Events in Music in 1952

Jan 1 Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 5th string quartet

Feb 2 B.B. King's “3 O’Clock Blues” hits #1 on the US Billboard's R&B hit parade to become his first national hit

Mar 15 "2 in the Aisle" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 276 performances
Mar 21 "3 Wishes for Jamie" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 94 performances
Mar 21 Alan Freed presents Moondog Coronation Ball at old Cleveland Arena, 25,000 attend 1st rock & roll concert ever
Mar 27 "Singin' in the Rain", musical comedy directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in NYC
Apr 16 "4 Saints in 3 Acts" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 15 performances
Apr 27 "4 Saints in 3 Acts" closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 15 performances
May 2 1st performance of John Cage's "Water Music"
May 3 "Call Me Madam" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 644 performances
May 8 "Of Thee I Sing" opens at Ziegfeld Theater NYC for 72 performances
May 8 "Shuffle Along" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 4 performances
May 10 "Shuffle Along" closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 4 performances
May 16 "New Faces (of 1952)" opens at Royale Theater NYC for 365 performances
Jun 7 "3 Wishes after Jamie" closes at Mark Hellinger NYC after 94 performances
Jun 25 "Wish You Were Here" opens at Imperial Theater NYC for 597 performances
Jul 5 "Of Thee I Sing" closes at Ziegfeld Theater NYC after 72 performances
Jul 19 "Paint Your Wagon" closes at Shubert Theater NYC after 289 performances

Sep 23 "Kaw-Liga" single recorded by Hank Williams

Oct 4 "Top Banana" closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 356 performances
Oct 14 "Buttrio Square" opens at New Century Theater NYC for 7 performances
Oct 18 "Buttrio Square" closes at New Century Theater NYC after 7 performances
Oct 27 "My Darlin' Aida" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 89 performances
Nov 6 Dmitri Shostakovich's cantata "About our Fatherland" premieres
Nov 14 First regular UK singles chart published by the New Musical Express
Dec 15 "Two's Company" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 90 performances