1943 in music - Definition

See also: 1942 in music, other events of 1943, 1944 in music and the list of 'years in music'.

Events

• January 1, 1943 - Frank Sinatra appears at The Paramount causing a mob scene of hysterical bobby-soxers to flood Times Square and blocking midtown New York City traffic for hours
• Sinatra becomes a featured singer on the popular Your Hit Parade radio program, and the co-star of the series Broadway Bandbox. By fall, he has left Bandbox to star in his own series Songs By Sinatra.
• Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers sign with the newly-formed Capitol Records, (having broken from the Tommy Dorsey band in 1942)
• Fredda Gibson takes her professional name, "Georgia Gibbs," and began appearing on the popular Camel Caravan radio program, hosted by Jimmy Durante and Gary Moore (It was Moore who bestowed the famous nickname "Her Nibs, Miss Georgia Gibbs" upon her. The nickname is a playful reference to her diminutive stature of barely over 5 feet. )
• Perry Como signs with RCA
• Miles Davis' musical career begins
• Carter Family disbands
• Trio Lescano are imprisoned on allegations of espionage

Albums released

Top hit records

• "As Time Goes By" by Rudy Vallee
• "I've Heard That Song Before" by Harry James
• "In the Blue of the Evening" by Tommy Dorsey
• "Paper Doll" by Mills Brothers
• "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Al Dexter
• "Sunday, Monday or Always" by Bing Crosby
• "Taking a Chance On Love" by Benny Goodman
• "There Are Such Things" by Tommy Dorsey
• "When the Lights Go On Again" by Vaughn Monroe
• "You'll Never Know" by Dick Haymes

Published popular music

• "All 'Er Nothin' " w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "Amor" w. (Eng) Sunny Skylar (Sp) Ricardo Lopez Mendez m. Gabriel Ruiz
• "Artistry In Rhythm" m. Stan Kenton
• "Beat Out Dat Rhythm On A Drum" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Georges Bizet
• "Besame Mucho" w. Sunny Skylar m. Conseulo Velazquez
• "By The River Of The Roses" w. Marty Symes m. Joe Burke
• "Close To You" w.m. Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingstone & Carl Lampl
• "Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer" w. Harold Adamson m. Jimmy McHugh
• "Deacon Jones" w.m. Johnny Lange, Hy Heath & Richard Loring
• "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" w. Bob Russell m. Duke Ellington
• "Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans" w.m. Noël Coward
• "Don't Sweetheart Me" w. Charles Tobias m. Cliff Friend
• "The Farmer And The Cowman" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "A Fellow On A Furlough" w.m. Bobby Worth
• "Foolish Heart" w. Ogden Nash m. Kurt Weill. Introduced by Mary Martin in the musical One Touch Of Venus
• "Goodbye, Sue" w.m. Jimmy Rule, Lou Ricca & Jules Loman
• "Have I Stayed Away Too Long?" w.m. Frank Loesser
• "Hit The Road To Dreamland" w. Johnny Mercer m. Harold Arlen
• "How Much I Love You" w. Ogden Nash m. Kurt Weill. Introduced by Kenny Baker (1912-1985) in the musical One Touch Of Venus
• "I Cain't Say No" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night" w. Harold Adamson m. Jimmy McHugh
• "I Love You" w. Robert Wright & George Forrest m. Grieg
• "If You Please" w. Johnny Burke m. James Van Heusen
• "I'll Be Home For Christmas" w.m. Kim Gannon, Walter Kent & Buck Ram
• "I'm A Stranger Here Myself" w. Ogden Nash m. Kurt Weill. Introduced by Mary Martin in the musical One Touch Of Venus
• "I'm Going To Get Lit Up When The Lights Go On In London" w.m. Hubert Gregg
• "I'm Riding For A Fall" w. Frank Loesser m. Arthur Schwartz. Introduced by Dennis Morgan and Joan Lelsie in the film Thank Your Lucky Stars
• "It Could Happen To You" w. Johnny Burke m. James Van Heusen
• "It's Love, Love, Love" w.m. Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney & Mack David
• "Johnny Zero" w. Mack David m. Vee Lawnhurst
• "A Journey To A Star" w. Leo Robin m. Harry Warren
• "Kansas City" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "Little Ships Will Sail Again" w.m. Jack O'Hagan
• "A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening" w. Harold Adamson m. Jimmy McHugh
• "Mairzy Doats" w.m. Milton Drake, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingstone
• "Many A New Day" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "My Heart Tells Me" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren
• "My Shining Hour" w. Johnny Mercer m. Harry Warren
• "No Love, No Nothin' " w. Leo Robin m. Harry Warren
• "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin"' w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "Oklahoma!" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "One For My Baby" w. Johnny Mercer m. Harold Arlen
• "Out Of My Dreams" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "Pedro The Fisherman" w. Harold Purcell m. Harry Parr-Davies
• "People Will Say We're In Love" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "Poor Jud" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "Rosie The Riveter" w.m. Redd Evans & John Jacob Loeb
• "San Fernando Valley" w.m. Gordon Jenkins
• "Say A Prayer For The Boys Over There" w. Herb Magidson m. Jimmy McHugh
• "Shoo-Shoo Baby" w.m. Phil Moore
• "Silver Wings In The Moonlight" w.m. Hugh Charles, Sonny Miller & Leo Towers
• "So Tired" w.m. Russ Morgan & Jack Stuart
• "Speak Low" w. Ogden Nash m. Kurt Weill. w. Ogden Nash m. Kurt Weill. Introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker in the musical One Touch Of Venus. Performed in the 1948 film version by Dick Haymes, and Eileen Wilson dubbing for Ava Gardner.
• "Star Eyes" w.m. Don Raye & Gene De Paul
• "Straighten Up And Fly Right" w.m. Nat King Cole & Irving Mills
• "Sunday, Monday Or Always" w. Johnny Burke m. James Van Heusen
• "The Surrey With The Fringe On The Top" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Richard Rodgers
• "That's Him" w. Ogden Nash m. Kurt Weill w. Ogden Nash m. Kurt Weill. Introduced by Mary Martin in the musical One Touch Of Venus. Performed in the 1948 film version by Eileen Wilson (dubbing for Ava Gardner), Olga San Juan and Eve Arden.
• "They're Either Too Young Or Too Old" w. Frank Loesser m. Arthur Schwartz
• "Tico-Tico" w. (Eng) Ervin Drake (Port) Aloysio Oliviera m. Zequinha Abreu
• "To Keep My Love Alive" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers
• "Two Very Ordinary People" Carr, Taylor
• "Vict'ry Polka" w. Sammy Cahn m. Jule Styne
• "What Do You Do In The Infantry?" w.m. Frank Loesser
• "When Can I Have A Banana Again?" Mills, Rogers, Ray
• "You Keep Coming Back Like A Song" w.m. Irving Berlin
• "You'll Never Know" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren introduced by Alice Faye in the film Hello, Frisco, Hello and also performed by Faye in the 1944 film Four Jills In A Jeep

Classical music

• Benjamin Britten - Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings
• William Walton - The Quest (ballet)

Opera

• Hans Krása - Brundibár, children's opera, first performed by inmates of Terezin transit camp

Musical theater

• Carmen Jones Broadway production opened at the Broadway Theatre on December 2 and ran for 502 perforamnces
• Early To Bed Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 17 and ran for 380 performances
• The Lisbon Story London production opened at the Hippodrome Theatre on June 17 and ran for 492 performances
• Oklahoma! (Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II) - Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on March 31 and ran for 2411 performances
• One Touch Of Venus Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on October 7 and ran for 567 performances
• Show Boat (Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II) - London revival opened at the Stoll Theatre on April 17 and ran for 264 performances
• Sweet And Low London revue opened at the Ambassadors Theatre on June 10 and ran for 264 performances

Musical films

• Cabin In The Sky
• Du Barry Was A Lady released August 13 starring Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Virginia O'Brien, Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra and the Pied Pipers.
• Girl Crazy
• Let's Face It

Births

• January 7 - Leona Williams, Helton Family Band, Loretta Lynn's band
• January 10 - Jim Croce
• January 11 - Tony Kaye, Yes
• January 16 - Brian Ferneyhough, composer
• January 18 - Dave Greenslade, Thunderbird, Colisseum, Greenslade
• January 19 - Janis Joplin, blues singer
• February 3 - Dennis Edwards, The Temptations
• February 3 - Shawn Phillips
• February 5 - Charles Winfield, Blood, Sweat & Tears
• February 6 - Fabian Forte
• February 7 - Harvey Hershkowitz, The Quotations
• February 9 - Barbara Lewis
• February 14 - Eric Andersen
• February 19 - Lou Christie
• February 21 - David Geffen, record executive
• February 24 - George Harrison, musician, member of The Beatles
• February 26 - Paul Cotton, Poco
• February 27 - Morton Lauridsen, composer
• March 2 - George Benson
• March 7 - Chris Taylor White, The Zombies
• March 22 - Keith Relf, The Yardbirds
• April 2 - Larry Coryell
• April 2 - Glen Dale, The Fortunes
• April 3 - Richard Manuel, The Band
• April 3 - Joe Vann, The Duprees
• April 7 - Mick Abrahams, Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig
• April 9 - Terry Knight
• April 11 - Tony Victor, The Classics
• April 20 - Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
• April 26 - Gary Wright, Spooky Tooth
• April 28 - Fantastic Johnny C
• April 30 - Bobby Vee
• May 7 - Rick West, The Tremeloes
• May 8 - Paul Samwell-Smith, The Yardbirds, Renaissance
• May 8 - Toni Tennille, The Captain & Tennille
• May 9 - Bruce Milner, Every Mother's Son
• May 11 - Les Chadwick, Gerry and the Pacemakers
• May 11 - Arnie Satin, The Dovells
• May 13 - Mary Wells
• May 14 - Derek Leckenby, Herman's Hermits
• May 14 - Jack Bruce, Cream
• May 25 - Leslie Uggams, US singer
• May 26 - Levon Helm, The Band
• May 27 - Cilla Black
• May 28 - Tony Mansfield, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas
• June 2 - Jimmy Castor
• June 3 - Mike Dennis, The Dovells
• June 12 - Reg Presley, The Troggs
• June 14 - Muff Winwood, Spencer Davis Group
• June 15 - Johnny Hallyday
• June 23 - James Levine, conductor and pianist
• June 28 - Bobby Harrison, Procol Harum
• June 29 - Little Eva (+2003)
• June 30 - Florence Ballard, The Supremes (+1976)
• July 3 - Judith Durham, The Seekers
• July 4 - Alan Wilson, Canned Heat
• July 4 - Conny Bauer, jazz trombonist
• July 12 - Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac
• July 18 - Robin MacDonald, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas
• July 18 - Bobby Sherman
• July 25 - Jim McCarty, The Yardbirds, Renaissance
• July 26 - Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones
• July 27 - Al Ramsey, Gary Lewis & The Playboys
• August 1 Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead
• August 4 - David Carr, The Fortunes
• August 10 - Ronnie Spector
• August 11 - Denis Payton, The Dave Clark Five
• August 11 - Michael James Kale, The Guess Who
• August 19 - Billy J. Kramer, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas
• August 24 - John Cipollina, Quicksilver Messenger Service
• August 28 - Honey Lantree, The Honeycombs
• August 28 - David Soul
• August 29 - Dick Halligan, Blood, Sweat & Tears
• September 2 - Rosalind Ashford, Martha and the Vandellas
• September 2 - Joe Simon
• September 5 - Joe Speedo Frazier, The Impalas
• September 12 - Maria Muldaur
• September 16 - Joe Butler, Lovin' Spoonful
• September 23 - Steve Boone, Lovin' Spoonful
• September 23 - Julio Iglesias
• September 25 - John Locke, Spirit
• September 25 - Gary Alexander, The Association
• September 26 - Georgie Fame
• September 27 - Randy Bachman, The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
• September 28 - Nick St. Nicholas (Steppenwolf)
• October 1 - Jerry Martini, Sly & The Family Stone
• October 5 - Steve Miller, Steve Miller Band
• October 7 - Dino Valenti, Quicksilver Messenger Service
• October 10 - Denis D'Ell, The Honeycombs
• October 16 - Fred Turner, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
• October 21 - Ron Elliott, Beau Brummels
• October 23 - Barbara Ann Hawkins, The Dixie Cups
• November 7 - Joni Mitchell, musician
• November 12 - Brian Hyland
• November 12 - Jimmy Hayes, The Persuasions
• November 12 - John Maus, Walker Brothers
• November 16 - Winifred Lovett, The Manhattans
• November 28 - Randy Newman
• November 30 - Leo Lyons, Ten Years After
• December 6 - Mike Smith, The Dave Clark Five
• December 8 - Jim Morrison, The Doors
• December 9 - Rick Danko, The Band
• December 10 - Chad Stuart, Chad & Jeremy
• December 12 - Dickey Betts, The Allman Brothers Band
• December 12 - Dave Munden The Tremeloes
• December 12 - Grover Washington Jr.
• December 18 - Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones
• December 23 - Harry Shearer, actor, musician (Spinal Tap)
• December 31 - John Denver
• December 31 - Peter Quaife, The Kinks

Deaths

• February 17 - Armand J. Piron
• March 28 - Sergei Rachmaninov
• April - Margaret Macintyre, soprano
• May 28 - Vaughn De Leath, 48, US singer and radio pioneer
• June 26 - Ruby Elzy, African American soprano Porgy and Bess, age 35
• July 20 - Maria Gay
• September 7 - Frank Crumit, 53, US singer
• October 5 - Leon Roppolo, jazz musician
• October 20 - Ben Bernie, US bandleader
• December 15 - Fats Waller
• Sigrid Onegin, opera singer