1954 in music


This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1954.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Albums released

Al Haig Trio (Esoteric) – Al HaigBing: A Musical Autobiography – Bing CrosbyBlue Haze – Miles DavisChet Baker Sings - Chet BakerThe Chordettes Sing Your Requests – The ChordettesClap Yo' Hands – The Four LadsCrew Cut Capers – The Crew-CutsDinah Jams – Dinah WashingtonIrving Berlin Favorites – Eddie FisherIrving Berlin's White Christmas – Rosemary ClooneyJacques Brel et ses chansons – Jacques Brel

Biggest hit singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in the set of charts available for 1954.
#ArtistTitleYearCountryChart entries
1The Chordettes"Mr. Sandman"1954USUS Billboard 1 – Oct 1954, US 1940s 1 – Nov 1954, US 1 for 4 weeks – Dec 1954, US CashBox 1 – Oct 1954, Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 6 weeks – Jan 1955, Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Apr 1955, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, Peel list 1 of 1954, US BB 5 of 1954, DZE 5 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 6 of 1954, POP 7 of 1954, RYM 9 of 1954, UK 11 – Dec 1954, Brazil 27 of 1955, DDD 45 of 1954, RIAA 252, Acclaimed 1006
2Doris Day"Secret Love"1954USUK 1 – Apr 1954, US Billboard 1 – Jan 1954, US 1940s 1 – Jan 1954, US 1 for 3 weeks – Feb 1954, US CashBox 1 – Nov 1953, Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 7 weeks – May 1954, Oscar in 1953, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, UKMIX 7, DZE 8 of 1954, US BB 11 of 1954, POP 11 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 12 of 1954, RYM 12 of 1953, Brazil 17 of 1954, Italy 54 of 1954
3The Crew-Cuts"Sh-Boom"1954USUS Billboard 1 – Jul 1954, US 1940s 1 – Jul 1954, US 1 for 7 weeks – Aug 1954, US CashBox 1 – Jul 1954, Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Dec 1954, DZE 1 of 1954, US BB 3 of 1954, Flanders 3 – Dec 1954, POP 3 of 1954, UK 12 – Oct 1954, Brazil 13 of 1954, France 20 of 1954, RYM 22 of 1954, Italy 95 of 1955
4Kitty Kallen"Little Things Mean a Lot"1954USUK 1 – Jul 1954, US Billboard 1 – Apr 1954, US 1940s 1 – Apr 1954, US 1 for 9 weeks – Jun 1954, US CashBox 1 – Apr 1954, Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 12 weeks – Jul 1954, Australia 1 for 5 weeks – Oct 1954, DZE 2 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 9 of 1954, US BB 15 of 1954, POP 15 of 1954, UKMIX 28, RYM 145 of 1954
5Rosemary Clooney"Hey There"1954USUS Billboard 1 – Jul 1954, US 1940s 1 – Jul 1954, US 1 for 6 weeks – Sep 1954, US CashBox 1 – Jul 1954, Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Feb 1957, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, UK 4 – Oct 1955, DZE 7 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 14 of 1954, US BB 18 of 1954, POP 21 of 1954, Brazil 31 of 1954, RYM 34 of 1954, DDD 66 of 1954

US No. 1 hit singles

These singles reached the top of US Billboard magazine's charts in 1954.
First weekNumber of weeksTitleArtist
January 2, 19548"Oh! My Pa-Pa"Eddie Fisher
February 27, 19542"Secret Love"Doris Day
March 13, 19541"Make Love to Me"Jo Stafford
March 20, 19541"Secret Love"Doris Day
March 27, 19542"Make Love to Me"Jo Stafford
April 10, 19548"Wanted"Perry Como
June 5, 19549"Little Things Mean a Lot"Kitty Kallen
August 7, 19547"Sh-Boom"The Crew-Cuts
September 25, 19546"Hey There"Rosemary Clooney
November 6, 19541"This Ole House"Rosemary Clooney
November 13, 19543"I Need You Now"Eddie Fisher
December 4, 19547"Mr. Sandman"The Chordettes

Top hits on record

A–J

L–S

T–Y

Top R&B and country hits on record

Published popular music

Other notable songs

[Classical music]

Premieres

1 Recording for the Austrian Radio. The Symphony received its two first concert performances in 1955 under Alois Melichar in Graz and Jan Koetsier in Munich.

Compositions

[Opera]

Film

[Musical theater]

After the Ball London production opened at the Globe Theatre on June 10 and ran for 188 performancesThe Boy Friend Broadway production opened at the Royale Theatre on September 30 and ran for 485 performancesBy the Beautiful Sea Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre on April 8 and transferred to the Imperial Theatre on October 2 for a total run of 268 performances. Starring Shirley BoothCan-Can London production opened at the Coliseum on October 14 and ran for 394 performancesThe Duenna London production opened at the Westminster Theatre on July 28 and ran for 134 performancesFanny Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre on November 4 and transferred to the Belasco Theatre on December 4, 1956, for a total run of 888 performancesThe Girl in Pink Tights Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 5 and ran for 115 performancesThe Golden Apple Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 20 and ran for 125 performancesHappy Holiday London production opened at the Palace Theatre on December 22 and ran for 31 performancesHouse of Flowers Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on December 30 and ran for 165 performancesOn Your Toes Broadway revival opened at the 46th Street Theatre on October 11 and ran for 64 performancesThe Pajama Game — Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on May 13 and transferred to the Shubert Theatre on November 24, 1956, for a total run of 1063 performancesPal Joey London production opened at Princes Theatre on August 4 and ran for 245 performances

[Musical film]s

Athena, starring Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Edmund Purdom and Vic DamoneBrigadoonCarmen JonesCasanova's Big Night starring Bob HopeChandraharam, starring N.T. Rama RaoDeep in My Heart, starring José FerrerFrench Cancan, starring Jean Gabin and María FélixThe French Line, starring Jane RussellLiving It Up, starring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Janet LeighLucky Me, starring Doris Day, Robert Cummings and Phil SilversMayurpankh, directed by and starring Kishore SahuNew FacesRed Garters, starring Rosemary Clooney, Jack Carson and Guy MitchellRhapsody, starring Elizabeth TaylorRiver of No Return, starring Marilyn MonroeRose Marie, starring Ann Blyth and Howard KeelSeven Brides for Seven Brothers, starring Jane Powell, Howard Keel and Julie Newmar.A Star Is BornThe Student Prince, starring Ann Blyth and Edmund Purdom with Mario Lanza dubbing for Purdom.There's No Business Like Show BusinessTop Banana (film), starring Phil SilversWhite Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen

Musical television

Births

January–April

May–December

Deaths