1937 in music

Events

* January 21 - Paul Sacher conducts the world premiere of Béla Bartók's "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta" in Basel
* June 2 - The incomplete version of Alban Berg's opera "Lulu" is premiered in Zürich (it is later completed in a version premiered in 1979)
* Perry Como begins singing with the Ted Weems orchestra
* Frankie Laine fills Como's vacated position with the Freddie Carlone band
* Hank Williams' musical career begins
* Sonny Boy Williamson's recording career begins
* Renato Carosone obtains his pianoforte diploma and starts his musical career
* Natalino Otto introduces swing to Italy
* John Serry, Sr. joins the Shep Fields Rippling Rhythm Band.

Biggest hit songs

The following songs achieved the highest [http://tsort.info/music/yr1937.htm chart positions] in the limited set of charts available for 1937.

Top hit recordings

*"That Old Feeling" by Shep Fields
*"Once in a While" by Tommy Dorsey
*"It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane" by Guy Lombardo
*"September In the Rain" by Guy Lombardo
*"The Dipsy Doodle" by Tommy Dorsey
*"Sweet Leilani" by Bing Crosby
*"The Moon Got In My Eyes" by Bing Crosby
*"Boo Hoo" by Guy Lombardo
*"Goodnight, My Love" by Benny Goodman
*"On a Little Bamboo Bridge" by Louis Armstrong written by Abner Silver and Al Sherman
*"Whispers In the Dark" by Bob Crosby
*"Vieni Vieni" by Rudy Vallee
*"Peace in the Valley" by Mahalia Jackson, gospel music hit written by Thomas A. Dorsey

Published popular music

* "Afraid To Dream" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Revel
* "After You" w.m. Sam Coslow & Al Siegel
* "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" w. Gus Kahn m. Bronislaw Kaper & Walter Jurmann
* "All You Want To Do Is Dance" w. Johnny Burke m. Arthur Johnston. Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film "Double or Nothing".
* "Always And Always" w. Bob Wright & Chet Forrest m. Edward Ward
* "Am I In Love?" w. Al Dubin m. Harry Warren. Introduced by Kenny Baker in the film "Mr. Dodd Takes the Air".
* "Azure" w. Irving Mills m. Duke Ellington
* "(I've Got) Beginner's Luck" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film "Shall We Dance"
* "Blossoms On Broadway" w. Leo Robin m. Ralph Rainger
* "Blue Hawaii" w. Leo Robin m. Ralph Rainger
* "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight)" w. Johnny Mercer m. Bernard Hanighen
* "Boo-Hoo" w. Edward Heyman m. John Jacob Loeb & Carmen Lombardo
* "Broken Hearted Clown" w.m. Don Pelosi, Harry Leon
* "By Myself" w. Howard Dietz m. Arthur Schwartz
* "Camel Hop" m. Mary Lou Williams
* "Can I Forget You?" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Jerome Kern
* "Caravan" w. Irving Mills m. Juan Tizol & Duke Ellington
* "Carelessly" w. Charles Kenny & Nick Kenny m. Norman Ellis
* "Cause My Baby Says It's So" w. Al Dubin m. Harry Warren
* "Dear Mr Gable (You Made Me Love Me)" w. Joseph McCarthy m. James V. Monaco with extra lyrics Roger Edens
*"Did Anyone Ever Tell You?" w. Harold Adamson m. Jimmy McHugh. Introduced by Virginia Bruce in the film "When Love Is Young"
* "Did Your Mother Come From Ireland?" w.m. Jimmy Kennedy & Michael Carr
* "Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals" m. Raymond Scott
* "The Dipsy Doodle" w.m. Larry Clinton
* "The Donkey Serenade" w. Robert Wright, George Forrest m. Rudolf Friml & Herbert Stothart
* "Down With Love" E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, Harold Arlen. Introduced by Vivian Vance, Jack Whiting and June Clyde in the musical "Hooray for What!"
* "Dusk In Upper Sandusky" m. Larry Clinton & Jimmy Dorsey
* "Easy Living" w. Leo Robin m. Ralph Rainger
* "Everybody Sing" w. Arthur Freed m. Nacio Herb Brown
* "A Foggy Day" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film "A Damsel in Distress"
* "The Folks Who Live On The Hill" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Jerome Kern
* "Foolin' Myself" w. Jack Lawrence m. Peter Tinturin
* "For Dancers Only" w. Don Raye & Vic Schoen m. Sy Oliver
* "The Girl On The Police Gazette" w.m. Irving Berlin
* "God's Country" w. E. Y. Harburg m. Harold Arlen
* "Gone with the Wind" w. Herb Magidson m. Allie Wrubel
* "Goodnight Angel" w. Herb Magidson m. Allie Wrubel. Introduced by Jack Oakie and Ann Miller in the revue "Radio City Revels" and performed in the film version by Kenny Baker.
* "Harbour Lights" w. Jimmy Kennedy m. Hugh Williams
* "Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?" w. Johnny Mercer m. Richard A. Whiting
* "Have You Met Miss Jones?" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers
* "Heigh-Ho" w. Larry Morey m. Frank Churchill
* "High, Wide, and Handsome" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Jerome Kern
* "Home Town" w.m. Jimmy Kennedy & Michael Carr
* "I Can't Be Bothered Now" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film "A Damsel in Distress"
* "I Double Dare You" w. Jimmy Eaton m. Terry Shand
* "I Know Now" w. Al Dubin m. Harry Warren
* "I See Your Face Before Me" w. Howard Dietz m. Arthur Schwartz
* "I Used to Be Color Blind" w.m. Irving Berlin introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1938 film "Carefree"
* "I Was Doing All Right" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin
* "I Wish I Were in Love Again" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers
* "I'd Rather Be Right" w. Lorenz Hart M. Richard Rodgers
* "If It's The Last Thing I Do" w.m. Sammy Cahn & Saul Chaplin
* "I'll Take Romance" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Ben Oakland
* "I'm Like A Fish Out Of Water" w. Johnny Mercer m. Richard A. Whiting
* "I'm Wishing" w. Larry Morey m. Frank Churchill
* "In the Still of the Night" w.m. Cole Porter
* "It Looks Like Rain In Cherry Blossom Lane" w. Edgar Leslie m. Joe Burke
* "It's Raining Sunbeams" w. Sam Coslow m. Frederick Hollander
* "It's The Natural Thing To Do" w. Johnny Burke m. Arthur Johnston. Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film "Double or Nothing".
* "It's Wonderful" w. Mitchell Parish m. Stuff Smith
* "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" w.m. Irving Berlin sung by Dick Powell & Alice Faye (in the film "On the Avenue")
* "I've Hitched My Wagon To A Star" w. Johnny Mercer m. Richard A. Whiting
* "Johnny One Note" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers
* "The Joint Is Jumpin"' w. Andy Razaf m. Fats Waller & James C. Johnson
* "The Lady Is a Tramp" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers
* "The Lambeth Walk" w. Douglas Furber, L. Arthur Rose m. Noel Gay
* "Leaning On A Lamp Post" w.m. Noel Gay
* "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film "Shall We Dance"
* "Let's Dance At The Make Believe Ballroom" Andy Razaf, Paul Denniker
* "Lisbon Antigua (In Old Lisbon)" w. Harry Dupree m. Raul Portela, J. Galhardo & A. Do Vale
* "Love Is Good For Anything That Ails You" Cliff Friend, Matt Malneck
* "Love Is Here to Stay" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin
* "Me And My Girl" w.m. Noel Gay & Douglas Furber
* "The Meanest Thing You Ever Did Was Kiss Me" w.m. Al Lewis, Murray Mencher & Charles Newman
* "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" w.m. Cliff Friend & Dave Franklin
* "Moanin' In The Mornin' " w. E. Y. Harburg m. Harold Arlen
* "The Mood That I'm In" w.m. Abner Silver & Al Sherman
* "The Moon Got In My Eyes" w. Johnny Burke m. Arthur Johnston. Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film "Double or Nothing".
* "The Moon Of Manakoora" w. Frank Loesser m. Alfred Newman. Introduced by Dorothy Lamour in the film "The Hurricane"
* "Moonlight On The Campus" w. Johnny Mercer m. Richard A. Whiting
* "My Fine Feathered Friend" w. Harold Adamson m. Jimmy McHugh
* "My Funny Valentine" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers
* "Nice Work If You Can Get It" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film "A Damsel in Distress"
* "On a Little Bamboo Bridge" w. Archie Fletcher m. Al Sherman
* "On The Sentimental Side" w. Johnny Burke m. James V. Monaco
* "Once In A While" w. Bud Green m. Michael Edwards
* "One O'Clock Jump" m. Count Basie
* "One Song" w. Larry Morey m. Frank Churchill
* "Peter And The Wolf" m. Sergei Prokofiev
* "A Reckless Night On Board An Ocean Liner" m. Raymond Scott
* "Remember Me?" w. Al Dubin m. Harry Warren
* "Rosalie" w.m. Cole Porter
* "Sail Along, Silvery Moon" w. Harry Tobias m. Percy Wenrich
* "A Sailboat In The Moonlight" w.m. John Jacob Loeb & Carmen Lombardo
* "Satan Takes A Holiday" m. Larry Clinton
* "Sentimental and Melancholy" w. Johnny Mercer m. Richard Whiting
* "September In The Rain" w. Al Dubin m. Harry Warren. Introduced by James Melton in the film "Melody for Two".
* "Shall We Dance?" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film "Shall We Dance"
* "Sing Me A Song With Social Significance" w.m. Harold Rome
* "Slap That Bass" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire and Dudley Dickerson in the film "Shall We Dance"
* "Slumming on Park Avenue" w.m. Irving Berlin
* "So Rare" w. Jack Sharpe m. Jerry Herst
* "Some Day My Prince Will Come" w. Larry Morey m. Frank Churchill. Sung by Adriana Caselotti in the animated film "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs"
* "Somebody Else is Taking My Place" w.m. Dick Howard, Russ Morgan & Bob Ellsworth
* "South Rampart Street Parade" m. Ray Bauduc & Bob Haggart
* "Stiff Upper Lip" Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Gracie Allen in the film "A Damsel in Distress"
* "Stop! You're Breaking My Heart" w. Ted Koehler m. Burton Lane
* "Sweet Leilani" w.m. Harry Owens. Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film "Waikiki Wedding"
* "Sweet Someone" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Revel. Introduced by Simone Simon in the film "Love and Hisses"
* "Swing High, Swing Low" w. Ralph Freed m. Burton Lane
* "Ten Pretty Girls" w.m. Will Grosz & Jimmy Kennedy
* "That Old Feeling" w. Lew Brown m. Sammy Fain
* "That's What I Like 'Bout The South" w.m. Andy Razaf
* "Then It Isn't Love" w. Leo Robin m. Ralph Rainger
* "There's A Gold Mine In The Sky" w.m. Charles Kenny & Nick Kenny
* "There's A Lull In My Life" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Revel
* "They All Laughed" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Ginger Rogers in the film "Shall We Dance"
* "They Can't Take That Away From Me" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film "Shall We Dance"
* "Things Are Looking Up" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film "A Damsel in Distress
* "This Year's Kisses" w.m. Irving Berlin
* "Thrill of a Lifetime" w. Sam Coslow & Carmen Lombardo m. Frederick Hollander. Introduced by Dorothy Lamour in the film "Thrill of a Lifetime"
* "Tomorrow Is Another Day" w. Gus Kahn m. Bronislaw Kaper & Walter Jurmann from the film "A Day at the Races"
* "Too Marvelous for Words" w. Johnny Mercer m. Richard A. Whiting
* "The Toy Trumpet" w. Sidney D. Mitchell & Lew Pollack m. Raymond Scott
* "Triplets" w. Howard Dietz m. Arthur Schwartz
* "Trusting My Luck" Maurice Sigler, Arthur Johnston
* "Turn Off The Moon" w.m. Sam Coslow. Introduced by Kenny Baker in the film of the same "name".
* "Twilight In Turkey" m. Raymond Scott
* "Vieni, Vieni" w. (It & Fr) George Koger & Henri Varna (Eng) Rudy Vallee m. Vincent Scotto
* "Wake Up And Live" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Revel
* "Walter, Walter" w.m. W. E. Haines, J. Harper & Eugene Butler
* "Was It Rain?" w. Walter Hirsch m. Lou Handman. Introduced by Frances Langford in the film "The Hit Parade"
*"When Love Is Young" w. Harold Adamson m. Jimmy McHugh. Introduced by Virginia Bruce in the film "When Love Is Young"
* "Where Or When" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers. Introduced by Ray Heatherton and Mitzi Green in the musical "Babes In Arms"
* "Whispers In The Dark" w. Leo Robin m. Frederick Hollander. Introduced by Connie Boswell in the film "Artists and Models"
* "Whistle While You Work" w. Larry Morey m. Frank Churchill. Sung by Adriana Caselotti in the animated film "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs"
* "With A Smile And A Song" w. Larry Morey m. Frank Churchill. Sung by Adriana Caselotti in the animated film "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs"
* "You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming" w.m. Dave Franklin & Cliff Friend

Top Blues Records

*Cross Road Blues - Robert Johnson
*"Don't Tear My Clothes" - Big Bill Broonzy
*"Horny Frog" - Big Bill Broonzy
*"Terraplane Blues" - Robert Johnson
*"32-20 Blues" - Robert Johnson
*"Come On In My Kitchen" - Robert Johnson
*"Good Morning School Girl" - Sonny Boy Williamson I

Classical music

*Luciano Berio - "Pastorale" for piano
*Rutland Boughton - Symphony No. 3 in B minor
*John Alden Carpenter - Piano Quintet
*Aaron Copland - El Salon Mexico
*David Diamond - "Psalm"
*Hanns Eisler - String Quartet
*Ferenc Farkas - "Concertino for Harp and Orchestra"
*John Fernström - Viola Concerto
*Alan Hovhaness - Cello Concerto
*John Ireland - "These Things Shall Be"
*Frank Martin - Symphony
*Nikolai Medtner - sonate-idylle for piano, opus 56 in G major
*Nikolai Myaskovsky - revision of String Quartet No. 4, composition of Symphony No. 17 in G♯ minor and Symphony No. 18 in C major
*Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47
*Heitor Villa-Lobos - "Distribuição de Flores" for flute and guitar
*Percy Whitlock - "Wessex Suite"

Opera

*Alban Berg - "Lulu"
*Arthur Honegger and Jacques Ibert - "L'Aiglon"
*Kurt Weill - "The Eternal Road" (Der Weg der Verheißung)

Musical theater

* "Babes In Arms" (Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart) - Broadway production opened at the Shubert Theatre on April 14 and ran for 289 performances
* "Between The Devil" Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on December 23 and ran for 93 performances
* "Hooray for What!" (lyrics E. Y. Harburg, music Harold Arlen, book Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse) Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on December 1 and ran for 200 performances
* "I'd Rather Be Right" (Rodgers & Hart) - Broadway production opened on November 2 at the Alvin Theatre and ran for 290 performances
* "Me and My Girl" (Noel Gay) - London production opened on December 16 at the Victoria Palace Theatre and ran for 1646 performances.
* "On Your Toes" London production opened at the Palace Theatre on February 5 and ran for 123 performances
* "Pins and Needles" Broadway revue opened at the Labor Stage Theatre on November 27 and ran for 1108 performances
* "Swing is in the Air" London revue opened at the Palladium on March 29
* "Virginia" opened at the Center Theatre on September 2 and ran for 60 performances

Musical films

* "52nd Street" starring Leo Carrillo, Ian Hunter, Pat Paterson, Ella Logan, Sid Silvers, Zasu Pitts and Kenny Baker. Directed by Harold Young.
* "Ali Baba Goes to Town" starring Eddie Cantor, Tony Martin, Roland Young and June Lang and featuring Raymond Scott & his Quintet. Directed by David Butler.
* "The Broadway Melody of 1938" starring Robert Taylor, Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, Binnie Barnes, Buddy Ebsen, Sophie Tucker and Judy Garland.
* "Calling All Stars" starring Bert Ambrose, Carroll Gibbons, Evelyn Dall, Sam Browne, Larry Adler, Elisabeth Welch and The Nicholas Brothers.
* "The Champagne Waltz" starring Gladys Swarthout, Fred MacMurray, Jack Oakie and Veloz and Yolanda.
* "Command Performance" starring Arthur Tracy and Lilli Palmer
* "A Damsel in Distress" starring Fred Astaire, Joan Fontaine, George Burns, Gracie Allen and Ray Noble.
* "A Day at the Races" released June 11 starring the Marx Brothers and Allan Jones, and featuring Ivie Anderson
* "Double or Nothing" released September 1 starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye, and featuring Harry Barris and Frances Faye.
* "Every Day's a Holiday" starring Mae West, Edmund Lowe and Louis Armstrong, Directed by A. Edward Sutherland.
* "Fight for Your Lady" starring John Boles, Ida Lupino and Jack Oakie.
* "The Firefly" starring Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones.
* "Gangway" starring Jessie Matthews
* "Glamorous Night" starring Mary Ellis, Otto Kruger and Victor Jory.
* "Head Over Heels" starring Jessie Matthews
* "Hideaway Girl" starring Shirley Ross, Robert Cummings and Martha Raye. Directed by George Archainbaud.
* "High, Wide, and Handsome" starring Irene Dunne, Dorothy Lamour, Randolph Scott and William Frawley.
* "Hit Parade of 1937" starring Frances Langford and Phil Regan and featuring Ivie Anderson and Duke Ellington and his orchestra.
* "Hollywood Hotel" starring Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane and Lola Lane, and featuring Frances Langford and Benny Goodman & his Orchestra.
* "Jericho" starring Paul Robeson
* "Let's Make a Night of It" starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers and June Clyde
* "The Life of the Party" released September 3 starring Joe Penner, Gene Raymond, Harriet Hilliard and Helen Broderick
* "The Lilac Domino (film)" starring Michael Bartlett, June Knight, Fred Emney and S.Z. Sakall.
* "Love and Hisses" starring Walter Winchell, Ben Bernie, Simone Simon, Bert Lahr and Joan Davis
* "Make A Wish" starring Bobby Breen, Basil Rathbone, Marion Claire, Henry Armetta, Ralph Forbes and Leon Errol. Directed by Kurt Neumann.
* "Maytime" starring Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy and John Barrymore.
* "Melody for Two" starring James Melton, Patricia Ellis and Wini Shaw
* "Mr Dodd Takes the Air" released August 21 starring Kenny Baker and Jane Wyman.
* "On the Avenue" starring Dick Powell, Alice Faye, Madeleine Carroll and The Ritz Brothers.
* "100 Men and a Girl" starring Deanna Durbin
* "Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm" starring Gene Autry
* "Rosalie" starring Nelson Eddy, Eleanor Powell and Ray Bolger.
* "Shall We Dance" starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
* "The Singing Marine" starring Dick Powell and Doris Weston
* "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" animated feature with Adriana Caselotti providing the voice of Snow White.
* "Something to Sing About" starring James Cagney and Evelyn Daw
* "Song of the Forge" starring Stanley Holloway.
* "Stardust" starring Ben Lyon and Lupe Velez.
* "Swing High, Swing Low" released March 15 starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray and Dorothy Lamour.
*"This Way Please" starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Betty Grable and Ned Sparks
*"Top of the Town" starring Doris Nolan, George Murphy and Ella Logan, and featuring Gertrude Niesen
* "Turn off the Moon" starring Charles Ruggles and Eleanore Whitney and featuring Kenny Baker and Phil Harris. Directed by Lewis Seiler.
* "Varsity Show" starring Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane and Priscilla Lane and featuring Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians and Buck and Bubbles
* "Waikiki Wedding" starring Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Martha Raye and Shirley Ross.
* "Wake Up And Live" starring Walter Winchell, Alice Faye, Ben Bernie and Patsy Kelly. Directed by Sidney Lanfield.
* "When You're in Love" starring Grace Moore and Cary Grant.
* "You Can't Have Everything" starring Alice Faye, Don Ameche, The Ritz Brothers and Gypsy Rose Lee.
* "You're a Sweetheart" starring Alice Faye and George Murphy.

Births

* January 4 - Grace Bumbry, operatic mezzo-soprano
* January 6 - Doris Troy, R&B singer (died 2004)
* January 8 - Shirley Bassey, singer
* January 19 - Clarence "Frogman" Henry, R&B singer
* January 22 - Ryan Davies, singer, songwriter and comedian (died 1977)
* January 27 - John Ogdon, pianist (died 1989)
* January 31 - Philip Glass, composer
* February 1
** Don Everly (Everly Brothers)
** Ray Sawyer (Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show)
* February 8 - Joe Raposo, composer and lyricist
* February 10 - Don Wilson )The Ventures)
* February 20 - Nancy Wilson, singer
* February 27 - David Ackles, singer-songwriter (died 1999)
* March 17 - Adam Wade, singer, drummer and actor
* March 20 - Jerry Reed, country musician
* March 24 - Billy Stewart, scat singer (died 1970)
*April 5 - Marisa Robles, harpist
* May 3 - Frankie Valli, singer (The Four Seasons)
* May 4 - Dick Dale, surf rock guitarist
* May 5 - Johnnie Taylor, singer (died 2000)
* May 9
** Sonny Curtis (The Crickets)
** Dave Prater (Sam & Dave) (died 1988)
* May 15 - Trini Lopez, singer
* May 22 - Kenny Ball, jazz trumpeter
* June 2 - Jimmy Jones, singer-songwriter
* June 4 - Freddy Fender, country musician (died 2006)
* June 7 - Neeme Järvi, conductor
* June 14 - Renaldo "Obie" Benson (The Four Tops)
* June 15 - Waylon Jennings, country singer (died 2002)
* July 6
** Gene Chandler, singer-songwriter
** Vladimir Ashkenazy, pianist and conductor
* July 22 - Chuck Jackson, R&B singer
* July 26 - Al Banks (The Turbans)
* July 31 - Bonnie Brown (The Browns)
* August 2 - Garth Hudson (The Band)
* August 6 - Baden Powell, bossa nova guitarist (died 2000)
* August 27 - J. D. Crowe, banjoist
* September 17 - Phil Cracolici (The Mystics)
* September 30 - Valentin Silvestrov, composer
* October 21 - Norman Wright (Del Vikings)
* October 24 - Santo Farina (Santo & Johnny)
* October 31 - Tom Paxton, folk singer-songwriter
* November 1 - Bill Anderson, country singer-songwriter
* November 2 - Earl Speedo Carroll (The Cadillacs, The Coasters)
* November 6 - Eugene Pitt (The Jive Five)
* November 15 - Little Willie John, singer (died 1968)
* November 19 - Ray Collins (The Mothers of Invention)
* November 30
** Noel Stookey, singer-songwriter (Peter, Paul & Mary)
** Frank Ifield, singer
* December 1 - Gordon Crosse, composer
* December 14 - Warren Ryanes (The Monotones)
* December 17 - Art Neville (The Neville Brothers)
* December 25 - O'Kelly Isley, Jr. (The Isley Brothers) (died 1986)
* December 30 - John Hartford, folk and country musician and composer (died 2001)

Deaths

*February 14 - Erkki Melartin, Finnish composer (b. 1875)
*March 12:
**Charles-Marie Widor, composer (b. 1844)
**Jenő Hubay, composer and violinist (b. 1858)
*March 29 - Karol Szymanowski, composer (b. 1882)
*April 8 - Arthur Foote, composer (b. 1853)
*April 11 - Minnie Bell Sharp, pianist and singer (b. 1865)
*April 20 - Virgilio Ranzato, composer (b. 19=883)
*May 2 - Arthur Somervell, composer (b. 1863)
*May 4 - Noel Rosa, singer, songwriter and guitarist (b. 1910)
*May 7 - W. O. Forsyth, pianist (b. 1859)
*June 2 - Louis Vierne, organist and composer (b. 1870)
*July 11 - George Gershwin, composer (b. 1898)
*July 17 - Gabriel Pierné, organist and composer (b. 1863)
*July 23 - Charles Henry Mills, composer and music teacher (b. 1873)
*August 23 - Albert Roussel, composer (b. 1869)
*September 6 - Henry Kimball Hadley, composer and conductor (b. 1871)
*September 26 - Bessie Smith, blues singer (b. 1895)
*October 17 - Paul Lhérie, operatic tenor/baritone (b. 1844)
*November 3 - Winthrop Ames, theatrical director (b. 1870)
*November 24 - Tell Taylor, songwriter (b. 1876)
*November 25 - Lilian Baylis, founder of Sadler's Wells ballet company (b. 1874)
*December 10 - Rosa Valetti, cabaret singer (b. 1878)
*December 26
**Dan Beddoe, tenor (b. 1863)
**Ivor Gurney, composer-poet (b. 1890)
*December 28 - Maurice Ravel, composer (b. 1875)
*"date unknown" - Frank Damrosch, organist, conductor and music teacher (b. 1859)
*"date unknown" - Blind Uncle Gaspard, Cajun musician (b. 1880 [http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/nm/shop/cajun.html] )

**Maude Valerie White, composer and songwriter (b. 1855)
**Loraine Wyman, folk singer and dulcimer player (b. 1885)