1924 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1924.
Specific locations
- 1924 in British music
- 1924 in Norwegian music
Specific genres
- 1924 in country music
- 1924 in jazz
Events
- February 12 – An Experiment In Modern Music concert at Aeolian Hall – première of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
- February 15 – The inaugural concert of microtonal music in Mexico City by the Grupo Sonido 13, directed by Julián Carrillo, including the premiere of Preludio a Colón and four other of Carrillo's compositions, along with several works by his students,, Elvira Larios, and Soledad Padilla.
- February 18 – First recordings by Bix Beiderbecke.
- April – Jimmy Blythe's recording of "Chicago Stomps", sometimes called the first complete boogie-woogie piano solo record.
- June – Alexander von Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony is premiered in Prague.
- Summer – American all-girl harmony singing trio Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce formed by Pearl B. Hamilton and departs on a 'Stars of the Future' tour.
- October 17 – Leoš Janáček's String Quartet No. 1, Kreutzer Sonata, is premièred in Prague
- Richard Runciman Terry resigns as organist of Westminster Cathedral because of criticism of his choice of music.
- First recordings by George Olsen.
- First national anthem of Mongolia introduced.
Published popular music
- "Adoring You" w. Joseph McCarthy m. Harry Tierney
- "Alabamy Bound" w. Buddy DeSylva & Bud Green m. Ray Henderson
- "All Alone" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Grace Moore and Oscar Shaw in The Music Box Revue of 1924
- "Amapola" w. Joseph M. Lacalle Albert Gamse m. Joseph M. Lacalle
- "At The End of The Road" w. Ballard MacDonald m. James F. Hanley
- "Bagdad" w. Jack Yellen m. Milton Ager
- "Big Bad Bill " w. Jack Yellen m. Milton Ager
- "Big Boy" m. Milton Ager
- "The Blues Have Got Me" Silver, Turk
- "California, Here I Come" w.m. Al Jolson, Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer. Introduced by Al Jolson in the musical Bombo
- "The Call Of The South" w.m. Irving Berlin
- "Charley, My Boy" w.m. Gus Kahn & Ted Fio Rito
- "Copenhagen" w. Walter Melrose m. Charlie Davis
- "Cover Me Up With The Sunshine Of Virginia" w. Sam M. Lewis & Joe Young m. George W. Meyer
- "Deep In My Heart, Dear" w. Dorothy Donnelly m. Sigmund Romberg. Introduced by Howard Marsh and Ilse Marvenga in the operetta The Student Prince in Heidelberg
- "Does The Spearmint Lose Its Flavour On The Bedpost Over Night" w. Billy Rose & Marty Bloom m. Ernest Breuer
- "Doo Wacka Doo" w. Clarence Gaskill & Will Donaldson m. George Horther
- "Doodle Doo Doo" w.m. Art Kassel & Mel Stitzel
- "Drinking Song " w. Dorothy Donnelly m. Sigmund Romberg
- "The End Of The Road" w.m. Harry Lauder & William Dillon
- "Everybody Loves My Baby" w.m. Jack Palmer & Spencer Williams
- "Fascinating Rhythm" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Cliff Edwards and Fred and Adele Astaire in the musical Lady, Be Good!
- "Follow The Swallow" w. Billy Rose & Mort Dixon m. Ray Henderson
- "Golden Days" w. Dorothy Donnelly m. Sigmund Romberg. Introduced by Greek Evans and Howard Marsh in the operetta The Student Prince in Heidelberg
- "The Half Of It, Dearie, Blues" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Fred Astaire and Kathlene Martyn in the musical Lady, Be Good!
- "Hard Hearted Hannah " w.m. Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow, & Charles Bates
- "He's The Hottest Man In Town" Owen Murphy, Jay Gorney
- "Honest And Truly" w. Leo Wood m. Fred Rose
- "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?" w.m. Gene Austin & Roy Bergere
- "I Want To Be Happy" w. Irving Caesar m. Vincent Youmans. Introduced by Charles Winniger and Louise Groody in the musical No, No, Nanette
- "I Wonder What's Become Of Sally" w. Jack Yellen m. Milton Ager
- "I'll See You In My Dreams" w. Gus Kahn m. Isham Jones
- "I'm A Little Blackbird Looking For A Bluebird" w. Grant Clarke & Roy Turk m. George W. Meyer & Arthur Johnson
- "I'm Coming At Your Call" w. Dorothy Donnelly m. Sigmund Romberg
- "In Shadowland" w. Sam W. Lewis & Joe Young m. Ruth Brooks & Fred E. Ahlert
- "Indian Love Call" w. Otto Harbach & Oscar Hammerstein II m. Rudolf Friml
- "It Had To Be You" w. Gus Kahn m. Isham Jones
- "Jealous" w. Tommy Malie & Dick Finch m. Jack Little
- "Jimtown Blues" w.m. Fred Rose
- "June Brought The Roses" w. Ralph Stanley m. John Openshaw
- "June Night" w. Cliff Friend m. Abel Baer
- "Just We Two" w. Dorothy Donnelly m. Sigmund Romberg
- "Keep Smiling At Trouble" w. Al Jolson & Buddy DeSylva m. Lewis E. Gensler
- King Porter Stomp, Jelly Roll Morton
- "Lazy" w.m. Irving Berlin
- "Let Me Linger Longer In Your Arms" w. Cliff Friend m. Abel Baer
- "Little Jazz Bird" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin
- "Mama's Gone, Goodbye" w.m. A. J. Piron & Peter Bocage
- "The Man I Love" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin
- "Mandalay" w.m. Earl Burtnett, Abe Lyman & Gus Arnheim
- "Mandy Make Up Your Mind" w. Grant Clarke & Roy Turk m. George W. Meyer
- "Memory Lane" w. Buddy DeSylva m. Larry Spier & Con Conrad
- "The Mounties" w. Otto Harbach & Oscar Hammerstein II m. Rudolf Friml
- "My Best Girl" w.m. Walter Donaldson
- "My Dream Girl, I Loved You Long Ago" w. Rida Johnson Young m. Victor Herbert
- "My Time Is Your Time" w. Eric Little m. Leo Dance
- "A New Kind Of Man With A New Kind Of Love For Me" w.m. Sidney Clare & Flatow
- "Nobody's Sweetheart" w. Gus Kahn & Ernie Erdman m. Elmer Schoebel & Billy Meyers
- "O, Katharina" w. L. Wolfe Gilbert m. Richard Fall
- "Oh Lady, Be Good" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Walter Catlett in the musical Lady, Be Good!
- "Oh! Mabel" Gus Kahn, Ted Fio Rito
- "Oh! Miss Hannah" w. Thekla Hollingsworth m. Jessie L. Deppen
- "The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else" w. Gus Kahn m. Isham Jones
- "Parisian Pierrot" w.m. Noël Coward
- "Prince Of Wails" m. Elmer Schoebel
- "The Prisoner's Song" w.m. Guy Massey
- "Red Hot Mama" w.m. Gilbert Wells, Bud Cooper & Fred Rose
- "Rhapsody in Blue" m. George Gershwin
- "Riverboat Shuffle" m. Hoagy Carmichael & Irving Mills
- "Rose Marie" w. Otto Harbach & Oscar Hammerstein II m. Rudolf Friml
- "See See Rider" w.m. Ma Rainey
- "Serenade from The Student Prince In Heidelberg" w. Dorothy Donnelly m. Sigmund Romberg
- "Shanghai Shuffle" w.m. Larry Conley & Gene Rodemich
- "Shine" w. Cecil Mack & Lew Brown m. Ford T. Dabney
- "So Am I" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin
- "Somebody Loves Me" w. Ballard MacDonald & Buddy DeSylva m. George Gershwin
- "South" m. Bennie Moten & Thamon Hayes
- "Spain" w. Gus Kahn m. Isham Jones
- "Stack O'Lee Blues" w.m. by Ray Lopez & Lew Colwell
- "Sweet Little You" w.m. Irving Bibo
- "Tea for Two" w. Irving Caesar m. Vincent Youmans
- "Tell Her In The Springtime" w.m. Irving Berlin
- "There's Life In The Old Girl Yet" w.m. Noël Coward
- "There's Yes! Yes! In Your Eyes" w. Cliff Friend m. Joseph H. Santly
- "Totem Tom-Tom" w. Oscar Hammerstein II & Otto Harbach m. Rudolf Friml
- "Two Little Babes In The Wood" w.m. Cole Porter
- "Wait'll You See My Gal" Sullivan, Wilber
- "What'll I Do" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Grace Moore and John Steel in the Music Box Revue of 1923
- "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" w.m. Gene Austin, Jimmy McHugh & Irving Mills
- "When You And I Were Seventeen" w. Gus Kahn m. Charles Rosoff
- "Where The Lazy Daisies Grow" w.m. Cliff Friend
- "Why Did I Kiss That Girl?" w. Lew Brown m. Robert A. King & Ray Henderson
Top hits on record
- "Arkansaw Blues/Blue Blues" by the Mound City Blue Blowers
- "Charley, My Boy" by Billy Murray, accompanied International Novelty Orchestra, directed Nat Shilkret
- "Jazz Me Blues" by The Wolverine Orchestra feat. Bix Beiderbecke
- "The Prisoner's Song" by Vernon Dalhart
- "Rhapsody in Blue" by Paul Whiteman's Orchestra with George Gershwin
- "San" by Paul Whiteman & His Jazz Band
- "San/Red Hot!" by the Mound City Blue Blowers & Frank Trumbauer
- "See See Rider Blues" by Ma Rainey & Louis Armstrong
- "Show Me The Way " by Ted Lewis & His Jazz Band
- "Tell Me You'll Forgive Me" by International Novelty Orchestra, directed Nat Shilkret, vocal Elliot Shaw
- "What'll I Do?" by Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
Top Christmas hits
- "Santa Claus Blues" – Louis Armstrong
Classical music
- Aaron Copland – Symphony for Organ and Orchestra
- George Enescu – Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 24, No. 1
- Gabriel Fauré – String Quartet in E minor, Op. 121
- George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue
- Jacques Ibert – Escales
- Joseph Jongen – Sonata for Flute and Piano
- Ottorino Respighi – Pines of Rome
- Carl Ruggles – Men and Mountains
- Erik Satie – Relâche
- Jean Sibelius – Symphony no. 7 in C major, Opus 105
- Heitor Villa-Lobos –
- *Chôros No. 2
- *Chôros No. 7
- Arthur Wood – My Native Heath
Opera
- Leoš Janáček – The Cunning Little Vixen
- Henri Sauguet – Le plumet du colonel
- Arnold Schoenberg – Die glückliche Hand
- Giacomo Puccini – Turandot
[Jazz]
[Musical theater]
- Bob et Moi – music by Charles Cuvillier
- Charlot's Revue of 1924 London revue opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on September 23 and ran for 518 performances
- The Duenna London revival opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on October 23 and ran for 141 performances
- Gräfin Mariza – Vienna production opened at the Theater an der Wien on February 28 and ran for 396 performances
- Lady, Be Good! – Broadway production opened at the Liberty Theatre on December 1 and ran for 330 performances
- Leap Year London revue opened at the London Hippodrome on March 20 and ran for 471 performances
- Madame Pompadour Broadway production opened on November 11 at the Martin Beck Theatre and ran for 79 performances
- Midsummer Madness London production opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on July 3 and ran for 115 performances
- The Music Box Revue of 1924 Broadway revue opened at the Music Box Theatre on December 1 and ran for 184 performances
- No, No, Nanette – Chicago production. Pre-Broadway tryout started in April.
- Our Nell London production opened at the Gaiety Theatre on April 16 and ran for 140 performances
- Patricia London production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on October 31 and ran for 160 performances
- Poppy London production opened at the Gaiety Theatre on September 4 and ran for 188 performances
- Primrose London production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 11 and ran for 255 performances
- The Punch Bowl London revue opened at the Duke of York's Theatre on May 21
- Puppets London revue opened at the Vaudeville Theatre on January 2 and ran for 254 performances
- Rose-Marie Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on September 2 and ran for 557 performances
- Sitting Pretty Broadway production opened at the Fulton Theatre on April 8 and moved to the Imperial Theatre on June 9 for a total run of 95 performances
- The Street Singer London production opened at the Lyric Theatre on June 27 and ran for 360 performances
- The Student Prince In Heidelberg – Broadway production opened at the Jolson's 59th Street Theatre on December 2 and ran for 608 performances
- The Three Graces London production opened at the Empire Theatre on January 26 and ran for 121 performances
- Toni London production opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on May 12 and ran for 248 performances
- Yoicks! London revue opened at the Kingsway Theatre on June 11 and ran for 271 performances.
Births
- January 3 – Nell Rankin, operatic mezzo-soprano
- January 6 – Earl Scruggs, banjo player
- January 8 – Ron Moody, star of Oliver!
- January 10 – Max Roach, jazz drummer
- January 11
- * Don Cherry, singer
- * Slim Harpo, jazz musician
- January 16 – Achille Togliani, singer and actor
- January 20 – Slim Whitman, country musician
- January 25 – Speedy West, American guitarist and producer
- January 29 – Luigi Nono, composer
- February 2 – Sonny Stitt, jazz saxophonist
- February 19 – André Popp, composer, arranger and screenwriter
- February 22 – Hassan Aziz Hassan, Egyptian prince and pianist
- February 26 – Freda Betti, French mezzo-soprano opera singer
- February 27 – Trevor Duncan, English composer
- March 3 – Lys Assia, born Rosa Schärer, Swiss singer, first winner of Eurovision Song Contest
- March 8 – Alan Dell, BBC radio DJ
- March 10 – Angela Morley, born Walter "Wally" Stott, light music composer, arranger and conductor
- March 27 – Sarah Vaughan, jazz singer
- April 14 – Shorty Rogers, jazz trumpeter
- April 15 – Sir Neville Marriner, conductor and violinist
- April 16
- *Henry Mancini, composer
- *Rudy Pompilli, saxophonist
- April 20 – Orlando DiGirolamo, accordionist and pianist
- April 21 – Clara Ward, gospel singer
- May 1 – Big Maybelle, R&B singer
- May 4 – Tatiana Nikolayeva, pianist, composer and teacher
- May 10 – Teddy Riley, jazz trumpeter
- May 19 – Sandy Wilson, composer of The Boyfriend
- May 22
- *Charles Aznavour, French singer and songwriter
- *Claude Ballif, French composer
- May 31 – Ida Presti, French classical guitarist
- June 5 – John Tooley, English opera director and manager
- June 5 – Serge Nigg, composer
- June 20 – Chet Atkins, guitarist
- June 29
- *Ezra Laderman, American composer
- *Flo Sandon's, Italian singer
- July 5 – János Starker, cellist
- July 9 – Pierre Cochereau, organist, improviser, composer
- July 13 – Carlo Bergonzi, operatic tenor
- July 19 – Al Haig, jazz pianist
- July 20 – Mort Garson, Canadian-American songwriter and composer
- July 22 – Margaret Whiting, singer
- July 28 – Irving Burgie, composer
- August 14
- *Lee Adams, lyricist
- *Georges Prêtre, French conductor
- August 20 – Jim Reeves, country singer
- August 29 – Dinah Washington, singer
- September 7 – Hugh Aitken, American composer
- September 12 – Ella Mae Morse, singer
- September 19 – Ernest Tomlinson, light music composer
- September 20 – Jackie Paris, jazz singer
- September 28 – Rudolf Barshai, conductor and violist
- October 1 – Roger Williams, pianist
- October 3 – Joe Allison, songwriter and country music executive
- November 14 – Leonid Kogan, violinist
- November 16 – Michèle Auclair, violinist and teacher
- November 25 – Paul Desmond, jazz saxophonist
- November 30
- * Klaus Huber, composer
- * Allan Sherman, musical parodist
- December 7 – Bent Fabric, Danish composer and pianist
- December 24 – Lee Dorsey, singer
- December 25 – Noël Lee, classical pianist and composer
Deaths
- January 2 – Sabine Baring-Gould, hymn-writer and collector of folk songs
- January 4 – Alfred Grünfeld, pianist and composer
- February – Ada Adini, operatic soprano
- February 10 – Charles Collette, composer and actor
- February 15 – Lionel Monckton, English composer
- February 17 – Oskar Merikanto, pianist, conductor and composer
- February 23 – Antonio Pasculli, oboist and composer
- February 25 – Mária Royová, songwriter
- March 18 – Frederick Bridge, organist and composer
- March 27 – Sir Walter Parratt, English composer, Master of the King's Musick
- March 29 – Charles Villiers Stanford, composer
- April 15 – Eduard Caudella, violinist and composer
- April 26 – Josef Labor, pianist, organist and composer
- May 13 – Louis Hirsch, composer and songwriter
- May 26 – Victor Herbert, composer
- June 11 – Théodore Dubois, composer
- June 17 – Victor-Charles Mahillon, musician and collector of instruments
- June 23 – Cecil Sharp, folk song and dance revivalist
- July 6 – Black Benny, bass drummer
- July 27 – Ferruccio Busoni, pianist and composer
- August 29 – Francis Barraud, designer of HMV logo
- September 25 – Lotta Crabtree, all-round entertainer
- September 29 – Eduardo Arolas, tango musician and composer
- November 4 – Gabriel Fauré, French composer
- November 21 – Paul Milliet, opera librettist
- November 26 – Rose Hersee, operatic soprano
- November 29 – Giacomo Puccini, composer
- December 8 – Xaver Scharwenka, pianist and composer
- date unknown
- *Elkan Naumburg, businessman, musicologist and patron of the arts
- *Mark Walker, songwriter