This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1954.
Specific locations 1954 in British music 1954 in Norwegian music
Specific genres 1954 in country music 1954 in jazz
Events January 14 – First documented use of the abbreviated term "Rock 'n' Roll" to promote Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Jubillee, held at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City. Previously the genre term was just called "Rock and Roll". February 1 – Johnny "Guitar" Watson records "Space Guitar" pioneering reverb and feedback techniques on guitar. March 12 – Arnold Schoenberg's opera Moses und Aron has its first performance in Hamburg (it is given a staged première on June 6 in Zürich).Anon. "Arnold Schoenberg: Moses und Aaron". Metropolitan Opera International Radio Broadcast Information Center (Archived copy from 14 April 2012, accessed 20 April 2013). March 15 – The Chords record "Sh-Boom" for Atlantic Records' Cat subsidiary. March 25 – At the 26th Academy Awards, Frank Sinatra wins the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in From Here to Eternity, resuscitating his singing career in the process. At the same ceremony, Bing Crosby is nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Country Girl. April – Fender Stratocaster electric guitar first produced in California. April 12 – Bill Haley & His Comets record "Rock Around the Clock" in New York City for Decca Records. May 5 – The seventeenth Maggio Musicale Fiorentino opens with a performance of Gaspare Spontini's last opera, Agnese di Hohenstaufen, and continues until 20 June, featuring operas by Weber, Adriano Lualdi, Puccini, and Tchaikovsky, as well as the world premiere of Valentino Bucchi's Il contrabasso.Anon., "'Maggio Musicale': Spontini Opera to Be Revived", The Times, issue 52830 (15 January 1954): 10D; Anon., "Opening of 'Maggio Musicale': Orchestra's Anniversary", The Times Issue 52927 (10 May 1954): 9D. May 20 – "Rock Around the Clock" is released as the B-side of "Thirteen Women (and Only One Man in Town)". The song is only a moderate success (US # 23 on May 29, 1954, for only one week; UK # 17, in December 1954) until it is featured in the film Blackboard Jungle the following year. July 5 – Elvis Presley has his first commercial recording session at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. He sings "That's All Right (Mama)" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky", released as his first single on July 19 naming the performers as Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill. The songs were originally sung by Arthur Crudup in 1946 and Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys in 1947 respectively. October 16 – Elvis Presley makes his first radio broadcast, on a show in Shreveport, Louisiana, called Louisiana Hayride. October 29 -- John Serry signs with Ben Selvin at RCA Thesaurus to broadcast his arrangements of popular music on national radio networks.Radio Daily-Television Daily. Publisher: Radio Daily Corporation 29 October 1954, p. 8 - "RCA Thesaurus cut a session of Latin-American music, polkas, and novelties with the John Serry Accordion Quartet", RCA Thesaurus John Serry on Google Books Fall – A cover version of Big Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" by Bill Haley & His Comets becomes the first internationally popular rock and roll recording. Record companies deliver 7-inch 45 rpm record singles to radio stations instead of 78s. Lyric Opera of Chicago is founded. Composer/conductor Andrzej Panufnik defects from Poland to England. Les Paul commissions Ampex to build the first eight track tape recorder, at his own expense. The Drifters form. The Isley Brothers make their first recordings, featuring only the three eldest brothers, O'Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald. The Newport Jazz Festival is established by George Wein. São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra is founded.
Albums released Al Haig Trio (Esoteric) – Al Haig Bing: A Musical Autobiography – Bing Crosby Blue Haze – Miles Davis Chet Baker Sings - Chet Baker The Chordettes Sing Your Requests – The Chordettes Clap Yo' Hands – The Four Lads Crew Cut Capers – The Crew-Cuts Dinah Jams – Dinah Washington Irving Berlin Favorites – Eddie Fisher Irving Berlin's White Christmas – Rosemary Clooney Jacques Brel et ses chansons – Jacques Brel Just Patti – Patti Page Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers – Louis Armstrong & The Mills Brothers Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy – Louis Armstrong and His All Stars Mambo! - Yma Súmac The Man That Got Away – Georgia Gibbs Meet The Mills Brothers – The Mills Brothers Mr. Rhythm – Frankie Laine My Heart's In The Highland – Jo Stafford A Night at Birdland Vol. 1 – The Art Blakey Quintet A Night at Birdland Vol. 2 – The Art Blakey Quintet Old Masters – Bing Crosby Patti Page Sings for Romance – Patti Page Patti's Songs – Patti Page RCA Thesaurus – John Serry, Sr. Red Garters – Rosemary Clooney Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas – Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Trudy Stevens, Peggy Lee So Many Memories – Patti Page Some Fine Old Chestnuts – Bing Crosby Something Cool – June Christy Songs for Young Lovers – Frank Sinatra Songs in a Mellow Mood – Ella Fitzgerald Swing Easy! – Frank Sinatra The Tin Angel – Odetta & Larry Toshiko at Mocambo – Toshiko Akiyoshi Toshiko's Piano – Toshiko Akiyoshi Young at Heart – Doris Day & Frank Sinatra
Biggest hit singles The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in the set of charts available for 1954.
# Artist Title Year Country Chart entries 1 The Chordettes "Mr. Sandman" 1954 US US Billboard 1 – Oct 1954 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Nov 1954 (8 weeks), US 1 for 4 weeks – Dec 1954, US CashBox 1 – Oct 1954 (23 weeks), Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 6 weeks – Jan 1955, Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Apr 1955, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 (1954), 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 (8 weeks), Brazil 27 of 1955, DDD 45 of 1954, RIAA 252, Acclaimed 1006 (1954) 2 Doris Day "Secret Love" 1954 US UK 1 – Apr 1954 (29 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Jan 1954 (22 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Jan 1954 (20 weeks), US 1 for 3 weeks – Feb 1954, US CashBox 1 – Nov 1953 (30 weeks), Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 7 weeks – May 1954, Oscar in 1953 (film 'Calamity Jane'), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1953), 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 3 The Crew-Cuts "Sh-Boom" 1954 US US Billboard 1 – Jul 1954 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Jul 1954 (20 weeks), US 1 for 7 weeks – Aug 1954, US CashBox 1 – Jul 1954 (24 weeks), Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Dec 1954, DZE 1 of 1954, US BB 3 of 1954, Flanders 3 – Dec 1954 (3 months), POP 3 of 1954, UK 12 – Oct 1954 (9 weeks), Brazil 13 of 1954, France (50s) 20 of 1954, RYM 22 of 1954, Italy 95 of 1955 4 Kitty Kallen "Little Things Mean a Lot" 1954 US UK 1 – Jul 1954 (23 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Apr 1954 (26 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Apr 1954 (25 weeks), US 1 for 9 weeks – Jun 1954, US CashBox 1 – Apr 1954 (28 weeks), 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 5 Rosemary Clooney "Hey There" 1954 US US Billboard 1 – Jul 1954 (27 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Jul 1954 (23 weeks), US 1 for 6 weeks – Sep 1954, US CashBox 1 – Jul 1954 (31 weeks), Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Feb 1957, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1954), UK 4 – Oct 1955 (11 weeks), 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 weeksTitleArtistJanuary 2, 19548"Oh! My Pa-Pa"Eddie FisherFebruary 27, 19542"Secret Love"Doris DayMarch 13, 19541"Make Love to Me"Jo StaffordMarch 20, 19541"Secret Love"Doris DayMarch 27, 19542"Make Love to Me"Jo StaffordApril 10, 19548"Wanted"Perry ComoJune 5, 19549"Little Things Mean a Lot"Kitty KallenAugust 7, 19547"Sh-Boom"The Crew-CutsSeptember 25, 19546"Hey There"Rosemary ClooneyNovember 6, 19541"This Ole House"Rosemary ClooneyNovember 13, 19543"I Need You Now"Eddie FisherDecember 4, 19547"Mr. Sandman"The Chordettes
Top hits on record
A–J "Am I a Toy or a Treasure" – Kay Starr "Answer Me, My Love" – Nat King Cole "Back Where I Belong" – Frankie Laine and Jo Stafford "Baubles, Bangles & Beads" – Georgia Gibbs "Baubles, Bangles & Beads" – Peggy Lee "The Christmas Song" – Nat King Cole (a new version; original release was in 1946) "Cross Over The Bridge" – Patti Page "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" – Nat King Cole "Earth Angel" – The Penguins (also in 1955) "Ebb Tide" – Roy Hamilton "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight" – The McGuire Sisters "Hearts Of Stone" – The Fontane Sisters "I Cried" – Patti Page "I Need You Now" – Eddie Fisher "I Speak to the Stars" – Doris Day "If I Give My Heart to You" – Doris Day "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" – Kay Starr "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" – Kitty Kallen "In the Beginning" – Frankie Laine "In The Mood" – Glenn Miller "In the Still of the Night" – The Five Satins "Johnny Guitar" – Peggy Lee
L–S "Let Me Go, Lover" – Joan Weber "Little Things Mean a Lot" – Kitty Kallen "Lucille" - Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters "Make Love to Me" – Jo Stafford "The Man That Got Away" – Georgia Gibbs "Melancholy Baby" – Georgia Gibbs "Melody of Love" – Frank Sinatra and Ray Anthony "Mr. Sandman" – Chordettes "Muskrat Ramble" – Matys Brothers "My Sin" – Georgia Gibbs "Mystery Train" – Elvis Presley "Oh! My Pa-Pa" – Eddie Fisher "Opus One" – The Mills Brothers "Out Of Nowhere" – Frankie Laine "Papa Loves Mambo" – Perry Como "Rain, Rain, Rain" – Frankie Laine and The Four Lads "Say Hey" – Ray Anthony "Say Hey" – The Treniers "Secret Love" – Doris Day "Sh-Boom" – The Chords "Sincerely" – McGuire Sisters (also in 1955) "Smile" – Nat King Cole "Someone to Watch Over Me" – Frank Sinatra "Such a Night" – Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters "Such a Night" – Johnnie Ray "Sway" – Dean Martin
T–Y "Teach Me Tonight" – The DeCastro Sisters "Tenderly" – Nat King Cole "Thank You for Calling" – Jo Stafford "That's All Right Mama" – Elvis Presley "Tweedlee Dee" – LaVern Baker (also in 1955) "Wanted" – Perry Como "What a Dream" – Patti Page "When The World Was Young" – Felicia Sanders "Whither Thou Goest" – Les Paul and Mary Ford "You'll Never Walk Alone" – Roy Hamilton "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You" – The Mills Brothers
Top R&B and country hits on record "Bimbo" – Jim Reeves "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" – Spaniels 'Slowly" – Webb Pierce "Hearts Of Stone" – Jewels "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" – Muddy Waters "Mambo Baby" – Ruth Brown "Oh What A Dream" – Ruth Brown "Shake A Hand" – Faye Adams "Shake Rattle And Roll" – Big Joe Turner "I Don't Hurt Anymore" – Hank Snow "The Things That I Used To Do" – Guitar Slim "Tweedlee Dee" – LaVern Baker "Work with Me, Annie" – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
Published popular music "All of You" words and music: Cole Porter "Annie Had a Baby" w.m. Henry Glover & Lois Mann "A Blossom Fell" w.m. Howard Barnes, Harold Cornelius & Dominic John "Cara Mia" w.m. Tulio Trapani & Lee Lange "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" w. (Eng) Mack David (Fr) Jacques Larue m. Louiguy "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)" w.m. Irving Berlin "Cross Over The Bridge" w.m. Bennie Benjamin & George David Weiss "Earth Angel" w.m. Jesse Belvin, Curtis Williams & Gaynel Hodge "Ev'ry Day of My Life" w.m.Al Jacobs and Jimmie Crane. "The Finger Of Suspicion Points At You" w.m. Paul Mann & Al Lewis "From The Vine Came The Grape" w.m. Leonard Whitcup & Paul Cunningham "Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea" w.m. Al Hoffman & Dick Manning "Hearts Of Stone" w. Eddy Ray m. Rudy Jackson "Hernando's Hideaway" w.m. Richard Adler & Jerry Ross "He's A Tramp" Sonny Burke, Peggy Lee