1963 in music

Events

January 3 – The Beatles begin their first tour of 1963 with a five-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do", beginning with a performance in Elgin.

January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on jukeboxes.

January 7 – Gary U.S. Bonds files a $100,000 lawsuit against Chubby Checker, claiming that Checker stole "Quarter to Three" and turned it into "Dancin' Party." The lawsuit is later settled out of court.

January 11 – "Please Please Me" is released in the United Kingdom by the Beatles, with "Ask Me Why" as the B-side.

January 12 – Bob Dylan portrays a folk singer in The Madhouse of Castle Street, a radio play for the BBC in London.

February 16

The Beatles achieve their first No. 1 hit single, when "Please Please Me" tops the charts in the UK.

Paul Anka marries Marie-Ann DeZogheb.

February 22 – The Beatles form Northern Songs Publishing Company.

March 5 – Patsy Cline is killed in small plane crash near Camden, Tennessee, while on her way to Nashville, Tennessee, from Kansas City, Missouri, at the height of her career.

March 22 – The Beatles release their first album, Please Please Me, in the UK.

March 23 – The 8th Eurovision Song Contest is held in two studios at the BBC Television Centre, London. After much confusion regarding the results of the Norwegian jury, Denmark snatches victory from Switzerland after a close run. The Danish husband-and-wife duo Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann take the prize with "Dansevise".

April 29 – 19-year-old Andrew Loog Oldham signs a contract with the Rolling Stones, becoming their manager. Oldham had seen the band in concert the previous day at the Crawdaddy Club in London.

May 2 – The Beatles reach number one in the UK singles chart for the second time with "From Me To You".

May 11 – The Beatles album Please Please Me goes to the top of the UK Albums Chart.

May 15 – Opening of the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Mongolia.

May 27 – The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's second and most influential studio album, is released by Columbia Records. The lead song, "Blowin' in the Wind", is released as a single by Peter, Paul and Mary in June and by Dylan himself in August.

May 29 – On the 50th anniversary of its stormy première, 88-year-old Pierre Monteux conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in The Rite of Spring at the Royal Albert Hall, with the composer Stravinsky (81) in the audience.

June 7 – The Rolling Stones' first single, a cover version of the Chuck Berry song "Come On", is released in the UK and reaches No. 21.

August 3 – The Beatles perform at The Cavern Club in Liverpool for the final time.

August 28 – March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Musical performers include Mahalia Jackson, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary and Marian Anderson.

September 6 – Nippon Crown record label is established as Crown Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Music Entertainment.

September 12 – The Beatles reach the UK number one for the third time with the single "She Loves You" (released on 23 August).

October 15

British newspaper The Daily Mirror uses the term "Beatlemania" in a news story about the group's concert the previous day in Cheltenham; a Scottish music promoter later claims to have originated the term a week earlier.

Berliner Philharmonie concert hall opens.

November 30 – After an unbroken 30-week spell at the top of the UK Albums Chart, The Beatles album Please Please Me is knocked off the top of the charts by the group's latest album With the Beatles (released on 22 November).

December 12 – The Beatles reach number one in the UK for the fourth time with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (released on 29 November).

date unknown

Dalida is rejected by Decca in the UK again.

Philips introduce the Musicassette at the Berlin Funkaustellung.

Don Buchla begins to design an electronic music synthesizer in Berkeley, California.

Coxsone Dodd opens the first black-owned recording studio in Jamaica, named Studio One.

Lord Shorty's "Clock and Dagger" is widely considered the first soca recording.

I Nyoman Rembang leaves the Surakarta Conservatorium to teach at the College of Music SMKI in Bali.

Bands disbanded

The Springfields

Biggest hit singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in 1963.

Other notable singles

"Another Saturday Night" – Sam Cooke

"Ashita Ga Arusa" – Kyu Sakamoto

"As Usual" – Brenda Lee

"Atlantis" – The Shadows

"Bad to Me" – Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas

"Be True to Your School" – The Beach Boys

"Blowin' in the Wind" – Peter, Paul and Mary

"Blue Bayou" – Roy Orbison

"Blue on Blue" – Bobby Vinton

"Blue Velvet" – Bobby Vinton

"Bo Diddley" – Buddy Holly

"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" – Buddy Holly

"Busted" – Ray Charles

"Can't Get Used to Losing You" – Andy Williams

"Charms" – Bobby Vee

"Come On" – The Rolling Stones

"Cry Baby" – Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters

"Da Doo Ron Ron" – The Crystals

"Daisy Petal Pickin'" – Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs

"Days of Wine and Roses" – Andy Williams

"Deep Purple" - Nino Tempo & April Stevens

"Denise" – Randy and The Rainbows

"Diamonds" – Jet Harris and Tony Meehan

"Dominique" – Soeur Sourire (The Singing Nun)

"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" – Peter, Paul and Mary

"Donna the Prima Donna" – Dion

"Do You Want to Know a Secret?" – Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas

"Drip Drop" – Dion

"Everybody" – Tommy Roe

"The Folk Singer" – Tommy Roe

"Foolish Little Girl" – The Shirelles

"Foot Tapper" – The Shadows

"From a Jack to a King" – Ned Miller

"From Me to You" – The Beatles

"The Grass Is Greener" – Brenda Lee

"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)" – Allan Sherman

"He's So Fine" – The Chiffons

"Hopeless" – Andy Williams

"How Do You Do It?" – Gerry and the Pacemakers

"I Can't Stay Mad at You" – Skeeter Davis

"I Adore Him" – The Angels

"If I Had A Hammer" – Trini Lopez

"If You Wanna Be Happy" - Jimmy Soul

"I Like It" – Gerry and the Pacemakers

"I'll Keep You Satisfied" – Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas

"In Dreams" – Roy Orbison

"In My Room" – The Beach Boys

"I Only Want to Be With You" – Dusty Springfield

"It's All in the Game" – Cliff Richard

"It's All Right" – Impressions

"It's My Party" – Lesley Gore

"It's Up to You" – Rick Nelson

"I Wanna Be Your Man" – The Rolling Stones

"I Want to Hold Your Hand" – The Beatles

"Java" – Al Hirt

"Little Deuce Coupe" – The Beach Boys

"Little Saint Nick" – The Beach Boys

"The Lord's Prayer" – The Beach Boys

"Heat Wave" – Martha & the Vandellas

"Louie Louie" – Kingsmen

"Love Me Do" – The Beatles

"Lucky Lips" – Cliff Richard and The Shadows

"Mean Woman Blues" – Roy Orbison

"My Boyfriend's Back" – The Angels

"My Whole World Is Falling Down" – Brenda Lee

"Navy Blue" – Diane Renay

"The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" – Bobby Vee

"Our Day Will Come" – Ruby & The Romantics

"Pipeline" – The Chantays

"Please Please Me" – The Beatles

"Pride & Joy" – Marvin Gaye

"Puff, The Magic Dragon" – Peter, Paul and Mary

"Rhythm of the Rain" - The Cascades

"Ring of Fire" – Johnny Cash

"Say Wonderful Things – Ronnie Carroll

"She'll Never Know" – Brenda Lee

"Shirl Girl" – Wayne Newton

"Shut Down" – The Beach Boys

"Sugar and Spice" – The Searchers

"Sugar Shack" – Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs ("Top Song of 1963" US)

"Sukiyaki" – Kyu Sakamoto

"Summer Holiday" – Cliff Richard and The Shadows

"Surf City" – Jan and Dean

"Surfer Girl" – The Beach Boys

"Surfin' Bird" – The Trashmen

"Surfin' U.S.A." – The Beach Boys

"Sweet Dreams" – Patsy Cline

"Sweets for My Sweet" – The Searchers

"Tell Him" – Exciters

"Turn Around" - Dick and Dee Dee

"The Twelve Gifts of Christmas" – Allan Sherman

"Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" – Gene Pitney

"Two Lovers" – Mary Wells

"Up On The Roof" – The Drifters

"Walking The Dog" – Rufus Thomas

"Walk Like A Man" – The Four Seasons

"Wipeout" – The Surfaris

"You'll Never Walk Alone" – Gerry and the Pacemakers

"Young and in Love" - Dick and Dee Dee

"Your Used to Be" – Brenda Lee

Published popular songs

"18 Yellow Roses"     Bobby Darin

"Abilene"     w.m. John D. Loudermilk, Lester Brown, Bob Gibson, Albert Stanton

"All My Loving"     w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney

"Another Saturday Night"     w.m. Sam Cooke

"Anyone Who Had a Heart" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach

"Call Me Irresponsible" w.Sammy Cahn m. Jimmy Van Heusen from the film Papa's Delicate Condition

"Charade"     w. Johnny Mercer m. Henry Mancini. From the film of the same name.

"Da Doo Ron Ron"     w.m. Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry

"Detroit City"     w.m. Mel Tillis & Danny Dill

"Distant Drums"     w.m. Cindy Walker

"Dominique"     Singing Nun

"Don't Talk To Him"     Cliff Richard, Welch

"Don't You Forget It"     w. Al Stillman m. Henry Mancini

"Every Time I Think About You"     w.m. Claude Demetrius

"Flash! Bang! Wallop!"     w.m. David Heneker. Introduced by Tommy Steele in the London production of the musical Half a Sixpence. Steele also performed the song in the Broadway production in 1965 and the 1967 film version (with modified lyrics).

"Forget Him" w.m. Mark Anthony (a pseudonym of Tony Hatch)

"From Me to You"     w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney

"From Russia with Love w.m. Lionel Bart

"Good Morning, Good Day"     w. Sheldon Harnick m. Jerry Bock

"Half A Sixpence"     w.m. David Heneker

"How Do You Do It?"     w.m. Mitch Murray

"I Call Your Name"     w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney

"I Like It"     Mitch Murray

"I Saw Her Standing There"     w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney

"I Want to Hold Your Hand"     w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney

"If I Ruled the World" w. Leslie Bricusse m. Cyril Ornadel. Introduced by Harry Secombe in the musical Pickwick

"It's My Party"     w.m. Herb Wiener, Wally Gold & John Gluck Jnr

"Kissin' Cousins"     w.m. Fred Wise & Randy Starr

"Losing You"     w.(Eng) Carl Sigman m. Jean Renard

"Martian Hop"     w.m. Steven Rappaport, John Spirt, Robert Rappaport

"Move Over Darling"     Hal Kanter

"On Broadway"     w.m. Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"On the Beach"     Welch, Marvin, Richard

"Our Day Will Come" w.m. Bob Hilliard & Mort Garson

"The Pink Panther Theme"     w. Johnny Mercer m. Henry Mancini

"Pretty Paper"     Willie Nelson

"The Reverend Mr. Black"     Billy Edd Wheeler, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (as Jed Peters)

"Ring of Fire" w.m. Merle Kilgore & June Carter

"She Loves Me" w. Sheldon Harnick m. Jerry Bock. Introduced by Daniel Massey in the musical She Loves Me

"She Loves You"     w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney

"Surf City"     w.m. Jan Berry & Brian Wilson

"Surfer Girl"     w.m. Brian Wilson

"Talk Back Trembling Lips"     w.m. John D. Loudermilk

"This Boy" w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney

"The Times They Are A-Changin'"     w.m. Bob Dylan

"The Ugly Bug Ball" w.m. Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, from the film Summer Magic

"Viva Las Vegas"     Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman

"Washington Square" w.m. Bob Goldstein & David Shire

"When Joanna Loved Me" w. Robert Wells m. Jack Segal

"Will He Like Me?" w. Sheldon Harnick m. Jerry Bock; introduced by Barbara Cook in the Broadway production of She Loves Me; performed by Anne Rogers in the 1964 London production

"Wives And Lovers"     w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach

"You Were Made For Me"     Mitch Murray

Other notable songs (World)

"Ashita Ga Arusa" w. Yukio Aoshima m. Hachidai Nakamura

"En gång i Stockholm" w. Beppe Wolgers m. Bobbie Ericsson

"Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o" w. Rokusuke Ei & Taku Izumi, m. Kyu Sakamoto

"Meglio Stasera" w. Franco Migliacci m. Henry Mancini

"Oye Como Va" w.m. Tito Puente

Compositions

Benjamin Britten – Nocturnal after John Dowland, op. 70, for guitar

Nikolai Karetnikov – Symphony No. 4

Witold Lutosławski – Trois poèmes d'Henri Michaux for choir and orchestra

Francis Poulenc – Sept répons des ténèbres

Giacinto Scelsi – String Quartet No. 3

Karlheinz Stockhausen – Plus-Minus

Igor Stravinsky – Abraham and Isaac

William Walton – Variations on a Theme by Hindemith, for orchestra

Wang Xilin – Yunnan Tone Poem

Iannis Xenakis – Eonta

Opera

Richard Rodney Bennett – The Mines of Sulphur

Carlisle Floyd – The Sojourner and Molly Sinclair

Gian Carlo Menotti – The Last Savage

Malcolm Williamson – Our Man in Havana

Aarre Merikanto – Juha (composed 1922)

Musical theatre

Oliver! (Music, Lyrics and Book: Lionel Bart) Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on January 6 and ran for 744 performances

She Loves Me (Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joe Masteroff) Broadway production opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on April 23 and ran for 302 performances

Here's Love (Music, Lyrics and Book: Meredith Willson). Broadway production opened at the Shubert Theatre on October 3 and ran for 334 performances

110 in the Shade (Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics: Tom Jones Book: N. Richard Nash). Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on October 24 and ran for 331 performances

The Girl Who Came to Supper (Music and Lyrics: Noël Coward). Broadway production opened at the Broadway Theatre on December 8 and ran for 112 performances

Carnival (Music and Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Michael Stewart). London production opened at the Lyric Theatre on February 8 and ran for 34 performances

Oh, What a Lovely War! (Music and Lyrics: Various Book: Charles Chilton). Opened at the Theatre Royal Stratford East on March 19 and transferred to Wyndham's Theatre, London on June 20 for a total run of 501 performances.

Half A Sixpence (Music and Lyrics: David Heneker Book: Douglas Cross). London production opened at the Cambridge Theatre on March 21 and ran for 677 performances

How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Music and Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstein and Willie Gilbert). London production opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on March 28 and ran for 520 performances.

On the Town (Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics and Book: Betty Comden and Adolph Green). London production opened at the Prince Of Wales Theatre on May 30 and ran for 53 performances

Pickwick (Music: Cyril Ornadel Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse Book: Wolf Mankowitz). London production opened at the Saville Theatre on July 4 and ran for 694 performances

At the Drop of Another Hat ( Music and Lyrics: Michael Flanders and Donald Swann). London revue opened at the Haymarket Theatre on October 2

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart). London production opened at the Strand Theatre on October 3 and ran for 762 performances

The Boys From Syracuse (Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart Book: George Abbott). London production opened at the Drury Lane Theatre on November 7 and ran for 100 performances

Musical films

Bye Bye Birdie, starring Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margret

Fun in Acapulco, starring Elvis Presley and Ursula Andress

Summer Holiday, British musical featuring Cliff Richard

Summer Magic starring Hayley Mills, Burl Ives, Dorothy McGuire and Eddie Hodges

Births

January 4 – Till Lindemann, German rock musician (Rammstein)

January 13 – Tim Kelly, American rock musician (Slaughter) (d. 1998)

January 15 – Conrad Lant, English singer-songwriter and bass player (Venom and Cronos)

January 26

Jazzie B (Soul II Soul)

Andrew Ridgeley, English singer and songwriter (Wham!)

January 28 – Dan Spitz (Anthrax)

January 29 – Octave Octavian Teodorescu, Romanian guitarist, songwriter, and producer

February 2 – Eva Cassidy, singer (d. 1996)

February 4 – Noodles, American guitarist (The Offspring)

February 8 – Joshua Kadison, American singer-songwriter and pianist

February 9 – Travis Tritt, American country singer

February 10 – Tony Reno, Swedish rock drummer (Europe)

February 19 – Seal, singer

March 1 – Dan Michaels, producer, saxophonist, member of the rock band The Choir and The Swirling Eddies, owner of Galaxy21 Music.

March 4

Janey Lee Grace, British singer, author, television presenter and radio disc jockey

Jason Newsted, American rock bassist Metallica

March 10 – Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam, Green River)

March 11 – Stacy Earl, dance/pop singer

March 15 – Bret Michaels, vocalist (Poison)

March 17

Nick Peros, Canadian composer

Michael Ivins, American rock bassist (The Flaming Lips)

March 18 – Vanessa Williams, American singer and actress

March 21 – Shawn Lane, American guitar virtuoso (d. 2003)

March 27 – Dave Koz, saxophonist

March 30 – Eli-Eri Moura, Brazilian composer, conductor and music theorist

April 6 – Andrew Weatherall, English disc jockey

April 8 – Julian Lennon, singer-songwriter, son of John Lennon

April 10 – Warren DeMartini, American rock guitarist (Ratt)

April 12 – Michael English, American Christian singer

April 16 – Jimmy Osmond, American singer

May 5 – Prince Ital Joe, reggae singer (d. 2001)

May 8

Sylvain Cossette, Canadian singer-songwriter (Paradox)

Anthony Field, Australian musician and actor

May 9 – Barry Douglas Lamb, English musician, author, and preacher

May 12 – Charles Pettigrew, American soul singer (Charles and Eddie) (d. 2001)

May 19 – Yazz, English singer

May 21 – Gilles Apap, violinist

June 4 – Sandeep Bhagwati, Indian classical musician and composer

June 5 – Joe Rudán, Hungarian heavy metal singer

June 7 – Roberto Alagna, operatic tenor

June 18 – Dizzy Reed, American keyboard player, songwriter, and actor (Guns N' Roses, Johnny Crash)

June 20

Amir Derakh, rock musician (Orgy)

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June 25 – George Michael, English singer and songwriter (d. 2016)

June 28 – Tierney Sutton, American singer

June 29 – Anne-Sophie Mutter, German violinist

June 30 – Yngwie J. Malmsteen, guitar performer

July 7 – Vonda Shepard, singer and musician

July 16 – Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), English big-beat musician

July 17 – Regina Belle, American singer-songwriter and producer

July 22 – Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)

July 26 – Andy Timmons, American guitarist (Danger Danger)

July 28 – Shaunna Hall, American composer and musician (4 Non Blondes and Parliament-Funkadelic)

August 1 – Coolio, African American rapper

August 3

Tasmin Archer, English singer

James Hetfield, American rock singer (Metallica)

August 4 – Gary King, English disc jockey

August 9 – Whitney Houston, African American singer and actress (d. 2012)

August 12

Karen Briggs, African American jazz violinist

Sir Mix-a-Lot (Anthony Ray), African American MC and producer

August 19 – Joey Tempest, Swedish rock singer (Europe)

August 22

Tori Amos, singer-songwriter

James DeBarge (DeBarge)

August 26 – Liu Huan, Chinese singer

August 30 – Paul Oakenfold, British disc jockey

August 31

Reb Beach, American rock guitarist (Winger, Whitesnake)

Beverly Crawford, American gospel singer

September 1 – Carola Smit, Dutch musician

September 6 – Mark Chesnutt, American country musician

September 7 – Eazy-E, American West Coast rapper and record producer (d. 1995)

September 19 – Jarvis Cocker, British musician and singer (Pulp)

September 28 – Dan Forden, video game music composer (Mortal Kombat)

September 29

Les Claypool, American rock bassist and singer (Primus)

O'Landa Draper (O'Landa Draper and the Associates gospel choir) (d. 1998)

October 13 – Kemi Olusanya, English drum-and-bass musician (Kemistry & Storm) (d. 1999)

October 14 – Alessandro Safina, operatic tenor

October 26 – Natalie Merchant, singer-songwriter

October 30 – Jerry DeBorg (Jesus Jones)

November 1 – Rick Allen, British drummer (Def Leppard)

November 12 – Sam Lloyd, American actor and singer (The Blanks)

December 24 – Mary Ramsey, American musician, singer/songwriter (10,000 Maniacs, John & Mary)

December 26 – Lars Ulrich, (Metallica)

December 31 – Scott Ian (Anthrax)

Deaths

January 2 – Dick Powell, actor and singer, 58 (lung cancer)

January 6 – Lina Abarbanell, German-American soprano, 84

January 24 – Otto Harbach, lyricist, 89

January 30 – Francis Poulenc, French composer, 64

February 19 – Benny Moré, Cuban singer, 43 (cirrhosis of the liver)

February 20 – Ferenc Fricsay, conductor, 48 (cancer)

March 5 – Patsy Cline, American country/pop singer, 30 (plane crash)

March 17 – Lizzie Miles, singer, 67

March 28 – Alec Templeton, Welsh composer, 52

March 30 – Aleksandr Gauk, Russian conductor and composer, 69

March 31 – Harry Akst, US composer and pianist, 68

April 9

Eddie Edwards, American jazz trombonist, 71

Benno Moiseiwitsch, Jewish-Ukrainian pianist, 73

April 11 – Arvid Gram Paulsen, Norwegian jazz saxophonist and trumpeter, 41

April 12 – Herbie Nichols, jazz musician, 44 (leukemia)

May 6 – Ted Weems, US bandleader, 61

May 10 – Irving Aaronson, bandleader and composer, 68

May 24 – Elmore James, American blues guitarist, 45 (heart attack)

June 24 – Sybil Evers, mezzo-soprano and actress, 59

August 15 – John Powell, pianist, composer and ethnomusicologist, 80

August 23 – Glenn Gray, American saxophonist and conductor, 63

September 3 – Frico Kafenda, Slovak composer, 79

September 12 – Modest Altschuler, cellist, conductor and composer, 90

September 25 – Alexander Sakharoff, Russian dancer and choreographer, 77

October 11 – Édith Piaf, French singing superstar, 47 (liver cancer)

October 25 – Roger Désormière, French conductor, 65

November 1 – Elsa Maxwell, songwriter, "the hostess with the mostest", 80

November 15 – Fritz Reiner, Hungarian conductor, 74

November 19 – Carmen Amaya, flamenco dancer and singer, 50

November 26 – Amelita Galli-Curci, operatic soprano, 81

November 29 – Ernesto Lecuona, Cuban composer, pianist and bandleader, 68

December 5 – Karl Amadeus Hartmann, composer, 58 (stomach cancer)

December 14 – Dinah Washington, singer, 39

December 28 – Paul Hindemith, composer, 68

date unknown – Naftule Brandwein, clarinettist

Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards of 1963

Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest 1963

Leeds International Piano Competition

Michael Roll