This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1941.
Specific locations 1941 in British music 1941 in Norwegian music
Specific genres 1941 in country music 1941 in jazz
Events January 5 – Ernesto Bonino makes his début on Italian radio. January 15 – Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps is premiered by the composer and fellow prisoners-of-war in Stalag VIII-A in Silesia. January 20 – Béla Bartók's String Quartet No. 6 is premièred in New York City. May Front National des Musiciens established in Nazi-occupied France by Elsa Barraine and others as part of the French Resistance. Woody Guthrie writes and records "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" and "Grand Coulee Dam" among other folk songs in Portland, Oregon on a commission from the Bonneville Power Administration; these are released as Columbia River Collection. May 10 – London's Queen's Hall, venue for The Proms, is bombed by the Luftwaffe. The concert series relocates to the Royal Albert Hall. August 18 – In a brutal police operation in Nazi Germany, over 300 Swingjugend ("Swing kids") are arrested, marking the end of tolerance to swing music. date unknown Alan Lomax (working for the Library of Congress) discovers Muddy Waters and Son House, among others Les Paul almost electrocutes himself while attempting to build the first solid-body electric guitar. Enrico Gentile leaves Quartetto Ritmo. Felice Chiusano replaces him and the group is renamed Quartetto Cetra. Dutch Leschan sisters of Trio Lescano become Italian citizens. The National Negro Opera Company is launched in Pittsburgh, USA. Virgil Thomson's Four Saints in Three Acts is presented at Town Hall in New York City.
Albums released Songs for John Doe – The Almanac Singers Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger – Burl Ives Small Fry – Bing Crosby Hawaii Calls – Bing Crosby, Frances Langford, Harry Owens Crosbyana – Bing Crosby Four Star Favorites – Artie Shaw
Top Popular Recordings 1941
The following songs appeared in The Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records' chart during 1941. 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. The total points a record earned determined its year-end rank. Regional charts determined the 11–25 rankings each week, and records that failed to score on the main chart were ranked by highest position. Additional information was obtained from the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954 and other sources as specified.
The following songs appeared in The Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records' chart during 1941. Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions 1 Glenn Miller and His Orchestra "Chattanooga Choo Choo" Bluebird 11230 US BB 1941 #1, US #1 for 9 weeks, 28 total weeks, 253 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1996, ASCAP song of 1941, Oscar Nomination 1941 (film 'Sun Valley Serenade') 2 Freddy Martin and His Orchestra "Piano Concerto In B Flat" Bluebird 11211 US BB 1941 #2, US #1 for 8 weeks, 26 total weeks, 230 points 3 Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra "Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)" Decca 3629 US BB 1941 #3, US #1 for 10 weeks, 18 total weeks, 171 points, 1,000,000 sales 4 Swing And Sway With Sammy Kaye "Daddy" Victor 27391 US BB 1941 #4, US #1 for 8 weeks, 19 total weeks, 170 points 5 Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra "Green Eyes" Decca 3698 US BB 1941 #5, US #1 for 4 weeks, 28 total weeks, 153 points, 1,000,000 sales 6 Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra "Maria Elena" Decca 3698 US BB 1941 #6, US #1 for 2 weeks, 19 total weeks, 142 points, 1,000,000 sales 7 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "Elmer's Tune" Bluebird 11274 US BB 1941 #7, US #1 for 1 week, 21 total weeks, 126 points 8 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra) "This Love of Mine" Victor 27508 US BB 1941 #8, US #3 for 4 weeks, 27 total weeks, 111 points 9 Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra "Blue Champagne" Decca 3775 US BB 1941 #9, US #1 for 1 week, 20 total weeks, 84 points 10 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra & Connie Haines & Pied Pipers) "Oh Look At Me Now" Victor 27274 US BB 1941 #10, US #2 for 6 weeks, 14 total weeks, 81 points 11 Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra "My Sister and I" Decca 3710 US 1941 #11, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 79 points 12 Horace Heidt And His Musical Knights "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire" Columbia 36295 US BB 1941 #12, US #2 for 2 week, 17 total weeks, 77 points 13 Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra "I Hear a Rhapsody" Bluebird 10934 US BB 1941 #13, US #2 for 6 weeks, 18 total weeks, 76 points 14 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra "Yes, Indeed!" Victor 27421 US BB 1941 #14, US #4 for 3 weeks, 24 total weeks, 73 points 15 Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra "Yours" Decca 3657 US BB 1941 #15, US #2 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks, 73 points 16 Xavier Cugat and His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra "Perfidia (Tonight)" Victor 26334 US BB 1941 #16, US #3 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 70 points 17 Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra "I Hear A Rhapsody" Decca 3570 US BB 1941 #17, US #3 for 4 weeks, 10 total weeks, 55 points 18 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "Song Of The Volga Boatmen" Bluebird 11029 US BB 1941 #18, US #1 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, 53 points 19 Freddy Martin and his Orchestra "The Hut-Sut Song (A Swedish Serenade)" Bluebird 11147 US BB 1941 #19, US #2 for 1 week, 13 total weeks, 53 points 20 Bing Crosby "Dolores" Decca 3644 US BB 1941 #20, US #2 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 52 points
Additional recordings of historical interest, and songs that crossed over from Hillbilly (Country) and Race (R&B): Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions 23 Andrews Sisters "(I'll Be with You) In Apple Blossom Time" Decca 3622 US BB 1941 #23, US #5 for 5 weeks, 18 total weeks, 48 points 25 Harry James and His Orchestra "You Made Me Love You" Columbia 36296 US BB 1941 #25, US #5 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, 41 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2010 46 Artie Shaw and His Orchestra "Star Dust" Victor 27230 US 1941 #46, US #6 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, 12 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1988 56 Bing Crosby "San Antonio Rose" Decca 3590 US BB 1941 #56, US #7 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, 9 points, 1,000,000 sales 87 Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys "New San Antonio Rose" OKeh 05694 US BB 1941 #87, US #11 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1940 #9, USHB #1 for 2 weeks, 29 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, Library of Congress artifact added 2003 86 Dinah Shore "Yes, My Darling Daughter" Bluebird 10920 US BB 1941 #86, US #11 for 4 weeks, 10 total weeks 88 Andrews Sisters "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" Decca 3598 US BB 1941 #88, US #11 for 1 week, 7 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 91 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra "Take the "A" Train" Victor 27380 US BB 1941 #91, US #12 for 1 week, 9 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1976 95 Larry Clinton and His Orchestra "Because of You" Bluebird 11094 US 1941 #95, US #12 for 1 week, 1 total weeks 99 Louise Massey and the Westerners "My Adobe Hacienda" Okeh 6077 US BB 1941 #99, US #13 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #10, USHB #1 for 1 week, 21 total weeks 131 Gene Autry "You Are My Sunshine" Okeh 6274 US BB 1941 #131, US #16 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #1, USHB #1 for 20 weeks, 50 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales 142 Sons of the Pioneers "Cool Water" Decca 5939 US BB 1941 #142, US #17 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #12, USHB #1 for 1 week, 18 total weeks 167 Bing Crosby "You Are My Sunshine" Decca 3952 US BB 1941 #167, US #19 for 1 week, 1 total weeks 147 Gene Autry "Be Honest with Me" Okeh 5980 US BB 1941 #147, US #17 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #3, USHB #1 for 6 weeks, 58 total weeks 154 Ernest Tubb "Walking the Floor Over You" Decca 5958 US BB 1941 #154, US #18 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #2, USHB #1 for 10 weeks, 72 total weeks 251 Bing Crosby "It Makes No Difference Now" Decca 3590 US BB 1941 #251, US #23 for 1 week, 1 total weeks
Published popular music "All That Meat and No Potatoes" words and music: Fats Waller & Ed Kirkeby "The Anniversary Waltz" w. Al Dubin m. Dave Franklin "Apollo Jump" m. Ernest Puree, Prince Robinson & Lucius "Lucky" Millinder "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry" w. Johnny Mercer m. Victor Schertzinger "Baby Mine" w. Ned Washington m. Frank Churchill nominated for Oscar, from the animated feature Dumbo "Be Honest With Me" w.m. Fred Rose & Gene Autry "Blue Champagne" w.m. Jimmy Eaton, Grady Watts & Frank Ryerson "Blues in the Night" w. Johnny Mercer m. Harold Arlen "Boa Noite" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" w.m. Don Raye & Hughie Prince "Botch-A-Me" w. (Eng) Eddie Stanley (Ital) R. Morbelli & L. Astore m. R. Morbelli & L. Astore "Casey Junior" w. Ned Washington m. Frank Churchill from the animated feature Dumbo "Chattanooga Choo Choo" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren "Cherry" w.m. Charles N. Daniels "Chica Chica Boom Chic" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren "Could You Please Oblige Us with a Bren Gun?" w.m. Noël Coward "Daddy" w.m. Bobby Troup "Deep in the Heart of Texas" w. June Hershey m. Don Swander "Down Forget-Me-Not Lane" w.m. Horatio Nicholls, Charlie Chester & Reg Morgan "Elmer's Tune" w.m. Elmer Albrecht, Sammy Gallop & Dick Jurgens "Five Guys Named Moe" w. Larry Wynn m. Jerry Bresler "God Bless The Child" w.m. Arthur Herzog Jr & Billie Holiday "Goodbye Mama, I'm Off To Yokohama" w.m. J. Fred Coots "He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings" w. Eric Maschwitz m. Michael Carr "Hey Little Hen" w.m. Ralph Butler & Noel Gay "How About You?" w. Ralph Freed m. Burton Lane "Humpty Dumpty Heart" w. Johnny Burke m. Jimmy Van Heusen "The Hut-Sut Song" w.m. Leo V. Killion, Ted McMichael & Jack Owens, The Cruising Crooner "I Could Write a Book" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers. Introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst in the musical Pal Joey. Performed in the 1953 film version by Frank Sinatra. "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire" w.m. Eddie Seiler, Sol Marcus, Bennie Benjamin & Eddie Durham "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem" w. Buddy Feyne m. Jerry Gray, Leonard Ware & Ben Smith "I Don't Want To Walk Without You" w. Frank Loesser m. Jule Styne "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" w. Paul Francis Webster m. Duke Ellington "I Know Why (And So Do You)" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren "I Remember You" w. Johnny Mercer m. Victor Schertzinger "I Said No!" w. Frank Loesser m. Jule Styne "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren "I'll Remember April" w. Don Raye & Patricia Johnston m. Gene De Paul "I'm Glad There Is You" w.m. Jimmy Dorsey & Paul Madeira Mertz "Introduction to a Waltz" m. Glenn Miller, Jerry Gray & Hal Dickinson "It Happened In Sun Valley" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren "It's So Peaceful In The Country" w.m. Alec Wilder "I Understand" w. Kim Gannon m. Mabel Wayne "I've Got Sixpence" w.m. Elton Box & Desmond Cox "Jenny" (aka "The Saga of Jenny") w. Ira Gershwin m. Kurt Weill. Introduced by Gertrude Lawrence in the musical Lady in the Dark. Performed in the 1944 film version by Ginger Rogers "Jim" w. Nelson Shawn m. Caesar Petrillo & Edward Ross "Kiss The Boys Goodbye" w. Frank Loesser m. Victor Schertzinger "Let's All Meet At My House" w. Johnny Burke m. Jimmy Van Heusen "Let's Get Away from It All" w. Tom Adair m. Matt Dennis "Let's Not Talk About Love" w.m. Cole Porter "London Pride" w.m. Noël Coward "Ma! I Miss Your Apple Pie" w.m. Carmen Lombardo & John Jacob Loeb "Misirlou" w. (Eng) Milton Leeds, S. K. Russell & Fred Wise m. N. Roubanis "Moonlight Cocktail" w. Kim Gannon m. C. Luckeyth "Lucky" Roberts "My Adobe Hacienda" w.m. Louise Massey & Lee Penny "My Ship" w. Ira Gershwin m. Kurt Weill "My Sister and I" w.m. Hy Zaret, Joan Whitney & Alex Kramer "Oh! Look at Me Now" w. John DeVries m. Joe Bushkin "Racing With The Moon" w. Vaughn Monroe & Pauline Pope m. Johnny Watson