This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1939.

Specific locations

* 1939 in British music * 1939 in Norwegian music

Specific genres

* 1939 in country music * 1939 in jazz

Events

January 4 Events Pre-1600 *46 BC – Julius Caesar fights Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina. * 871 – Battle of Reading: Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred are defeated by a Danish invasion army. 1601–1900 *1649 – Engli ...

- New band to be headed by

Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he reorganized ...

, first trumpet with

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

, goes into rehearsal Jan. 6. Embryo outfit has already been dated for a short stay at the Statler Hotel, Boston, opening Feb. 1st. James has taken

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York ...

from

Bunny Berigan Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan (November 2, 1908 – June 2, 1942) was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader who rose to fame during the swing era. His career and influence were shortened by alcoholism, and ended with his early demise at the ...

's orch to handle the drums. *

February February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The month has 28 days in common years or 29 in leap years, with the 29th day being called the ''leap day''. It is the first of five months not to have 31 days (th ...

– Recording of '

A-Tisket, A-Tasket "A Tisket A Tasket" is a nursery rhyme first recorded in America in the late nineteenth century. It was used as the basis for a very successful and highly regarded 1938 recording by Ella Fitzgerald, composed by Fitzgerald in conjunction with Al Fe ...

' turned out by

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

and

Chick Webb William Henry "Chick" Webb (February 10, 1905 – June 16, 1939) was an American jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. Early life Webb was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to William H. and Marie Webb. The year of his birth is disputed. ...

for

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...

has established a new eight-year high in sales for the industry. The sales on this 35c have already gone over 250,000. The company's previous record had been the 160,000 copies achieved by Bing Crosby's version of '

Sweet Leilani "Sweet Leilani" is a song featured in the 1937 film, ''Waikiki Wedding''. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and Bing Crosby's record became one of the biggest hits of 1937. Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daugh ...

.' *

February 24 Events Pre-1600 * 484 – King Huneric of the Vandals replaces Nicene bishops with Arian ones, and banishes some to Corsica. * 1303 – The English are defeated at the Battle of Roslin, in the First War of Scottish Independence. * 13 ...

– Symphony No. 3 by

Roy Harris Roy Ellsworth Harris (February 12, 1898 – October 1, 1979) was an American composer. He wrote music on American subjects, and is best known for his Symphony No. 3. Life Harris was born in Chandler, Oklahoma on February 12, 1898. His ancestry ...

, receives its world premiere in Boston, as

Serge Koussevitzky Sergei Alexandrovich KoussevitzkyKoussevitzky's original Russian forename is usually transliterated into English as either "Sergei" or "Sergey"; however, he himself adopted the French spelling "Serge", using it in his signature. (SeThe Koussevit ...

conducts the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...

April 9 Events Pre-1600 * 193 – The distinguished soldier Septimius Severus is proclaimed emperor by the army in Illyricum. * 475 – Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (''Enkyklikon'') to the bishops of his empire, s ...

– African-American

contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically b ...

Marian Anderson Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897April 8, 1993) was an American contralto. She performed a wide range of music, from opera to Spiritual (music), spirituals. Anderson performed with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throu ...

performs before 75,000 people at the

Lincoln Memorial The Lincoln Memorial is a U.S. national memorial built to honor the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is on the western end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., across from the Washington Monument, and is in the ...

in Washington, D.C., after having been denied the use both of

Constitution Hall DAR Constitution Hall is a concert hall located at 1776 D Street NW, near the White House in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention when membership delegations outgrew Memo ...

by the

Daughters of the American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

, and of a public high school by the federally controlled

District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

First Lady of the United States The first lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the title held by the hostess of the White House, usually the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never ...

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...

resigns from the DAR because of their decision. *

May 17 Events Pre-1600 *1395 – Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. * 1521 – Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason. * 1527 – Pánfilo de Narváez departs Spain to explore Flo ...

–

Sergei Prokofiev Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev; alternative transliterations of his name include ''Sergey'' or ''Serge'', and ''Prokofief'', ''Prokofieff'', or ''Prokofyev''., group=n (27 April .S. 15 April1891 – 5 March 1953) was a Russian composer, p ...

's ''

Alexander Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (russian: Александр Ярославич Невский; ; 13 May 1221 – 14 November 1263) served as Prince of Novgorod (1236–40, 1241–56 and 1258–1259), Grand Prince of Kiev (1236–52) and Grand P ...

'' ( Op. 78)

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning of ...

debuts in Moscow. It is an adaptation from the 1938 film score to ''

''. *

May 22 Events Pre-1600 * 192 – Dong Zhuo is assassinated by his adopted son Lü Bu. * 760 – Fourteenth recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. * 853 – A Byzantine fleet sacks and destroys undefended Damietta in Egypt. * 11 ...

– Columbia Recording Corporation incorporated in Delaware. *

June 10 Events Pre-1600 * 671 – Emperor Tenji of Japan introduces a water clock ( clepsydra) called ''Rokoku''. The instrument, which measures time and indicates hours, is placed in the capital of Ōtsu. *1190 – Third Crusade: Frederick I ...

– Première of

Arthur Bliss Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss (2 August 189127 March 1975) was an English composer and conductor. Bliss's musical training was cut short by the First World War, in which he served with distinction in the army. In the post-war years he qu ...

's Piano Concerto in B-flat with soloist

Solomon Solomon (; , ),, ; ar, سُلَيْمَان, ', , ; el, Σολομών, ; la, Salomon also called Jedidiah (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Modern Hebrew, Modern: , Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: ''Yăḏīḏăyāh'', "beloved of Yahweh, Yah"), ...

;

Arnold Bax Sir Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, (8 November 1883 – 3 October 1953) was an English composer, poet, and author. His prolific output includes songs, choral music, chamber pieces, and solo piano works, but he is best known for his orchestral musi ...

's 7th Symphony; and

Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

' ''

Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus ''Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus'' is a work for harp and string orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The composition is based on the folk tune "Dives and Lazarus", one of the folk songs quoted in Vaughan Williams' '' English Folk Song Suite' ...

'', with the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...

under Sir

Adrian Boult Sir Adrian Cedric Boult, CH (; 8 April 1889 – 22 February 1983) was an English conductor. Brought up in a prosperous mercantile family, he followed musical studies in England and at Leipzig, Germany, with early conducting work in London ...

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

. *

August 22 Events Pre-1600 * 392 – Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. * 851 – Battle of Jengland: Erispoe defeats Charles the Bald near the Breton town of Jengland. * 1138 – Battle of the Standard between Scotland a ...

– "

You Are My Sunshine "You Are My Sunshine" is a song published by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell on January 30, 1940. According to Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the song has been recorded by over 350 artists and translated into 30 languages. In 1977, the Louis ...

" first recorded. *

June 21 Events Pre-1600 * 533 – A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarius sails from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily (approximate date). * 1307 – Külüg Khan is enthroned as Khagan of the Mo ...

–

Francis Poulenc Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (; 7 January 189930 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-kno ...

's ''

Organ Concerto An organ concerto is a piece of music, an instrumental concerto for a pipe organ soloist with an orchestra. The form first evolved in the 18th century, when composers including Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach wrote ...

'' is premièred in Paris. *

November 1 Events Pre-1600 * 365 – The Alemanni cross the Rhine and invade Gaul. Emperor Valentinian I moves to Paris to command the army and defend the Gallic cities. * 996 – Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk, Bishop of Freising, ...

–

Bruno Walter Bruno Walter (born Bruno Schlesinger, September 15, 1876February 17, 1962) was a German-born conductor, pianist and composer. Born in Berlin, he escaped Nazi Germany in 1933, was naturalised as a French citizen in 1938, and settled in the Un ...

leaves Germany for the United States. *December –

Ali Akbar Khan Ali Akbar Khan (14 April 192218 June 2009) was a Indian Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing the sarod. Trained as a classical musician and instrumentalist by his father, Allauddin Khan, he ...

accompanies

Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar (; born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury, sometimes spelled as Rabindra Shankar Chowdhury; 7 April 1920 – 11 December 2012) was an Indian sitarist and composer. A sitar virtuoso, he became the world's best-known export of North Ind ...

on the sarod during the latter's debut performance at the annual music conference in

Allahabad Allahabad (), officially known as Prayagraj, also known as Ilahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi (Benares). It is the administrat ...

. *

December 31 It is known by a collection of names including: Saint Sylvester's Day, New Year's Eve or Old Years Day/Night, as the following day is New Year's Day. It is the last day of the year; the following day is January 1, the first day of the followin ...

– A special concert of music by

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...

is performed by the

Vienna Philharmonic The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; german: Wiener Philharmoniker, links=no) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. It ...

conducted by

Clemens Krauss Clemens Heinrich Krauss (31 March 189316 May 1954) was an Austrian conductor and opera impresario, particularly associated with the music of Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss and Richard Wagner. Krauss was born in Vienna to Clementine Krauss, the ...

in the great hall of the

Musikverein The ( or ; ), commonly shortened to , is a concert hall in Vienna, Austria, which is located in the Innere Stadt district. The building opened in 1870 and is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. The acoustics of the building's 'Great ...

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, predecessor of a continuing series of

Vienna New Year's Concert The Vienna New Year's Concert () is an annual concert of classical music performed by the Vienna Philharmonic on the morning of New Year's Day in Vienna, Austria. The concert occurs at the Musikverein at 11:15. The orchestra performs the same c ...

s. *

forms his own band with

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

as vocalist. *The Nordstrom Sisters are the resident act at

The Ritz Hotel, London The Ritz London is a Grade II listed 5-star hotel in Piccadilly, London, England. A symbol of high society and luxury, the hotel is one of the world's most prestigious and best known. The Ritz has become so associated with luxury and elegance ...

. *

Jo Stafford Jo Elizabeth Stafford (November 12, 1917July 16, 2008) was an American traditional pop music singer, whose career spanned five decades from the late 1930s to the early 1980s. Admired for the purity of her voice, she originally underwent classi ...

and

The Pied Pipers The Pied Pipers is an American popular singing group originally formed in the late 1930s. They had several chart hits through the 1940s, both under their own name and in association with Tommy Dorsey and with Frank Sinatra. Origins Originally ...

join the

Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombo ...

orchestra. *

The Squadronaires The Squadronaires is a Royal Air Force band which began and performed in Britain during and after World War II. The official title of the band was 'The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra', but it was always known by the more popular title "The S ...

form. *

Dorothy Kirsten Dorothy Kirsten (July 6, 1910, Montclair, New Jersey – November 18, 1992, Los Angeles, California) was an American operatic soprano. Biography Kirsten's mother was an organist and music teacher, her grandfather was a conductor, and her great-a ...

makes her professional concert debut at the New York World's Fair. *

Manuel de Falla Manuel de Falla y Matheu (, 23 November 187614 November 1946) was an Andalusian Spanish composer and pianist. Along with Isaac Albéniz, Francisco Tárrega, and Enrique Granados, he was one of Spain's most important musicians of the first hal ...

leaves

Granada Granada (,, DIN 31635, DIN: ; grc, Ἐλιβύργη, Elibýrgē; la, Illiberis or . ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the fo ...

for exile in

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

Publications

Ernst Krenek Ernst Heinrich Krenek (, 23 August 1900 – 22 December 1991) was an Austrian, later American, composer of Czech origin. He explored atonality and other modern styles and wrote a number of books, including ''Music Here and Now'' (1939), a study ...

– ''Music Here and Now''

Albums released

*''Featuring

Charlie Christian Charles Henry Christian (July 29, 1916 – March 2, 1942) was an American swing and jazz guitarist. Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar and a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained nati ...

'' –

*''

Cowboy Songs Western music is a form of country music composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Western music celebrates the lifestyle of the cowboy on the open ranges, Rocky Mountains, a ...

'' –

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

*'' Negro Sinful Songs'' – Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter)

Top popular recordings

The twenty-five popular records listed below were extracted from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954, record sales reported on the "

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

" website, and other sources as specified. Numerical rankings are approximate, they are only used as a frame of reference. Additional recordings of historical interest, and songs that crossed over from Hillbilly (Country) and Race (R&B):

Race and blues hits

Christmas hits

Published popular music

* "Address Unknown" words and music:

Carmen Lombardo Carmen Lombardo (July 16, 1903 – April 17, 1971) was lead saxophonist and featured vocalist for his brother Guy Lombardo's orchestra. He was also a successful composer. In 1927, Carmen Lombardo was the vocalist of the hit record Charmaine, perf ...

, Johnny Marks & Dedette Lee Hill * "All in Fun" words:

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

, music:

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...

Introduced by

Frances Mercer Frances Mercer (October 21, 1915 – November 12, 2000) was an American film actress. Biography She appeared in the films ''Vivacious Lady'', ''Blind Alibi'', ''Crime Ring'', ''Smashing the Rackets'', ''The Mad Miss Manton'', ''Annabel Takes ...

and Jack Whiting in the musical ''

Very Warm for May ''Very Warm for May'' is a musical composed by Jerome Kern, with a libretto by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was the team's final score for Broadway, following their hits ''Show Boat'', '' Sweet Adeline'', and ''Music in the Air''. It marked a return ...

'' * "

All or Nothing at All "All or Nothing at All" is a song composed in 1939 by Arthur Altman, with lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Frank Sinatra recording Frank Sinatra's August 31, 1939 recording of the song, accompanied by Harry James and his Orchestra was a huge hit in 194 ...

" w. Jack Lawrence m.

Arthur Altman Arthur Altman (1910, in Brooklyn – January 18, 1994, in Lake Worth, Florida) was an American songwriter whose credits include "All or Nothing at All", with lyrics by Jack Lawrence, and the lyrics for "All Alone Am I", "I Will Follow Him "I ...

* "

All the Things You Are "All the Things You Are" is a song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II. The song was written for the musical ''Very Warm for May'' (1939)

" w.

from the musical ''

'' * "Anatole (Of Paris)" w.m.

Sylvia Fine Sylvia Fine Kaye (August 29, 1913October 28, 1991) was an American lyricist, composer, and producer. Many of her compositions and productions were performed by her husband, comedian Danny Kaye. Fine was a Peabody Award-winner and was nominated ...

Introduced by

Danny Kaye Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; yi, דוד־דניאל קאַמינסקי; January 18, 1911 – March 3, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, singer and dancer. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and ...

in the revue ''

The Straw Hat Revue ''The Straw Hat Revue'' is a musical comedy revue with sketches mostly by Max Liebman and Samuel Locke, and music and lyrics by Sylvia Fine and James Shelton. It was produced on Broadway in 1939. Production ''The Straw Hat Revue'' started life a ...

'' * "An Apple For the Teacher" w. Johnny Burke m.

James V. Monaco James Vincent Monaco (January 13, 1885 – October 16, 1945) was an Italian-born American composer of popular music. Life and career Monaco was born in Formia, Italy. His family emigrated to the United States when he was six, and he grew up i ...

* " Are You Havin' Any Fun?" w.

Jack Yellen Jack Selig Yellen (Jacek Jeleń; July 6, 1892 – April 17, 1991) was an American lyricist and screenwriter. He is best remembered for writing the lyrics to the songs "Happy Days Are Here Again", which was used by Franklin Roosevelt as the theme ...

Sammy Fain Sammy Fain (born Samuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American composer of popular music. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part of The Great American Songbook, and to Broadway theatre. ...

* "The Army Air Corps" w.m. Robert M. Crawford * "

At the Woodchopper's Ball "Woodchopper's Ball", also known as "At the Woodchopper's Ball" is a 1939 jazz composition by Joe Bishop and Woody Herman. The up-tempo blues tune in D-flat major was the Woody Herman Orchestra's biggest hit, as well as the most popular composition ...

" m.

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

& Joe Bishop * "

Back In The Saddle Again "Back in the Saddle Again" was the signature song of American cowboy entertainer Gene Autry. It was co-written by Autry with Ray Whitley and first released in 1939. The song was associated with Autry throughout his career and was used as the n ...

" w.m.

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...

& Ray Whitley * "Between Eighteenth And Nineteenth On Chestnut Street" w.m. Will Osborne & Dick Rodgers * "Bless You" w.m. Don Baker & Eddie Lane * "Blue Orchids" w.m.

Hoagy Carmichael Hoagland Howard Carmichael (November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, actor and lawyer. Carmichael was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s, and was among the first ...

* "Bluebirds in the Moonlight" w.

Leo Robin Leo Robin (April 6, 1900 – December 29, 1984) was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory," sung by Bob Hope and Shirl ...

Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger ( Reichenthal; October 7, 1901 – October 23, 1942) was an American composer of popular music principally for films. Biography Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, United States, Rainger initially embarked on a legal career, ...

* " The Boys in the Back Room" w.

Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser (; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', among others. He won a Tony ...

Frederick Hollander Friedrich Hollaender (in exile also Frederick Hollander; 18 October 189618 January 1976) was a German film composer and author. Life and career He was born in London to a Jewish family, where his father, operetta composer Victor Hollaender, w ...

. Introduced by

Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...

in the film ''

Destry Rides Again ''Destry Rides Again'' is a 1939 American Western comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. The supporting cast includes Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger, Brian Donlevy, Allen Jenkins, Irene Hervey ...

''. * "

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

" w. (Eng) Bob Russell m. Ary Baroso * "Careless" w.m. Lew Quadling,

Eddy Howard Edward Evan Duncan Howard (September 12, 1914 – May 23, 1963) was an American vocalist and bandleader who was popular during the 1940s and 1950s. Early years Eddy Howard was born in Woodland, California Woodland is a city in and the county ...

Dick Jurgens Richard Henry Jurgens (January 9, 1910 – October 5, 1995) was an American swing music bandleader and composer who enjoyed great popularity in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Life and early career Dick Jurgens was born in Sacramento, Californ ...

* " Comes Love" w.m.

Sam H. Stept Samuel Howard Stept (aka Sammy Stept; 18 September 1897 – 1 December 1964) was an American songwriter who wrote for Broadway, Hollywood and the big bands. He became known simply as Sam Stept or Sam H. Stept – he rarely used his full middle n ...

Charles Tobias Charles Tobias (August 15, 1898 – July 7, 1970) was an American songwriter. Biography Born in New York City, United States, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters. He started hi ...

Lew Brown Lew Brown (born Louis Brownstein; December 10, 1893 – February 5, 1958) was a lyricist for popular songs in the United States. During World War I and the Roaring Twenties, he wrote lyrics for several of the top Tin Pan Alley composers, espec ...

* "Cuckoo in the Clock" w.

Johnny Mercer John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E. Wallich ...

Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson (February 15, 1893 – July 15, 1947) was an American prolific popular songwriter and publishing company founder, composing many hit songs of the 1910s to 1940s, that have become standards and form part of the Great American Song ...

* "

Darn That Dream "Darn That Dream" is a popular song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Eddie DeLange. It was published in 1939 and ranked No. 1 in 1940 when a recording was released by Benny Goodman in an arrangement by Eddie Sauter with Mildred Bailey si ...

" w.

Eddie DeLange Eddie DeLange (''né'' Edgar DeLange Moss; 15 January 1904 – 15 July 1949) was an American bandleader and lyricist. Famous artists who recorded some of DeLange's songs include Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Duk ...

Jimmy Van Heusen James Van Heusen (born Edward Chester Babcock; January 26, 1913 – February 6, 1990) was an American composer. He wrote songs for films, television and theater, and won an Emmy and four Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Life and care ...

* " Day In, Day Out" w.

Rube Bloom Reuben Bloom (April 24, 1902 – March 30, 1976) was an American songwriter, pianist, arranger, band leader, recording artist, vocalist, and author. Life and career Bloom was born and died in New York City. He was Jewish. During his career, he wo ...

* "Desert Rumba" m.

John Serry, Sr. John Serry Sr. (born John Serrapica; January 29, 1915 – September 14, 2003) was an American concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist, and educator. He performed on the CBS Radio and Television networks and contributed to Voice ...

* "

Ding-Dong! the Witch Is Dead "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" is a song in the 1939 film '' The Wizard of Oz''. It is the centrepiece of several individual songs in an extended set-piece performed by the Munchkins, Glinda (Billie Burke) and Dorothy Gale. Highlighted by the Lol ...

" w.

E. Y. Harburg Edgar Yipsel Harburg (born Isidore Hochberg; April 8, 1896 – March 5, 1981) was an American popular song lyricist and librettist who worked with many well-known composers. He wrote the lyrics to the standards "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" ( ...

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ...

* "

Do I Love You? "Do I Love You?" is a 1939 popular song written by Cole Porter, for his musical ''Du Barry Was a Lady'', where it was introduced by Ronald Graham and Ethel Merman. The song was included in the 1943 film adaptation of the musical, where it was ...

" w.m.

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

* "

Don't Worry 'Bout Me "Don't Worry 'bout Me" is a 1938 song composed by Rube Bloom, with lyrics written by Ted Koehler. It was introduced in the "World's Fair" edition of the Cotton Club show in 1939. The first hit recording was in 1939 by Hal Kemp and His Orchestra ( ...

" w.

Ted Koehler Ted L. Koehler (July 14, 1894 – January 17, 1973) was an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. Life and career Koehler was born in 1894 in Washington, D.C. He started out as a photo-engraver, but w ...

m. Rube Bloom * "Faithful Forever" w.

* "Flyin' Home" w. Sid Robin m.

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

* "

Frenesi "Frenesí" is a musical piece originally composed by Alberto Domínguez Borrás for the marimba, and adapted as a jazz standard by Leonard Whitcup and others. Background The word ''frenesí'' is Spanish for "frenzy". Artie Shaw recording ...

" w. (Eng)

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

& Bob Russell m. Alberto Dominguez * "The Gaucho Serenade" w.m. James Cavanaugh, John Redmond & Nat Simon * " Give Him the Ooh-La-La" w.m.

* " Give it Back to the Indians" w.

Lorenz Hart Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include " Blue Moon", " The Lady Is a Tramp", "Manhattan", "Bewitched, Both ...

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

. Introduced by Mary Jane Walsh in the

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

'' Too Many Girls''. * "Go Fly a Kite" w. Johnny Burke m.

* "

God Bless America "God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin during World War I in 1918 and revised by him in the run up to World War II in 1938. The later version was notably recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature s ...

" w.m.

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russi ...

* "Good Morning" w.

Arthur Freed Arthur Freed (September 9, 1894 – April 12, 1973) was an American lyricist and Hollywood film producer. He won the Academy Award for Best Picture twice, in 1951 for ''An American in Paris'' and in 1958 for '' Gigi''. Both films were musicals. ...

Nacio Herb Brown Ignacio Herbert "Nacio Herb" Brown (February 22, 1896 – September 28, 1964) was an American songwriter, writer of popular songs, movie scores and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s. Amongst his most enduring work ...

* "Goodnight, Children Ev'rywhere" w.m. Gabby Rogers & Harry Phillips * "Hang Your Heart on a Hickory Limb" w. Johnny Burke m.

* "Heaven Can Wait" w. Eddie DeLange m.

*"Heaven in My Arms" w.

. Introduced by Jack Whiting,

and

Hollace Shaw Hollace Shaw (July 24, 1913 – March 2, 1976) was a coloratura soprano who performed on old-time radio and on the stage. Early years Shaw was born in Fresno, California.DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Diction ...

in the musical ''

'' * "

Honey Hush "Honey Hush", is a blues song, written by Big Joe Turner (although he assigned the copyright to his wife, Lou Willie Turner), recorded in May 1953 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and released that August by Atlantic Records. It was a number-one song on ...

Fats Waller Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz pi ...

, Ed Kirkeby * "Huckleberry Duck" w. Jack Lawrence m.

Raymond Scott Raymond Scott (born Harry Warnow; September 10, 1908 – February 8, 1994) was an American composer, band leader, pianist, record producer, and inventor of electronic instruments. Though Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is ...

* "

I Didn't Know What Time It Was "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" is a popular song composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the 1939 musical '' Too Many Girls''. Introduced by Richard Kollmar and Marcy Westcott in the stage musical, early hit versions were rec ...

" w.

. Introduced by

Richard Kollmar Richard Tompkins Kollmar (December 31, 1910 – January 7, 1971), also known professionally as Dick Kollmar, was an American stage, radio, film and television actor, television personality and Broadway producer. Kollmar was the husband of jo ...

and Marcy Westcott in the musical '' Too Many Girls''. Performed by

Trudy Erwin Trudy Erwin (born August 12, 1918 – October 29, 2000) was an American singer and actress in films who was a vocalist with the Kay Kyser orchestra in the 1940s. She recorded several hit songs including the 1943 duets with Bing Crosby "People Wil ...

dubbing for

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Golden ...

in the

1940 A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January *January ...

film version and interpolated into the score of the

1957 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, the 57th year of the 20th century, and the 8th y ...

film '' Pal Joey'' where it was sung by

. * "

I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes) "I Get Along Without You Very Well" is a popular song composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1939, with lyrics based on a poem written by Jane Brown Thompson, and the main melodic theme on the Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op 66, by Frédéric Cho ...

" m.

w. Jane Brown Thompson * "

I Like to Recognize the Tune "I Like to Recognize the Tune" is an American popular song written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The song was introduced by Eddie Bracken, Marcy Wescott, Mary Jane Walsh, Richard Kollmar and Hal Le Roy in the 1939 Broadw ...

" w.

. Introduced by

Eddie Bracken Edward Vincent Bracken (February 7, 1915 – November 14, 2002) was an American actor. Bracken became a Hollywood comedy legend with lead performances in the films ''Hail the Conquering Hero'' and ''The Miracle of Morgan's Creek'' both from ...

, Marcy Westcott, Mary Jane Walsh,

and

Hal Le Roy Hal Le Roy (born John LeRoy Schotte, December 10, 1913 – May 2, 1985) was an American dancer, actor, and singer appearing on stage, in film, and on television. Life and career Le Roy was born John LeRoy Schotte in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Decemb ...

in the musical '' Too Many Girls''. * "I Miss You in the Morning" w.

Edgar Leslie Edgar Leslie (December 31, 1885 – January 22, 1976) was an American songwriter. Biography Edgar Leslie was born in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1885. He studied at the Cooper Union in New York. He published his first song in 1909, starting a l ...

m. Joe Burke * "I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak" w.

Mack Gordon Mack Gordon (born Morris Gittler; June 21, 1904 – February 28, 1959) was an American composer and lyricist for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times in 11 years, including five consecutive years betwee ...

m. Harry Revel * "I Poured My Heart Into a Song" w.m.

* "

I Thought About You "I Thought About You" is a 1939 popular song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Background It was one of three collaborations Van Heusen and Mercer wrote for the Mercer-Morris publishing company started by Mercer and f ...

" w.

* "I Want My Mama" w. (Port) Jararaca & Vincente Paiva (Eng) Al Stillman m. Jararaca & Vincente Paiva * " I Went to a Marvelous Party" w.m.

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

. Introduced by

Beatrice Lillie Beatrice Gladys Lillie, Lady Peel (29 May 1894 – 20 January 1989), known as Bea Lillie, was a Canadian-born British actress, singer and comedic performer. She began to perform as a child with her mother and sister. She made her West End debu ...

in the

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own duri ...

Set to Music Set, The Set, SET or SETS may refer to: Science, technology, and mathematics Mathematics *Set (mathematics), a collection of elements *Category of sets, the category whose objects and morphisms are sets and total functions, respectively Electro ...

''. * "If a Grey Haired Lady Says "How's Yer Father?"" w.m. Ted Waite * "

If I Didn't Care "If I Didn't Care" is a song written by Jack Lawrence that was sung and recorded by the Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny in 1939. Background The Ink Spots recording became the 10th best selling single of all time with over 19 million copies ...

" w.m. Jack Lawrence * "

If I Only Had a Brain "If I Only Had a Brain" (also "If I Only Had a Heart" and "If I Only Had the Nerve") is a song by Harold Arlen (music) and Yip Harburg (lyrics). The song is sung in the 1939 film '' The Wizard of Oz'' by the character Scarecrow, played by Ray Bolg ...

" w.

* "If I Only Had Wings" w.m. Sid Colin & Ronnie Aldrich * "

I'll Never Smile Again "I'll Never Smile Again" is a 1939 song written by Ruth Lowe. It has been recorded by many other artists since, becoming a standard. The most successful and best-known million selling single version of the song was recorded by Tommy Dorsey and ...

" w.m.

Ruth Lowe Ruth Lowe (August 12, 1914 – January 4, 1981) was a Canadian pianist and songwriter. She composed the first ''Billboard'' top 80 song "I'll Never Smile Again". Early life Born in Toronto but raised in Glendale, California, Lowe returned to h ...

* "I'll Walk Beside You" w.m. Alan Murray & Edward Lockton * "I'm Building a Sailboat of Dreams"

Cliff Friend Cliff Friend (October 1, 1893 – June 27, 1974) was an accomplished songwriter and pianist. A member of Tin Pan Alley, Friend co-wrote several hits including "Lovesick Blues", "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" and "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down ...

, Dave Franklin * "

In a Mellow Tone "In a Mellow Tone", also known as "In a Mellotone", is a 1939 jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics written by Milt Gabler. The song was based on the 1917 standard "Rose Room" by Art Hickman and Harry Williams, which Ellington himse ...

" w.

Milt Gabler Milton Gabler (May 20, 1911 – July 20, 2001) was an American record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording industry of the 20th century. These included being the first person to deal in record reissues, the first to sel ...

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

* "In an Eighteenth Century Drawing Room" m.

* " In the Middle of a Dream" w.

Al Stillman Al Stillman ''(né'' Albert Irving Silverman; 26 June 1901 Manhattan, New York – 17 February 1979 Manhattan, New York) was an American lyricist. Biography Stillman was born to Jewish parents Herman Silverman and Gertrude Rubin ''(maiden).'' He a ...

& Einar Swan * "

In The Mood "In the Mood" is a popular big band-era jazz standard recorded by American bandleader Glenn Miller. "In the Mood" is based on the composition "Tar Paper Stomp" by Wingy Manone. The first recording under the name "In the Mood" was released by E ...

" w.

Andy Razaf Andy Razaf (born Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo; December 16, 1895 – February 3, 1973) was an American poet, composer and lyricist of such well-known songs as " Ain't Misbehavin'" and " Honeysuckle Rose". Biography Razaf was born in Washi ...

m. Joe Garland * "Is 'E An Aussie, Lizzie, Is 'E?" w.m. B. C. Hilliam &

Malcolm McEachern Walter Malcolm Neil McEachern (1 April 1883 – 17 January 1945) was a noted Australian Bass (voice type), bass singing, singer who enjoyed a successful career in the United Kingdom, both as a concert soloist and as one half of the comic music ...

* " It's A Big, Wide, Wonderful World" w.m. John Rox * " It's a Hap-Hap-Happy Day" w. Sammy Timberg & Winston Sharples m.

Al J. Neiburg Allen J. Neiburg (November 22, 1902—July 12, 1978) was an American lyricist. He was born on 22 November 1902 in St. Albans, Vermont and received his education at Boston University. He is known for writing lyrics for such songs as "I'm Confessi ...

. Introduced by the voice of

Lanny Ross Lancelot Patrick Ross (January 19, 1906 – April 25, 1988)DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. was an American singer, pianist an ...

on the soundtrack of the animated feature film ''

Gulliver's Travels ''Gulliver's Travels'', or ''Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships'' is a 1726 prose satire by the Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan ...

''. * " I've Got My Eyes On You" w.m.

* "

J'attendrai "J'attendrai" (French for "I will wait") is a popular French song first recorded by Rina Ketty in 1938. It became the big French song during World War II; a counterpart to Lale Andersen's "Lili Marleen" in Germany and Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again ...

" w. (Fr) Louis Poterat (Eng)

Anna Sosenko Anna Sosenko (June 13, 1909 – June 9, 2000) was an American songwriter and impresario who flourished in the 1930s. She is perhaps best known as a manager and writer for cabaret singer Hildegarde, for whom she wrote " Darling, Je Vous Aime Beauco ...

m. Dino Olivieri * "The Jumpin' Jive" w.m.

Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...

Frank Froeba Frank Froeba or Froba (August 1907, New Orleans - February 16, 1981, Miami) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. Froeba held jobs in the bands of Johnny Wiggs and John Tobin while still in his teens. He played with Johnny de Droit in New ...

& Jack Palmer * "Katie Went to Haiti" w.m.

* " Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant-Major" Art Noel, Don Pelosi * "

The Lady's In Love With You "The Lady's in Love with You" is a popular song which was written by Burton Lane (music) and by Frank Loesser (lyrics). The song was published in 1939 and introduced in the film " Some Like It Hot" (1939) when it was sung by Bob Hope and Shirley R ...

" w.

m. Burton Lane * "

The Lamp Is Low "The Lamp Is Low" is a popular song of the 1930s. The music was written by Peter DeRose and Bert Shefter, adapted from Pavane pour une infante défunte, a piece by Maurice Ravel. The lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish. Mildred Bailey made th ...

" w.

Mitchell Parish Mitchell Parish (born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky; July 10, 1900 – March 31, 1993) was an American lyricist, notably as a writer of songs for stage and screen. Biography Parish was born to a Jewish family in Lithuania, Russian Empire in July 190 ...

m. Peter De Rose &

Bert Shefter Bert Shefter (May 15, 1902 – June 29, 1999) was a Russian-born film composer who worked primarily in America. Biography He was born in Poltava, Russian Empire (now Ukraine.) After emigrating to the USA he attended the Carnegie Institute ...

* "Leanin' On The Ole Top Rail" w.m.

Charles Kenny Charles Francis Kenny (June 23, 1898 – January 20, 1992) was an American composer, lyricist, author, and violinist. His hit songs include "There's a Gold Mine in the Sky", "Love Letters in the Sand", "Laughing at Life", and "Because It's Your ...

& Nick Kenny * "

Lili Marlene "Lili Marleen" (also spelled "Lili Marlen'", "Lilli Marlene", "Lily Marlene", "Lili Marlène" among others; ) is a German love song that became popular during World War II throughout Europe and the Mediterranean among both Axis and Allied troo ...

" w. (Ger) Hans Leip (Eng)

Tommie Connor Thomas Patrick Connor (16 November 1904 – 28 November 1993) was a British lyricist and songwriter, credited with several hit songs over his long career. He wrote several of the most popular non-religious Christmas songs, including " The Litt ...

m. Norbert Schultze * "

The Little Man Who Wasn't There "Antigonish" is a poem by the American educator and poet, William Hughes Mearns, written in 1899. It is also known as "The Little Man Who Wasn't There" and was adapted as a hit song under the latter title. Poem Inspired by reports of a ghost of ...

" w.

Harold Adamson Harold Campbell Adamson (December 10, 1906 – August 17, 1980) was an American lyricist during the 1930s and 1940s. Early life Adamson, the son of building contractor Harold Adamson and Marion "Minnie" Campbell Adamson, was born and raised in ...

Bernie Hanighen Bernard D. Hanighen (April 27, 1908 in Omaha, Nebraska – October 19, 1976 in New York City, New York) Attended Hackley School (Tarrytown, New York) - Class of 1926, also attended Harvard University - Class of 1930. He was an American songwrit ...

* "Love Never Went to College" w.

* "A Lover Is Blue" w.m. Charles Carpenter, James R. Mundy & Trummy Young * " Lydia, The Tattooed Lady" w.

. Introduced by

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...

in the film ''

At the Circus ''At the Circus'' is a 1939 comedy film starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Chico Marx) released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in which they help save a circus from bankruptcy. The film contains Groucho Marx's classic rendition of ...

''. * "A Man and His Dream" w. Johnny Burke m.

* "The Man With the Mandolin" w. James Cavanaugh & John Redmond m. Frank Weldon * "The Masquerade Is Over" w.

Herb Magidson Herbert A. Magidson (January 7, 1906 – January 2, 1986) was an American popular lyricist. His work was used in over 23 films and four Broadway revues. He won the first Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1934. Life and career Magidson was bo ...

m. Allie Wrubel * "The Moon and the Willow Tree" w. Johnny Burke m.

Victor Schertzinger Victor L. Schertzinger (April 8, 1888 – October 26, 1941) was an American composer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His films include ''Paramount on Parade'' (co-director, 1930 in film, 1930), ''Something to Sing About (1937 fil ...

* "Moon Love" w.m. Mack David, Mack Davis & Andre Kostelanetz * "

Moonlight Serenade "Moonlight Serenade" is an American swing ballad composed by Glenn Miller with subsequent lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It was an immediate phenomenon when released in May 1939 as an instrumental arrangement, though it had been adopted and perfo ...

" w.

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...

* "My Dearest Dear" w.m. Ivor Novello & Christopher Hassall * "My Prayer" w. Jimmy Kennedy m. Georges Boulanger & Jimmy Kennedy * "Night in Sudan" w. Charles Carpenter m.

& Jimmy Mundy * "On a Little Street in Singapore" w.m. Peter DeRose & Billy Hill (songwriter), Billy Hill * "On The Outside Always Lookin' In" w.m. Michael Carr (composer), Michael Carr * "Over The Rainbow" w.

. Introduced by Judy Garland in the film ''The Wizard of Oz (1939 film), The Wizard of Oz''. * "Palms in Paradise" w.

Introduced by Dorothy Lamour in the 1940 film ''Typhoon (1940 film), Typhoon''. * "Pennsylvania 6-5000 (song), Pennsylvania 6-5000" w. Carl Sigman m. Jerry Gray (arranger), Jerry Gray * "Perfidia" w. (Eng) Milton Leeds m. Alberto Dominguez * "Run Rabbit Run" w. Noel Gay & Ralph T. Butler m. Noel Gay * "Scatterbrain" w.m. Johnny Burke, Carl Bean, Kahn Keene & Frankie Masters * "She Had to Go and Lose It at the Astor" w.m. Don Raye & Hugh Prince * "Sing a Song of Sunbeams" w. Johnny Burke m.

* "Sing My Heart" w.

. Introduced by Irene Dunne in the film ''Love Affair (1939 film), Love Affair''. * "Somewhere in France With You" w.m. Michael Carr * "South American Way" w. Al Dubin m. Jimmy McHugh * "South of the Border (1939 song), South Of The Border" w.m. Jimmy Kennedy & Michael Carr * "Stairway to the Stars" w.

m. Matty Malneck * "Start the Day Right" w.m. Al Lewis, Maurice Spitalny & Charles Tobias * "Strange Fruit" w.m. Lewis Allan * "Sunrise Serenade" w. Jack Lawrence m. Frankie Carle * "Sweet Potato Piper" w. Johnny Burke m.

* "T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It), 'Tain't What You Do" w.m. Sy Oliver & Trummy Young * "Tara's Theme" m. Max Steiner * "That Sentimental Sandwich" w.

* "That Sly Old Gentleman" w. Johnny Burke m.

* "They Would Wind Him Up And He Would Whistle" Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby * "This Is It" w. Dorothy Fields m. Arthur Schwartz * ""This Is No Dream" w.m.

, Benny Davis & Ted Shapiro * "Three Little Fishes" w.m. Saxie Dowell * "Till The Lights Of London Shine Again" w.m.

, Eddie Pola * "To You (1939 song), To You" w.m.

, Benny Davis & Ted Shapiro * "Too Romantic" w. Johnny Burke m.

* "Traffic Jam" m. Teddy McRae & Artie Shaw * "Tuxedo Junction" w. Buddy Feyne m. Erskine Hawkins, Williams Johnson & Julian Dash * "Two Blind Loves" w.

* "Two O'Clock Jump" m.

, Count Basie &

* "Under a Blanket of Blue" w.m. Jerry Livingston, Al J. Neiburg, & Marty Symes * "We'll Meet Again (song), We'll Meet Again" w. Hughie Charles m. Ross Parker (songwriter), Ross Parker * "Well, Did You Evah!" w. m.

* "We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" w.m. Jimmy Kennedy & Michael Carr * "What's New?" w. Johnny Burke m. Bob Haggart * "When You Wish upon a Star" w. Ned Washington m. Leigh Harline * "Who's Taking You Home Tonight?" w.m. Manning Sherwin &

from the

''Shephard's Pie'' * "Wish Me Luck" w.m. Harry Parr-Davies & Phil Park * "Wishing (Will Make It So)" w.m. B. G. De Sylva * "You Meet The Nicest People In Your Dreams" Al Hoffman, Al Goodhart, Manny Kurtz * "You Taught Me to Love Again" w. Charles Carpenter m.

& Henri Woode * "You've Got That Look" w.

from the film ''

Classical music

Premieres

Compositions

*Samuel Barber – Violin Concerto (Barber), Violin Concerto *Agustín Barrios – ''Variations on a Theme of Francisco Tárrega, Tárrega'' *

– ''Pastoral Fantasia'' for Viola and String Orchestra *Béla Bartók **Divertimento for String Orchestra (Bartók), Divertimento for String Orchestra **String Quartet No. 6 (Bartók), String Quartet No. 6 *

– Piano Concerto in B-flat *Eugène Bozza **''Divertissement'' for English horn (or alto saxophone) and piano, Op. 39 **''Fantaisie italienne'' for clarinet (or flute, or oboe) and piano **''Fantaisie pastorale'' for oboe and piano, Op. 37 **Ballade for bass clarinet and piano **''Fantaisie italienne'' for clarinet (or flute, or oboe) and piano *Hanns Eisler – Spruch 1939 *John Fernström – Symphony No. 5, Op. 40 *Karl Amadeus Hartmann – ''Concerto funebre'' for violin and string orchestra *Herbert Howells – Concerto for Strings *Zoltán Kodály – Variations on a Hungarian folk song "Fölszállott a páva" ("The Peacock") *Frank Martin (composer), Frank Martin – Ballade for flute and piano *Joaquín Rodrigo – ''Concierto de Aranjuez'' *Hilding Rosenberg – String Quartet No. 4 *William Schuman – ''American Festival Overture'' *Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 6 (Shostakovich), Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 *Alexandre Tansman – Symphony No. 4 (Tansman), Symphony No. 4 *Heitor Villa-Lobos – ''New York Sky-Line Melody'' *William Walton – Violin Concerto (Walton), Violin Concerto

Opera

*Gian Carlo Menotti – ''The Old Maid and the Thief'' (radio opera) *Tolib Sodiqov – ''Leili and Mejnun''

Film

*Aaron Copland – ''Of Mice and Men (1939 film)'' *Aaron Copland – ''The City (1939 film)'' *Erich Korngold – ''Juarez (film)'' *Alfred Newman (composer), Alfred Newman – ''Gunga Din (film)'' *Dmitri Shostakovich – ''The Great Citizen'' *Max Steiner – ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind''

Jazz

Musical theatre

* ''Black Velvet (revue), Black Velvet'' West End theatre, London

opened at the Hippodrome Theatre on November 14 and ran for 620 performances * ''The Dancing Years'' London production opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Drury Lane Theatre on March 23 and ran for 187 performances * ''DuBarry Was a Lady, Du Barry Was A Lady'' Broadway theatre, Broadway production opened at the 46th Street Theatre on December 6 and ran for 408 performances * ''Folies Bergère'' Broadway

opened at the Broadway Theatre on December 25 and ran for 121 performances * ''George White's Scandals of 1939'' Broadway revue opened at the Alvin Theatre on August 28 and ran for 120 performances * ''Haw-Haw'' (Music: Harry Parr Davies Words: Phil Park Script: Max Miller (comedian), Max Miller & Ben Lyon) opened at the Holborn Empire on December 22. Starring Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon and Max Miller (comedian), Max Miller. * ''The Little Revue (musical), The Little Revue'' London revue opened at Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain, The Little Theatre on April 21 and ran for 415 performances * ''Magyar Melody'' London production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre on January 20 and ran for 105 performances * ''New Pins And Needles'' Broadway revue (a renamed version of ''Pins and Needles'' which opened in 1937) *''Runaway Love (musical), Runaway Love'' opened at the Saville Theatre on November 3 and ran for 195 performances *''Shephard's Pie'' West End theatre, London

opened at the Princes Theatre on December 21 * ''Stars in Your Eyes'' (Book: J. P. McEvoy Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Music: Arthur Schwartz) Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre (Broadway), Majestic Theatre on February 9 and ran for 127 performances. *''

'' opened at the Ambassador Theatre (New York), Ambassador Theatre on September 29 and ran for 75 performances * ''The Streets of Paris'' Broadway

opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 19 and ran for 274 performances * ''Swingin' the Dream'' Broadway production opened at the Center Theatre (New York, New York), Center Theatre on November 29 and ran for 13 performances. A musical version of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' starring Louis Armstrong,

& his Sextet and Maxine Sullivan. * '' Too Many Girls'' Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre (Broadway), Imperial Theatre on October 18 and ran for 249 performances. *''

'' Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 17 and ran for 59 performances

Musical films

* ''Babes in Arms (film), Babes In Arms'', starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland * ''Balalaika (film), Balalaika'', released on December 15, starring Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massey * ''Entre el barro'', starring Tito Lusiardo * ''East Side of Heaven'', starring

and Joan Blondell * ''Giliw Ko'', starring Mila del Sol, Fernando Poe, Sr., Ely Ramos and Mona Lisa (actress), Fleur de Lis * ''Hawaiian Nights'', starring Mary Carlisle, Constance Moore and Johnny Downs. Directed by Albert S. Rogell. * ''Honolulu (1939 film), Honolulu'', starring Eleanor Powell, Robert Young (actor), Robert Young, George Burns and Gracie Allen * ''Lambeth Walk (film), Lambeth Walk'', starring Lupino Lane * ''La vida es un tango'', starring Tito Lusiardo * ''Love Affair (1939 film), Love Affair'', starring Charles Boyer, Irene Dunne and Maria Ouspenskaya. Directed by Leo McCarey. * ''Man About Town (1939 film), Man About Town'', released June 29, starring Dorothy Lamour and Jack Benny, featuring Betty Grable, Phil Harris and Matty Malneck and his Orchestra. * ''The Mikado (1939 film), The Mikado'', starring Kenny Baker (American singer and actor), Kenny Baker and Jean Colin * ''Naughty but Nice (1939 film), Naughty but Nice'', starring Ann Sheridan and Dick Powell * ''Paris Honeymoon'', starring

, Franciska Gaal, Shirley Ross and Edward Everett Horton * ''Second Fiddle (1939 film), Second Fiddle'', starring Sonja Henie, Tyrone Power, Rudy Vallee and Mary Healy (entertainer), Mary Healy. Directed by Sidney Lanfield. *''The Star Maker (1939 film), The Star Maker'', released on August 25, starring

* ''Three Smart Girls Grow Up'', starring Deanna Durbin * ''Walang Sugat'', starring Rosa del Rosario * ''The Wizard of Oz (1939 film), The Wizard of Oz'' starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Billie Burke, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley.

Births

*January 3 **Gene Summers, singer-songwriter (died 2021) **Arik Einstein, Israeli singer (died 2013) *January 9 – Jimmy Boyd, singer and actor (died 2009) *January 10 – Scott McKenzie, singer (died 2012) *January 12 – William Lee Golden, country singer (The Oakridge Boys) *January 19 – Phil Everly (The Everly Brothers) (died 2014) *January 21 – Wolfman Jack, DJ (died 1995) *February 1 **Del McCoury, American singer and guitarist (Del McCoury Band) **Joe Sample, American pianist and composer (The Crusaders (Houston group), The Crusaders) (died 2014) *February 9 – Barry Mann, songwriter *February 11 – Gerry Goffin, songwriter (died 2014) *February 12 – Ray Manzarek, keyboard player (The Doors) (died 2013) *February 16 – Czesław Niemen, Polish singer-songwriter, rock balladeer (died 2004 in music, 2004) *February 28 **John Fahey (musician), John Fahey, guitarist and composer (died 2001) **Tommy Tune, actor, singer and dancer *March 1 **Leo Brouwer, Cuban composer and guitarist **Warren Davis (singer), Warren Davis, doo-wop singer (The Monotones) (died 2017) *March 8 – Robert Tear, tenor *March 11 – Flaco Jiménez, accordionist and singer *March 13 – Neil Sedaka, pianist and singer-songwriter *March 18 – Peter Kraus, German singer *March 27 – Beba Selimović, sevdalinka folk singer (died 2020) *April 1 – Rudolph Isley, R&B singer (The Isley Brothers) *April 2 – Marvin Gaye, soul singer (died 1984) *April 4 – Hugh Masekela, jazz trumpeter (died 2018) *April 5 – Ronnie White, R&B musician and songwriter (The Miracles) (died 1995) *April 6 – Beverly Watkins, blues guitarist (died 2019) *April 16 – Dusty Springfield, singer (died 1999) *April 18 – Glen Hardin, rock pianist and arranger (The Crickets) *April 20 – Johnny Tillotson, singer and songwriter *April 21 **Ernie Maresca, singer, songwriter and record industry executive (died 2015) **John McCabe (composer), John McCabe, composer and pianist (died 2015) *April 23 – Wizz Jones, guitarist, singer and songwriter *May 1 – Judy Collins, singer *May 3 – Jonathan Harvey (composer), Jonathan Harvey, English composer (died 2012) *May 7 **José Antonio Abreu, orchestral conductor and music educator (died 2018) **The Brooklyn Bridge (band), Johnny Maestro, vocalist (died 2010) **Jimmy Ruffin, singer (died 2014) *May 9 – Nokie Edwards, rock musician (The Ventures) (died 2018) *May 10 – Wayne Cochran, American singer (died 2017) *May 14 – Troy Shondell, American singer (died 2016) *May 19 **Nancy Kwan, dancer, singer and actress **Sonny Fortune, jazz musician **John Sheahan, folk musician (The Dubliners) *May 23 – Michel Colombier, composer and songwriter (died 2004) *June 3 – Ian Hunter (singer), Ian Hunter, British rock singer and songwriter (Mott The Hoople) *June 6 **Louis Andriessen, composer (died 2021) **Gary U.S. Bonds, singer and songwriter *June 9 – Ileana Cotrubaş, operatic soprano *June 11 – Wilma Burgess, American country music singer (died 2003) *June 16 – Billy "Crash" Craddock, country singer *June 19 – Al Wilson (singer), Al Wilson, American soul singer (died 2008) *June 25 – Garech Browne, promoter of Irish traditional music (died 2018) *June 30 – Tony Hatch, composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and record producer *July 1 – Delaney Bramlett, blues singer-songwriter (Delaney & Bonnie) (died 2008) *July 2 – Paul Williams (The Temptations), Paul Williams, soul singer (The Temptations) (died 1973) *July 3 – Brigitte Fassbaender, operatic mezzo-soprano *July 5 – Owen Gray, Jamaican singer *July 6 – Jet Harris, British bassist, singer and songwriter (''The Shadows'') (died 2011) *July 14 **Karel Gott, singer (died 2019) **Vince Taylor, rock and roll singer (died 1991) *July 16 – William Bell (singer), William Bell, born William Yarbrough, soul singer-songwriter *July 17 – Spencer Davis, beat musician, multi-instrumentalist (The Spencer Davis Group) (died 2020) *July 18 **Brian Auger, jazz fusion keyboard player (Brian Auger Trinity) **Dion DiMucci, singer-songwriter *July 25 – Denis King, pop singer and screen composer *July 31 – Steuart Bedford, conductor and pianist (died 2021) *August 4 – Frankie Ford, singer (died 2015) *August 9 **Billy Henderson (American singer), Billy Henderson R&B soul singer (The Spinners (American R&B group), The Spinners) (died 2007) **The Mighty Hannibal, American singer, songwriter and record producer (died 2014) *August 13 – Howard Tate, American soul singer, songwriter (died 2011) *August 15 – Norma Waterson, English traditional folk singer (died 2022) *August 16 **Billy Joe Shaver, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2020) **Eric Weissberg, American folk musician (died 2020) *August 17 **Luther Allison, blues guitarist (died 1997) **Ed Sanders, poet and folk singer (The Fugs) *August 18 ** Molly Bee, American country music singer (died 2009) ** Johnny Preston, American singer (died 2011) *August 19 – Ginger Baker, rock drummer (Cream (band), Cream) (died 2019) *August 24 – Ernest Wright, R&B singer (Little Anthony and the Imperials) *August 25 – Robert Jager, American composer and theorist *August 28 – Robert Aitken (composer), Robert Aitken, composer *August 30 – John Peel (John Ravenscroft), influential disc jockey (died 2004) *August 31 **Jerry Allison, American rock drummer (The Crickets) (died 2022) **Cleveland Eaton, American jazz musician (died 2020) *September 2 **Sam Gooden, soul singer (The Impressions) (died 2022) **James & Bobby Purify, Bobby Lee Dickey, singer *September 5 – John Stewart (folk musician), John Stewart, folk singer and songwriter (died 2008) *September 6 – David Allan Coe, American musician *September 7 – Riccardo Del Turco, Italian singer *September 8 – Guitar Shorty, American blues guitarist (died 2022) *September 13 – Gene Page, arranger, producer and conductor (died 1998) *September 17 – Shelby Flint, American singer *September 18 – Frankie Avalon, singer and actor *September 23 – Roy Buchanan, guitarist (died 1988) *September 28 – Elbridge Bryant (The Temptations) (died 1975) *September 30 – Len Cariou, Canadian actor and singer *October 16 – Joe Dolan, Irish entertainer, recording artist and pop singer (died 2007 in music, 2007) *October 18 – Paddy Reilly, folk musician *October 30 **Eddie Holland, songwriter (Holland/Dozier/Holland) **Grace Slick, vocalist (Jefferson Airplane) *October 31 – Gordon Bok, singer-songwriter *November 12 – Ruby Nash Curtis, R&B singer (Ruby & the Romantics) *November 15 – Dinorah Varsi, Uruguayan classical pianist (died 2013) *November 17 – Yuya Uchida (singer), Yuya Uchida, singer and film actor (died 2019 in music, 2019) *November 18 – Tom Johnson (composer), Tom Johnson, minimalist composer *November 19 – Warren "Pete" Moore, R&B singer-songwriter (The Miracles) (died 2017) *November 22 – Stefan Dimitrov (bass), Stefan Dimitrov, Bulgarian operatic Bass (voice type), bass (died 2004) *November 23 **Betty Everett, African-American soul singer, pianist (died 2001) **Jan Rooney, American singer and wife of Mickey Rooney *November 25 – Rais Khan, Pakistani sitarist (died 2017 in music, 2017) *November 26 – Tina Turner, pop singer *November 28 – Gary Troxel, pop singer (The Fleetwoods) *December 1 – Dianne Lennon, American singer (The Lennon Sisters) *December 4 – Freddy Cannon, American rock musician *December 8 ** Jerry Butler, African-American singer-songwriter and politician **Sir James Galway, flautist *December 13 – Eric Flynn, British actor and singer (died 2002) *December 15 – Cindy Birdsong, soul singer (The Supremes) **Dave Clark (musician), Dave Clark (The Dave Clark Five) *December 16 – Barney McKenna, folk musician (The Dubliners) (died 2012) *December 17 **James Booker, pianist and singer (died 1983) **Eddie Kendricks, vocalist (The Temptations) (died 1992) *December 25 – Bob James (musician), Bob James, jazz keyboardist *December 26 – Phil Spector, record producer and murderer (died 2021) *December 28 – Yehoram Gaon, Israeli actor and singer *December 30 – Felix Pappalardi, rock producer and bassist (Mountain (band), Mountain) (died 1983)

Deaths

*January 12 – Hariclea Darclée, operatic soprano, 78 *January 16 – Abe Holzmann, composer, 64 *February 9 – Herschel Evans, saxophonist, 29 (heart disease) *February 11 – Franz Schmidt (composer), Franz Schmidt, cellist, pianist and composer, 64 *February 12 – Potenciano Gregorio, Filipino musician, 58 *February 17 – Willy Hess (violinist), Willy Hess, violinist, 79 *March 6 – Emma Juch, operatic soprano, 77 *March 9 – Ernie Hare, US singer, 55 (bronchopneumonia) *March 21 – Evald Aav, Estonian composer, 39 *April 8 – Emilio Serrano y Ruiz, pianist and composer, 89 *April 21 **Herman Finck, composer, 66 **Joe Young (lyricist), Joe Young, US lyricist, 49 *May 20 – Alexandra Čvanová, operatic soprano, 42 (car accident) *June 4 – Tommy Ladnier, jazz trumpeter, 39 (heart attack) *June 16 –

, jazz drummer, 34 *August 1 – Álvaro Sousa, composer, 60 *August 3 – August Enna, composer, 80 *August 19 – Achille Fortier, composer, 74 *August 25 – Geneviève Vix, operatic soprano, 60 *October 9 – Evelyn Parnell, operatic soprano, 51 (appendicitis) *October 14 – Polaire, singer and actress, 65 *October 16 – Ludolf Nielsen, pianist, violinist, conductor and composer, 63 *October 19 – Marie Renard, operatic mezzo-soprano, 75 *October 24 – Prince Joachim Albert of Prussia, composer, 63 *October 27 – Nelly Bromley, singer and actress, 89 *October 28 – Alice Brady, actress, 46 *October 29 – Giulio Crimi, operatic tenor, 54 *November 3 (or 4) – Charles Tournemire, organist and composer, 69 *November 9 – Charles Goulding, operatic tenor (born 1887) *December 6 – Charles Dalmorès, operatic tenor, 68 *December 8 – Ernest Schelling, pianist, composer and conductor, 63 *December 18 **Jeanne Granier, operatic soprano, 87 **Grikor Suni, composer, 63 *December 22 – Ma Rainey, blues singer, 53 (heart attack) *''date unknown'' **Francisco de Paula Aguirre, composer of waltzes (born 1875) **José Perches Enríquez, composer (born 1883) **Lena Wilson, blues singer (born 1898)

References

{{reflist 1939 in music, 20th century in music Music by year