1944 in music


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

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Albums released

Top records

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. 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. 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", "Harlem Hit Parade" charts and the "American Folk Records" column late 1943-early 1944 were also considered. As always, numerical rankings are approximate.
RankArtistTitleLabelRecordedReleasedChart positions
1Bing Crosby"Swinging on a Star"Decca 18597US BB 1944 #1, US #1 for 9 weeks, 28 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales
2Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters"Don't Fence Me In"Decca 23364US BB 1944 #2, US #1 for 8 weeks, 21 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales
3Harry James and His Orchestra "I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)"Columbia 36698US BB 1944 #3, US #1 for 6 weeks, 29 total weeks
4The Mills Brothers"You Always Hurt The One You Love"Decca 18599US 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
5Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra "Besame Mucho"Decca 18574US BB 1944 #5, US #1 for 7 weeks, 25 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales
6Dinah Shore"I'll Walk Alone"Victor 20-1586US 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
7Bing Crosby"I'll Be Seeing You"Decca 18595US BB 1944 #7, US #1 for 4 weeks, 28 total weeks
8Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra"My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)"Decca 18567US BB 1944 #8, US #1 for 5 weeks, 24 total weeks
9Red Foley"Smoke on the Water"Decca 6102US BB 1944 #57, US #7 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1944 #2, MPJBFR #1 for 13 weeks, 27 total weeks
10Bing Crosby"I Love You"Decca 18595US BB 1944 #9, US #1 for 5 weeks, 19 total weeks
11Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots"I'm Making Believe"Decca 23356US 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
12King Cole Trio"Straighten Up and Fly Right"Capitol 154US 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
13Bing Crosby"San Fernando Valley"Decca 18586US BB 1944 #11, US #1 for 5 weeks, 24 total weeks
14Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots"Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall"Decca 23356US BB 1944 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks, 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
15The Andrews Sisters"Shoo-Shoo Baby"Decca 18572US BB 1944 #12, US #1 for 5 weeks, 22 total weeks
16Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"G.I. Jive"Decca 8659US BB 1944 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #4, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 6 weeks, 26 total weeks
17Merry Macs"Mairzy Doats"Decca 18588US BB 1944 #14, US #1 for 5 weeks, 14 total weeks, Decca Records' best-selling release of 1944
18Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes"Long Ago (and Far Away)"Decca 23317US BB 1944 #15, US #2 for 1 week, 20 total weeks
19The Pied Pipers"The Trolley Song"Capitol 168US BB 1944 #17, US #2 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
20Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters"Hot Time in the Town of Berlin"Decca 23350US BB 1944 #20, US #1 for 6 weeks, 15 total weeks

Top race records

RankArtistTitleLabelRecordedReleasedChart positions
1Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots"Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall"Decca 23356US BB 1944 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks, 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
2King Cole Trio"Straighten Up and Fly Right"Capitol 154US 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
3Duke Ellington"Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me"Victor 20-1547US 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
4Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"G.I. Jive"Decca 8659US BB 1944 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #4, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 6 weeks, 26 total weeks
5Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra"Hampton's Boogie Woogie"Decca 18613US R&B 1944 #5, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 6 weeks, 23 total weeks

Published popular music

Classical music

Compositions

Film

Musical theater

Bloomer Girl Broadway production opened at the Shubert Theatre on October 5 and ran for 654 performances.Follow The Girls Broadway production opened at the New Century Theatre on April 8 and ran for 882 performances.Jenny Jones London production opened at the London Hippodrome on October 2 and ran for 153 performancesMexican Hayride Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on January 28 and transferred to the Majestic Theatre on December 18 for a total run of 481 performancesA Night In Venice London production opened at the Cambridge Theatre on May 25On the Town – Broadway production opened at the Adelphi Theatre (New York) on December 28, transferred to the 44th Street Theatre on June 4, 1945, and transferred to the Martin Beck Theatre on July 30, 1945, for a total run of 462 performances.Seven Lively Arts Broadway production opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre on December 7 and ran for 183 performancesSong Of Norway Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on August 21 and transferred to the Broadway Theatre on April 15, 1946, for a total run of 860 performancesSweeter And Lower London production

Musical films

Allergic to Love starring Noah Beery Jr., Martha O'Driscoll, David Bruce, Franklin Pangborn and Maxie Rosenbloom. Directed by Edward Lilley.And the Angels Sing starring Dorothy Lamour, Fred MacMurray and Betty Hutton. Directed by Claude Binyon.Babes on Swing Street starring Ann Blyth, Peggy Ryan and Andy Devine and featuring Marion Hutton and Freddie Slack & his Orchestra. Directed by Edward Lilley.Bees in Paradise released March 20 starring Arthur Askey, Anne Shelton, Ronald Shiner and Jean KentBelle of the Yukon starring Randolph Scott, Gypsy Rose Lee, Dinah Shore and Bob Burns.Can't Help Singing starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Paige and Akim TamiroffCarolina Blues starring Ann Miller and Kay Kyser & his bandChampagne Charlie starring Tommy TrinderCover Girl starring Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers, Lee Bowman, Jinx Falkenburg, Otto Kruger and Eve Arden. Directed by Charles Vidor.Gharam Wa Intiqam, starring AsmahanHere Come the Waves starring Bing Crosby, Betty Hutton and Sonny Tufts.Hey, Rookie starring Ann Miller and Larry ParksHollywood Canteen starring Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Roy Rogers, Barbara Stanwyck and Jane Wyman and featuring The Andrews Sisters, Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra and Carmen Cavallaro & his Orchestra. Directed by Delmer Daves.Jam Session starring Ann Miller and featuring Louis Armstrong & his Orchestra, Alvino Rey & his Orchestra and Charlie Barnet & his OrchestraKnickerbocker Holiday starring Nelson Eddy and Charles CoburnLady In The Dark starring Ginger Rogers and Ray MillandLost in a Harem starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Marilyn Maxwell and John Conte, and featuring Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra. Directed by Charles Reisner.Meet Me in St. Louis starring Judy Garland, Mary Astor, Tom Drake, Lucille Bremer and Margaret O'Brien. Directed by Vincente Minnelli.Meet Miss Bobby Sox starring Bob Crosby, Lynn Merrick and Louise Erickson and featuring Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five. Directed by Glenn Tryon.The Merry Monahans starring Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, Jack Oakie, Rosemary DeCamp, Ann Blyth and Isabel JewellMinstrel Man starring Benny Fields and Gladys GeorgeOne Exciting Night starring Vera LynnPardon My Rhythm starring Gloria Jean, Patric Knowles and Mel Torme and featuring Bob Crosby & his Orchestra. Directed by Felix E. Feist.Rainbow Island starring Dorothy Lamour and Eddie BrackenShine on Harvest Moon starring Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson.Something for the Boys released November 1 starring Carmen Miranda, Phil Silvers, Vivian Blaine and Perry Como.Step Lively starring Frank Sinatra, Gloria DeHaven, George Murphy and Anne Jeffreys.Sweet and Low-Down starring Benny Goodman & his Orchestra, Linda Darnell, Jack Oakie and Lynn BariSwing in the Saddle starring Jane Frazee, The Hoosier Hot Shots, Cousin Emmy and featuring The King Cole Trio and Jimmy Wakely & his Oklahoma CowboysTake It Big starring Jack Haley, Harriet Hilliard, Mary Beth Hughes and Richard Lane and featuring Ozzie Nelson & his Orchestra. Directed by Frank McDonald.

Births

Deaths