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1940s in music

For music from an individual year in the 1940s, go to 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49

This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 1940s.

In the developed world, swing, big band, jazz, Latin and country music dominated and defined the decade's music. After World War II, the big band sounds of the earlier part of the decade had been gradually replaced by crooners and vocal pop.

The U.S. and North America edit

Pop edit

 
Bing Crosby was the best selling pop artist of the 1940s.

Ragtime, a genre that first became popular in the 1890s, was popular through about the 1940s. After its best-known exponent, Scott Joplin, died in 1917, the genre faded. As the 1920s unfolded, jazz rapidly took over as the dominant form of popular music in the United States.

 
Jimmy Dorsey remained at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart for 32 weeks.

In addition, a new form of popular music, crooning, emerged during the early 1930s. Technology played a large part in the development of this style, as electronic sound recording had emerged near the end of the 1920s and replaced the earlier acoustic recording. While singers such as Al Jolson and Billy Murray had recorded songs by yelling into a Victrola horn, as this was the only way to get audible sound with acoustic recording, the new electronic equipment allowed for a softer, more intimate style of singing. Many of the older singers such as Jolson and Murray consequently fell out of favor during the 1930s with changing tastes (although Al Jolson managed a successful career comeback after World War II).

Bing Crosby was the leading figure of the crooner sound as well as its most iconic, defining artist. By the 1940s, he was an entertainment superstar who mastered all of the major media formats of the day, movies, radio, and recorded music. Other popular singers of the day included Cab Calloway and Eddie Cantor.

 
Glenn Miller big-band trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era.
 
Frank Sinatra was one of the best-selling male pop artists of the 1940s.

Bandleaders such as the Dorsey Brothers often helped launch the careers of vocalists who went on to gain popularity as solo artists, such as Frank Sinatra, who rose to fame as a singer during this time.[1] Sinatra's vast appeal to the "bobby soxers" revealed a whole new audience for popular music, which had generally appealed mainly to adults up to that time, making Sinatra the first teen idol. Sinatra's music mostly attracted young girls to his concerts. This image of a teen idol would also be seen with future artists such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Sinatra's massive popularity was also one of the reasons why the big band music declined in popularity; major record companies were looking for crooners and pop singers to attract a youth audience due to his success. Frank Sinatra would go on to become one of the most successful artists of the 1940s and one of the best selling music artists of all time. Sinatra remained relevant through the 1950s and 60s, even with rock music being the dominant form of music in his later years. In the later decades, Sinatra's music would be mostly aimed at an older adult audience. Sinatra remains one of the most respected and critically acclaimed music artists of all time.

Big band swing could variably be an instrumental style or accompany a vocalist. In comparison to its loud, brash, rhythmic sound stood the "sweet" bands which played a softer, more melodic style. The most notable of these, in no small part thanks to a long postwar TV career, was the band of Lawrence Welk.

While swing bands could be found in most major cities during the 1930s–1940s, the most popular and famous were the bands of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw, which had national followings and sold huge numbers. World War II brought an end to big band swing as many musicians were conscripted into the armed forces and travel restrictions made it hard for bands to tour. In 1944, Glenn Miller was killed when his plane crashed into the English Channel en route to a USO show in France. His death is widely considered to mark the close of the swing era.

After the war, a combination of factors such as changing demographics and rapid inflation made large bands unprofitable, so that popular music in the US came to be dominated instead by traditional pop and crooners, as well as bebop and jump blues.[1]

Best Selling Records of Decade 1940s edit

Before the Hot100 was implemented in 1958, Billboard magazine measured a record's performance with three charts, "Best-Selling Popular Retail Records", "Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys" and 'Most-Played Juke Box Records':[2] However, since the latter two charts were not implemented until mid-decade, we focus on 'Best-Selling Retail Records of the 1940s.' Since it consisted of ten positions for most of the decade, only ten per week were recognized. Each week fifteen points were awarded to the number one record, then nine points for number two, eight points for number three, and so on, with one point for number ten. This system balances songs that reach the highest positions, as well as those that had the longest chart runs. Calculations are unaffected by year-end cutoffs as with Billboard (see discussion).

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart Positions
1 The Mills Brothers "Paper Doll"[3] Decca 18318 February 18, 1942 (1942-02-18) May 22, 1943 (1943-05-22) US Billboard 1943 #1, US Pop #1 for 12 weeks, 40 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #3, Harlem Hit Parade #2 for 5 weeks, 29 total weeks, 287 points, 6,000,000 sales,[4] Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
2 Glenn Miller and His Orchestra "Chattanooga Choo Choo"[5] Bluebird 11230 May 7, 1941 (1941-05-07) July 25, 1941 (1941-07-25) US Billboard 1941 #1, US Pop #1 for 9 weeks, 28 total weeks, 253 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1996, ASCAP song of 1941
3 Bing Crosby "White Christmas"[6] Decca 18429 May 29, 1942 (1942-05-29) July 30, 1942 (1942-07-30) US Billboard 1942 #1, US Pop #1 for 14 weeks, 37 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #18, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 3 weeks, 9 total weeks, 191 points (1942) + 60 pts (43-46) = 251, 2,600,000 sales 1944, 50,000,000 2007,[7] Grammy Hall of Fame 1974
4 Harry James and His Orchestra (Vocal Helen Forrest) "I've Heard That Song Before"[8] Columbia 36668 July 31, 1942 (1942-07-31) December 4, 1942 (1942-12-04) US Billboard 1943 #2, US Pop #1 for 13 weeks, 26 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #26, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 1 weeks, 10 total weeks, 240 points
5 Francis Craig and His Orchestra "Near You"[9] Bullet 1001 February 1947 (1947-02) March 1947 (1947-03) US Billboard 1947 #1, US Pop #1 for 17 weeks, 25 total weeks, 236 points, sold 2.5 million
6 Freddy Martin and His Orchestra "Piano Concerto In B Flat"[10] Bluebird 11211 June 16, 1941 (1941-06-16) July 3, 1941 (1941-07-03) US Billboard 1941 #2, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 26 total weeks, 230 points
7 Artie Shaw and His Orchestra "Frenesi"[11] Victor 26542 March 3, 1940 (1940-03-03) March 29, 1940 (1940-03-29) US Billboard 1940 #1, US Pop #1 for 13 weeks, 29 total weeks, 223 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2000, 1,000,000 sold[12]
8 Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra "Ballerina"[13] RCA Victor 20-2433 August 12, 1947 (1947-08-12) October 1947 (1947-10) US Billboard 1947 #3, US Pop #1 for 10 weeks, 22 total weeks, 222 points
9 Bing Crosby "Swinging on a Star"[14] Decca 18597 February 7, 1944 (1944-02-07) April 1944 (1944-04) US Billboard 1944 #1, US Pop #1 for 9 weeks, 28 total weeks, 219 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
10 Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra "Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)"[15] RCA Victor 20-3411 March 14, 1949 (1949-03-14) May 14, 1949 (1949-05-14) US Billboard 1949 #1, US Pop #1 for 12 weeks, 22 total weeks, US Country 1949 #43, Country #2 for 1 week, 3 total weeks, 218 points
11 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra "I'll Never Smile Again"[16] Victor 26628 April 23, 1940 (1940-04-23) June 7, 1940 (1940-06-07) US Billboard 1940 #2, US Pop #1 for 12 weeks, 20 total weeks, 216 points
12 Dinah Shore and Her Happy Boys "Buttons and Bows"[17] Columbia 38284 November 30, 1947 (1947-11-30) August 16, 1948 (1948-08-16) US Billboard 1948 #1, US Pop #1 for 10 weeks, 23 total weeks, 215 points, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, sold 2.5 million
13 Les Brown and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Doris Day) "Sentimental Journey"[8] Columbia 36769 November 20, 1944 (1944-11-20) January 22, 1945 (1945-01-22) US Billboard 1945 #1, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 28 total weeks, 213 points, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, 1,000,000 sales[4]
14 Pee Wee Hunt Orchestra "Twelfth Street Rag"[18] Capitol 15105 November 8, 1947 (1947-11-08) June 1948 (1948-06) US Billboard 1948 #2, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 32 total weeks, 211 points
15 Ted Weems and His Orchestra "Heartaches"[19] Decca 25017 August 23, 1938 (1938-08-23) December 1946 (1946-12) US Billboard 1947 #2, US Pop #1 for 13 weeks, 20 total weeks, 204 points
16 The Ink Spots "The Gypsy"[20] Decca 18817 February 19, 1946 (1946-02-19) March 1946 (1946-03) US Billboard 1946 #2, US Pop #1 for 13 weeks, 23 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #6, Race Records #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 198 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
17 Peggy Lee (Dave Barbour Orchestra) "Manana (Is Soon Enough for Me)"[18] Capitol 15022 November 25, 1947 (1947-11-25) January 1948 (1948-01) US Billboard 1948 #3, US Pop #1 for 9 weeks, 21 total weeks, 191 points
18 Perry Como "Till The End Of Time"[21] Victor 20-1709 July 3, 1945 (1945-07-03) July 30, 1945 (1945-07-30) US Billboard 1945 #2, US Pop #1 for 9 weeks, 17 total weeks, 189 points, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, 1,000,000 sales[4]
19 Bing Crosby "Only Forever"[22] Decca 3300 July 3, 1940 (1940-07-03) August 1940 (1940-08) US Billboard 1940 #3, US Pop #1 for 9 weeks, 22 total weeks, 185 points
20 Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters "Don't Fence Me In"[23] Decca 23364 July 25, 1944 (1944-07-25) November 1944 (1944-11) US Billboard 1944 #2, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 21 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #49, Race Records #9 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, 183 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
21 Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"[24] Capitol 195 December 13, 1944 (1944-12-13) July 1945 (1945-07) US Billboard 1945 #3, US Pop #1 for 7 weeks, 19 total weeks, 182 points
22 Perry Como "Some Enchanted Evening"[15] RCA Victor 20-3402 March 1, 1949 (1949-03-01) April 1949 (1949-04) US Billboard 1949 #5, US Pop #1 for 5 weeks, 26 total weeks, 182 points
23 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo"[25] Victor 27934 August 1, 1942 (1942-08-01) September 12, 1942 (1942-09-12) US Billboard 1942 #3, US Pop #1 for 7 weeks, 18 total weeks, 181 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
24 Andrews Sisters "Rum and Coca-Cola"[26] Decca 18636 October 23, 1944 (1944-10-23) December 1944 (1944-12) US Billboard 1945 #5, US Pop #1 for 10 weeks (Juke Box), 21 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #23, Race Records #3 for 1 week, 3 total weeks, 179 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
25 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "Moonlight Cocktail"[27] Bluebird 11401 May 7, 1941 (1941-05-07) July 25, 1941 (1941-07-25) US Billboard 1942 #4, US Pop #1 for 10 weeks, 21 total weeks, 178 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
26 Harry James and His Orchestra (Vocal Dick Haymes) "I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)"[28] Columbia 36698 April 7, 1941 (1941-04-07) March 1944 (1944-03) US Billboard 1944 #3, US Pop #1 for 6 weeks (Juke Box chart), 29 total weeks, 178 points
27 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra and Pied Pipers) "There Are Such Things"[29] Victor 27974 July 1, 1942 (1942-07-01) July 17, 1942 (1942-07-17) US Billboard 1943 #3, US Pop #1 for 5 weeks, 26 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #22, Harlem Hit Parade #2 for 1 week, 13 total weeks, 176 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
28 The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkins Orchestra "I Can Dream, Can't I?"[30] Decca 24705 July 15, 1949 (1949-07-15) August 22, 1949 (1949-08-22) US Billboard 1949 #3, US Pop #1 for 5 weeks, 25 total weeks, 175 points
29 Bing Crosby "Sunday, Monday or Always"[31] Decca 18561 July 2, 1943 (1943-07-02) August 21, 1943 (1943-08-21) US Billboard 1943 #4, US Pop #1 for 7 weeks, 20 total weeks, 174 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
30 Frankie Laine "That Lucky Old Sun"[32] Mercury 5316 June 14, 1949 (1949-06-14) August 19, 1949 (1949-08-19) US Billboard 1949 #2, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 22 total weeks, 173 points
31 Dinah Shore "I'll Walk Alone"[21] Victor 20-1586 March 1944 (1944-03) May 1944 (1944-05) US Billboard 1944 #6, US Pop #1 for 4 weeks, 26 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #44, Harlem Hit Parade #10 for 2 weeks, 2 total weeks, CashBox #1, 173 points
32 Vic Damone "You're Breaking My Heart"[32] Mercury 5271 February 15, 1949 (1949-02-15) May 1949 (1949-05) US Billboard 1949 #6, US Pop #1 for 4 weeks, 26 total weeks, 172 points
33 Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra "Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)"[33] Decca 3629 February 3, 1941 (1941-02-03) February 1941 (1941-02) US Billboard 1941 #3, US Pop #1 for 10 weeks, 18 total weeks, 171 points
34 Swing And Sway With Sammy Kaye "Daddy"[34] Victor 27391 March 31, 1941 (1941-03-31) April 25, 1941 (1941-04-25) US Billboard 1941 #4, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 19 total weeks, 170 points
35 The Mills Brothers "You Always Hurt The One You Love"[35] Decca 18599 February 27, 1944 (1944-02-27) May 1944 (1944-05) US Billboard 1944 #4, US Pop #1 for 5 weeks, 32 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #29, Harlem Hit Parade #5 for 3 weeks, 24 total weeks, 170 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
36 Bing Crosby "I'll Be Seeing You"[36] Decca 18595 February 17, 1944 (1944-02-17) April 1944 (1944-04) US Billboard 1944 #7, US Pop #1 for 4 weeks, 28 total weeks, 168 points
37 Eddy Howard and His Orchestra "To Each His Own"[37] Majestic 7188 April 16, 1946 (1946-04-16) June 1946 (1946-06) US Billboard 1946 #1, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 24 total weeks, 167 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]
38 Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra "My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)"[38] Decca 18567 October 1, 1943 (1943-10-01) November 1943 (1943-11) US Billboard 1944 #8, US Pop #1 for 5 weeks, 24 total weeks, 166 points
39 The Harmonicats "Peg o' My Heart" Vitacoustic 1 March 1947 (1947-03) April 1947 (1947-04) US Billboard 1947 #4, US Pop #1 for 8 weeks, 26 total weeks, 165 points
40 Perry Como "Prisoner of Love"[21] RCA Victor 20-1814 December 18, 1945 (1945-12-18) March 1946 (1946-03) US Billboard 1946 #7, US Pop #1 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks, 165 points, 1,000,000 sales[4]

Jazz edit

 
Artie Shaw, ca 1947. Photograph by William P. Gottlieb
 
Benny Goodman performing in Stage Door Canteen (1943)

In the early 1940s, bebop emerged, led by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and others. It helped to shift jazz from danceable popular music towards a more complex "musician's music." Differing greatly from swing, early bebop divorced itself from dance music, establishing itself more as an art form but lessening its potential popular and commercial value. Since bebop was meant to be listened to, not danced to, it used faster tempos.

The swing era lasted until the mid-1940s, and produced popular tunes such as Duke Ellington's "Cotton Tail" (1940) and Billy Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train" (1941). When the big bands struggled to keep going during World War II, a shift was happening in jazz in favor of smaller groups. Some swing era musicians, like Louis Jordan, later found popularity in a new kind of music, called "rhythm and blues", that would evolve into rock and roll in the 1950s.

By the end of the 1940s, the nervous energy and tension of bebop was replaced with a tendency towards calm and smoothness, that eventually influenced the birth of cool jazz, which favoured long, linear melodic lines in the 1950s.

By the 1940s, Dixieland jazz revival musicians like Jimmy McPartland, Eddie Condon and Bud Freeman had become well-known and established their own unique style. Most characteristically, players entered solos against riffing by other horns, and were followed by a closing with the drummer playing a four-bar tag that was then answered by the rest of the band.

Some of the most notable Jazz artists of the 1940s include Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and also Nat King Cole.

Country music edit

 
Vaughn Monroe as a guest star in a 1962 Bonanza episode
 
Roy Rogers

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, cowboy songs, or Western music, became widely popular through the romanticization of the cowboy and idealized depictions of the west in Hollywood films. Singing cowboys, such as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, sang cowboy songs in their films and became popular throughout the United States. Film producers began incorporating fully orchestrated four-part harmonies and sophisticated musical arrangements into their motion pictures.

In the post-war period, country music was called "folk" in the trades, and "hillbilly" within the industry.[39] In 1944, The Billboard replaced the term "hillbilly" with "folk songs and blues", and switched to "country" or "country and western" in 1949.[40][41]

But while cowboy and western music were the most popular styles, a new style – honky tonk – would take root and define the genre of country music for decades to come. The style meshed Western swing and blues music; featured rough, nasal vocals backed by instruments such as the guitar, fiddle, string bass, and steel guitar; and had lyrics that focused on tragic themes of lost love, adultery, loneliness, alcoholism and self-pity. One of the earliest successful practitioners of this style was Ernest Tubb, a Crisp, Texas native who had perfected his style on several Texas radio stations in the mid- to late-1930s. In 1940, he gained a recording contract with Decca Records, and a year later released his standard "Walking the Floor Over You." The single became a hit and sold over one million copies. Allmusic critic David Vinopal called "Walking the Floor Over You" the first honky tonk song that launched the musical genre itself.[42] As the decade progressed, the style was picked up by Floyd Tillman and Hank Williams, and by the end of the 1940s was the predominant style in country music.

 
Hank Williams

Williams, a Butler County, Alabama native, began earning a reputation as both a songwriter and a performing artist. Using traditional honky-tonk themes, Williams grew to become one of the most important country performers of all time. His recording of "Lovesick Blues" (and its flip side, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry") in 1949 remains a landmark in both country and popular music to this day. But even by the late 1940s, it became well known that Williams drank heavily, and his personal problems would continue to grow as the 1950s dawned. Still, his overall style inspired countless artists in country and other styles of music, including rock music, and his songs would be performed by numerous artists in many styles.

 
The Andrews Sisters

On August 25, 1945 Jenny Lou Carson became the first woman to write a No. 1 country music hit when "You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often," performed by Tex Ritter, reached the top of the Billboard Most Played Juke Box Folk Records.[43] In 1949 Carson had another No. 1 country music hit as a songwriter when "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle," performed by Eddy Arnold, topped the Billboard Folk Best Seller Charts.[44] From 1945 to 1955 Carson was one of the most prolific songwriters in country music. Women weren't absent from the scene as vocalists; in fact, the No. 1 song on Billboard magazine's very first Most Played Juke Box Folk Records chart, dated January 8, 1944, saw The Andrews Sisters get co-credit along with Bing Crosby on "Pistol Packin' Mama." In 1949, Margaret Whiting teamed with Jimmy Wakely to have a No. 1 country and pop hit, a cover of the Floyd Tillman song "Slippin' Around." Kitty Wells was a popular concert attraction, performing with her husband Johnnie Wright and his duet partner, Jack Anglin; and Wilma Lee Cooper was prominently featured on recordings with her husband, Stoney. Other popular female acts were Patsy Montana, Martha Carson, The Maddox Brothers and Rose, Molly O'Day with the Cumberland Mountain Folks, and Lulu Belle (of Lulu Belle and Scotty), while Mother Maybelle Carter re-formed the Carter Family with her daughters, Anita, June, and Helen and their popularity would only grow in time.

 
Ralph Stanley

Eddy Arnold, known as "The Tennessee Plowboy," became an innovator of crossover music, or music of one particular genre (in this case, country) that was popular among mainstream audiences. His style combined elements of refined honky tonk with popular music sounds, evident on hits like "That's How Much I Love You," "I'll Hold You In My Heart ('Til I Can Hold You In My Arms)," "Anytime" and "Boquet of Roses," and several of these songs charted on both the Billboard country and pop charts. He was so dominant that by 1948, five of that year's six No. 1 songs on Billboards' country chart bore Arnold's name, a record that Charlie Rich would tie 26 years later but otherwise has been unmatched. Arnold would go on to score more than 150 chart hits during a career that spanned until his death in 2008.

Other Trends edit

  • In 1941 Les Paul designed and built the first solid-body electric guitar.
  • In 1942 Bing Crosby recorded and released the single "White Christmas", which became the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.[45][46][47]
  • In 1948 Columbia Records introduced the 33+13 rpm LP ("long playing") record at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, featuring 25 minutes of music per side.
  • In 1949 RCA Victor introduced the 45 rpm record, featuring 8 minutes of music.

Europe edit

Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Tino Rossi, were popular French singers.

Latin America edit

 
Maria Grever

The Cuban bolero had traveled to Mexico and the rest of Latin America after its conception, where it became part of their repertoires. Some of the bolero's leading composers have come from nearby countries, most especially the prolific Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández, Some Cuban composers of the bolero are listed under Trova. Some successful Mexican bolero composers are María Grever, Gonzalo Curiel Barba, Gabriel Ruiz, and Consuelo Velázquez which song Verdad Amarga (Bitter Truth) was the most popular in Mexico in the year 1948; another example is Mexico's Agustín Lara.

 
Agustin Lara
 
Consuelo Velázquez with Pedro Vargas

Other famous performers include Pedro Vargas, Luis Aguilar, Ana María González, Trío Calaveras, Trío Los Panchos

Mariachi an ensemble that consists of guitarrón, vihuela, guitar, violins and trumpets. Between 1940 mariachi and rancheras originated in the western states of the country.

This folk ensemble performs ranchera, son de mariachi, huapango de mariachi, polka, corrido, and other musical forms. It originated in the southern part of the state of Jalisco during the 19th century.[48] The city of Guadalajara in Jalisco is known as the "Capital of Mariachi".[49] The style is now popular throughout Mexico and the Southwestern United States, and is considered representative of Mexican music and culture.[50]

Asia edit

 
Shizuko Kasagi

In China, the 1940s was the golden era of Mandarin pop songs which were collectively termed 'Shidaiqu', literally "songs of the era". Shanghai Pathe Records, then belonging to EMI, emerged to be the leading record company in China and featured a blend of Chinese melodies and western orchestrations as well as Big Band Jazz elements in arrangements of music, leading to their superseding traditional Chinese operas in radio broadcasts. With the help of growing radio audience in the nation, Shidaiqu successfully became prevalent and listening to Mandarin pop songs was regarded as trendy. Among all Chinese contemporary singers, Zhou Xuan, Yao Li (also known as Hue Lee), Wu Yingyin, Bai Guang, Bai Hong, Gong Qiuxia and Li Xianglan were the seven most famous artists (七大歌星), who gained nationwide popularity. Zhou Xuan was the most representative of all, who later became one of the emblematic and legendary figures in the history of Chinese pop songs. In addition, despite the ravages of the Japanese occupation, there saw an immense development and maturation in the Chinese movie industry. Very often, pop songs were intermingled with episodes in films, providing the audience with multiple entertainment at one time. Nonetheless, little attention was paid on the groundbreaking breakthroughs of Chinese Mandarin pop songs in the 1940s, both by the academia and the community in China as well as Western countries. Shidaiqu had its influence even in Hong Kong and Taiwan music in the 1950s and 1960s as well as in Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese communities. Rose, Rose, I Love you, the renowned song presented by Frankie Laine, and An Autumn Melody, were two symbolic Shidaiqu.

In Japan, Nihon Columbia and Nihon Victor were two of the larger record companies. Blues, boogie-woogie and jazz were popular. Ryouichi Hattori was a popular composer, and Shizuko Kasagi was one of the popular singers.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1.
  2. ^ Molanphy, Chris (August 1, 2013). "How The Hot 100 Became America's Hit Barometer". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Decca matrix 70348. Paper doll / Mills Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research.
  5. ^ "Victor matrix PBS-061245. Chattanooga choo choo / Tex Beneke ; The Four Modernaires ; Glenn Miller Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  6. ^ "Decca matrix DLA 3009. White Christmas / Bing Crosby - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  7. ^ Giddins, Gary (2018). Bing Crosby: swinging on a star, the war years, 1940-1946. New York: Little Brown & Company. ISBN 978-0-316-41234-6. OCLC 1057695601.
  8. ^ a b "COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 36500 - 37000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  9. ^ Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 4, side A.
  10. ^ "Victor matrix PBS-061301. Piano concerto in B flat / Freddy Martin Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  11. ^ "Victor matrix PBS-042546. Frenesi / Artie Shaw Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  12. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The book of golden discs. Internet Archive. London : Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 978-0-214-20512-5.
  13. ^ "RCA Victor 20-prefix 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-2000 through 20-2500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  14. ^ "Decca matrix L 3307. Swinging on a star / Bing Crosby - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  15. ^ a b "RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-3000 through 20-3500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  16. ^ "Victor matrix BS-048942. I'll never smile again / The Pied Pipers ; Frank Sinatra ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  17. ^ "COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 38000 - 38499". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  18. ^ a b "Capitol 15000 series numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  19. ^ "Decca matrix DLA 1444. Heartaches / Ted Weems Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  20. ^ "Decca matrix 73387. The gypsy / Ink Spots - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  21. ^ a b c "RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-1500 - 20-2000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  22. ^ "Decca matrix DLA 2033. Only forever / Bing Crosby - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  23. ^ "Decca matrix L 3475. Don't fence me in / The Andrews Sisters ; Bing Crosby - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  24. ^ "Capitol 100 - 499, 78rpm numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  25. ^ "Victor matrix PBS-072283. (I've got a gal in) Kalamazoo / Tex Beneke ; Glenn Miller Orchestra ; Marion Hutton ; Modernaires - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  26. ^ "Decca matrix 72460. Rum and Coca Cola / The Andrews Sisters - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  27. ^ "Victor matrix BS-068456. Moonlight cocktail / Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra ; Modernaires - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  28. ^ "COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 35200 - 35500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  29. ^ "Victor matrix BS-075400. There are such things / The Pied Pipers ; Frank Sinatra ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  30. ^ "Decca matrix 75074. I can dream, can't I? / The Andrews Sisters - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  31. ^ "Decca matrix L 3172. Sunday, Monday or always / Bing Crosby - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  32. ^ a b "MERCURY 78rpm numerical listing discography: 5000 - 5500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  33. ^ "Decca matrix 68652. Amapola (voBE, HOC) / Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  34. ^ "Victor matrix BS-063320. Daddy / Kaye Choir ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  35. ^ "Decca matrix 71812. You always hurt the one you love / Mills Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  36. ^ "Decca matrix L 3318. I'll be seeing you / Bing Crosby - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  37. ^ "MAJESTIC 78rpm numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  38. ^ "Decca matrix 71439. My heart tells me / Glen Gray Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  39. ^ Akenson, Charles K. Wolfe, James E. Country Music Goes to War. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-7188-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong. By Norm Cohen, David Cohen. University of Illinois Press. 2000. page 31. ISBN 0-252-06881-5, ISBN 978-0-252-06881-2
  41. ^ Cohen, Norm (2000). Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-06881-2.
  42. ^ Vinopal, David. "Ernest Tubb Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  43. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 292.
  44. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 29.
  45. ^ Guinness Book of Records, 2007 Edition, page 187 2015-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^
  47. ^ Guinness Book of Records, 2009 Edition, pp. 14, 15 & 169. 2013-02-26 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ Collins, Camille. "What is the mariachi?". mexconnect.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  49. ^ Brown, David M. (September 9, 2011). "Gilbert woman brings mariachi music to Southeast Valley". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  50. ^ Burr, Ramiro (June 26, 1994). "Mariachis: little-known, much-loved". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 12, 2012.

1940s, music, music, from, individual, year, 1940s, main, article, timeline, musical, events, this, article, includes, overview, major, events, trends, popular, music, 1940s, developed, world, swing, band, jazz, latin, country, music, dominated, defined, decad. For music from an individual year in the 1940s go to 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Main article Timeline of musical events This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 1940s In the developed world swing big band jazz Latin and country music dominated and defined the decade s music After World War II the big band sounds of the earlier part of the decade had been gradually replaced by crooners and vocal pop Contents 1 The U S and North America 1 1 Pop 1 2 Best Selling Records of Decade 1940s 1 3 Jazz 1 4 Country music 1 5 Other Trends 2 Europe 3 Latin America 4 Asia 5 See also 6 ReferencesThe U S and North America editSee also Music history of the United States 1940s and 50s Pop edit nbsp Bing Crosby was the best selling pop artist of the 1940s Ragtime a genre that first became popular in the 1890s was popular through about the 1940s After its best known exponent Scott Joplin died in 1917 the genre faded As the 1920s unfolded jazz rapidly took over as the dominant form of popular music in the United States nbsp Jimmy Dorsey remained at the top of the Billboard number one singles chart for 32 weeks In addition a new form of popular music crooning emerged during the early 1930s Technology played a large part in the development of this style as electronic sound recording had emerged near the end of the 1920s and replaced the earlier acoustic recording While singers such as Al Jolson and Billy Murray had recorded songs by yelling into a Victrola horn as this was the only way to get audible sound with acoustic recording the new electronic equipment allowed for a softer more intimate style of singing Many of the older singers such as Jolson and Murray consequently fell out of favor during the 1930s with changing tastes although Al Jolson managed a successful career comeback after World War II Bing Crosby was the leading figure of the crooner sound as well as its most iconic defining artist By the 1940s he was an entertainment superstar who mastered all of the major media formats of the day movies radio and recorded music Other popular singers of the day included Cab Calloway and Eddie Cantor nbsp Glenn Miller big band trombonist arranger composer and bandleader in the swing era nbsp Frank Sinatra was one of the best selling male pop artists of the 1940s Bandleaders such as the Dorsey Brothers often helped launch the careers of vocalists who went on to gain popularity as solo artists such as Frank Sinatra who rose to fame as a singer during this time 1 Sinatra s vast appeal to the bobby soxers revealed a whole new audience for popular music which had generally appealed mainly to adults up to that time making Sinatra the first teen idol Sinatra s music mostly attracted young girls to his concerts This image of a teen idol would also be seen with future artists such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles Sinatra s massive popularity was also one of the reasons why the big band music declined in popularity major record companies were looking for crooners and pop singers to attract a youth audience due to his success Frank Sinatra would go on to become one of the most successful artists of the 1940s and one of the best selling music artists of all time Sinatra remained relevant through the 1950s and 60s even with rock music being the dominant form of music in his later years In the later decades Sinatra s music would be mostly aimed at an older adult audience Sinatra remains one of the most respected and critically acclaimed music artists of all time Big band swing could variably be an instrumental style or accompany a vocalist In comparison to its loud brash rhythmic sound stood the sweet bands which played a softer more melodic style The most notable of these in no small part thanks to a long postwar TV career was the band of Lawrence Welk While swing bands could be found in most major cities during the 1930s 1940s the most popular and famous were the bands of Glenn Miller Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw which had national followings and sold huge numbers World War II brought an end to big band swing as many musicians were conscripted into the armed forces and travel restrictions made it hard for bands to tour In 1944 Glenn Miller was killed when his plane crashed into the English Channel en route to a USO show in France His death is widely considered to mark the close of the swing era After the war a combination of factors such as changing demographics and rapid inflation made large bands unprofitable so that popular music in the US came to be dominated instead by traditional pop and crooners as well as bebop and jump blues 1 Best Selling Records of Decade 1940s edit Before the Hot100 was implemented in 1958 Billboard magazine measured a record s performance with three charts Best Selling Popular Retail Records Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys and Most Played Juke Box Records 2 However since the latter two charts were not implemented until mid decade we focus on Best Selling Retail Records of the 1940s Since it consisted of ten positions for most of the decade only ten per week were recognized Each week fifteen points were awarded to the number one record then nine points for number two eight points for number three and so on with one point for number ten This system balances songs that reach the highest positions as well as those that had the longest chart runs Calculations are unaffected by year end cutoffs as with Billboard see discussion Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart Positions1 The Mills Brothers Paper Doll 3 Decca 18318 February 18 1942 1942 02 18 May 22 1943 1943 05 22 US Billboard 1943 1 US Pop 1 for 12 weeks 40 total weeks US R amp B 1943 3 Harlem Hit Parade 2 for 5 weeks 29 total weeks 287 points 6 000 000 sales 4 Grammy Hall of Fame 19982 Glenn Miller and His Orchestra Chattanooga Choo Choo 5 Bluebird 11230 May 7 1941 1941 05 07 July 25 1941 1941 07 25 US Billboard 1941 1 US Pop 1 for 9 weeks 28 total weeks 253 points Grammy Hall of Fame 1996 ASCAP song of 19413 Bing Crosby White Christmas 6 Decca 18429 May 29 1942 1942 05 29 July 30 1942 1942 07 30 US Billboard 1942 1 US Pop 1 for 14 weeks 37 total weeks US R amp B 1943 18 Harlem Hit Parade 1 for 3 weeks 9 total weeks 191 points 1942 60 pts 43 46 251 2 600 000 sales 1944 50 000 000 2007 7 Grammy Hall of Fame 19744 Harry James and His Orchestra Vocal Helen Forrest I ve Heard That Song Before 8 Columbia 36668 July 31 1942 1942 07 31 December 4 1942 1942 12 04 US Billboard 1943 2 US Pop 1 for 13 weeks 26 total weeks US R amp B 1943 26 Harlem Hit Parade 1 for 1 weeks 10 total weeks 240 points5 Francis Craig and His Orchestra Near You 9 Bullet 1001 February 1947 1947 02 March 1947 1947 03 US Billboard 1947 1 US Pop 1 for 17 weeks 25 total weeks 236 points sold 2 5 million6 Freddy Martin and His Orchestra Piano Concerto In B Flat 10 Bluebird 11211 June 16 1941 1941 06 16 July 3 1941 1941 07 03 US Billboard 1941 2 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 26 total weeks 230 points7 Artie Shaw and His Orchestra Frenesi 11 Victor 26542 March 3 1940 1940 03 03 March 29 1940 1940 03 29 US Billboard 1940 1 US Pop 1 for 13 weeks 29 total weeks 223 points Grammy Hall of Fame 2000 1 000 000 sold 12 8 Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra Ballerina 13 RCA Victor 20 2433 August 12 1947 1947 08 12 October 1947 1947 10 US Billboard 1947 3 US Pop 1 for 10 weeks 22 total weeks 222 points9 Bing Crosby Swinging on a Star 14 Decca 18597 February 7 1944 1944 02 07 April 1944 1944 04 US Billboard 1944 1 US Pop 1 for 9 weeks 28 total weeks 219 points 1 000 000 sales 4 10 Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra Riders in the Sky A Cowboy Legend 15 RCA Victor 20 3411 March 14 1949 1949 03 14 May 14 1949 1949 05 14 US Billboard 1949 1 US Pop 1 for 12 weeks 22 total weeks US Country 1949 43 Country 2 for 1 week 3 total weeks 218 points11 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra Vocal Frank Sinatra I ll Never Smile Again 16 Victor 26628 April 23 1940 1940 04 23 June 7 1940 1940 06 07 US Billboard 1940 2 US Pop 1 for 12 weeks 20 total weeks 216 points12 Dinah Shore and Her Happy Boys Buttons and Bows 17 Columbia 38284 November 30 1947 1947 11 30 August 16 1948 1948 08 16 US Billboard 1948 1 US Pop 1 for 10 weeks 23 total weeks 215 points Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 sold 2 5 million13 Les Brown and his Orchestra Vocal Chorus by Doris Day Sentimental Journey 8 Columbia 36769 November 20 1944 1944 11 20 January 22 1945 1945 01 22 US Billboard 1945 1 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 28 total weeks 213 points Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 1 000 000 sales 4 14 Pee Wee Hunt Orchestra Twelfth Street Rag 18 Capitol 15105 November 8 1947 1947 11 08 June 1948 1948 06 US Billboard 1948 2 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 32 total weeks 211 points15 Ted Weems and His Orchestra Heartaches 19 Decca 25017 August 23 1938 1938 08 23 December 1946 1946 12 US Billboard 1947 2 US Pop 1 for 13 weeks 20 total weeks 204 points16 The Ink Spots The Gypsy 20 Decca 18817 February 19 1946 1946 02 19 March 1946 1946 03 US Billboard 1946 2 US Pop 1 for 13 weeks 23 total weeks US Most Played Race Records 1946 6 Race Records 1 for 2 weeks 13 total weeks 198 points 1 000 000 sales 4 17 Peggy Lee Dave Barbour Orchestra Manana Is Soon Enough for Me 18 Capitol 15022 November 25 1947 1947 11 25 January 1948 1948 01 US Billboard 1948 3 US Pop 1 for 9 weeks 21 total weeks 191 points18 Perry Como Till The End Of Time 21 Victor 20 1709 July 3 1945 1945 07 03 July 30 1945 1945 07 30 US Billboard 1945 2 US Pop 1 for 9 weeks 17 total weeks 189 points Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 1 000 000 sales 4 19 Bing Crosby Only Forever 22 Decca 3300 July 3 1940 1940 07 03 August 1940 1940 08 US Billboard 1940 3 US Pop 1 for 9 weeks 22 total weeks 185 points20 Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters Don t Fence Me In 23 Decca 23364 July 25 1944 1944 07 25 November 1944 1944 11 US Billboard 1944 2 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 21 total weeks US Most Played Race Records 1945 49 Race Records 9 for 1 week 1 total weeks 183 points 1 000 000 sales 4 21 Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers On the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe 24 Capitol 195 December 13 1944 1944 12 13 July 1945 1945 07 US Billboard 1945 3 US Pop 1 for 7 weeks 19 total weeks 182 points22 Perry Como Some Enchanted Evening 15 RCA Victor 20 3402 March 1 1949 1949 03 01 April 1949 1949 04 US Billboard 1949 5 US Pop 1 for 5 weeks 26 total weeks 182 points23 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra I ve Got a Gal In Kalamazoo 25 Victor 27934 August 1 1942 1942 08 01 September 12 1942 1942 09 12 US Billboard 1942 3 US Pop 1 for 7 weeks 18 total weeks 181 points 1 000 000 sales 4 24 Andrews Sisters Rum and Coca Cola 26 Decca 18636 October 23 1944 1944 10 23 December 1944 1944 12 US Billboard 1945 5 US Pop 1 for 10 weeks Juke Box 21 total weeks US Most Played Race Records 1945 23 Race Records 3 for 1 week 3 total weeks 179 points 1 000 000 sales 4 25 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra Moonlight Cocktail 27 Bluebird 11401 May 7 1941 1941 05 07 July 25 1941 1941 07 25 US Billboard 1942 4 US Pop 1 for 10 weeks 21 total weeks 178 points 1 000 000 sales 4 26 Harry James and His Orchestra Vocal Dick Haymes I ll Get By As Long As I Have You 28 Columbia 36698 April 7 1941 1941 04 07 March 1944 1944 03 US Billboard 1944 3 US Pop 1 for 6 weeks Juke Box chart 29 total weeks 178 points27 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra Vocal Frank Sinatra and Pied Pipers There Are Such Things 29 Victor 27974 July 1 1942 1942 07 01 July 17 1942 1942 07 17 US Billboard 1943 3 US Pop 1 for 5 weeks 26 total weeks US R amp B 1943 22 Harlem Hit Parade 2 for 1 week 13 total weeks 176 points 1 000 000 sales 4 28 The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkins Orchestra I Can Dream Can t I 30 Decca 24705 July 15 1949 1949 07 15 August 22 1949 1949 08 22 US Billboard 1949 3 US Pop 1 for 5 weeks 25 total weeks 175 points29 Bing Crosby Sunday Monday or Always 31 Decca 18561 July 2 1943 1943 07 02 August 21 1943 1943 08 21 US Billboard 1943 4 US Pop 1 for 7 weeks 20 total weeks 174 points 1 000 000 sales 4 30 Frankie Laine That Lucky Old Sun 32 Mercury 5316 June 14 1949 1949 06 14 August 19 1949 1949 08 19 US Billboard 1949 2 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 22 total weeks 173 points31 Dinah Shore I ll Walk Alone 21 Victor 20 1586 March 1944 1944 03 May 1944 1944 05 US Billboard 1944 6 US Pop 1 for 4 weeks 26 total weeks US R amp B 1944 44 Harlem Hit Parade 10 for 2 weeks 2 total weeks CashBox 1 173 points32 Vic Damone You re Breaking My Heart 32 Mercury 5271 February 15 1949 1949 02 15 May 1949 1949 05 US Billboard 1949 6 US Pop 1 for 4 weeks 26 total weeks 172 points33 Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra Amapola Pretty Little Poppy 33 Decca 3629 February 3 1941 1941 02 03 February 1941 1941 02 US Billboard 1941 3 US Pop 1 for 10 weeks 18 total weeks 171 points34 Swing And Sway With Sammy Kaye Daddy 34 Victor 27391 March 31 1941 1941 03 31 April 25 1941 1941 04 25 US Billboard 1941 4 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 19 total weeks 170 points35 The Mills Brothers You Always Hurt The One You Love 35 Decca 18599 February 27 1944 1944 02 27 May 1944 1944 05 US Billboard 1944 4 US Pop 1 for 5 weeks 32 total weeks US R amp B 1944 29 Harlem Hit Parade 5 for 3 weeks 24 total weeks 170 points 1 000 000 sales 4 36 Bing Crosby I ll Be Seeing You 36 Decca 18595 February 17 1944 1944 02 17 April 1944 1944 04 US Billboard 1944 7 US Pop 1 for 4 weeks 28 total weeks 168 points37 Eddy Howard and His Orchestra To Each His Own 37 Majestic 7188 April 16 1946 1946 04 16 June 1946 1946 06 US Billboard 1946 1 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 24 total weeks 167 points 1 000 000 sales 4 38 Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra My Heart Tells Me Should I Believe My Heart 38 Decca 18567 October 1 1943 1943 10 01 November 1943 1943 11 US Billboard 1944 8 US Pop 1 for 5 weeks 24 total weeks 166 points39 The Harmonicats Peg o My Heart Vitacoustic 1 March 1947 1947 03 April 1947 1947 04 US Billboard 1947 4 US Pop 1 for 8 weeks 26 total weeks 165 points40 Perry Como Prisoner of Love 21 RCA Victor 20 1814 December 18 1945 1945 12 18 March 1946 1946 03 US Billboard 1946 7 US Pop 1 for 3 weeks 20 total weeks 165 points 1 000 000 sales 4 Jazz edit nbsp Artie Shaw ca 1947 Photograph by William P Gottlieb nbsp Benny Goodman performing in Stage Door Canteen 1943 In the early 1940s bebop emerged led by Charlie Parker Dizzy Gillespie Thelonious Monk and others It helped to shift jazz from danceable popular music towards a more complex musician s music Differing greatly from swing early bebop divorced itself from dance music establishing itself more as an art form but lessening its potential popular and commercial value Since bebop was meant to be listened to not danced to it used faster tempos The swing era lasted until the mid 1940s and produced popular tunes such as Duke Ellington s Cotton Tail 1940 and Billy Strayhorn s Take the A Train 1941 When the big bands struggled to keep going during World War II a shift was happening in jazz in favor of smaller groups Some swing era musicians like Louis Jordan later found popularity in a new kind of music called rhythm and blues that would evolve into rock and roll in the 1950s By the end of the 1940s the nervous energy and tension of bebop was replaced with a tendency towards calm and smoothness that eventually influenced the birth of cool jazz which favoured long linear melodic lines in the 1950s By the 1940s Dixieland jazz revival musicians like Jimmy McPartland Eddie Condon and Bud Freeman had become well known and established their own unique style Most characteristically players entered solos against riffing by other horns and were followed by a closing with the drummer playing a four bar tag that was then answered by the rest of the band Some of the most notable Jazz artists of the 1940s include Ella Fitzgerald Billie Holiday Louis Armstrong and also Nat King Cole Country music edit nbsp Vaughn Monroe as a guest star in a 1962 Bonanza episode nbsp Roy RogersThroughout the 1930s and 1940s cowboy songs or Western music became widely popular through the romanticization of the cowboy and idealized depictions of the west in Hollywood films Singing cowboys such as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry sang cowboy songs in their films and became popular throughout the United States Film producers began incorporating fully orchestrated four part harmonies and sophisticated musical arrangements into their motion pictures In the post war period country music was called folk in the trades and hillbilly within the industry 39 In 1944 The Billboard replaced the term hillbilly with folk songs and blues and switched to country or country and western in 1949 40 41 But while cowboy and western music were the most popular styles a new style honky tonk would take root and define the genre of country music for decades to come The style meshed Western swing and blues music featured rough nasal vocals backed by instruments such as the guitar fiddle string bass and steel guitar and had lyrics that focused on tragic themes of lost love adultery loneliness alcoholism and self pity One of the earliest successful practitioners of this style was Ernest Tubb a Crisp Texas native who had perfected his style on several Texas radio stations in the mid to late 1930s In 1940 he gained a recording contract with Decca Records and a year later released his standard Walking the Floor Over You The single became a hit and sold over one million copies Allmusic critic David Vinopal called Walking the Floor Over You the first honky tonk song that launched the musical genre itself 42 As the decade progressed the style was picked up by Floyd Tillman and Hank Williams and by the end of the 1940s was the predominant style in country music nbsp Hank WilliamsWilliams a Butler County Alabama native began earning a reputation as both a songwriter and a performing artist Using traditional honky tonk themes Williams grew to become one of the most important country performers of all time His recording of Lovesick Blues and its flip side I m So Lonesome I Could Cry in 1949 remains a landmark in both country and popular music to this day But even by the late 1940s it became well known that Williams drank heavily and his personal problems would continue to grow as the 1950s dawned Still his overall style inspired countless artists in country and other styles of music including rock music and his songs would be performed by numerous artists in many styles nbsp The Andrews SistersOn August 25 1945 Jenny Lou Carson became the first woman to write a No 1 country music hit when You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often performed by Tex Ritter reached the top of the Billboard Most Played Juke Box Folk Records 43 In 1949 Carson had another No 1 country music hit as a songwriter when Don t Rob Another Man s Castle performed by Eddy Arnold topped the Billboard Folk Best Seller Charts 44 From 1945 to 1955 Carson was one of the most prolific songwriters in country music Women weren t absent from the scene as vocalists in fact the No 1 song on Billboard magazine s very first Most Played Juke Box Folk Records chart dated January 8 1944 saw The Andrews Sisters get co credit along with Bing Crosby on Pistol Packin Mama In 1949 Margaret Whiting teamed with Jimmy Wakely to have a No 1 country and pop hit a cover of the Floyd Tillman song Slippin Around Kitty Wells was a popular concert attraction performing with her husband Johnnie Wright and his duet partner Jack Anglin and Wilma Lee Cooper was prominently featured on recordings with her husband Stoney Other popular female acts were Patsy Montana Martha Carson The Maddox Brothers and Rose Molly O Day with the Cumberland Mountain Folks and Lulu Belle of Lulu Belle and Scotty while Mother Maybelle Carter re formed the Carter Family with her daughters Anita June and Helen and their popularity would only grow in time nbsp Ralph StanleyEddy Arnold known as The Tennessee Plowboy became an innovator of crossover music or music of one particular genre in this case country that was popular among mainstream audiences His style combined elements of refined honky tonk with popular music sounds evident on hits like That s How Much I Love You I ll Hold You In My Heart Til I Can Hold You In My Arms Anytime and Boquet of Roses and several of these songs charted on both the Billboard country and pop charts He was so dominant that by 1948 five of that year s six No 1 songs on Billboards country chart bore Arnold s name a record that Charlie Rich would tie 26 years later but otherwise has been unmatched Arnold would go on to score more than 150 chart hits during a career that spanned until his death in 2008 Other Trends edit In 1941 Les Paul designed and built the first solid body electric guitar In 1942 Bing Crosby recorded and released the single White Christmas which became the best selling single of all time with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide 45 46 47 In 1948 Columbia Records introduced the 33 1 3 rpm LP long playing record at New York City s Waldorf Astoria Hotel featuring 25 minutes of music per side In 1949 RCA Victor introduced the 45 rpm record featuring 8 minutes of music Europe editEdith Piaf Charles Trenet Tino Rossi were popular French singers Latin America edit nbsp Maria GreverThe Cuban bolero had traveled to Mexico and the rest of Latin America after its conception where it became part of their repertoires Some of the bolero s leading composers have come from nearby countries most especially the prolific Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernandez Some Cuban composers of the bolero are listed under Trova Some successful Mexican bolero composers are Maria Grever Gonzalo Curiel Barba Gabriel Ruiz and Consuelo Velazquez which song Verdad Amarga Bitter Truth was the most popular in Mexico in the year 1948 another example is Mexico s Agustin Lara Maria Grever was the first female Mexican composer to achieve international acclaim Agustin Lara is recognized as one of the most popular songwriters of his era together with Consuelo Velazquez Mexican artists of the time were Lucha Reyes Maria Luisa Landin Fernando Fernandez and Luis Perez Meza in the 1940s In 1948 Perez Prado recorded the first Mambo in Mexico for RCA Victor Genoveva Jimenez was a famous Latin American musician during the late 1940s nbsp Agustin Lara nbsp Consuelo Velazquez with Pedro VargasOther famous performers include Pedro Vargas Luis Aguilar Ana Maria Gonzalez Trio Calaveras Trio Los PanchosMariachi an ensemble that consists of guitarron vihuela guitar violins and trumpets Between 1940 mariachi and rancheras originated in the western states of the country This folk ensemble performs ranchera son de mariachi huapango de mariachi polka corrido and other musical forms It originated in the southern part of the state of Jalisco during the 19th century 48 The city of Guadalajara in Jalisco is known as the Capital of Mariachi 49 The style is now popular throughout Mexico and the Southwestern United States and is considered representative of Mexican music and culture 50 Jorge Negrete was Mexican actor and singer one of the greatest actors of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema he is considered El Charro Cantor The singing charro in Latin American countries Asia edit nbsp Shizuko KasagiIn China the 1940s was the golden era of Mandarin pop songs which were collectively termed Shidaiqu literally songs of the era Shanghai Pathe Records then belonging to EMI emerged to be the leading record company in China and featured a blend of Chinese melodies and western orchestrations as well as Big Band Jazz elements in arrangements of music leading to their superseding traditional Chinese operas in radio broadcasts With the help of growing radio audience in the nation Shidaiqu successfully became prevalent and listening to Mandarin pop songs was regarded as trendy Among all Chinese contemporary singers Zhou Xuan Yao Li also known as Hue Lee Wu Yingyin Bai Guang Bai Hong Gong Qiuxia and Li Xianglan were the seven most famous artists 七大歌星 who gained nationwide popularity Zhou Xuan was the most representative of all who later became one of the emblematic and legendary figures in the history of Chinese pop songs In addition despite the ravages of the Japanese occupation there saw an immense development and maturation in the Chinese movie industry Very often pop songs were intermingled with episodes in films providing the audience with multiple entertainment at one time Nonetheless little attention was paid on the groundbreaking breakthroughs of Chinese Mandarin pop songs in the 1940s both by the academia and the community in China as well as Western countries Shidaiqu had its influence even in Hong Kong and Taiwan music in the 1950s and 1960s as well as in Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese communities Rose Rose I Love you the renowned song presented by Frankie Laine and An Autumn Melody were two symbolic Shidaiqu In Japan Nihon Columbia and Nihon Victor were two of the larger record companies Blues boogie woogie and jazz were popular Ryouichi Hattori was a popular composer and Shizuko Kasagi was one of the popular singers See also edit1950s in musicReferences edit a b Gilliland John 1994 Pop Chronicles the 40s The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s audiobook ISBN 978 1 55935 147 8 OCLC 31611854 Tape 1 Molanphy Chris August 1 2013 How The Hot 100 Became America s Hit Barometer All Things Considered NPR Retrieved March 14 2018 Decca matrix 70348 Paper doll Mills Brothers Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 16 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Whitburn Joel 1986 Joel Whitburn s Pop Memories 1890 1954 Record Research Victor matrix PBS 061245 Chattanooga choo choo Tex Beneke The Four Modernaires Glenn Miller Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 12 Decca matrix DLA 3009 White Christmas Bing Crosby Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 21 Giddins Gary 2018 Bing Crosby swinging on a star the war years 1940 1946 New York Little Brown amp Company ISBN 978 0 316 41234 6 OCLC 1057695601 a b COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography 36500 37000 www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 05 03 Gilliland John 1994 Pop Chronicles the 40s The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s audiobook ISBN 978 1 55935 147 8 OCLC 31611854 Tape 4 side A Victor matrix PBS 061301 Piano concerto in B flat Freddy Martin Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 12 Victor matrix PBS 042546 Frenesi Artie Shaw Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 06 11 Murrells Joseph 1978 The book of golden discs Internet Archive London Barrie amp Jenkins ISBN 978 0 214 20512 5 RCA Victor 20 prefix 78rpm numerical listing discography 20 2000 through 20 2500 www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 08 24 Decca matrix L 3307 Swinging on a star Bing Crosby Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 23 a b RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography 20 3000 through 20 3500 www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 07 04 Victor matrix BS 048942 I ll never smile again The Pied Pipers Frank Sinatra Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 06 11 COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography 38000 38499 www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 05 03 a b Capitol 15000 series numerical listing discography www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 08 24 Decca matrix DLA 1444 Heartaches Ted Weems Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 08 05 Decca matrix 73387 The gypsy Ink Spots Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 06 04 a b c RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography 20 1500 20 2000 www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 05 03 Decca matrix DLA 2033 Only forever Bing Crosby Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 06 11 Decca matrix L 3475 Don t fence me in The Andrews Sisters Bing Crosby Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 23 Capitol 100 499 78rpm numerical listing discography www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 04 14 Victor matrix PBS 072283 I ve got a gal in Kalamazoo Tex Beneke Glenn Miller Orchestra Marion Hutton Modernaires Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 21 Decca matrix 72460 Rum and Coca Cola The Andrews Sisters Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 05 03 Victor matrix BS 068456 Moonlight cocktail Ray Eberle Glenn Miller Orchestra Modernaires Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 21 COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography 35200 35500 www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 04 23 Victor matrix BS 075400 There are such things The Pied Pipers Frank Sinatra Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 16 Decca matrix 75074 I can dream can t I The Andrews Sisters Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 07 13 Decca matrix L 3172 Sunday Monday or always Bing Crosby Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 21 a b MERCURY 78rpm numerical listing discography 5000 5500 www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 07 17 Decca matrix 68652 Amapola voBE HOC Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 12 Victor matrix BS 063320 Daddy Kaye Choir Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 12 Decca matrix 71812 You always hurt the one you love Mills Brothers Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 23 Decca matrix L 3318 I ll be seeing you Bing Crosby Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 23 MAJESTIC 78rpm numerical listing discography www 78discography com Retrieved 2022 06 04 Decca matrix 71439 My heart tells me Glen Gray Orchestra Discography of American Historical Recordings adp library ucsb edu Retrieved 2022 04 23 Akenson Charles K Wolfe James E Country Music Goes to War University Press of Kentucky ISBN 978 0 8131 7188 3 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Long Steel Rail The Railroad in American Folksong By Norm Cohen David Cohen University of Illinois Press 2000 page 31 ISBN 0 252 06881 5 ISBN 978 0 252 06881 2 Cohen Norm 2000 Long Steel Rail The Railroad in American Folksong University of Illinois Press ISBN 978 0 252 06881 2 Vinopal David Ernest Tubb Biography Allmusic Retrieved January 3 2013 Whitburn Joel 2004 The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits 1944 2006 Second edition Record Research p 292 Whitburn Joel 2004 The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits 1944 2006 Second edition Record Research p 29 Guinness Book of Records 2007 Edition page 187 Archived 2015 03 19 at the Wayback Machine Guinness Book of Records 2008 Edition page 181 Guinness Book of Records 2009 Edition pp 14 15 amp 169 Archived 2013 02 26 at the Wayback Machine Collins Camille What is the mariachi mexconnect com Retrieved July 12 2012 Brown David M September 9 2011 Gilbert woman brings mariachi music to Southeast Valley The Arizona Republic Retrieved July 12 2012 Burr Ramiro June 26 1994 Mariachis little known much loved Houston Chronicle Retrieved July 12 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1940s in music amp oldid 1193905299, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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