1950 Music Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1950 Music Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 01 Jan Birth of Steve Ripley: Steve Ripley, a notable country singer and member of the band The Tractors, is born, contributing to the American country music landscape.
- 14 Jan Musical 'As the Girls Go' closes in NYC: The musical 'As the Girls Go' closed on January 14, 1950, after a brief run on Broadway. The show featured a mix of comedy and music, reflecting the entertainment trends of the era. source: ibdb.com
- 20 Jan Dance Me a Song Broadway premiere: The Broadway musical 'Dance Me a Song' premiered on January 20, 1950. The show featured a variety of musical numbers and was part of the vibrant post-war Broadway scene. source: ibdb.com
- 21 Jan Broadway musical 'Lend an Ear' closes: On January 21, 1950, the Broadway musical 'Lend an Ear' closed after a brief run. The show was noted for its unique blend of comedy and music, but struggled to attract a large audience. source: ibdb.com
- 02 Feb Arms and the Girl Broadway musical premiere: 'Arms and the Girl' is a 1950 Broadway musical with a book by Herbert Fields, Dorothy Fields, and Rouben Mamoulian, music by Morton Gould, and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The show is based on the play 'The Pursuit of Happiness' by Lawrence Langner and Armina Marshall. It opened at the 46th Street Theatre on February 2, 1950, and closed on May 27 after 134 performances. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 08 Feb Dan Seals born: Dan Seals, an American country music artist, was born on February 8, 1950. He gained fame in the 1980s and 1990s with several hit songs and was known for his smooth voice and engaging performances. source: biography.com
- 18 Feb Broadway Musical Closes After Short Run: A Broadway musical closed on February 18, 1950, after a brief performance period. The show's early closure was attributed to poor ticket sales and mixed reviews from critics. source: playbill.com
- 20 Feb Tony Wilson's Birth: Tony Wilson, an influential figure in the British music scene, was born on February 20, 1950. He is best known for founding Factory Records and promoting the Manchester music scene. source: theguardian.com
- 22 Feb Lenny Kuhr Born: Lenny Kuhr, Dutch singer who would later win the Eurovision Song Contest, was born. She would become a notable figure in European music and entertainment.
- 25 Feb Your Show of Shows premieres on NBC: Your Show of Shows, a groundbreaking television variety show, premiered on NBC on February 25, 1950. The show featured a mix of comedy sketches, musical performances, and guest appearances, becoming a significant influence on future television programming. source: britannica.com
- 04 Mar Emilio Estefan born in Cuba: Emilio Estefan Gómez, a Cuban-American musician and producer, was born on March 4, 1953, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. He is best known as a member of the Miami Sound Machine and for his contributions to Latin music. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 15 Mar Consul Play at Barrymore Theater: The play 'Consul' premiered at the Barrymore Theater in New York City on March 15, 1950. It was notable for its innovative use of music and themes related to the human condition. source: nytimes.com
- 18 Mar First public electronic music concert held at École Normale de Musique de Paris: On March 18, 1950, the first public electronic music concert was performed at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, showcasing the emerging genre. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 23 Mar Great to Be Alive Broadway Premiere: The musical 'Great to Be Alive' opened at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City, beginning a brief but notable run of 52 performances. This theatrical production represented the vibrant post-war Broadway entertainment scene.
- 10 Apr Eddie Hazel birth: Eddie Hazel, the influential guitarist known for his work with the funk band Parliament-Funkadelic, was born on April 10, 1950. His innovative guitar playing and contributions to funk music have left a lasting impact on the genre. source: britannica.com
- 22 Apr Birth of Peter Frampton: Musician Peter Frampton was born on April 22, 1950, in Bromley, England. He is renowned for his work in rock music, particularly for his live album 'Frampton Comes Alive!' which became one of the best-selling live albums of all time. source: biography.com
- 24 Apr Peter Pan Broadway Premiere: The classic musical 'Peter Pan' opens at the Imperial Theater in New York City, beginning a successful run of 320 performances that would help establish the show as a beloved theatrical production.
- 02 May Lou Gramm: Rock Musician Born: Louis Andrew Grammatico, known professionally as Lou Gramm, was born on May 2, 1950, in Rochester, New York. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 12 May Darius Milhaud's opera Bolivar premieres in Paris: Darius Milhaud's opera 'Bolivar' premiered at the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris on May 12, 1950. The opera is based on the life of Simón Bolívar, the South American liberator. Milhaud's work is noted for its innovative use of orchestration and blending of musical styles. source: britannica.com
- 13 May Peter Gabriel's Birth: Peter Gabriel is born in London, England. He would later become a renowned musician, first as the lead singer of progressive rock band Genesis and later as a successful solo artist known for hits like 'Sledgehammer', 'Shock the Monkey', and 'Solsbury Hill'.
- 21 May Birth of Roger Hodgson: Roger Hodgson, future rock musician and founding member of the band Supertramp, was born in London, England. He would later become famous for writing and performing iconic songs like 'The Logical Song'.
- 27 May Broadway Musical 'Arms & the Girl' Concludes Run: The musical 'Arms & the Girl' completed its Broadway run at the 46th Street Theater after 134 performances, representing a typical theatrical production of the mid-20th century entertainment landscape.
- 18 Jun Jackie Leven: Scottish musician born: Jackie Leven, a notable Scottish musician and songwriter, was born on June 18, 1950. He gained recognition for his unique blend of folk and rock music, influencing many artists throughout his career. source: britannica.com
- 01 Jul "Lost in the Stars" Concludes Broadway Run: The musical "Lost in the Stars" concluded its run at the Music Box Theater in New York City after 281 performances, marking the end of its Broadway engagement.
- 10 Jul Your Hit Parade television debut: The television show 'Your Hit Parade' made its debut on July 10, 1950. The program featured musical performances of the week's top songs and became a staple of American television entertainment. source: tvguide.com
- 07 Aug Rodney Crowell's Early Career: Rodney Crowell began his musical journey as a singer and guitarist, notably performing with Emmylou Harris, who would later become a significant influence in country and folk music.
- 19 Aug 'Goodnight, Irene' dominates music charts: The Weavers' version of "Goodnight, Irene" reached number one on the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart on August 19, 1950, and remained there for 13 weeks. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 10 Sep Joe Perry born: Joe Perry, the American guitarist known for his work with the rock band Aerosmith, was born on September 10, 1950. He has been a significant figure in rock music, contributing to the band's success since its formation in the early 1970s. source: biography.com
- 29 Sep Tin Pan Alley TV show concludes: The popular television show 'Tin Pan Alley' concluded on September 29, 1950. The show was known for featuring various musical acts and played a significant role in promoting popular music during its run. source: tvguide.com
- 30 Sep WSM TV Channel 4 Nashville launches: WSM TV Channel 4 in Nashville officially launched on September 30, 1950. It became a significant broadcasting station, known for its country music programming and connection to the Grand Ole Opry. source: nashville.gov
- 05 Oct Broadway Musical Premiere: The theatrical production 'Pardon Our French' opens at the Broadway Theater in New York City, running for 100 performances and contributing to the vibrant post-war entertainment scene.
- 12 Oct Broadway musical 'Call Me Madam' premieres: The Broadway musical 'Call Me Madam' premiered on October 12, 1950, featuring music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The show starred Ethel Merman and became a significant success, known for its catchy tunes and engaging storyline. It contributed to the popularity of musical theater in the early 1950s. source: ibdb.com
- 13 Oct Birth of Dan Seals: Dan Seals, an American country music artist, was born on October 13, 1950. He gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s, known for hits like 'Bop' and 'Meet Me in Montana.' source: biography.com
- 22 Nov Tina Weymouth's Birth: Martina Michèle Weymouth, known as Tina Weymouth, was born on November 22, 1950, in Coronado, California. She is an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the bassist for Talking Heads and co-founder of Tom Tom Club. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 24 Nov Guys & Dolls Broadway Premiere: The iconic musical 'Guys & Dolls' opens at the 46th Street Theater in New York City, beginning a remarkable 1,200-performance run that would become a landmark in Broadway history.
- 09 Dec Joan Armatrading born in Basseterre, Saint Kitts: Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, a British singer-songwriter and guitarist, was born on December 9, 1950, in Basseterre, Saint Kitts. She later moved to Birmingham, England, where she began her musical career. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 21 Dec Out of This World Broadway musical premiere: The Broadway musical 'Out of This World' premiered on December 21, 1950. The show featured music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, and it was notable for its whimsical story about a mortal who interacts with gods. source: ibdb.com
- 22 Dec Birth of rock musician Rick Nielsen: Rick Nielsen, the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock band Cheap Trick, was born on December 22, 1950. He is known for his distinctive guitar style and contributions to the band's success in the late 1970s and 1980s. source: rollingstone.com
What happened in 1950?
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