1958 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1958.
Specific locations
Specific genres
Events
- January – Maria Callas, opening the Rome Opera House season with Norma with Italy's president, Giovanni Gronchi, in the audience, cancels after the first act because of voice problems. Anita Cerquetti assumes the role in Rome while simultaneously singing Norma in Naples, to great acclaim.
- January 24 – Paul McCartney makes his first appearance at The Cavern Club in Liverpool with The Quarrymen.
- February – 45,000 people in one week watch performances of "rokabirī" music by Japanese singers at the first Nichigeki Western Carnival.
- February 14 – The Iranian government bans rock & roll, claiming that this form of music is against the concepts of Islam and is a health hazard. Iranian doctors warn of the risk of injuries to the hips from the "extreme gyrations" of rock & roll dances.
- February 19 – In the United States:
- * Singer-songwriter Carl Perkins leaves Sun Records and moves to Columbia Records.
- * Motown releases its first record, "Got a Job" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.
- March 5 – Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia premieres Fantasía para un gentilhombre by composer Joaquín Rodrigo at the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Enrique Jordá.
- March 12
- * Billie Holiday is given a year's probation by a Philadelphia court following her arrest and guilty plea on narcotics possession charges in 1956.
- * In Hilversum, Netherlands, "Dors, mon amour" sung by André Claveau wins the third annual Eurovision Song Contest for France. Domenico Modugno places third for Italy with "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" which, retitled "Volare", will reach No. 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100, and will win two Grammy Awards next year for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for 1958.
- March 24 – Elvis Presley enters the U.S. Army.
- April 10 – English singer Cleo Laine marries bandleader John Dankworth.
- May 30 – Béla Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 1 is premiered in Basel, 50 years after it was composed
- c. July 12 – The Quarrymen, George Harrison, Colin Hanton and John Lowe ) record a single 78 rpm shellac acetate disc at Phillips' Sound Recording Services in Liverpool: "In Spite of All the Danger" and a cover of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day".
- August 4 – Billboard magazine in the United States launches its "Hot 100" singles chart, with Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" as the #1 record.
- September 24 – Italian singers Natalino Otto and Flo Sandon's scout the young, talented Mina
- November 6 – Maria Callas is dismissed from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City by its general manager, Rudolf Bing.
- The Festival dei Due Mondi is founded by Gian Carlo Menotti.
- Kenny Rogers signs his first recording contract with a major record label and makes his first national TV performance on American Bandstand.
- Marvin Gaye begins recording with his first group.
- Otis Williams & the Distants begin their musical career. They will later join with The Primes and become The Temptations.
- Phil Spector begins his recording career.
- Dalida receives the Music Hall "Bravos" along with Yves Montand.
- RCA introduces its first stereo LPs.
- The major record labels begin to cease production of 78 rpm records.
- Fred Foster opens Monument Records in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
- Singer Ernesto Bonino leaves the United States and returns to Italy.
- Bob Bogle and Don Wilson founded the #1 instrumental group of all time The Ventures.
- Singer Júnior joins the pioneering Spanish electric guitar group Jump.
- The Country Music Association is founded as the first trade association dedicated to a single music genre.
Albums released
- Andy Williams – Andy WilliamsAndy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein – Andy WilliamsAnita Sings the Winners – Anita O'DayAround the World – Bing CrosbyAs Long As There's Music – Eddie Fisher
- Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (soundtrack) – Miles DavisThe Atomic Mr. Basie – Count BasieBo Diddley – Bo DiddleyBuddy Holly – Buddy HollyBreezin' Along – The Four LadsC'est ça – Charles AznavourChicago Musette – John Serry and His Accordion – John Serry Sr.
- Closer Than a Kiss – Vic DamoneCole Español – Nat King ColeCome Fly with Me – Frank SinatraDestination Moon – The Ames BrothersDream – The Mills BrothersElla Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport – Ella Fitzgerald and Billie HolidayElla Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook – Ella FitzgeraldElla Swings Lightly – Ella FitzgeraldEllington Indigos – Duke EllingtonElvis' Golden Records – Elvis PresleyThe Everly Brothers – The Everly BrothersThe Fabulous Johnny Cash – Johnny CashFancy Meeting You Here – Bing Crosby and Rosemary ClooneyFor Musicians Only – Stan GetzFor Teenagers In Love – Teresa BrewerForeign Affair – Frankie Laine and Michel LeGrandFrank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely – Frank SinatraFreedom Suite – Sonny RollinsGive Him the Ooh-La-La – Blossom DearieGogi Grant – Welcome To My Heart – Gogi GrantGondolier – DalidaGreatest Hits – Frankie LaineA Guy in Love – Guy MitchellHave 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel – Duane Eddy He's So Fine – Jackie WilsonHooray for Hollywood – Doris DayJohn Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio – John ColtraneJohnny Horton Sings Free And Easy – Johnny HortonJohnny's Greatest Hits – Johnny MathisJulie Is Her Name, Volume II – Julie LondonKate Smith Sings Folk Songs – Kate SmithKing Creole – Elvis PresleyKing of Suriname – Ramdew ChaitoeThe Kingston Trio – The Kingston TrioLast Night When We Were Young – Art FarmerLes Gitans – DalidaLondon by Night – Julie LondonMilestones – Miles DavisThe Mills Brothers In Hi-Fi – The Mills BrothersThe Mills Brothers Sing – The Mills BrothersMiss Music – Teresa BrewerMmmm, The Mills Brothers – The Mills BrothersMusic! Music! Music! – Teresa BrewerMy Happiness – Connie FrancisNo Count Sarah – Sarah VaughanOne Dozen Berrys – Chuck BerryOur Gal Sal – Sally Starr Paris Holiday – Bing CrosbyRhonda – Rhonda FlemingRicky Nelson – Ricky NelsonRockin' Around the World – Bill Haley & His CometsRockin' the Joint – Bill Haley & His CometsRockin' With Kay Starr – Kay StarrSalut les copains – Gilbert BécaudSaturday Night with Mr. C – Perry ComoSings the Songs That Made Him Famous – Johnny CashSmoochin' Time – The Ames BrothersSome Pleasant Moments In The 20th Century – Oscar LevantSongs I Wish I Had Sung – Bing CrosbySongs Our Daddy Taught Us – Everly BrothersSouth Pacific – Original soundtrackStar Dust – Pat BooneSurprise Package – The Crew CutsSwingin' Down Broadway – Jo StaffordTeresa – Teresa BrewerTeresa Brewer At Christmas Time – Teresa BrewerThem There Eyes – Kay StarrThis Is Sinatra Volume 2 – Frank Sinatra'Til Morning – Johnnie RayTime For Teresa – Teresa BrewerTorchin' – Frankie LaineTormé – Mel TorméWheelin' & Dealin' – Mal Waldron, John Coltrane and Frank WessWhen You Come to the End of the Day – Perry ComoWho's Sorry Now? – Connie FrancisYes Indeed! – Pat Boone
Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highestin the charts for the longest time in 1958, in their respective countries.
| # | Artist | Title | Year | Country | Chart Entries |
| 1 | Domenico Modugno | Volare | 1958 |  Published popular music
Other notable songs
Classical musicCompositions
Opera
Film
[Musical theatre]The Body Beautiful Broadway production, opened at The Broadway Theatre and ran for 60 performancesThe Boy Friend – off-Broadway revivalExpresso Bongo London productionFlower Drum Song Broadway production, opened at the St. James Theatre and ran for 600 performancesIrma La Douce London productionLola Montez, Brisbane production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane on October 1Oh, Captain! Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on February 4 and ran for 192 performances.Salad Days New York production ran for 80 performancesValmouth London productionWest Side Story – London productionWhere's Charley? London production[Musical film]sApril Love starring Pat Boone and Shirley JonesDamn Yankees starring Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon and Ray WalstonThe Duke Wore Jeans British film starring Tommy SteeleGigi starring Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier and Hermione GingoldKing Creole starring Elvis PresleyMardi Gras starring Pat BooneMúsica de Siempre, featuring Édith PiafSenior Prom starring Jill CoreySouth Pacific starring Mitzi GaynorMusical televisionAladdin televised on February 21 starring Cyril Ritchard, Basil Rathbone, Dennis King, Sal Mineo, Anna Maria Alberghetti and Una Merkel.Hansel and Gretel televised on April 27 starring Barbara Cook and Red ButtonsKiss Me, Kate starring Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Julie Wilson, Bill Hayes and Jack KlugmanBirths
Deaths
Awards[Eurovision Song Contest]Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition">International Tchaikovsky Competition">Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition |