1937 in music
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: 1936 in music, other events of 1937, 1938 in music and the list of 'years in music'.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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" Duke Ellington
- "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 Fuckin! 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 Dream, Can't I?" w. Irving Kahal m. Sammy Fain. Performed by Tamara in the 1938 musical Right This Way
- "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 Colour 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
- "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 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
- "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
- "Thanks For The Memory" w. Leo Robin m. Ralph Rainger
- "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
- "Tomorrow Is Another Day" w. Gus Kahn m. Bronislaw Kaper & Walter Jurmann from the film A Day at the Races
- "Too Marvellous 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
- "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
[edit] Top hit recordings
- "That Old Feeling" by Shep Fields
- "Once In Awhile" 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
- "Peace in the Valley" by Mahalia Jackson, gospel music hit written by Thomas A. Dorsey
[edit] 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
[edit] Classical music
- Luciano Berio - Pastorale for piano
- Rutland Boughton - Symphony No. 3 in B minor
- John Alden Carpenter - Piano Quintet
- 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
[edit] Opera
[edit] 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
[edit] Musical films
- 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
- Double or Nothing released September 1 starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye, and featuring Harry Barris and Frances Faye.
- 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
- High, Wide and Handsome starring Irene Dunne, Dorothy Lamour, Randolph Scott and William Frawley.
- The Hit Parade 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 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
[edit] Births
- January 4 - Grace Bumbry
- January 6 - Doris Troy
- January 8 - Shirley Bassey
- January 19 - Clarence "Frogman" Henry
- January 22 - Ryan Davies, singer, songwriter and comedian
- January 27 - John Ogdon, pianist
- January 31 - Philip Glass, composer
- February 1 - Don Everly
- February 1 - Ray Sawyer, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
- February 8 - Joe Raposo, composer and lyricist, Bein' Green
- February 10 - Don Wilson, The Ventures
- February 20 - Nancy Wilson
- February 27 - David Ackles
- March 17 - Adam Wade
- March 20 - Jerry Reed
- March 24 - Billy Stewart
- April 5 - Marisa Robles, harpist
- May 3 - Frankie Valli, The Four Seasons
- May 4 - Dick Dale
- May 5 - Johnnie Taylor
- May 9 - Sonny Curtis, The Crickets
- May 9 - Dave Prater, Sam & Dave
- May 15 - Trini Lopez, singer
- May 22 - Kenny Ball, Kenny Ball & His Jazzman
- June 2 - Jimmy Jones
- June 4 - Freddy Fender
- June 7 - Neeme Järvi, conductor
- June 14 - Renaldo "Obie" Benson, The Four Tops
- June 15 - Waylon Jennings
- July 6 - Gene Chandler
- July 6 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
- July 22 - Chuck Jackson
- 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
- 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
- November 1 - Bill Anderson
- November 2 - Earl Speedo Carroll, The Cadillacs, The Coasters
- November 6 - Eugene Pitt, The Jive Five
- November 15 - Little Willie John, singer
- November 19 - Ray Collins, The Mothers Of Invention
- November 30 - Paul Stookey, Peter, Paul & Mary
- November 30 - Frank Ifield
- December 1 - Gordon Crosse, composer
- December 14 - Warren Ryanes, The Monotones
- December 17 - Art Neville, The Neville Brothers
- December 25 - O'Kelly Isley, The Isley Brothers
- December 30 - John Hartford
[edit] 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)
- May 2 - Arthur Somervell, composer (b. 1863)
- May 7 - W. O. Forsyth, pianist (b. 1859)
- June 2 - Louis Vierne, organist and composer (b. 1870)
- July 11 - George Gershwin, composer (b. 1898)
- 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 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 [1])
- date unknown - Gabriel Pierné, organist and composer (b. 1863)