1962 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1962.

Specific locations

*1962 in British music
* 1962 in Norwegian music

Specific genres

* 1962 in country music
* 1962 in jazz

Events

*January 1 – The Beatles and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes both audition at Decca Records in London which has the option of signing one group only. The Beatles are rejected, mainly as they come from Liverpool and the others are Dagenham-based, nearer London.
*January 5 – The first album on which The Beatles play, ''My Bonnie'', credited to "Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers" (recorded last June in Hamburg and produced by Bert Kaempfert), is released by Polydor.
*January 24 – Brian Epstein signs on to manage The Beatles.
*February 16 – Conductor Bruno Walter, the day before his death, ends his last letter with: ''"Despite all the dark experiences of today I am still confident that ''Palestrina'' will remain. The work has all the elements of immortality"''.
*March 18 – The 7th Eurovision Song Contest, held at Villa Louvigny in Luxembourg City, is won by France with the song "Un premier amour", performed by Isabelle Aubret.
*March 19 – Bob Dylan releases his debut album, ''Bob Dylan'', in the United States, featuring mostly folk standards.
*April 6 – New York Philharmonic concert of April 6, 1962: Leonard Bernstein causes controversy with his remarks before a concert featuring Glenn Gould with the New York Philharmonic, when he (Bernstein) announces that although he disagrees with Gould's slow tempi in Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1, he finds Gould's ideas fascinating and will conduct the piece anyway. Bernstein's action receives a withering review from ''The New York Times'' music critic Harold C. Schonberg.
*April 7 – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet Brian Jones at The Ealing Club, a blues club in London.
*April 10 – Former Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe dies from cerebral paralysis caused by a brain hemorrhage in Hamburg, Germany.
*April 12 – A recording is made of Bob Dylan's concert at the Town Hall, in New York City by Columbia Records. (Columbia eventually release the recording of "Tomorrow is a Long Time" from this concert.)
*April 24 – Bob Dylan begins recording ''The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'' in New York.
*May 29 – The 4th Annual Grammy Awards are held in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Henry Mancini wins the most awards with five, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his song " Moon River". Judy Garland's ''Judy at Carnegie Hall'' wins Album of the Year, while Peter Nero wins Best New Artist.
* June 6 – The Beatles play their first session at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London.
*June 19 – The film version of the musical ''The Music Man'' is released to theaters by Warner Bros.
* August 2 – Robert Allen Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan in the New York Supreme Court.
* August 16 – The Beatles fire drummer Pete Best and replace him with Ringo Starr.
*August 17 – Instrumental ''Telstar'', written and produced by Joe Meek for English band The Tornados, is released in the UK. The song will eventually be the first song by a British group ever to reach the top spot on the Billboard Top 100 in the United States, proving to be a precursor to the British Invasion.
*August 18 – The Beatles play their first live engagement with the line-up of John, Paul, George and Ringo, at Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight on the Wirral Peninsula.
*August 20 – Albert Grossman becomes Bob Dylan's manager.
*August 23 – John Lennon marries Cynthia Powell in an unpublicised register office ceremony at Mount Pleasant, Liverpool.
*September 21 – '' New Musical Express'', the British music magazine, publishes a story about two 13-year-old schoolgirls, Sue and Mary, releasing a disc on Decca and adds "A Liverpool group, The Beatles, have recorded 'Love Me Do' for Parlophone Records, set for October 5 release."
*September 22 – Bob Dylan appears for the first time at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of a hootenanny including the first public performance of "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall".
* September 23 – Opening concert at the New York Philharmonic's new home, Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, conducted by Leonard Bernstein and broadcast live on television across the United States by NBC. The opening work, Aaron Copland's specially commissioned ''Connotations'', sends "shock waves through the world of music". Other commissions featured include Darius Milhaud's ''Overture Philharmonique'' and Samuel Barber's ''Andromache's Farewell'' for soprano and orchestra. The following day, John Browning premières Barber's Piano Concerto at the venue and on October 4 William Schuman's Symphony No. 8 is premièred here.
*October 5 – The Beatles' first single in their own right, "Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You", is released in the UK on EMI's Parlophone label.
*October 14 – Italian tenor Sergio Franchi makes his American TV debut on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''.
*October 17 – The Beatles make their first televised appearance, on Granada television's local news programme ''People and Places''.
*October 20 – Peter, Paul and Mary's self-titled debut album reaches No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
*October 21 – Sergio Franchi makes his American concert debut at Carnegie Hall (sans microphone), promoted by Sol Hurok.
*November 11
** Ken Russell's film ''Elgar'' is shown in BBC Television's ''Monitor'' series in the United Kingdom.
**Joan Baez has all of her first three albums on the Billboard charts, on their way to Gold status.
*Two Pete Seeger classic songs reach the Billboard pop charts:
**"Where Have All the Flowers Gone" recorded by The Kingston Trio reaches No. 21.
**"If I Had a Hammer", recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, reaches No. 10.
*The first American Folk Blues Festival, initiated by German promoters, tours Europe; artists include Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and T-Bone Walker. Its only UK date, 21 October at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, is influential on the British R&B scene, with the audience including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones with Jimmy Page, Paul Jones, John Mayall and other musicians, and with a second show filmed and shown on Independent Television.
*Georges Auric becomes director of the Opéra National de Paris.
* André Hodeir's book, ''Since Debussy'', makes controversial claims about the importance of Jean Barraqué as a composer.
* José Manuel Calderón becomes the first Dominican musician to record bachata, at the Radiotelevisión Dominicana studios.
*The Spokane Philharmonic orchestra becomes the Spokane Symphony.
*Dalida is named Calabrian Citizen of Honour and receives the Radio Monte Carlo Oscar with Johnny Hallyday.
* Paul & Paula make their first appearance together while attending Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas.
*The Mashed Potato is a popular dance craze, with several songs based around the style.
*Lou Harrison visits Taiwan; on his return he forms, with William Colvig, Richard Dee and Lily Chin, the first American ensemble to play traditional Chinese music.
*Sergio Franchi is signed to an RCA Red Seal recording contract in London by Norman Luboff.

Bands formed

* Booker T. & the MG's
* Herman's Hermits
*The Rolling Stones
*The Trashmen
*Question Mark and the Mysterians
* The Routers

Albums released

*''Adam Faith'' – Adam Faith
*''After Hours'' – Joni James
*''Alice Faye Sings Her Famous Movie Hits'' – Alice Faye
*''Along Comes Ruth'' – Ruth Brown
*'' All Aboard the Blue Train'' – Johnny Cash
*'' All Alone'' – Frank Sinatra
*'' All the Sad Young Men'' – Anita O'Day
*''Baby It's You'' – The Shirelles
*'' Bashin': The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith'' – Jimmy Smith
*''Because You're Mine'' – Keely Smith
*''The Best of Ball, Barber And Bilk'' – Kenny Ball, Chris Barber, and Acker Bilk
*'' The Best of Irving Berlin's Songs from Mr. President'' – Perry Como with Kaye Ballard and Sandy Stewart
*'' The Best of Julie'' – Julie London
*'' The Best of Sam Cooke'' – Sam Cooke
*''Bewitching-Lee'' – Peggy Lee
*''Big Band Percussion'' – Ted Heath and His Music
*''Big Band Specials'' – June Christy
*''Billy Rose's Jumbo'' – Soundtrack
*''Blues Cross Country'' – Peggy Lee
*'' Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets'' – Bobby Vee and The Crickets
*''A Bobby Vee Recording Session –'' Bobby Vee
*''Bobby Vee's Golden Greats –'' Bobby Vee
*''Bob Dylan'' – Bob Dylan (debut album)
*''Bo Diddley'' – Bo Diddley
*'' Bo Diddley & Company'' – Bo Diddley
*'' Bo Diddley's a Twister'' – Bo Diddley
*''Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles'' – Bobby Darin
*''Bouquet of Roses'' – Les Paul and Mary Ford
*''Buddy and Soul'' – Buddy Greco
*'' Bursting Out with the All–Star Big Band!'' – Oscar Peterson
*'' By Request'' – Perry Como
*'' Cafrune –'' Jorge Cafrune
*''Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen'' – Cal Tjader
*'' Cal Tjader Plays the Contemporary Music of Mexico and Brazil'' – Cal Tjader
*''The Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York –'' Cannonball Adderley Sextet
*'' Cannonball in Europe! –'' Cannonball Adderley
*'' Cha Cha de Amor'' – Dean Martin
*''Cherokeely Swings'' – Keely Smith
*'' Chuck Berry Twist'' – Chuck Berry
*''The Classic Della'' – Della Reese
*''Close Up In Swing'' – Erroll Garner
*'' Coltrane'' – John Coltrane
*''Come Waltz with Me'' – Steve Lawrence
*''Comin' Home Baby'' – Mel Tormé
*'' Dance with Ike & Tina Turner's Kings of Rhythm'' – Kings of Rhythm
*''Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing'' – Andy Williams
*''Dear Lonely Hearts'' – Nat King Cole
*''Del Shannon'' – Del Shannon
*''Dinah '62'' – Dinah Washington
*'' Dino: Italian Love Songs'' – Dean Martin
*'' Dino Latino'' – Dean Martin
*'' Dizzy on the French Riviera'' – Dizzy Gillespie
*''Don't Go in the Lion's Cage Tonight'' – Julie Andrews
*''Don't Mess with Tess'' – Teresa Brewer
*''Don't Worry 'Bout Me'' – Billy Eckstine
*'' Drinking Again'' – Dinah Washington
*'' Duet'' – Doris Day with André Previn
*'' Dynamite!'' – Ike & Tina Turner
*''The Electrifying Aretha Franklin'' – Aretha Franklin
*''Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson'' – Ella Fitzgerald
*''Ella Swings Gently with Nelson'' – Ella Fitzgerald
*''The Fabulous Hits of Dinah Shore'' – Dinah Shore
*'' The First Family'' – Vaughn Meader
*''First Time Out'' – Clare Fischer
*''Folklore'' – Jorge Cafrune
*''For Those Who Think Young'' – Joanie Sommers
*''For Twisters Only'' – Chubby Checker
*'' French Style'' – Dean Martin
*''Full House'' – Wes Montgomery
*''The Garland Touch'' – Judy Garland
*''The Gift of Love'' – Jack Jones
*''Girls! Girls! Girls!'' (soundtrack) – Elvis Presley
*'' Go'' – Dexter Gordon
*''Go On Home'' – Patti Page
*''Golden Age of Donegan'' – Lonnie Donegan
*''Gospel Time'' – Ruth Brown
*''Great Motion Picture Themes'' – Various Artists
*''Hancock'' – Tony Hancock
*'' Hello Young Lovers'' – Nancy Wilson
*''High Flying'' – Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
*''Hits Of The Rockin' 50s'' – Bobby Vee
*''Horn A-Plenty'' – Al Hirt
*''Howlin' Wolf'' – Howlin' Wolf
*''Howling Wolf Sings the Blues (released, recorded 1951–52)
*'' Hymns from the Heart'' – Johnny Cash
*''I Cry by Night'' – Kay Starr
*''I Feel a Song Coming On'' – Joni James
*''I Left My Heart In San Francisco'' – Tony Bennett
*''I Wanna Be Loved'' – Dinah Washington
*''I'm Your Girl'' – Joni James
*''In Love'' – Dinah Washington
*''In Other Words'' – Petula Clark
*'' India's Most Distinguished Musician in Concert'' – Ravi Shankar
*''Instant Party!'' – Everly Brothers
*''It's Trad, Dad!'' (OST) – Various Artists
*''I've Got a Lot of Livin' to Do'' – Jack Jones
*'' Jazz Workshop Revisited –'' Cannonball Adderley
*''Let's Talk About Love'' – Joanie Sommers
*''Joan Baez in Concert'' – Joan Baez
*''Johnny Get Angry'' – Joanie Sommers
*''Jorge Cafrune'' – Jorge Cafrune
*''Just Plain Country'' – Kay Starr
*'' Lena...Lovely and Alive'' – Lena Horne
*''Lena on the Blue Side'' – Lena Horne
*'' Let's Face the Music'' – Shirley Bassey with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra
*''Let's Go! with The Routers'' – The Routers
*''Let's Love'' – Buddy Greco
*''Let's Talk About Love'' – Joanie Sommers
*''Linger Awhile'' – Vic Damone
*''Live at the Diplomat'' – Damita Jo
*''The Lively Ones'' – Vic Damone
*''Love Letters'' – Julie London
*''Love Makes the World Go 'Round'' – Anna Maria Alberghetti
*''Marion Montgomery Swings for Winners and Losers'' – Marion Montgomery
*''Matt Monro –'' Matt Monro
*''Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall'' – Miles Davis
*''A Million Dollars' Worth Of Twang Volume 2'' – Duane Eddy
*'' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music'' – Ray Charles
*''Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two'' – Ray Charles
*''Moon Beams'' – Bill Evans
*'' Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes'' – Andy Williams
*'' More Cole Español'' – Nat King Cole
*'' Mr. Broadway'' – Tony Bennett
*''The Music Man'' (OST) – Various Artists
*''My Bonnie'' – Tony Sheridan
*''My Son, the Folk Singer'' – Allan Sherman
*''Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley'' – Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley
*''Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays'' – Nat King Cole and the George Shearing Quintet
*''Nina at the Village Gate'' – Nina Simone
*''Nina Simone Sings Ellington'' – Nina Simone
*''No Strings'' – La Vern Baker, Chris Connor, Bobby Short
*''Oh! Look at Me Now'' – Bobby Darin
*''On Stage with the George Mitchell Minstrels'' – George Mitchell Minstrels
*''On the Way Up'' – Ann-Margret
*'' Out of the Shadows'' – The Shadows
*''Past Midnight'' – Margaret Whiting
*''Patti Page Sings Golden Hits of the Boys'' – Patti Page
*''Peter, Paul and Mary'' – Peter, Paul and Mary
*''A Picture of You'' – Joe Brown
*'' Poema de Amor'' – Elis Regina
*''Point of No Return'' – Frank Sinatra
*''Porgy and Bess'' – Original Soundtrack
*'' Pot Luck'' – Elvis Presley
*''Ramblin' Rose'' – Nat King Cole
*'' Rapture'' – Johnny Mathis
*'' The Real Ambassadors'' – Dave Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, Carmen McRae, and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
*''Rock 'N' Roll No.2'' – Elvis Presley (re-issue)
*''Romantic Italian Songs'' – Sergio Franchi
*''Rhythm Is My Business'' – Ella Fitzgerald
*''S Wonderful 'S Marvellous'' – Ray Conniff
*''Sacred Songs'' – Harry Secombe
*''Sammy Davis Jr. All-Star Spectacular'' – Sammy Davis, Jr.
*'' Sammy Davis Jr. Belts the Best of Broadway'' – Sammy Davis, Jr.
*'' Sarah + 2'' – Sarah Vaughan
*''See See Rider'' – La Vern Baker
*'' Sentimentally Yours'' – Patsy Cline
*''The Shirelles and King Curtis Give a Twist Party'' – The Shirelles and King Curtis
*''Side by Side'' – Sandler & Young
*'' Sinatra and Strings'' – Frank Sinatra
*''Sinatra and Swingin' Brass'' – Frank Sinatra
*''Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain'' – Frank Sinatra
*'' Sinatra Sings of Love and Things'' – Frank Sinatra
*'' Sinatra–Basie: An Historic Musical First'' – Frank Sinatra and Count Basie
*''Sincerely Yours'' – Robert Goulet
*''Sing Something Simple'' – Cliff Adams Singers
*'' Something Warm'' – Oscar Peterson
*'' The Song Is Paris'' – Jackie Paris
*''Sophisticated Lady'' – Julie London
*''Soul'' – Timi Yuro
*'' The Sound of Johnny Cash'' – Johnny Cash
*''Strange Enchantment'' – Vic Damone
*'' Sugar 'n' Spice'' – Peggy Lee
*'' Surfin' Safari'' – The Beach Boys
*''Swinging All the Way with Frances Faye'' – Frances Faye
*''Take Good Care of My Baby'' – Bobby Vee
*'' Takin' Off'' – Herbie Hancock
*'' Time for 2 –'' Anita O'Day and Cal Tjader
*'' Tears and Laughter'' – Dinah Washington
*'' The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin'' – Aretha Franklin
*''Things and Other Things'' – Bobby Darin
*''32 Minutes and 17 Seconds'' – Cliff Richard and The Shadows
*'' This Is Anita'' – Anita O'Day
*''This Was My Love'' – Jack Jones
*''Time for Two'' – Anita O'Day and Cal Tjader
*''Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall'' – Tony Bennett
*'' Tope Puestro –'' Jorge Cafrune
*''Tops with Me'' – Helen Shapiro
*''Trumpet and Strings

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