November 1959 in Music History

Events in Music

Music Premiere

Nov 16 "The Sound of Music" musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opens at Lunt Fontanne Theater, NYC; runs for 1443 performances

Music History

Nov 21 Entertainer Jack Benny (violin) and US Vice-President Richard Nixon (piano) play their famed duet

Music Premiere

Nov 23 Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's musical "Fiorello!", about New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, directed by George Abbott, and starring Tom Bosley, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 796 performances, winning 3 Tony Awards

Music Premiere

Nov 25 Mary Rodgers & Marshall Barer's musical "Once Upon A Mattress", starring Carol Burnett and directed by George Abbott, opens at Alvin Theater, NYC, after starting off-Broadway at the Phoenix Theatre, later moves to St. James

Nov 29 2nd Grammy Awards: "Mack The Knife", Bobby Darin win

Birthdays in Music

Nov 1 Eddie MacDonald, Welsh rocker (The Alarm - "68 Guns"; ""Rain in the Summertime"), born in St. Asaph, Wales

Bryan Adams (63 years old)

Nov 5 Canadian Juno and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter ("Heaven"; "Run To You"), born in Kingston, Ontario

Nov 9 Thomas Quasthoff, German singer, born in Hildesheim, Germany
Nov 10 Frank Maudsley, English rock bassist and vocalist (Flock Of Seagulls), born in Liverpool, England
Nov 18 Cindy Blackman Santana, American jazz and rock session and touring drummer (Lenny Kravitz; Santana), born in Yellow Springs, Ohio
Nov 25 Steve Rothery, British progressive rock guitarist, (Marillion - Clutching at Straws), born in Brampton, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Nov 27 Charlie Burchill, Scottish pop guitarist (Simple Minds - "Don't You, Forget About Me"; "Belfast Child"), born in Glasgow, Scotland
Nov 30 Randy Gane, American keyboardist, born in Mount Clemens, Michigan

Deaths in Music

Nov 3 Friedrich Niggli, Swiss composer (Buechfinkeliedli; Nach dem Regen), dies at 83
Nov 9 Frederick Preston Search, American cellist, composer and conductor (Bridge Builders), dies at 70
Nov 17 Heitor Villa-Lobos, Brazilian composer, cellist, guitarist, and conductor (Bachianas Brasileiras), dies at 72
Nov 22 Sam M. Lewis [Levine] American singer and lyricist ("Street of Dreams"; "Just Friends"; "Dinah"), dies at 74
Nov 26 Albert Ketèlbey, British composer (In a Monastery Garden), dies at 84
Nov 29 Fritz Brun, Swiss composer and conductor, dies at 81