emmanuel, spanish singer, born in Mexico City, Mexico
Apr 17 Michael Sembello, American Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter, composer and producer (Maniac, Flashdance), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 17 Michael Sembello, American Grammy-award winning singer songwriter, composer and producer (Maniac, Flashdance), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 18 Kim Stone, bassist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance)
Apr 21 Ebiet G. Ade, Indonesian singer
Apr 24 Captain Sensible [Ray Burns], English rock bassist (Women & Captains 1st), born in Balham, London
Apr 24 Jack Blades, American rock bassist (Damn Yankees-Coming of Age, Night Ranger), born in Palm Desert, California
Apr 25 Rob Crosby, Sumter SC, country singer (She's a Natural)
Apr 29 Deborah Iyall, rocker (Romeo Void)
May 1 Ray Parker Jr, rock guitarist/vocalist (Ghostbusters), born in Detroit, Michigan
May 3 Gary Young, American drummer (Pavement), born in Mamaroneck, New York
May 4 Julie Budd, American singer (Child of Plenty), born in Brooklyn, New York
May 4 Pia Zadora, American actress and singer, born in Hoboken, New Jersey
May 5 Angelo Kimball, rock guitarist (Face To Face), born in Boston, Massachusetts
May 11 Edgar Riley Jr, rocker (Axe K)
May 11 Judith Weir, English composer, Master of the Queen's Music, born in Cambridge
May 13 Johnny Logan, Irish singer and songwriter
May 18 Wreckless Eric, rocker (Waxworks, Be Stiff)
May 18 Reinhold Heil, German composer
May 19 Phil Rudd, Australian rock drummer (AC/DC-Rock 'n Roll Damnation), born in Melbourne, Victoria
May 20 James Henderson, country singer (Black Oak Arkansas)
May 20 Guy Hoffman, American musician (Violent Femmes)
May 21 Marc Ribot, American guitarist (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, John Zorn), born in Newark, New Jersey
May 22 Jerry Dammers, keyboardist (Specials-Special)
May 28 Youri Egorov, Soviet classical pianist (d. 1988)
May 31 Vicki Sue Robinson, American singer (d. 2000)
Jun 2 Michael Steele, rocker (Bangles-Eternal Flame, Walk Like an Egyptian)
Jun 3 Daniel "Dan" Hill, Canadian pop singer and songwriter (Sometimes When We Touch, Can't We Try), born in Toronto, Ontario
Jun 5 Peter Erskine, jazz drummer (Weather Report)
Jun 5 Michael "Nicko" McBrain, English heavy metal drummer (Iron Maiden-Powerslave), born in London, England
Jun 9 Pete Byrne Bath, English rocker (Naked Eyes), born in Bath, Somerset
Jun 10 Richard "Rich" Hall, American comedian, writer, and musician (Saturday Night Live, Fridays, Not Necessarily the News), born in Alexandria, Virginia
Jun 11 Johnny Neel, American musician, singer and songwriter (Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, Dickey Betts), born in Wilmington, Delaware
Jun 13 Bo [Robert] Donaldson, American rock vocalist (Billy Don't Be a Hero), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Jun 13 Jorge Santana, Mexican rock guitarist (Malo), born in Autlán de Navarro
Jun 13 Rita Cadillac, Brazilian dancer
Jun 15 Terri Gibbs, blind singer (Somebody's Knockin'), born in Augusta, Georgia
Jun 16 Gary Roberts, rocker (Boomtown Rats)
Jun 16 Doane Perry, American musician, composer, and author (Jethro Tull), born in Mt. Kisco, Westchester County, New York
Jun 18 William Beard, rock drummer (Face To Face)
Jun 20 Michael Anthony, rock bassist/singer (Van Halen-Pretty Woman)
Jun 22 Bobby Valentino, rocker (Fabulous Poodles)
Jun 25 David Paich, American rock keyboardist (Toto-Africa), born in Los Angeles, California
Jun 28 Ava Barber, country singer (Lawrence Welk Show), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
Jun 30 Bryn B Burrows, rock drummer (Fabulous Poodles)
Jul 5 Jimmy Crespo, American guitarist (Aerosmith)
Jul 9 Debbie Sledge, American vocalist (Sister Sledge-We are Family), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jul 10 Gene Holder, American musician (the dBs)
Jul 10 Neil Tennant, English singer and songwriter (Pet Shop Boy-West End Girl), born in North Shields, Northumberland, England
Jul 13 Louise Mandrell, country singer (Mandrell Sisters), born in Corpus Christi, Texas
Jul 13 Sezen Aksu, Turkish singer

Weddings in Music

Wedding of Interest

Jul 31 "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" guest host Steve Allen (32) weds actress Jayne Meadows (33)

Wedding of Interest

Aug 7 Musician Johnny Cash (22) marries 1st wife Vivian Liberto (20)

Country Singer Johnny Cash — Country Singer
Johnny Cash

Deaths in Music

Jan 10 Fred Raymond, Austrian composer, dies at 53
Jan 11 Oscar Straus, Austrian composer (Brave Soldier), dies at 83
Jan 13 Roland Diggle, English-born American composer and organist, dies at 69
Jan 27 Paul-Marie Masson, composer, dies at 71
Feb 2 Theodor Rogalski, Romanian composer, dies at 52
Feb 4 Vaclav Vackar, composer, dies at 72
Feb 5 Vittorio Gnecchi, composer, dies at 77
Feb 7 Jan Adam Maklakiewicz, composer, dies at 54
Mar 4 Georg Göhler, German composer (Rückert), dies at 79
Mar 4 Noel Gay [Reginald Moxon Armitage], British composer (Who's been polishing the Sun), dies at 55
Mar 6 Louis Zimmermann, Dutch violinist and 1st concert master of Concert building, dies at 80
Mar 14 Ludomir Michal Rogowski, composer, dies at 72
Mar 15 Arthur Fickenscher, American composer, dies at 82
Mar 19 Walter Braunfels, composer, dies at 71
Mar 21 Harry Lawrence Freeman, African-American composer, dies at 84
Apr 5 Claude Delvincourt, composer, dies at 66
Apr 9 Philip Greeley Clapp, composer, dies at 65
Apr 15 Juan Vicente Lecuna, composer, dies at 54
May 2 Pauline de Cock-Manifarges, singer, dies at 82
May 16 Clemens Krauss, Austrian conductor (Vienna State Opera), dies at 61
May 19 Charles Edward Ives, US composer (Unanswered Question), dies at 79
May 21 Janos Hammerschlag, composer, dies at 68
May 28 Achille Longo, Italian composer, dies at 54
Jun 10 Will Rossiter, composer, dies at 87
Jun 13 Nikolai Obouhov, composer, dies at 62
Jun 27 Francis L Casadesus, French violinist/composer/conductor, dies at 83
Jul 19 Jean Roger-Ducasse, composer, dies at 81
Aug 2 Rene Amengual, composer, dies at 42
Aug 8 Gino Tagliapietra, Italian pianist and composer (Antologia di musica antica e moderna per pianoforte), dies at 67
Aug 13 Hermann W S Waltershausen, German musicologist/composer, dies at 71
Aug 17 Billy Murray, singer (Denver Nightengale), dies at 77
Sep 9 Alfred Gradstein, composer, dies at 49
Sep 10 Peter Anders, German opera singer, dies
Sep 11 Licinio Refice, composer, dies at 69
Sep 19 Tibor Harsányi, Hungarian composer, dies at 56
Oct 5 Flor Alpaerts, Flemish composer (Tyl Uilenspiegel, Pallieter), dies at 78
Oct 6 Hakon Borresen, composer, dies at 78
Oct 23 Henri Zagwijn, composer, dies at 76
Oct 27 Franco Alfano, Italian opera composer (Puccini's Turandot), dies at 78
Nov 11 John Rosamund Johnson, composer, dies at 81
Nov 21 Karol Rathaus, composer, dies at 59
Nov 29 Dink Johnson, American musician (b. 1892)
Nov 30 Wilhelm Furtwängler, German conductor (b. 1886)
Dec 1 Fred Rose, American songwriter and music publishing executive, dies at 57
Dec 3 Enrique Soro Barriga, composer, dies at 70
Dec 4 Nina Vasar, wife of Russian composer Dmitri Sjostakovitsj, dies
Dec 20 Emilis Melngailis, composer, dies at 80
Dec 25 Johnny Ace, American rhythm and blues singer, accidentally shoots himself in the head at 25
Dec 25 Rosario Scalero, composer, dies at 84
Dec 31 Peter Van Anrooy, conductor/composer (Piet Hein Rhapsodie), dies at 75

1953
On This Day in Music
1955