1940 in music

Events

• Thelonius Monk begins performing
• Woody Guthrie's musical career begins

Top Hit Records

• "The Woodpecker Song" - Glenn Miller
• "In the Mood" - Glenn Miller
• "Only Forever" - Bing Crosby
• "Careless" - Glenn Miller
• "I'll Never Smile Again" - Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra
• "Frenesi" - Artie Shaw
• "Trade Winds" - Bing Crosby
• "Tuxedo Junction" - Glenn Miller
• "When You Wish Upon a Star" - Glenn Miller
• "Sierra Sue" - Bing Crosby

Births

• January 8 - Little Anthony Gourdune[?], Little Anthony & The Imperials[?]
• January 22 - Addie Harris[?], The Shirelles
• January 31 - Sandy Yaguda[?], Jay & The Americans[?]
• February 2 - Alan Caddy[?], The Tornados[?]
• February 3- Angelo D'Aleo[?], Dion and the Belmonts
• February 10 - Roberta Flack
• February 10 - Jimmy Merchant[?], Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers[?]
• February 11 - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett[?]
• February 19 - Smokey Robinson
• February 20 - Barbara Ellis[?], The Fleetwoods[?]
• February 28 - Joe South[?]
• February 28 - Marty Sanders[?], Jay & The Americans[?]
• February 29 - Gretchen Christopher[?], The Fleetwoods[?]
• March 10 - Dean Torrence[?], Jan and Dean
• March 11 - Mike Hugg[?], Manfred Mann
• March 12 - Al Jarreau[?]
• March 13 - Daniel Bennie[?], The Reflections[?]
• March 14 - Loretta Lynn
• March 15 - Phil Lesh, The Grateful Dead
• March 17 - Vito Picone[?], The Elegants[?]
• April 12 - Herbie Hancock
• April 13 - Lester Chambers[?], The Chambers Brothers[?]
• April 17 - Billy Fury[?]
• April 24 - George Tomsco[?], The Fireballs[?]
• May 8 - Rick Nelson
• May 17 - Taj Mahal[?]
• May 19 - Mickey Newbury[?]
• June 7 - Tom Jones
• June 8 - Nancy Sinatra
• June 8 - Sherman Garnes[?], Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers[?]
• June 11 - Joey Dee[?]
• June 13 - Bobby Freeman[?]
• June 23 - Adam Faith
• June 26 - Billy Davis Jr.[?], The Fifth Dimension
• July 7 - Ringo Starr, drummer for The Beatles
• July 16 - Tony Jackson, The Searchers
• July 22 - George Clinton
• August 10 - Bobby Hatfield[?], The Righteous Brosthers[?]
• August 14 - Dash Croft[?], Seals and Crofts[?]
• August 19 - Johnny Nash[?]
• August 19 - Jonathan Cook[?], David & Jonathan[?]
• August 20 - John Lantree[?], The Honeycombs[?]
• September 2 - Jimmy Clanton[?]
• September 7 - Ronnie Dove[?]
• September 9 - Joe Negroni[?], Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers[?]
• September 11 - Bernie Dwyer[?], Freddie & The Dreamers[?]
• September 18 - Frankie Avalon[?]
• September 19 - Bill Medley[?], The Righteous Brothers
• October 8 - Fred Cash[?], The Impressions
• October 9 - John Lennon
• October 14 - Cliff Richard
• October 19 - Larry Chance[?], The Earls[?]
• October 21 - Jimmy Beaumont[?], The Skyliners[?]
• October 23 - Fred Marsden[?], Gerry & The Pacemakers[?]
• October 26 - Keith Hopwood[?], Herman's Hermits
• November 4 - Delbert McClinton[?]
• November 14 - Fred Garrity[?], Freddie & the Dreamers[?]
• November 16 - John Ryanes[?], The Monotones[?]
• November 21 - Dr. John[?]
• November 28 - Bruce Channel[?]
• November 29 - Chuck Mangione
• December 3 - Jim Freeman[?], The Five Satins[?]
• December 4 - Freddie Cannon[?]
• December 4 - John Cale, The Velvet Underground
• December 11 - David Gates, Bread
• December 12 - Dionne Warwick
• December 19 - Phil Ochs
• December 21 - Frank Zappa
• December 21 - Ray Hildebrand[?], Paul & Paula[?]
• December 23 - Tim Hardin[?]
• December 23 - Eugene Record[?], The Chi-Lites[?]
• December 23 - Jorma Kaukonen[?], Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna
• December 26 - Phil Spector

Deaths