This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1940.
Specific locations 1940 in British music 1940 in Norwegian music
Specific genres 1940 in country music 1940 in jazz
Events January 30 – Soprano Sophie Wyss gives the first complete performance of Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations, with Boyd Neel conducting his Orchestra at the Wigmore Hall, London.Mitchell, Donald (ed) (1991). Letters From A Life: Selected Letters of Benjamin Britten, Vol. 2 1939–45. London: Faber and Faber. . pp. 628, 657 February 24 – Frances Langford records When You Wish Upon a Star March 28 – Antonio Brosa gives the first performance of Britten's Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic conducted by John Barbirolli in Carnegie Hall, New York.Mitchell (1991): p. 629 April 26 – Woody Guthrie records most of his Dust Bowl Ballads at RCA Victor studios in Camden, New Jersey. May 27 – Quartetto Egie perform in public for the first time. July 20 – Billboard magazine publishes its first "Music Popularity Chart". August – Edmundo Ros forms his own rumba band. November 9 – Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez is premièred in Barcelona. November 13 – Première of the Walt Disney animated film Fantasia in the United States set to classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski. November 23 – Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Quintet is premièred at the Moscow Conservatory with the composer at the piano. December 6 – Arnold Schoenberg's Violin Concerto is premièred. December 19 – Bandleader Hal Kemp's car is involved in a head-on collision. Kemp suffers a broken leg and multiple broken ribs, one of which eventually punctures a lung, causing his death a few days later. Quartetto Egie becomes Quartetto Ritmo after a line-up change. Heino Eller becomes professor of composition at the Tallinn Conservatory. Alfredo Antonini and John Serry Sr. appear at the CBS network in Viva America for Voice of America. 16-year-old Doris Day joins Les Brown's band. Gesang Martohartono, the legendary Kroncong musician from Indonesia, releases his most popular composition, "Bengawan Solo".
Albums released Dust Bowl Ballads – Woody Guthrie Selections from George Gershwin's Folk Opera Porgy and Bess – Various Artists Bing Crosby Star Dust Favorite Hawaiian Songs Ballad for Americans Christmas Music – Bing Crosby, Kenny Baker, Men About Town
Top popular recordings
The following songs appeared in The Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records' chart during 1940. 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. Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions 1 Artie Shaw and His Orchestra "Frenesi" Victor 26542 US BB 1940 #1, US #1 for 13 weeks, 29 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2000, 1,000,000 sold 2 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra "I'll Never Smile Again" Victor 26628 US BB 1940 #2, US #1 for 12 weeks, 20 total weeks, 1,000,000 sold 3 Bing Crosby "Only Forever" Decca 3300 US BB 1940 #3, US #1 for 9 weeks, 22 total weeks 4 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "Tuxedo Junction" Bluebird 10612 US BB 1940 #4, US #1 for 9 weeks, 19 total weeks, 1,000,000 sold 5 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "The Woodpecker Song" Bluebird 10598 US BB 1940 #5, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks 6 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "When You Wish Upon a Star" Bluebird 10570 US BB 1940 #6, US #1 for 5 weeks, 16 total weeks 7 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "Careless" Bluebird 10520 US BB 1940 #7, US #1 for 5 weeks, 13 total weeks 8 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Jack Leonard) "All the Things You Are" Victor 26401 US BB 1940 #8, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks 9 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Jack Leonard) "Indian Summer" Victor 26390 US BB 1940 #9, US #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks 10 Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (Vocal Ray Eberle) "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)" Bluebird 10728 US BB 1940 #10, US #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks 11 Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (Vocal Mildred Bailey) "Darn That Dream" Columbia 35331 US BB 1940 #11, US #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks 12 The Ink Spots "Maybe" Decca 3258 US BB 1940 #12, US #2 for 6 weeks, 17 total weeks 13 Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (Vocal Ray Eberle) "Blueberry Hill" Bluebird 10768 US BB 1940 #13, US #2 for 4 weeks, 19 total weeks 14 Will Bradley and His Orchestra Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar Columbia 35530 US BB 1940 #14, US #2 for 1 week, 21 total weeks 15 Bing Crosby "Trade Winds" Decca 3299 US BB 1940 #15, US #2 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks 16 Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra The Breeze and I Decca 3150 US BB 1940 #16, US #2 for 6 weeks, 11 total weeks, 1,000,000 sold 17 The Ink Spots "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)" Decca 3379 US BB 1940 #17, US #3 for 1 week, 15 total weeks 18 Bing Crosby "Sierra Sue" Decca 3133 US BB 1940 #18, US #3 for 1 week, 14 total weeks 19 Bob Crosby and His Orchestra "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair" Decca 3018 US BB 1940 #19, US #2 for 3 weeks, 14 total weeks 20 Tony Martin "It's a Blue World" Decca 2932 US BB 1940 #20, US #2 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks 21 Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (Vocal Ray Eberle) "Say It" Bluebird 10631 US BB 1940 #21, US #2 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks
Published popular music "Ain't It A Shame About Mame" words: Johnny Burke, music: James V. Monaco "All Over The Place" w. Frank Eyton m. Noel Gay. Introduced by Tommy Trinder in the film Sailors Three "All This And Heaven Too" w. Eddie De Lange m. Jimmy Van Heusen, First recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra "Along The Santa Fe Trail" w. Al Dubin & Edwina Coolidge m. Will Grosz "April Played The Fiddle" w. Johnny Burke m. James V. Monaco "The Bad Humour Man" w. Johnny Mercer m. Jimmy McHugh "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" w.m. Don Raye, Hughie Prince & Eleanore Sheehy "Because Of You" w. Arthur Hammerstein m. Dudley Wilkinson "Bengawan Solo" – Gesang Martohartono "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers "Bless 'Em All" w.m. Jimmie Hughes, Frank Lake & Fred Godfrey "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind" Arthur Young, William Shakespeare, Evans "Blueberry Hill" w.m. Al Lewis, Larry Stock & Vincent Rose "Boog It" w.m. Jack Palmer, Cab Calloway & R. "Buck" Ram "The Breeze And I" w. Al Stillman m. Ernesto Lecuona "Buds Won't Bud" w. E. Y. Harburg m. Harold Arlen "Cabin In The Sky" w. John Latouche m. Vernon Duke "The Call Of The Canyon" w.m. Billy Hill "Can't Get Indiana Off My Mind" w. Robert De Leon m. Hoagy Carmichael "Concerto For Cootie" m. Duke Ellington "Contrasts" m. Jimmy Dorsey "Cotton Tail" m. Duke Ellington "Den Of Iniquity" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers "Devil May Care" w. Johnny Burke m. Harry Warren "Do It the Hard Way" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers. Introduced by June Havoc, Claire Anderson and Jack Durant in the musical Pal Joey "Dolores" w. Frank Loesser m. Louis Alter "Down the Road a Piece" w.m. Don Raye "Falling Leaves" w. Mack David m. Frankie Carle "Ferry Boat Serenade" w. (Eng) Harold Adamson (Ital) Mario Panzeri m. Eldo Di Lazzaro "Flamingo" w. Edmund Anderson m. Ted Grouya "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)" w. Johnny Mercer m. Rube Bloom "Friendship" w.m. Cole Porter "Give a Little Whistle" w.m. Ned Washington & Leigh Harline, from the film Pinocchio "Harlem Nocturne" w. Dick Rogers m. Earle Hagen "Hear My Song, Violetta" w. (Ger) Ermenegildo Carosio & Othmar Klose (Eng) Buddy Bernier & Bob Emmerich m. Rudolf Luckesch & Othmar Klose "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee" w.m. Ned Washington & Leigh Harline, from the film Pinocchio "High On A Windy Hill" w.m. Joan Whitney & Alex Kramer "Honey in the Honeycomb" w. John Latouche m. Vernon Duke. Introduced by Katherine Dunham in the musical Cabin in the Sky. Performed in the 1943 film version by Ethel Waters and Lena Horne. "How High the Moon" w. Nancy Hamilton m. Morgan Lewis. Introduced by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock in the revue Two for the Show. "I Concentrate on You" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Douglas McPhail (and danced to by Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire) in the film Broadway Melody of 1940 "I Could Make You Care" w. Sammy Cahn m. Saul Chaplin. Introduced by Rosemary Lane in the film Ladies Must Live. "I Haven't Time To Be A Millionaire" w. Johnny Burke m. James V. Monaco "I Hear A Rhapsody" w.m. George Fragos, Jack Baker & Dick Gasparre "I Hear Music" w. Frank Loesser m. Burton Lane "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" w.m. William Weldon & Andy Razaf "I'm Looking For A Guy Who Plays Alto And Baritone And Doubles On A Clarinet And Wears A Size 37 Suit" w.m. Ozzie Nelson "I'm Stepping Out With A Memory Tonight" w. Herb Magidson m. Allie Wrubel "Imagination" w. Johnny Burke m. Jimmy Van Heusen "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" w.m. Billy Austin & Louis Jordan "It Never Entered My Mind" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers "It Shows You What Love Can Do" w. Sammy Cahn m. Saul Chaplin. Introduced by Rosemary Lane in the film Ladies Must Live. "It Was A Lover And His Lass" w. William Shakespeare m. Arthur Young "It's a Great Day for the Irish" w.m. Roger Edens "It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow" w.m. Irving Berlin "It's Always You" w. Johnny Burke m. Jimmy Van Heusen "I've Got No Strings" w.m. Ned Washington & Leigh Harline, from the film Pinocchio "Java Jive" w. Milton Drake m. Ben Oakland "Just A Little Bit South Of North Carolina" w.m. Sunny Skylar, Bette Cannon & Arthur Shaftel "The Last Time I Saw Paris" w. Oscar Hammerstein II m. Jerome Kern "Let The People Sing" w.m. Noel Gay, Ian Grant & Frank Eyton "Let There Be Love" w. Ian Grant m. Lionel Rand "Let's Be Buddies" w.m. Cole Porter "Louisiana Purchase" w.m. Irving Berlin "Make It Another Old-Fashioned, Please" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Ethel Merman in the musical Panama Hattie "Make-Believe Island" w. Charles Kenny & Nick Kenny m. Will Grosz & Sam Coslow "Mamma" w. B. Cherubini m. C. A. Bixio "Mister Meadowlark" w. Johnny Mercer m. Walter Donaldson "Never No Lament" m. Duke Ellington "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" w. Eric Maschwitz m. Manning Sherwin. Introduced in the revue New Faces by Judy Campbell. "On Behalf Of The Visiting Firemen" w. Johnny Mercer m. Walter Donaldson "Only Forever" w. Johnny Burke m. James V. Monaco "Our Love Affair" w. Arthur Freed m. Roger Edens "Outside Of That, I Love You" Irving Berlin "The Pessimistic Character" w. Johnny Burke m. James V. Monaco "Playmates" w.m. Saxie Dowell "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" w. Johnny Burke m. Jimmy Van Heusen "Remind Me" w. Dorothy Fields m. Jerome Kern. Introduced by Allan Jones in the film One Night in the Tropics "Room 504" w.m. Erich Maschwitz & George Posford "San Antonio Rose" w.m. Bob Wills "Say It (Over And Over Again)" w. Frank Loesser m. Jimmy McHugh "Scrub Me Mama With A Boogie Beat" w.m. Don Raye "Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga" w. Charles Newman m. James V. Monaco "Sometime" m. Glenn Miller & Chummy MacGregor w. Mitchell Parish "The Stars Remain" w. Henry Myers m. Jay Gorney. From the musical Meet the People. "Summit Ridge Drive" m. Artie Shaw "Taking A Chance On Love" w. John Latouche & Ted Fetter m. Vernon Duke "There'll Always Be an England" w.m. Ross Parker & Hughie Charles "Trade Winds" w. Charles Tobias m. Cliff Friend "Two Dreams Met" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Warren "Waltzing In The Clouds" w. Gus Kahn m. Robert Stolz "We Could Make Such Beautiful Music" w. Robert Sour m. Henry Manners "We Three" w.m. Nelson Cogane, Sammy Mysels & Dick Robertson "Well, Did You Evah?" w.m. Cole Porter