1936 in music

Events

January 4 – Billboard magazine publishes its first music hit parade

March 28 – Inaugural concert of the São Paulo City Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ernst Mehlich

April 19 – In Barcelona, Alban Berg's Violin Concerto is given its première, by Louis Krasner

May 2 – Peter and the Wolf (Петя и волк, Petya i volk), a Russian fairy tale of Sergei Prokofiev's composition, debuts at the Nezlobin Theater in Moscow, Soviet Union, but attracts little attention at this time.

December 24 – Release of the film Natalka Poltavka in Ukraine, the first filmed Russian opera.

Nat King Cole's recording career begins.

Count Basie begins recording with his own band, which includes Lester Young.

José Iturbi becomes conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Published popular music

"At The Codfish Ball" w. Sidney D. Mitchell m. Lew Pollack. Introduced by Shirley Temple and Buddy Ebsen in the film Captain January

"Au Revoir (But Not Goodbye)" w.m. Joe Gilbert

"Awake in a Dream" w. Leo Robin m. Frederick Hollander. Introduced by Marlene Dietrich in the film Desire.

"Bojangles Of Harlem" w. Dorothy Fields m. Jerome Kern. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film Swing Time.

"By Strauss" w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. Introduced by Gracie Barrie and Robert Shafter in the revue The Show is On

"Christopher Columbus" w. Andy Razaf m. Leon Berry

"Cloudy" m. Mary Lou Williams

"Cool Water" w.m. Bob Nolan

"Does Your Heart Beat For Me?" w. Mitchell Parish m. Russ Morgan

"Down in the Depths (on the Ninetieth Floor)" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Ethel Merman in the musical Red, Hot and Blue.

"Easy To Love" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by James Stewart and reprised by Frances Langford in the film Born to Dance

"Empty Saddles" w. J. Keirn Brennan m. Billy Hill

"Everybody Swing" w. Sidney Clare m. Harry Akst

"Fancy Meeting You" w. E. Y. Harburg m. Harold Arlen. Introduced by Dick Powell and Jeanne Madden in the film Stage Struck.

"Farewell To Dreams" w. Gus Kahn m. Sigmund Romberg

"A Fine Romance" w. Dorothy Fields m. Jerome Kern. Introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film Swing Time.

"Gee! But You're Swell" w. Charles Tobias m. Abel Baer

"Get Thee Behind Me Satan" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Harriet Hilliard in the film Follow the Fleet

"Glad To Be Unhappy" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers. Introduced by Doris Carson and David Morris in the musical On Your Toes

"Gloomy Sunday" w. (Eng) Sam M. Lewis m. Rezső Seress

"The Glory Of Love" w.m. Billy Hill

"Goodnight, Irene" w.m. Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter

"Goodnight My Love" w. Harry Revel m. Mack Gordon

"Goody Goody" w.m. Johnny Mercer & Matty Malneck

"Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?" w.m. Noël Coward

"He Ain't Got Rhythm" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Alice Faye in the film On the Avenue.

"He Hasn't a Thing Except Me" w. Ira Gershwin m. Vernon Duke. Introduced by Fanny Brice in the revue Ziegfeld Follies of 1936.

"I Can't Escape From You" w.m. Leo Robin & Richard A. Whiting. Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film Rhythm on the Range.

"I Love To Sing-a" w. E. Y. Harburg m. Harold Arlen. Introduced by Al Jolson and Cab Calloway in the film The Singing Kid.

"If I Should Lose You" w. Leo Robin m. Ralph Rainger. Introduced by Gladys Swarthout and John Boles in the film Rose of the Rancho.

"I'm An Old Cow Hand" w.m. Johnny Mercer. Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film Rhythm on the Range.

"I'm in the Mood for Love" Introduced by Darla Hood in a clubhouse and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer on a radio in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short, The Pinch Singer (1936).

"I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film Follow the Fleet.

"In The Chapel In The Moonlight" w.m. Billy Hill

"Is It True What They Say About Dixie?" w. Irving Caesar & Sammy Lerner

"It's A Sin To Tell A Lie" w.m. Billy Mayhew

"It's De-Lovely" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Ethel Merman and Bob Hope in the musical Red, Hot and Blue

"It's Got to Be Love" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers. Introduced by Ray Bolger and Doris Carson in the musical On Your Toes.

"I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'" w. Arthur Freed m. Nacio Herb Brown

"I've Got You Under My Skin" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Virginia Bruce in the film Born to Dance.

"Keep a Twinkle In Your Eye" Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom

"Let Yourself Go" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Ginger Rogers in the film Follow the Fleet

"Let's Call a Heart a Heart" w. Johnny Burke m. Arthur Johnston from the film Pennies From Heaven

"Let's Face the Music and Dance" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film Follow the Fleet.

"Life Begins at Forty" Yellen, Shapiro

"Little Old Lady" w. Stanley Adams m. Hoagy Carmichael

"The Love Bug Will Bite You" w.m. Pinky Tomlin

"Me and the Moon" w. Walter Hirsch m. Lou Handman

"Moonburn" w. Edward Heyman m. Hoagy Carmichael. Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film Anything Goes

"Moonlight and Shadows" w. Leo Robin m. Frederick Hollander. Introduced by Dorothy Lamour in the film The Jungle Princess

"Music in May" w. Christopher Hassall m. Ivor Novello. Introduced by Dorothy Dickson in the musical Careless Rapture

"Never Gonna Dance" w. Dorothy Fields m. Jerome Kern. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film Swing Time

"The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful" w. Billy Rose & Irving Kahal m. Dana Suesse

"On The Beach At Bali-Bali" w.m. Al Sherman, Jack Meskill & Abner Silver

"The One Rose (That's Left In My Heart)" w.m. Del Lyon & Lani McIntyre

"One, Two, Button Your Shoe" w. Johnny Burke m. Arthur Johnston

"Oooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty?" w. Clarence Todd m. Carmen Lombardo

"Organ Grinder's Swing" w. Mitchell Parish & Irving Mills m. Will Hudson

"Pennies from Heaven" w. Johnny Burke m. Arthur Johnston

"Pick Yourself Up" w. Dorothy Fields m. Jerome Kern. Introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film Swing Time

"Play, Orchestra, Play" w.m. Noël Coward

"Poinciana" w. (Sp) Manuel Lliso (Eng) Buddy Bernier m. Nat Simon

"Poor Little Angeline" w.m. Will Grosz & Jimmy Kennedy

"Rainbow on the River" w. Paul Francis Webster m. Louis Alter

"Ridin' High" w.m. Cole Porter

"San Francisco" w. Gus Kahn m. Bronislaw Kaper & Walter Jurmann

"Sing Me A Swing Song" w. Stanley Adams m. Hoagy Carmichael

"Sing, Sing, Sing" w.m. Louis Prima

"Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" m. Richard Rodgers

"There's A Bridle Hangin' On The Wall" w.m. Carson Robison

"There's a Small Hotel" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers

"To You, Sweetheart, Aloha" w.m. Harry Owens

"Too Good for the Average Man" w. Lorenz Hart m. Richard Rodgers

"The Touch Of Your Lips" w.m. Ray Noble

"Waltz In Swingtime" w. Dorothy Fields m. Jerome Kern

"The Way You Look Tonight" w. Dorothy Fields m. Jerome Kern. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film Swing Time

"We Saw The Sea" w.m. Irving Berlin. Introduced by Fred Astaire in the film Follow the Fleet

"When a Lady Meets a Gentleman Down South" w.m. Michael Cleary, Jacques Krakeur & David Oppenheim

"When Did You Leave Heaven?" w. Walter Bullock m. Richard A. Whiting

"When I'm With You" w. Mack Gordon m. Harry Revel. Introduced by Shirley Temple and Tony Martin in the film Poor Little Rich Girl.

"When My Dreamboat Comes Home" w.m. Cliff Friend & Dave Franklin

"The Window Cleaner" George Formby, Gifford, Cliffe

"With My Shillelagh Under My Arm" w.m. Billy O'Brien & Raymond Wallace

"With Plenty of Money and You" w. Al Dubin m. Harry Warren

"Would You?" w. Arthur Freed m. Nacio Herb Brown

"You (Gee But You're Wonderful)" w. Harold Adamson m. Walter Donaldson

"You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes" w.m. Milton Ager, Charles Newman & Murray Mencher

"You Gotta S-M-I-L-E to Be H-A-P-P-Y" w.m. Mack Gordon & Harry Revel

"You Turned the Tables on Me" w. Sidney D. Mitchell m. Louis Alter

"You Were There" w.m. Noël Coward

"(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)" w.m. Sam Coslow

Biggest hit songs

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the limited set of charts available for 1936.

Top hit recordings

"Alone" – Tommy Dorsey

"A Fine Romance" – Fred Astaire, accompanied Nathaniel Shilkret Orchestra

"Boogie Woogie Stomp" – Albert Ammons

"Cross Road Blues" – Robert Johnson

"Did I Remember" – Shep Fields

"The Glory of Love" – Benny Goodman

"Goody Goody" – Benny Goodman

"I'll Sing You A Thousand Love Songs" – Eddy Duchin

"I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket" – Fred Astaire

"In the Chapel In the Moonlight" – Shep Fields & His Rippling Rhythm

"Indian Love Call" – Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, accompanied Nathaniel Shilkret Orchestra

"Is It True What They Say About Dixie?" – Jimmy Dorsey

"It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" – Fats Waller

"Moon Over Miami" – Eddy Duchin

"The Music Goes Round and Round" – Tommy Dorsey

"Pennies from Heaven" – Bing Crosby

"Star Dust" – Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

"Sweet Home Chicago" – Robert Johnson

"The Way You Look Tonight" – Fred Astaire, accompanied Nathaniel Shilkret Orchestra

"The Martins And The Coys" – Ted Weems And His Orchestra

"Up The Wooden Hill To Bedfordshire" - Vera Lynn

"You Can't Pull The Wool Over My Eyes" – Ted Weems And His Orchestra With Perry Como

Compositions

Grażyna Bacewicz – Trio for Oboe, Violin and Piano

Samuel Barber –

Symphony No. 1, Op. 9

String Quartet, Op. 11

Béla Bartók – Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Arnold Bax –

Threnody and Scherzo

String Quartet No. 3 in F major

Ernest Bloch – Voice in the Wilderness

Benjamin Britten – Three Divertimenti for String Quartet

Carlos Chávez – Sinfonía india (Symphony No. 2)

Henry Cowell – String Quartet No. 4, "United"

David Diamond –

Violin Concerto No. 1

Concerto for String Quartet

John Fernström – Clarinet Concerto

Berthold Goldschmidt – String Quartet No. 2

Paul Hindemith – Trauermusik (Funeral Music)

Alan Hovhaness – Cello Concerto

Aram Khachaturian – Piano Concerto

Bohuslav Martinů – Concerto for Flute, Violin and Chamber Orchestra

Olivier Messiaen - Poèmes Pour Mi, song cycle for piano and soprano

Sergei Prokofiev –

Peter and the Wolf, for narrator and orchestra

Romeo and Juliet (ballet)

Russian Overture for orchestra

Sergei Rachmaninoff – Symphony No. 3

Albert Roussel – Concertino for Cello and Orchestra

Edmund Rubbra –

Sinfonia Concertante

Symphony No. 1, Op. 44

Arnold Schoenberg –

Violin Concerto, Op. 36 (1935–36)

String Quartet No. 4, Op. 37

Roger Sessions – String Quartet No. 1

Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43 (1935–1936)

Edgard Varèse – Density 21.5

Ralph Vaughan Williams – Dona Nobis Pacem

Anton Webern – Variations for Piano (1935–1936)

Percy Whitlock – Sonata for Organ in C minor

Opera

Franco Alfano – Cyrano de Bergerac

George Enescu – Œdipe, op. 23 (completed by 1931); first stage March 13, 1935, at the Paris Opera

Emmerich Kalman – Kaiserin Josephine

Bohuslav Martinů – Divadlo za branou (Theater Behind the Gate)

Gian Carlo Menotti – Amelia Goes to the Ball

Musical theater

Balalaika London production opened at the Adelphi Theatre on December 22 and ran for 570 performances.

Careless Rapture (Ivor Novello) – London production opened at the Theatre Royal on September 11 and ran for 295 performances.

New Faces Of 1936 Broadway revue opened at the Vanderbilt Theatre on May 19 and ran for 193 performances.

On Your Toes Broadway production opened on April 11 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 315 performances.

Over She Goes (Music: Billy Mayerl Lyrics: Desmond Carter & Frank Eyton Book: Stanley Lupino) London production opened at the Saville Theatre on September 23 and ran for 248 performances

Red, Hot And Blue Broadway production opened on October 29 at the Alvin Theatre and ran for 183 performances.

The Show is On Broadway revue opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on December 25 and ran for 237 performances.

Swing Along London production opened at the Gaiety Theatre on September 2 and ran for 311 performances

This'll Make You Whistle London production opened at the Palace Theatre on September 15 and transferred to Daly's Theatre on January 21, 1937, for a total run of 190 performances. Starred Jack Buchanan and Elsie Randolph

Tonight at 8:30 London production opened at the Phoenix Theatre on January 9 and ran for 157 performances.

White Horse Inn Broadway production opened on October 1 at the Center Theatre and ran for 223 performances.

Musical films

Anything Goes starring Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman

Born To Dance released November 27 starring Eleanor Powell, Virginia Bruce, James Stewart, Frances Langford, Buddy Ebsen and the vocal group The Foursome.

Cain and Mabel starring Marion Davies, Clark Gable and Allen Jenkins

Can This Be Dixie? starring Jane Withers, Slim Summerville, Helen Wood and Thomas Beck. Directed by George Marshall

Captain January starring Shirley Temple, Guy Kibbee and Slim Summerville. Directed by David Butler.

Collegiate released January 22 starring Jack Oakie and Frances Langford and featuring songwriters Mack Gordon and Harry Revel.

Dancing Pirate starring Charles Collins, Frank Morgan and Steffi Duna

Everybody Dance starring Cicely Courtneidge

Everything Is Rhythm starring Harry Roy and Princess Pearl (actress) and featuring Mabel Mercer

Follow the Fleet starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

The Great Ziegfeld starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, Luise Rainer, Frank Morgan, Fanny Brice, Virginia Bruce and Ray Bolger.

Hats Off starring Mae Clark and John Payne. Directed by Boris Petroff.

Her Master's Voice starring Edward Everett Horton and Peggy Conklin

King of Burlesque starring Alice Faye, Jack Oakie and Warner Baxter and featuring Fats Waller and Kenny Baker

Pigskin Parade starring Stuart Erwin, Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, Betty Grable, Dixie Dunbar and Judy Garland and featuring The Yacht Club Boys

Poor Little Rich Girl released July 24 starring Shirley Temple, Alice Faye, Jack Haley and featuring Tony Martin.

Public Nuisance No. 1 starring Frances Day.

Rhythm on the Range released July 1 starring Bing Crosby and Frances Farmer.

Rose-Marie starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy

Show Boat starring Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, Helen Morgan, Paul Robeson and Hattie McDaniel

Soft Lights and Sweet Music film revue featuring Ambrose & his Orchestra, Evelyn Dall, Turner Layton and Elisabeth Welch

Stage Struck starring Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Frank McHugh, Jeanne Madden and The Yacht Club Boys.

Suzy starring Jean Harlow, Franchot Tone, Cary Grant and Inez Courtney

Swing Time starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Three Smart Girls

Variety Parade

Births

January 2

Iván Erőd, Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist

Roger Miller, country singer (died 1992)

January 12 – Raimonds Pauls, composer and piano player

January 14 – Clarence Carter, soul singer

January 23 – Cécile Ousset, pianist

January 24

Doug Kershaw, fiddle player

Jack Scott, singer and songwriter

Bobby Wellins, Scottish saxophonist

February 6 – Donnie Brooks, singer (d. 2007)

February 8 - Larry Verne, American novelty singer (d. 2013)

February 9 – Stompin' Tom Connors, folk musician

February 19 – Bob Engermann (The Lettermen)

February 22 – Ernie K-Doe, R&B singer (d. 2001)

March 4 – Aribert Reimann, pianist and composer

March 17 – Ladislav Kupkovič, composer

March 20 – Lee "Scratch" Perry, reggae artist, composer

March 26 – Fred Parris (The Five Satins)

March 29 – Richard Rodney Bennett, composer and pianist

April 10 – Bobby Smith (R&B singer) (The Spinners)

April 13 – Dieter Klöcker, clarinetist ([1])

April 17 – Pete Graves (The Moonglows)

April 22 – Glen Campbell, folk singer (The Beach Boys)

April 23 – Roy Orbison, singer-songwriter (d. 1988)

April 29

April Stevens, singer

Zubin Mehta, conductor

May 2 – Engelbert Humperdinck, singer

May 6 – Sylvia Vanderpool Robinson (Mickey & Sylvia)

May 14 – Bobby Darin, singer (d. 1973)

May 25 – Tom T. Hall, country singer

June 6 – Levi Stubbs, vocalist (The Four Tops) (d. 2008)

June 19

Tommy DeVito (The Four Seasons)

Shirley Goodman (Shirley & Lee, Shirley & Company)

June 20 – Billy Guy (The Coasters)

June 22

Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter and actor

Hermeto Pascoal, composer and instrumentalist

June 30 – Dave Van Ronk, folk singer (d. 2002)

July 10 – David Zinman, violinist and conductor

July 13 – Vaza Azarasvili, Georgian composer

July 30 – Buddy Guy, blues guitarist

August 4 – Elsbeary Hobbs (The Drifters)

August 7 – Charles Pope (The Tams)

August 23 – Rudy Lewis (The Drifters) (d. 1964)

September 7 – Buddy Holly, singer and songwriter (d. 1959)

October 3

James Darren, actor and singer

Steve Reich, composer

October 5 – George Jones Jr. (The Edsels)

October 7 – Charles Dutoit, conductor

October 24 – Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones)

November 11 – Jack Keller, songwriter

November 14

Antonio Gades, flamenco dancer (d. 2004)

Cornelius Gunter (The Coasters) (The Flairs) (d. 1990)

November 18 – Don Cherry, jazz musician

December 14 – Arve Tellefsen, violinist

December 17 – Tommy Steele, singer

Deaths

January 1 – Harry B. Smith, US songwriter, 75

January 7 – Guy d'Hardelot, composer and pianist, 77

January 22 – Louis Glass, composer, 71

January 23 – Dame Clara Butt, contralto opera singer, 63

January 25 – Hermann Bischoff, composer, 68

February 11 - Florence Smithson, singer, 51.

March 6 – Rubin Goldmark, pianist and composer, 63

March 21 – Alexander Glazunov, composer, 70

March 26 – Maximilian Maksakov, opera singer (b. 1869)

April 7 – Marilyn Miller, US actress, dancer and singer, 37

April 18 – Ottorino Respighi, composer, 56

April 24 – Bernard van Dieren, composer, 48

May 5 - Eva von der Osten, operatic soprano, 54

May 24 – Claudia Muzio, opera singer, 47

May 25 – Ján Levoslav Bella, composer and conductor, 92

June 27 – Mike Bernard, ragtime musician, 61

August 15 – Sir Henry Lytton, Gilbert & Sullivan comic baritone singer and actor, 71

August 19 – Harry Plunket Greene, baritone concert singer, 71

August 28 – Albert Périlhou, French composer, organist and pianist, 90

September 5 – Béla Szabados, composer, 69

October 11 – Antonio José, Spanish composer, 33

October 22 – Anne Caldwell, playwright and lyricist, 68

November 11 – Sir Edward German, composer, 74

November 17 – Ernestine Schumann-Heink, contralto singer, 75

December 6 – Emil Adamič, composer, 58

December 31 – Oreste Riva, composer, 76

date unknown – Albert Gorter, conductor and composer (b. 1862)