"Concord"
Jan 20 Charles Ives' 1st Sonata "Concord" premieres
- Feb 24 Roy Harris' 3rd Symphony premieres in Boston
Bartók's Violin Concerto
Mar 23 1st performance of Béla Bartók's 2nd Violin Concerto at the Concertgebow, Amsterdam with Zoltán Székely on violin and Willem Mengelberg conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra
- Mar 25 Billboard Magazine introduces hillbilly (country) music chart
Gretchaninov's 5th Symphony
Apr 5 Alexander Gretchaninov's 5th Symphony premieres at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with Leopold Stowkowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra
Marian Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial
Apr 9 American contralto Marian Anderson sings before 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C; appearance organized after Anderson was denied permission to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall [1] [2]
Glenn Miller Orchestra
May 17 The Glenn Miller Orchestra begins a three month engagement at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York
Shostakovich Becomes a Professor
May 23 Dmitri Shostakovich appointed professor at conservatory of Leningrad
- Jun 3 "Beer Barrel Polka" by Will Glahe hits #1 on the pop singles chart
Sinatra's Recording Debut
Jul 13 Frank Sinatra makes his recording debut, with The Harry James Orchestra, singing "From the Bottom of My Heart" and "Melancholy Mood"
Radio Premiere
Aug 6 1st broadcast of "Dinah Shore Show" on NBC-radio
The Wizard of Oz
Aug 15 "The Wizard of Oz", American musical fantasy film adaptation of L. Frank Baum's book, premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood; directed by Victor Fleming and King Vidor with cast featuring Judy Garland (Dorothy), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Jack Haley (Tin Man), Bert Lahr (Cowardly Lion), Frank Morgan (Wizard), Billie Burke (Glinda), and Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch); songs by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg
The Wizard of Oz
Aug 17 Musical film "The Wizard of Oz", starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, and Margaret Hamilton opens at Loews Capitol Theatre, NYC
- Aug 28 Sammy Fain and Jack Yellen's musical "George White's Scandals" premieres in NYC
- Oct 14 BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) formed
Too Many Girls
Oct 18 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's musical "Too Many Girls" opens at the Imperial Theatre, later transferring to the Broadway Theatre, NYC; runs for 249 performances
All the Things You Are
Oct 20 "All the Things You Are" recorded by Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Let's Dance
Oct 24 Benny Goodman records "Let's Dance"
- Nov 5 Dmitri Shostakovich's 6th Symphony premieres in Leningrad
God Bless America
Nov 11 Kate Smith first sings Irving Berlin's "God Bless America"
Very Warm for May
Nov 17 Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's musical "Very Warm for May", featuring June Allyson, Eve Arden, and Vera-Ellen, and directed by Vincente Minnelli opens at the Alvin Theatre, NYC; runs for 59 performances, inspiring 9-year-old audience member Stephen Sondheim's love for musical theater
Du Barry Was A Lady
Dec 6 Cole Porter's musical "Du Barry Was A Lady" opens at 46th Street Theatre, NYC; runs 408 performances
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
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