1945 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1945.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Publications

Albums released

US charts 1945

For the United States, charts are compiled from data published by Billboard magazine, using their own formulas with slight modifications. There are no songs missing or truncated by Billboard's holiday deadline. Each year, records included enter the charts between the prior November and early December. Each week, fifteen points are awarded to the number one record, then nine points for number two, eight points for number three, and so on. This system rewards songs that reach the highest positions, as well as those that had the longest chart runs, adjusting Whitburn's formula, which places no. 1 records on top, then no 2 and so on, ordered by weeks at that position.

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 On the Air' or 'Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys' and 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'. As Billboard did starting in the 1940s, the three totals for each song are combined, with that number determining the final year-end rank. For example, 1944's "A Hot Time in the Town of Berlin" by Bing and the Andrews Sisters finished at no. 19, despite six weeks at no. 1 on the 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'(JB) chart. It scored 126 points, to go with its Best-Selling chart (BS) total of 0. Martha Tilton's version of "I'll Walk Alone" peaked at no. 4 on the Juke Box chart, which only totalled 65 points, but her BS total was also 65, for a final total of 130, ranking no. 18. Examples like this can be found in "The Billboard" magazine up to 1958. The 'Records Most-Played On the Air' chart did not begin until January 1945.

The following songs appeared in The Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records', 'Records Most-Played On the Air' and 'Most Played Juke Box Records' charts during 1945.

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart Positions
1Les Brown and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Doris Day)"Sentimental Journey"[9]Columbia 36769November 20, 1944January 22, 1945US 1945 #3, US #1 for 8 weeks, 28 total weeks, CashBox #2, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, 1,000,000 sales[10]
2Perry Como"Till The End Of Time"[11]Victor 20-1709July 3, 1945July 30, 1945US BB 1945 #2, US #1 for 9 weeks, 17 total weeks, CashBox #3, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, 1,000,000 sales[10]
3Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"[12]Capitol 195December 13, 1944July 1945US BB 1945 #3, US #1 for 7 weeks, 19 total weeks, CashBox #7
4Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra"There! I've Said It Again"[11]Victor 20-1637December 17, 1944February 1945US BB 1945 #4, US #1 for 6 weeks (Air Play), 25 total weeks, CashBox #8
5The Andrews Sisters"Rum and Coca-Cola"[13]Decca 18636October 23, 1944December 1944US 1945 #1, US #1 for 10 weeks (Juke Box), 21 total weeks, CashBox #6, 1,000,000 sales[10]
6Les Brown and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Doris Day)"My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time"[9]Columbia 36779February 3, 1945February 15, 1945US 1945 #5, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks, CashBox #1, 1,000,000 sales[10]
7Swing And Sway With Sammy Kaye"Chickery Chick"[11]Victor 20-1726August 8, 1945September 1945US 1945 #8, US #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[10]
8Harry James and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Kitty Kallen)"It's Been a Long, Long Time"[9]Columbia 36838July 24, 1945September 17, 1945US BB 1945 #6, US #1 for 4 weeks, 17 total weeks, CashBox #5
9Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, and The Pied Pipers"Candy"[12]Capitol 183December 6, 1944January 1945US BB 1945 #14, US #1 for 1 week, 19 total weeks
10Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro on piano"I Can't Begin to Tell You"[14]Decca 23457August 7, 1945October 1945US BB 1945 #10, US #1 for 6 weeks (Juke Box), 19 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[15]
11Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"[12]Capitol 180October 4, 1944December 1944US BB 1945 #11, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998
12Bing Crosby and Les Paul"It's Been a Long, Long Time"[16]Decca 18708July 12, 1945September 1945US BB 1945 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks
13Carmen Cavallaro and His Orchestra"Chopin's Polonaise"[17]Decca 18677March 30, 1945May 1945US BB 1945 #14, US #3 for 10 weeks, 20 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[15]
14Harry James and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Kitty Kallen)"I'm Beginning To See The Light"[9]Columbia 36758November 24, 1944December 18, 1944US BB 1945 #10, US #1 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks
15Tony Pastor and his Orchestra"Bell Bottom Trousers"[11]Victor 20-1661April 4, 1945May 1945US BB 1945 #16, US #2 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
16Benny Goodman and his Orchestra"Gotta Be This Or That"[9]Columbia 36813April 27, 1945June 1945US BB 1945 #18, US #2 for 1 week, 17 total weeks
17Hal McIntyre and His Orchestra"Sentimental Journey"[11]Victor 20-1643February 9, 1945April 1945US BB 1945 #18, US #3 for 1 week, 19 total weeks
18Helen Forrest & Dick Haymes"I'll Buy That Dream"[18]Decca 23434May 1, 1945August 1945US BB 1945 #19, US #2 for 1 week, 18 total weeks
19Stan Kenton and His Orchestra"Tampico"[12]Capitol 202February 26, 1945July 1945US BB 1945 #20, US #3 for 1 weeks, 14 total weeks
20The Pied Pipers"Dream"[12]Capitol 185December 10, 1944February 1945US BB 1945 #20, US #1 for 1 week, 18 total weeks

Top race records

At the start of 1945, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the "most popular records in Harlem" under the title of "the Harlem Hit Parade" (HHP). Rankings were based on a survey of record stores primarily in the Harlem district of New York City, an area which has historically been noted for its African American population. This chart was published for the final time in the issue dated February 10. The following week the magazine launched a new chart in its place, "Most Played Juke Box Race Records", based on reports from juke box operators (details can be found in each issue). For the year-end list of 1945's top R & B records below, peak positions and numbers of weeks from the HHP charts were carried over. 1945 chronological list of records that reached number one on the "Most Played Juke Box Race Records" chart.

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions
1Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers"The Honeydripper"Exclusive 207August 11, 1944July 1945US BB 1945 #191, US #16 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #1, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 18 weeks, 27 total weeks
2Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra"Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well"Decca 18674June 9, 1944May 1945US BB 1945 #90, US #9 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #2, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 8 weeks, 20 total weeks
3Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Caldonia"[19]Decca 8670January 19, 1945April 19, 1945US BB 1945 #66, US #6 for 1 weeks, 8 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #3, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 7 weeks, 26 total weeks
4Roosevelt Sykes and His Piano"I Wonder"Bluebird 34-0721December 15, 1944January 1945US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #4, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 7 weeks, 13 total weeks
5Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra"Tippin' In"Victor 20-1639January 10, 1945March 1945US BB 1945 #238, US #21 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #5, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 6 weeks, 25 total weeks
6Pvt. Cecil Gant"I Wonder"Gilt-Edge 500August 30, 1944September 1944US BB 1945 #266, US #26 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #6, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 2 weeks, 28 total weeks
7Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Mop Mop"[20]Decca 8668March 15, 1944October 1944US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #7, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks
8Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra"The Honeydripper"Decca 23451February 26, 1945April 1945US BB 1945 #247, US #21 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #8, Harlem/Race Records #2 for 8 weeks, 9 total weeks
9Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"You Can't Get That No More"[21]Decca 8668March 15, 1944October 1944US BB 1945 #189, US #15 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #9, Harlem/Race Records #2 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks
10Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra"Beulah's Boogie"[22]Decca 18719May 21, 1945November 1945US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #10, Harlem/Race Records #2 for 4 weeks, 9 total weeks

Classical music

Premieres

ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Boulez, PierreThree Psalmodies for Piano1945-02-12ParisGrimaud[30]
Britten, BenjaminFour Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes1945-06-13Cheltenham Music Festival, UKLondon Philharmonic – Britten[31]
Britten, BenjaminPassacaglia from Peter Grimes1945-08-29LondonBBC Symphony – Boult[32]
Britten, BenjaminString Quartet No. 21945-11-21LondonZorian Quartet[33]
Carpenter, John AldenThe Seven Ages1945-12-02New York CityNew York Philharmonic – Rodzinski[34]
Copland, AaronJubilee Variation on a Theme of Goossens1945-03-23Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati Symphony – Goossens[35]
Finzi, GeraldEarth and Air and Rain (1935)1945-07-02LondonFalkner, Ferguson[36]
Ginastera, AlbertoLas horas de una estancia1945-06-11Montevideo, UruguayBaridon, Satalia de Perna[37]
Ginastera, AlbertoPsalm 1501945-04-07Buenos AiresTeatro Colón Regular Orchestra and Chorus – Wolff[38]
Jolivet, AndréLe chant de Linos (quintet version)1945-06-01ParisJamet Quintet[39]
Jolivet, AndréTrois chansons de ménestrels1945-02-10ParisDyonis, Soulage[40]
Khachaturian, AramFantasy on Russian Themes1945-11-06MoscowUSSR State Radio Symphony – Gorchakov[41]
Kodály, ZoltánMissa brevis1945-02-11Budapest[unknown performers][42]
Lutosławski, WitoldWind Trio1945-09-??Krákow, PolandSnieckowski, Rudnicki, Orlow[43]
Malipiero, Gian FrancescoSinfonia delle campane (Symphony No. 3)1945-11-04Florence[unknown orchestra] – Markevitch[44]
Martinů, BohuslavSymphony No. 31945-10-12BostonBoston Symphony – Koussevitzky[45]
Messiaen, OlivierTrois petites liturgies de la présence divine1945-04-21ParisLoriod, Martenot / Paris Conservatory Concert Society Orchestra – Désormière[46]
Messiaen, OlivierVingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus1945-03-23ParisLoriod[47]
Novák, VítězslavMay Symphony1945-12-05Prague[unknown performers][48]
Piston, WalterSonatina for Violin and Harpsichord1945-11-30New York CitySchneider, Kirkpatrick[49]
Prokofiev, SergeiSymphony No. 51945-01-13MoscowUSSR State Symphony – Prokofiev[50]
Shostakovich, DmitriSymphony No. 91945-11-03LeningradLeningrad Philharmonic – Mravinsky[51]
Stravinsky, IgorElegy for Viola1945-01-26Washington DCPrévost[52]
Tippett, MichaelSymphony No. 11945-11-10LiverpoolRoyal Liverpool Philharmonic – Sargent[53]
Tubin, EduardCapriccio for Violin and Piano No. 21945-09-25StockholmAumere, Roots[54]
Villa-Lobos, HeitorString Quartet No. 71945-05-30Theatro Municipal (Rio de Janeiro)Quarteto Borgerth[55]
Castelnuovo-Tedesco / Milhaud / Schoenberg / Shilkret / Stravinsky / Tansman / TochGenesis Suite1945-11-18Los AngelesJanssen Symphony – Janssen[56]

Compositions

Opera

Film

Jazz

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

References

  1. ↑ Billboard. 1945-01-27.
  2. ↑ Sherman, Bernard D. (1997) [1999]. "Brahms: The Symphonies / Charles Mackerras". Fanfare. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  3. ↑ Grove Music Online.
  4. ↑ Hewett, Ivan, "Rolling with the Punches", BBC Proms 2022, pp. 20–4
  5. ↑ Ross, Alex (2003-03-16). "Ghost Sonata". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  6. ↑ Hoffmann, Stanley (March–April 1996). "Albert Speer: His Battle With Truth". Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  7. ↑ Eaton, Duncan (2008-04-26). "Humphrey Lyttelton's last interview". This Is Hampshire.
  8. ↑ Nolan, Frederick (2002). The Sound of Their Music: The Story of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Cambridge, Mass.: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. pp. 164–5. ISBN 978-1-55783-473-7.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 36500–37000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-1500–20-2000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Capitol 100–499, 78rpm numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  13. ↑ "Decca matrix 72460. Rum and Coca Cola / The Andrews Sisters – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  14. ↑ "Decca matrix L 3904. I can't begin to tell you / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  15. 1 2 "Decca Records 20th Anniversary". The Billboard: 46. August 28, 1954.
  16. ↑ "Decca matrix L 3889. It's been a long, long time / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  17. ↑ "Decca matrix L 3766. Chopin's Polonaise / Carmen Cavallaro Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  18. ↑ "Decca matrix L 3835. I'll buy that dream / Helen Forrest; Dick Haymes – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  19. ↑ "Decca matrix 72711. Caldonia / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  20. ↑ "Decca matrix 71871. Mop mop / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  21. ↑ "Decca matrix 71873. You can't get that no more / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  22. ↑ "Decca matrix 72876. Beulah's boogie / Lionel Hampton Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  23. ↑ De León, Carmela (2003). Dos gardenias para ti (in Spanish). Santiago de Cuba, Cuba: Oriente. p. 154. ISBN 978-959-11-0367-3.
  24. ↑ Lau, Melody (January 24, 2020). "The dark history behind one of Lunar New Year's most popular songs". Canadian Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  25. ↑ Ismail, Gunawan (2007). Kumpulan Lagu Nasional: Persembahan untuk Indonesiaku [A Collection of Nationalistic Songs: A Dedication to My Indonesia] (in Indonesian). Depok, Indonesia: Puspa Swara. p. 174. ISBN 978-979-1133-71-5. OCLC 213362031.
  26. ↑ Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations. OUP. 2008. p. 19. ISBN 9780199237166.
  27. ↑ MER, LA Archived 2015-01-04 at the Wayback Machine at originals.be (retrieved 2015-1-4)
  28. ↑ "Billboard - Week of November 24, 1945" (PDF). Billboard. 1945-11-24.
  29. ↑ Simon Callow (3 August 2012). "Ivor Novello, master of the musical". The Guardian.
  30. ↑ "Pierre Boulez: Three Psalmodies for Piano" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  31. ↑ The Making of Peter Grimes: Notes and Commentaries
  32. ↑ Oregon Symphony
  33. ↑ "Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No. 2" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  34. ↑ New York Philharmonic
  35. ↑ "Aaron Copland: Jubilee Variation on a Theme of Goossens" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  36. ↑ Boosey & Hawkes
  37. ↑ "Alberto Ginastera: Las horas de una estancia" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  38. ↑ "Alberto Ginastera: Psalm 150" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  39. ↑ "André Jolivet: Le chant de Linos" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  40. ↑ "André Jolivet: Trois chansons de ménestrels" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  41. ↑ "Review". Gramophone. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  42. ↑ "Kodály Institute". Archived from the original on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  43. ↑ "Witold Lutosławski: Wind Trio" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  44. ↑ Orchestra Virtuale del Flaminio
  45. ↑ "Bohuslav Martinů, Symphony No. 3". American Symphony Orchestra. 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  46. ↑ "Olivier Messiaen: Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  47. ↑ "Olivier Messiaen: Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  48. ↑ Klassika
  49. ↑ Association for Recorded Sound Collections
  50. ↑ New York Philharmonic
  51. ↑ Naxos Records
  52. ↑ "Igor Stravinsky: Elegy for Viola" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  53. ↑ Schott Music
  54. ↑ "Tubin: Violin Sonata no.1, Suite on Estonian Dance Pieces, Three Pieces, Meditation, Prelude, Capriccio no.2, Cock's Dance Paganini Caprice op.1 no.24 (arr. Tubin)". The Strad. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  55. ↑ Villa-Lobos, sua obra: Programa de Ação Cultural, second edition (Rio de Janeiro: MEC, DAC, Museu Villa-Lobos, 1972): 86.
  56. ↑ Milken Archive of Jewish Music
  57. ↑ Vogel, Shane (2010). "Jamaica on Broadway: The Popular Caribbean and Mock Transnational Performance". Theatre Journal. 62 (1): 7. ISSN 0192-2882. JSTOR 40587439.
  58. ↑ Peter Prown; Harvey P. Newquist (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. H. Leonard. p. 45. ISBN 9780793540426.
  59. ↑ "Ivan Karabits". Classical Music Daily. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  60. ↑ "Bob Marley Obituary". The Guardian. 12 May 1981. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  61. ↑ "Obituary: Alan Hull". The Independent. 20 November 1995. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  62. ↑ Adam Sweeting (23 February 2022). "Gary Brooker obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  63. ↑ Sadie, Julie Anne; Samuel, Rhian (1994). The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers. p. 68. ISBN 9780393034875. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  64. ↑ "W.C. MACFARLANE, VETERAN ORGANIST; Writer of Many Anthems and Other Sacred Music Dies-- Played for Churches Here". The New York Times. May 15, 1945. p. 19.
  65. ↑ "Obituaries: Thomas Mayo Geary". Variety: 59. June 13, 1945.
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