This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1944.

List of years in music (table)
In radio
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
In television
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
+...
Singer Bing Crosby performing in London, 1944

Specific locations

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Specific genres

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Events

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Albums released

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Top records

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On August 1, 1942, a strike by the American Federation of Musicians ended all recording sessions. Record companies kept business going by releasing recordings from their vaults, but by mid-1943, alternate sources were running dry, as the strike continued. Decca was the first company to settle in September 1943, but RCA Victor and Columbia held on until November 11, 1944.[2][4] It comes as no surprise that fifteen of the top twenty records of 1944 were released by Decca, with two more by Capitol, the second company to settle.

Beginning February 19, 1944, The Billboard modified its "Most Played Juke Box Records" chart to rank records (previously it had ranked songs, listing multiple records for each). The January 6, 1945 issue contained year-end top ten charts for "Best Selling Retail Records", "Most Played Juke Box Records" and "Top 10 Disks for 1944", the latter combining the scores of the former two charts. The chart below was compiled using Billboard's formula, but includes each record's full chart period, with weeks from 1943 and 1945 as needed. Details from "Most Played Juke Box Folk Records" (Hillbilly), "Harlem Hit Parade" (HHP) charts and the "American Folk Records" column late 1943-early 1944 were also considered. As always, numerical rankings are approximate.

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions
1 Bing Crosby "Swinging on a Star"[5] Decca 18597 February 7, 1944 (1944-02-07) April 1944 (1944-04) US BB 1944 #1, US #1 for 9 weeks, 28 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[6]
2 Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters "Don't Fence Me In"[7] Decca 23364 July 25, 1944 (1944-07-25) November 1944 (1944-11) US BB 1944 #2, US #1 for 8 weeks, 21 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[6]
3 Harry James and His Orchestra (Vocal Dick Haymes) "I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)"[8] Columbia 36698 April 7, 1941 (1941-04-07) March 1944 (1944-03) US BB 1944 #3, US #1 for 6 weeks (Juke Box chart), 29 total weeks
4 The Mills Brothers "You Always Hurt The One You Love"[9] Decca 18599 February 27, 1944 (1944-02-27) May 1944 (1944-05) US BB 1944 #4, US #1 for 5 weeks, 32 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #29, Harlem Hit Parade #5 for 3 weeks, 24 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[6]
5 Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra (vocals Bob Eberle and Helen O'connell) "Besame Mucho"[10] Decca 18574 October 7, 1943 (1943-10-07) December 1943 (1943-12) US BB 1944 #5, US #1 for 7 weeks, 25 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[11]
6 Dinah Shore "I'll Walk Alone"[12] Victor 20-1586 April 11, 1944 (1944-04-11)[13] May 19, 1944 (1944-05-19) US BB 1944 #6, US #1 for 4 weeks, 26 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #44, Harlem Hit Parade #10 for 2 weeks, 2 total weeks, CashBox #1, USPop #1 for 5 weeks, 14 total weeks
7 Bing Crosby "I'll Be Seeing You"[14] Decca 18595 February 17, 1944 (1944-02-17) April 1944 (1944-04) US BB 1944 #7, US #1 for 4 weeks, 28 total weeks
8 Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra "My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)"[15] Decca 18567 October 1, 1943 (1943-10-01) November 1943 (1943-11) US BB 1944 #8, US #1 for 5 weeks, 24 total weeks
9 Red Foley "Smoke on the Water"[16] Decca 6102 May 4, 1944 (1944-05-04) June 13, 1944 (1944-06-13) US BB 1944 #57, US #7 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1944 #2, MPJBFR #1 for 13 weeks, 27 total weeks
10 Bing Crosby "I Love You"[17] Decca 18595 February 11, 1944 (1944-02-11) March 1944 (1944-03) US BB 1944 #9, US #1 for 5 weeks, 19 total weeks
11 Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots "I'm Making Believe"[18] Decca 23356 August 30, 1944 (1944-08-30) October 1944 (1944-10) US 1944 #10, US #1 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks, CashBox #4, USPop #1 for 1 week, 24 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #18, Harlem Hit Parade #2 for 1 week, 14 total weeks
12 King Cole Trio "Straighten Up and Fly Right"[19] Capitol 154 November 30, 1943 (1943-11-30) April 14, 1944 (1944-04-14) US BB 1944 #67, US #9 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #2, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 10 weeks, 24 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1944 #3, MPJBFR #1 for 5 weeks, 16 total weeks
13 Bing Crosby "San Fernando Valley"[20] Decca 18586 December 29, 1943 (1943-12-29) February 1944 (1944-02) US BB 1944 #11, US #1 for 5 weeks (Juke Box chart), 24 total weeks
14 Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall"[21] Decca 23356 August 30, 1944 (1944-08-30) October 1944 (1944-10) US BB 1944 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks (Juke Box chart), 19 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #1, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 11 weeks, 21 total weeks, CashBox #14, USPop #9 for 1 week, 19 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[11]
15 The Andrews Sisters "Shoo-Shoo Baby"[22] Decca 18572 October 5, 1943 (1943-10-05) November 1943 (1943-11) US BB 1944 #12, US #1 for 5 weeks (Juke Box chart), 22 total weeks
16 Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five "G.I. Jive"[23] Decca 8659 March 15, 1944 (1944-03-15) April 1944 (1944-04) US BB 1944 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks (Juke Box chart), 22 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #4, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 6 weeks, 26 total weeks
17 Merry Macs "Mairzy Doats"[24] Decca 18588 December 13, 1943 (1943-12-13) January 1944 (1944-01) US BB 1944 #14, US #1 for 5 weeks (Juke Box chart), 14 total weeks, Decca Records' best-selling release of 1944[25]
18 Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes "Long Ago (and Far Away)"[26] Decca 23317 January 27, 1944 (1944-01-27) April 1944 (1944-04) US BB 1944 #15, US #2 for 1 week, 20 total weeks
19 The Pied Pipers "The Trolley Song"[27] Capitol 168 May 19, 1944 (1944-05-19) September 1944 (1944-09) US BB 1944 #17, US #2 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
20 Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters "Hot Time in the Town of Berlin"[28] Decca 23350 June 30, 1944 (1944-06-30) August 24, 1944 (1944-08-24) US BB 1944 #20, US #1 for 6 weeks (Juke Box chart), 15 total weeks

Top race records

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Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions
1 Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" Decca 23356 August 30, 1944 (1944-08-30) October 1944 (1944-10) US BB 1944 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks (Juke Box chart), 19 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #1, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 11 weeks, 21 total weeks, CashBox #14, USPop #9 for 1 week, 19 total weeks
2 King Cole Trio "Straighten Up and Fly Right"[19] Capitol 154 November 30, 1943 (1943-11-30) April 14, 1944 (1944-04-14) US BB 1944 #67, US #9 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #2, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 10 weeks, 24 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1944 #3, USHB #1 for 5 weeks, 16 total weeks
3 Duke Ellington "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" Victor 20-1547 March 15, 1940 (1940-03-15) December 1943 (1943-12) US BB 1944 #73, US #10 for 2 weeks, 23 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #4, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 9 weeks, 18 total weeks
4 Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five "G.I. Jive" Decca 8659 March 15, 1944 (1944-03-15) April 1944 (1944-04) US BB 1944 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks (Juke Box chart), 22 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #4, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 6 weeks, 26 total weeks
5 Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra "Hampton's Boogie Woogie" Decca 18613 August 30, 1944 (1944-08-30) August 1944 (1944-08) US R&B 1944 #5, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 6 weeks, 23 total weeks
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Classical music

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Premieres

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Composer Composition Date Location Performers
Antheil, George 1942 (Symphony No. 4) 1944-02-13 New York City NBC SymphonyStokowski[29]
Barber, Samuel Capricorn Concerto 1944-10-08 New York City Saidenberg Little SymphonySaidenberg[30]
Barber, Samuel Symphony No. 2 1944-03-03 Symphony Hall, Boston Boston Symphony OrchestraKoussevitzky[31]
Bartók, Béla Concerto for Orchestra 1944-12-01 Boston Boston SymphonyKoussevitzky[32]
Bartók, Béla Sonata for Solo Violin 1944-11-26 New York City Menuhin[33]
Bernstein, Leonard Jeremiah (Symphony No. 1) 1944-01-28 Pittsburgh Tourel / Pittsburgh Symphony – Bernstein[34]
Carter, Elliott Symphony No. 1 1944-04-27 Rochester, New York Eastman-Rochester SymphonyHanson[35]
Copland, Aaron Letter from Home 1944-10-17 New York City Philco Radio Hour OrchestraWhiteman[36][37]
Copland, Aaron Violin Sonata 1944-01-17 New York City Posselt, Copland[38]
Dallapiccola, Luigi Liriche Greche III – Sex Carmina Alcaei 1944-11-10 Rome Danco / RAI Symphony in RomePrevitali[39]
Ginastera, Alberto Canciones populares argentinas 1944-07-17 Buenos Aires Frías de López, Luzzatti[40]
Ginastera, Alberto Obertura para el Fausto criollo 1944-05-12 Santiago de Chile Chile SymphonyCastro[41]
Ginastera, Alberto Preludios americanos 1944-08-07 Buenos Aires Spivak[42]
Hindemith, Paul Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber 1944-01-20 New York City New York PhilharmonicRodzinski[43]
Jolivet, André Danses rituelles 1944-12-05 Paris Paris Conservatory Concert Society OrchestraCluytens[44]
Jolivet, André Poèmes intimes 1944-04-04 Paris Bernac / Paris Conservatory Concert Society OrchestraCluytens[45]
Jongen, Joseph Piano Concerto 1944-01-06 Brussels Del Pueyo / Brussels PhilharmonicAndré[46]
Khachaturian, Aram Suite from Masquerade 1944-08-06 Moscow USSR Radio Symphony OrchestraGorchakov[47]
Moore, Douglas In memoriam 1944-04-27 Rochester, New York Eastman-Rochester SymphonyHanson[48]
Piston, Walter Symphony No. 2 1944-03-05 Washington DC USA National SymphonyKindler[49]
Prokofiev, Sergei Piano Sonata No. 8 1944-12-30 Moscow Gilels[50]
Rainier, Priaulx String Quartet 1944-07-03 London Zorian Quartet[51]
Schoenberg, Arnold Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte 1944-11-23 New York City Harrel, Steuermann / New York PhilharmonicRodzinski[52]
Schoenberg, Arnold Piano Concerto 1944-02-06 New York City Steuermann / NBC SymphonyStokowski[53]
Schoenberg, Arnold Theme and Variations for Orchestra 1944-10-20 Boston Boston SymphonyKoussevitzky[54]
Schoenberg, Arnold Variations on a Recitative (1941) 1944-04-10 New York City Weinrich[55]
Shostakovich, Dmitri Piano Trio No. 2 1944-11-14 Leningrad Tsiganov, Chirinsky, Shostakovich[56]
Shostakovich, Dmitri String Quartet No. 2 1944-11-14 Leningrad Beethoven Quartet[57]
Stravinsky, Igor Norwegian Moods 1944-01-13 Cambridge, Massachusetts Boston Symphony – Stravinsky[58]
Stravinsky, Igor Scherzo à la russe (band version) 1944-09-05 New York City Whiteman Band[59]
Stravinsky, Igor Sonata for Two Pianos 1944-08-02 Madison, Wisconsin Boulanger, Johnston[60]
Tippett, Michael A Child of Our Time, oratorio 1944-03-19 London Cross, MacArthur, Pears, Lloyd / Morley College Choir / London PhilharmonicGoehr[61]

Compositions

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Film

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Musical theater

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Musical films

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Births

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Deaths

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References

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  1. ^ Prose, Francine (2015). Peggy Guggenheim: the shock of the new. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 140]. ISBN 978-0-300-20348-6.
  2. ^ a b "The Ban Ended Five Months Ago". The Billboard. 57 (9): 92. March 3, 1945.
  3. ^ Campion, Paul (2005). Ferrier – A Career Recorded. London: Thames Publishing. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0-903413-71-X.
  4. ^ Peter A. Soderbergh, "Olde Records Price Guide 1900–1947", Wallace–Homestead Book Company, Des Moines, Iowa, 1980, pp.136–139
  5. ^ "Decca matrix L 3307. Swinging on a star / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  6. ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Record Research.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Columbia 78rpm numerical listing discography: 35200–35500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Decca matrix L 3214. Besame mucho (Kiss me much) / Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  11. ^ a b "Decca Records 20th Anniversary". The Billboard: 46. August 28, 1954.
  12. ^ "RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-1500–20-2000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  13. ^ "Victor matrix D4VB-0091. I'll walk alone / Dinah Shore – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  14. ^ "Decca matrix L 3318. I'll be seeing you / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  15. ^ "Decca matrix 71439. My heart tells me / Glen Gray Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  16. ^ "Decca matrix 72135. Smoke on the water / Red Foley – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  17. ^ "Decca matrix L 3314. I love you / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  18. ^ "Decca matrix 72371. I'm making believe / Ella Fitzgerald – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  19. ^ a b Cogan, Jim; Clark, William (2003). Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p. 17. ISBN 0-8118-3394-1.
  20. ^ "Decca matrix L 3275. San Fernando Valley / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  21. ^ "Decca matrix 72370. Into each life some rain must fall / Ella Fitzgerald – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  22. ^ "Decca matrix L 3220. Shoo-shoo baby / The Andrews Sisters – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  23. ^ "Decca matrix N 1920. G.I. jive / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  24. ^ "Decca matrix 71566. Mairzy doats / Merry Macs – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  25. ^ Popular Music, 1920–1979: A Revised Cumulation, Volume 2, Nat Shapiro & Bruce Pollock;, Gale Research Company, 1985, ISBN 0810308479; page 190
  26. ^ "Decca matrix 71714. Long ago (and far away) / Helen Forrest; Dick Haymes – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  27. ^ "Capitol 100–499, 78rpm numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  28. ^ "Decca matrix L 3449. (There'll be a) Hot time in the town of Berlin / The Andrews Sisters; Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  29. ^ Musicweb International
  30. ^ Redlands Symphony
  31. ^ Heyman, Barbara B. (1994). Samuel Barber: The Composer and His Music. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 220–221. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195090581.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-509058-1.
  32. ^ Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
  33. ^ Bartók's Viola Concerto: The Remarkable Story of his Swansong
  34. ^ "Leonard Bernstein: Symphony No. 1" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  35. ^ "Elliott Carter: Symphony No. 1" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  36. ^ "Aaron Copland: Letter from Home" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  37. ^ Library of Congress
  38. ^ "Aaron Copland: Violin Sonata" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  39. ^ "Luigi Dallapiccola: Liriche Greche III – Sex Carmina Alcaei" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  40. ^ "Alberto Ginastera: Canciones populares argentinas" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  41. ^ "Alberto Ginastera: Obertura para el Fausto criollo" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  42. ^ "Alberto Ginastera: Preludios americanos" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  43. ^ "Symphonic Metamorphosis". englisch. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  44. ^ "André Jolivet: Cinq danses rituelles" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  45. ^ "André Jolivet: Poèmes intimes" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  46. ^ Joseph Jongen and his Organ Music
  47. ^ "Guide to the Soviet All-Union Radio Committee Collection ARS.0085". oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  48. ^ Douglas Moore: A Bio-Bibliography
  49. ^ "American Symphony Orchestra". Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  50. ^ "Los Angeles Philharmonic". Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  51. ^ SA Composers
  52. ^ "Arnold Schoenberg: Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  53. ^ "Arnold Schoenberg: Piano Concerto" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  54. ^ "Arnold Schoenberg: Theme and Variations for Orchestra" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  55. ^ "Arnold Schoenberg: Variations on a Recitative" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  56. ^ "Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  57. ^ "Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 2" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  58. ^ "Igor Stravinsky: Norwegian Moods" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  59. ^ "Igor Stravinsky: Scherzo à la russe" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  60. ^ "Igor Stravinsky: Sonata for Two Pianos" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  61. ^ "Michael Tippett: A Child of Our Time" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  62. ^ Oliver Leaman (16 December 2003). Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. Routledge. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-1-134-66252-4.