1941 in music

Events

• January 15 - Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps is premiered in Stalag VIIIA in Silesia.
• January 20 - Béla Bartók's String Quartet No. 6 is premiered in New York City.
• February 11 - 1st Gold record presented to Glenn Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo".
• Alan Lomax (working for the Library of Congress) discovers Muddy Waters[?] and Son House, among others
• Les Paul designs and builds the first solid-body electric guitar.

Top Hit Records

• "You and I" by Glenn Miller
• "Chattanooga Choo Choo[?]" by Glenn Miller
• "Maria Elena" by Jimmy Dorsey
• "Green Eyes" by Jimmy Dorsey
• "Daddy" by Sammy Kaye[?]
• "Amapola" by Jimmy Dorsey
• "I Don't Want to Set the World On Fire" by Hoarce Heidt[?]
• "Piano Concerto in B Flat" by Freddy Martin[?]
• "There'll Be Some Changes Made" by Benny Goodman
• "There I Go" by Vaughn Monroe[?]
• "I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time" - Andrews Sisters
• "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - Andrews Sisters

Births

• January 3 - Van Dyke Parks
• January 9 - Joan Baez
• January 12 - Long John Baldry[?]
• January 15 - Captain Beefheart
• January 18 - David Ruffin[?], The Temptations
• January 21 - Richie Havens
• January 24 - Aaron Neville[?], The Neville Brothers
• January 24 - Neil Diamond
• January 30 - Joe Terranova[?], Danny & The Juniors[?]
• February 4 - John Steel[?], The Animals
• February 5 - Barrett Strong[?]
• February 11 - Earl Lewis[?], The Channels[?]
• February 11 - Sergio Mendes[?]
• February 11 - Tom Rush[?]
• February 15 - Brian Holland[?], songwriter
• February 17 - Eddie Holland[?], songwriter
• February 17 - Gene Pitney
• February 18 - Herman Santiago[?], Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers[?]
• February 18 - Irma Thomas[?]
• February 20 - Buffy Saint-Marie[?]
• February 24 - Joanie Sommers[?]
• March 12 - Paul Kantner[?], Jefferson Airplane
• March 15 - Mike Love[?], The Beach Boys
• March 17 - Clarence Clemons, E Street Band
• March 18 - Wilson Pickett
• April 3 - Jan Berry[?], Jan and Dean
• April 5 - David LaFlame[?], It's A Beautiful Day[?]
• April 8 - J.J. Jackson[?]
• April 28 - Peter Anders[?], The Tradewinds[?]
• April 28 - Ann-Margret
• April 30 - Johnny Farina[?], Santo & Johnny[?]
• May 4 - Richard Burns[?], The Hondells[?]
• May 8 - John Fred[?], John Fred & His Playboy Band[?]
• May 9 - Peter Birrell[?], Freddie & The Dreamers[?]
• May 10 - Danny Rapp[?], Danny and the Juniors[?]
• May 11 - Eric Burdon[?], The Animals
• May 13 - Ritchie Valens
• May 21 - Ronald Isley[?], The Isley Brothers
• May 24 - Bob Dylan
• June 2 - William Guest[?], Gladys Knight and the Pips
• June 2 - Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones
• June 9 - John Lord[?], Deep Purple
• June 10 - Shirley Alston[?], The Shirelles
• June 15 - Harry Nilsson
• June 16 - Lamont Dozier[?], Holland/Dozier/Holland[?]
• June 30 - Lawrence Henley[?], The Newbeats[?]
• July 5 - Terry Cashman[?]
• July 9 - Donald McPherson[?], Main Ingredient[?]
• July 17 - Spencer Davis[?]
• July 18 - Martha Reeves[?]
• July 18 - Lonnie Mack[?]
• July 19 - Vicki Carr[?]
• July 24 - Barbara Jean Love[?], Friends of Distinction[?]
• July 26 - Brenton Wood[?]
• July 30 - Paul Anka
• August 2 - Doris Kenner[?], The Shirelles
• August 3 - Beverly Lee[?], The Shirelles
• August 4 - Timi Yuro[?]
• August 14 - David Crosby, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash
• August 21 - Tom Coster[?], Santana
• August 24 - Kenny Rogers[?]
• August 26 - Chris Curtis[?], The Searchers
• August 30 - John McNally[?], The Searchers
• September 8 - Donald Drowty[?], Dante & The Evergreens[?]
• September 9 - Otis Redding
• September 13 - David Clayton-Thomas[?], Blood, Sweat & Tears
• September 19 - Mama Cass Elliot[?], Mamas & Papas[?]
• September 21 - Dickey Lee[?]
• September 24 - Linda McCartney
• September 26 - Joseph Bauer[?], Youngbloods
• October 2 - Ron Meagher[?], Beau Brummels[?]
• October 3 - Chubby Checker
• October 5 - Arlene Smith[?], The Chantells[?]
• October 5 - Wally Lester[?], The Skyliners[?]
• October 13 - Paul Simon
• October 17 - James Seals[?], Seals & Crofts[?]
• October 17 - Alan Howard[?], The Tremeloes[?]
• October 21 - Manfred Mann
• October 21 - Steve Cropper[?], Booker T. & The M.G.s[?]
• October 24 - Helen Reddy[?]
• October 28 - Hank Marvin[?], The Shadows[?]
• October 28 - Curtis Lee[?]
• November 2 - Brian Poole[?], The Tremeloes[?]
• November 2 - Bruce Welch[?], The Shadows[?]
• November 5 - Art Garfunkel
• November 6 - Doug Sahm[?], Sir Douglas Quintet[?]
• November 9 - Tom Fogerty[?], Creedence Clearwater Revivial[?]
• November 12 - Jerry Scholl[?], The Mello-Kings[?]
• November 24 - Donald Duck Dunn[?], Booker T. & The M.G.s[?], The Blues Brothers
• November 29 - Denny Doherty[?], The Mamas & Papas[?]
• December 2 - Tom McGuinness[?], Manfred Mann
• December 12 - Terry Kirkman, The Association[?]
• December 18 - Sam Andrew[?], Big Brother & The Holding Company
• December 19 - Maurice White[?], Earth, Wind and Fire
• December 27 - Leslie Maguire[?], Gerry & The Pacemakers[?])
• December 27 - Mike Pinder[?], The Moody Blues
• December 29 - Ray Thomas[?], The Moody Blues

Deaths