Editing 1939 in music

{{Short description|none}}
{{YYYY music|1939}}
{{Year nav topic5|1939|music|radio|television|film}}
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1939.

==Specific locations==
*[[1939 in British music]]
*[[1939 in Norwegian music]]

==Specific genres==
*[[1939 in country music]]
*[[1939 in jazz]]

==Events==
* [[January 4]] – New band to be headed by [[Harry James]], first trumpet with [[Benny Goodman]] formed; goes into rehearsal January 6. It has already been dated for a short stay at the Statler Hotel, Boston, opening February 1. James has taken [[Buddy Rich]] from [[Bunny Berigan]]'s orchestra to handle the drums<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1939 |title=Harry James Pencilled In |pages=165 |work=Variety |url=https://archive.org/details/variety133-1939-01/page/n163/mode/2up?q=Harry+James |access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref> and secures [[Frank Sinatra]] as vocalist.
* [[February]] – Recording of '[[A-Tisket, A-Tasket]]' turned out by [[Ella Fitzgerald]] and [[Chick Webb]] for [[Decca Records|Decca]] has established a new eight-year high in sales for the industry. The sales on this 35c have already gone over 250,000. The company's previous record had been the 160,000 copies achieved by [[Bing Crosby|Bing Crosby's]] version of '[[Sweet Leilani]].'<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 1939 |title=Some New Highs |pages=39 |work=Variety |url=https://archive.org/details/variety133-1939-02/page/n149/mode/2up?q=highs |access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref>
* [[February 24]] – [[Symphony No. 3 (Harris)|Symphony No. 3]] by [[Roy Harris]], receives its world premiere in Boston, as [[Serge Koussevitzky]] conducts the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]]
* [[April 9]] – African-American [[contralto]] [[Marian Anderson]] performs before 75,000 people at the [[Lincoln Memorial]] in Washington, D.C., after having been denied the use both of [[Constitution Hall]] by the [[Daughters of the American Revolution]], and of a public high school by the federally controlled [[District of Columbia]]. [[First Lady of the United States]] [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] resigns from the DAR because of their decision.
*[[May 17]] – [[Sergei Prokofiev]]'s ''[[Alexander Nevsky (Prokofiev)|Alexander Nevsky]]'' ([[Opus number|Op.]] 78) [[cantata]] debuts in Moscow. It is an adaptation from the 1938 film score to ''[[Alexander Nevsky (film)|Alexander Nevsky]]''.
*[[May 22]] – [[Columbia Records|Columbia Recording Corporation]] incorporated in Delaware.
*[[June 10]] – Première of [[Arthur Bliss]]'s [[Piano Concerto (Bliss)|Piano Concerto in B-flat]] with soloist [[Solomon (pianist)|Solomon]]; [[Arnold Bax]]'s [[Symphony No. 7 (Bax)|7th Symphony]]; and [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]' ''[[Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus]]'', with the [[New York Philharmonic]] under Sir [[Adrian Boult]] at [[Carnegie Hall]].
*[[August 22]] – "[[You Are My Sunshine]]" first recorded.
*[[June 21]] – [[Francis Poulenc]]'s ''[[Organ Concerto (Poulenc)|Organ Concerto]]'' is premièred in Paris.
*[[November 1]] – [[Bruno Walter]] leaves Germany for the United States.
*December – [[Ali Akbar Khan]] accompanies [[Ravi Shankar]] on the sarod during the latter's debut performance at the annual music conference in [[Allahabad]].
*[[December 31]] – A special concert of music by [[Johann Strauss II]] is performed by the [[Vienna Philharmonic]] conducted by [[Clemens Krauss]] in the great hall of the [[Musikverein]] in [[Vienna]], predecessor of a continuing series of [[Vienna New Year's Concert]]s.
*The [[Nordstrom Sisters]] are the resident act at [[The Ritz Hotel, London]].
*[[Jo Stafford]] and [[The Pied Pipers]] join the [[Tommy Dorsey]] orchestra.
*[[The Squadronaires]] form.
*[[Dorothy Kirsten]] makes her professional concert debut at the [[1939 New York World's Fair|New York World's Fair]].
*[[Manuel de Falla]] leaves [[Granada]] for exile in [[Argentina]].

==Publications==
*[[Ernst Krenek]] – ''Music Here and Now''

==Albums released==
*''Featuring [[Charlie Christian]]'' – [[Benny Goodman]]
*''[[Cowboy Songs (Bing Crosby album)|Cowboy Songs]]'' – [[Bing Crosby]]
*''[[Negro Sinful Songs]]''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wolfe|first1=Charles|last2=Lornell|first2=Kip|title=The Life and Legend of Ledbelly|date=1992|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-306-80896-8|location=New York}}</ref> – [[Lead Belly|Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter)]]

==Top popular recordings==

The twenty-five popular records listed below were extracted from [[Billboard Hot 100#History|Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Whitburn|title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954|publisher=Record Research|year=1986}}</ref> record sales reported on the "[[Discography of American Historical Recordings]]" website, and other sources as specified. Numerical rankings are approximate, they are only used as a frame of reference.
{| class="wikitable"
! Rank
! Artist
! Title
! Label
! Recorded
! Released
! Chart positions
|-
| 1 || [[Glenn Miller|Glenn Miller and his Orchestra]] || "[[In the Mood]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-038170. In the mood / Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200038061/BS-038170-In_the_mood |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10416 || {{Start date|1939|8|1}} || {{Start date|1939|9|15}} || US Billboard 1939 #1, US #1 for 12 weeks, 30 total weeks, [[National Recording Registry|National Recording Registry 2004]]
|-
| 2 || [[Will Glahé|Glahe Musette Orchestra]] || "[[Beer Barrel Polka]]" || Victor V-710 || {{Start date|1938|5|11}} || {{Start date|1939|4}} || US Billboard 1939 #2, US #1 for 4 weeks, 21 total weeks
|-
| 3 || [[Orrin Tucker|Orrin Tucker and His Orchestra]] Vocal chorus [[Bonnie Baker (singer)|Bonnie Baker]] || "[[Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Columbia 78rpm numerical listing discography: 35200–35500 |url=https://www.78discography.com/COL35200.htm |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=www.78discography.com}}</ref> || Columbia 35228 || {{Start date|1939|8|20}} || {{Start date|1939|9|29}} || US Billboard 1939 #3, US #2 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, sold 1,500,000<ref name=goldendisc>{{Cite book |last=Murrells |first=Joseph |url=http://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr |title=The book of golden discs |date=1978 |publisher=London : Barrie & Jenkins |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-214-20512-5}}</ref><ref>'' 'Wee' Bonnie Baker Gailey, 73, Band Singer of 'Oh Johnny' Hit,'' by Seth Borenstein [[Sun-Sentinel]], August 14, 1990</ref>
|-
| 4 || Glenn Miller and his Orchestra || "[[Moonlight Serenade]]" || Bluebird B-10214 || {{Start date|1939|4|4}} || {{Start date|1939|4|26}} || US Billboard 1939 #4, US #3 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1991, ASCAP song of 1939
|-
| 5 || [[Judy Garland]] || "Over the Rainbow" || Decca 2672 || {{Start date|1939|7|28}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} || US Billboard 1939 #5, US #5 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1981, AFI 1, RIAA 1, Music Imprint 1 of 1930s, ASCAP song of 1938, National Recording Registry 2016
|-
| 6 || [[Kate Smith]] || "[[God Bless America]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-035319. God bless America / Kate Smith – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200036686/BS-035319-God_bless_America |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Victor 26198 || {{Start date|1939|3|21}} || {{Start date|1939|4|5}} || US Billboard 1939 #6, US #5 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1982, National Recording Registry 2002
|-
| 7 || Glenn Miller and his Orchestra || "[[Over the Rainbow]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-038262. Over the rainbow / Ray Eberle; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200038140/BS-038262-Over_the_rainbow |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10366 || {{Start date|1939|7|12}} || {{Start date|1939|8|17}} || US Billboard 1939 #7, US #1 for 7 weeks, 15 total weeks
|-
| 8 || [[Larry Clinton|Larry Clinton and His Orchestra]] || "[[Deep Purple (song)|Deep Purple]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-030475. Deep purple / Larry Clinton Orchestra; Bea Wain – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200035087/BS-030475-Deep_purple |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Victor 26141 || {{Start date|1938|12|23}} || {{Start date|1939|1|18}} || US Billboard 1939 #8, US #1 for 9 weeks, 13 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2000
|-
| 9 || [[Frankie Masters|Frankie Masters and His Orchestra]] || "Scatter Brain"<ref name=Vocalion1/> || Vocalion 4915 || {{Start date|1939|5|25}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} || US Billboard 1939 #9, US #1 for 8 weeks, 16 total weeks
|-
| 10 || [[Benny Goodman|Benny Goodman and His Orchestra]] (Vocal [[Martha Tilton]]) || "And the Angels Sing"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-031875. And the angels sing / Benny Goodman Orchestra; Martha Tilton – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200035587/BS-031875-And_the_angels_sing |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Victor 26170 || {{Start date|1939|2|1}} || {{Start date|1939|3|1}} || US Billboard 1939 #10, US #1 for 5 weeks, 14 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1987
|-
| 11 || [[Mary Martin]] ([[Eddy Duchin|Eddy Duchin Orchestra]]) || ""[[My Heart Belongs to Daddy]]"<ref name=Brunswick>{{Cite web |title=BRUNSWICK 78rpm numerical listing discography: 8000 – end of series (8517) |url=https://www.78discography.com/BRN8000.htm |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=www.78discography.com}}</ref> || Brunswick 8282 || {{Start date|1938|12|2}} || {{Start date|1939|1}} || US Billboard 1939 #11, US #1 for 1 weeks, 16 total weeks
|-
| 12 || [[The Ink Spots]] || ""[[If I Didn't Care]]" || Decca 2286 || {{Start date|1939|1|12}} || {{Start date|1939|2|9}} || US Billboard 1939 #12, US #2 for 1 week, 9 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1987, National Recording Registry 2017, sold 19,000,000<ref name=goldendisc/><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Recording Registry Reaches 500 |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-18-028/national-recording-registry-reaches-500/2018-03-21/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref>
|-
| 13 || [[Bing Crosby]] || "[[What's New?]]" || Decca 2671 || {{Start date|1939|6|30}} || {{Start date|1939|9}} || US BB 1939 #13, US #2 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks
|-
| 14 || [[Shep Fields|Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra]] || "[[South of the Border (1939 song)|South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-041153. South of the border (Down Mexico way) / Hal Derwin ; Shep Fields; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200039076/BS-041153-South_of_the_border_Down_Mexico_way |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10376 || {{Start date|1939|8|1}} || {{Start date|1939|8|14}} || US Billboard 1939 #14, US #1 for 5 weeks, 18 total weeks
|-
| 15 || [[Bob Crosby|Bob Crosby and His Orchestra]] || "[[Day In, Day Out (1939 song)|Day In, Day Out]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 66000. Day in, day out / Bob Crosby Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000294113/66000-Day_in_day_out |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2703 || {{Start date|1939|7|24}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} || US Billboard 1939 #15, US #1 for 1 week, 13 total weeks
|-
| 16 || [[Cab Calloway|Cab Calloway and His Orchestra]] || "[[Jumpin' Jive|(Hep-Hep) The Jumpin' Jive]]"<ref name=Vocalion2>{{Cite web |title=Vocalion (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 5000–5499 |url=https://www.78discography.com/VOC5000.htm |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=www.78discography.com}}</ref> || Vocalion 5005 || {{Start date|1939|7|17}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} || US Billboard 1939 #16, US #2 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2017
|-
| 17 || Glenn Miller and his Orchestra || "[[Stairway to the Stars]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-036878. Stairway to the stars / Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200037357/BS-036878-Stairway_to_the_stars |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10276 || {{Start date|1939|5|9}} || {{Start date|1939|5|22}} || US Billboard 1939 #17, US #1 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks
|-
| 18 || [[Kay Kyser|Kay Kyser and His Orchestra]] || "[[Three Little Fishies]]"<ref name=Brunswick/> || Brunswick 8358 || {{Start date|1939|4|8}} || {{Start date|1939|5}} || US Billboard 1939 #18, US #1 for 2 weeks, 9 total weeks
|-
| 19 || [[Sammy Kaye|Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra]] || "[[Penny Serenade]]" || Victor 26150 || {{Start date|1939|1|20}} || {{Start date|1939|2|1}} || US BB 1939 #19, US #2 for 1 week, 9 total weeks
|-
| 20 || [[Al Donahue|Al Donahue and His Orchestra]] || "[[Jeepers Creepers (song)|Jeepers Creepers]]"<ref name=Vocalion1>{{Cite web |title=Vocalion (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 4500–4999 |url=https://www.78discography.com/VOC4500.htm |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=www.78discography.com}}</ref> || Vocalion 4513 || {{Start date|1938|11|23}} || {{Start date|1938|12}} || US Billboard 1939 #20, US #1 for 5 weeks, 13 total weeks
|-
| 21 || Glenn Miller and his Orchestra || "The Man With The Mandolin"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-038264. The man with the mandolin / Glenn Miller Orchestra ; Marion Hutton – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200038142/BS-038264-The_man_with_the_mandolin |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10358 || {{Start date|1939|7|12}} || {{Start date|1939|7|31}} || US Billboard 1939 #12, US #1 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks
|-
| 22 || [[Glen Gray|Glen Gray and Casa Loma Orchestra]] || "[[Sunrise Serenade]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 65035. Sunrise serenade-1 / Glen Gray Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000293148/65035-Sunrise_serenade-1 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2321 || {{Start date|1939|2|17}} || {{Start date|1939|3}} || US Billboard 1939 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks
|-
| 23 || [[Woody Herman|Woody Herman and His Orchestra]] || "[[Woodchopper's Ball|At the Woodchopper's Ball]]" || Decca 2440 || {{Start date|1939|4|12}} || {{Start date|1939|5}} || US BB 1939 #23, US #9 for 1 week, 6 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2002
|-
| 24 || [[The Andrews Sisters]] || "Hold Tight, Hold Tight" || Decca 2214 || {{Start date|1938|11|21}} || {{Start date|1938|12}} || US BB 1939 #24, US #2 for 1 week, 11 total weeks
|-
| 25 || Glen Gray and Casa Loma Orchestra || "Heaven Can Wait"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 65037. Heaven can wait / Glen Gray Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000293150/65037-Heaven_can_wait |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2321 || {{Start date|1939|2|17}} || {{Start date|1939|3|1}} || US Billboard 1939 #25, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks
|}

Additional recordings of historical interest, and songs that crossed over from Hillbilly (Country) and Race (R&B):
{| class="wikitable"
! Rank
! Artist
! Title
! Label
! Recorded
! Released
! Chart positions
|-
| 26 || Glenn Miller and his Orchestra || "Blue Orchids"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-038139. Blue orchids / Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200038040/BS-038139-Blue_orchids |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10372 || {{Start date|1939|7|26}} || {{Start date|1939|8|14}} || US Billboard 1939 #18, US #1 for 1 week, 12 total weeks
|-
| 27 || The Ink Spots || ""[[My Prayer]]" || Decca 2790 || {{Start date|1939|9|18}} || {{Start date|1939|10}} || US Billboard 1939 #42, US #3 for 1 week, 12 total weeks 
|-
| 28 || [[Tommy Dorsey|Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra]] (Vocal Jack Leonard) || "[[Our Love (1939 song)|Our Love]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-034400. Our love / Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200036494/BS-034400-Our_love |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Victor 26202 || {{Start date|1939|3|15}} || {{Start date|1939|4|5}} || US Billboard 1939 #19, US #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks 
|-
| 29 || Kay Kyser and His Orchestra || "The Umbrella Man"<ref name=Brunswick/> || Brunswick 8225 || {{Start date|1938|9|1}} || {{Start date|1938|11}} || US Billboard 1939 #20, US #1 for 1 weeks, 11 total weeks
|-
| 30 || Glenn Miller and his Orchestra || "Wishing (Will Make It So)"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-035729. Wishing (Will make it so) / Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200036906/BS-035729-Wishing_Will_make_it_so |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10219 || {{Start date|1939|4|10}} || {{Start date|1939|5|3}} || US Billboard 1939 #30, US #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks
|-
| 31 || [[Artie Shaw|Artie Shaw and His Orchestra]] (Vocal [[Helen Forrest]]) || "[[They Say (jazz standard)|They Say]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-030733. They say / Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Helen Forrest – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200035159/BS-030733-They_say |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10075 || {{Start date|1938|12|19}} || {{Start date|1938|12|28}} || US Billboard 1939 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks
|-
| 35 || The Ink Spots || "Address Unknown" || Decca 2707 || {{Start date|1939|8|17}} || {{Start date|1939|10}} || US Billboard 1939 #30, US #1 for 1 week, 9 total weeks 
|-
| 45 || Glenn Miller and his Orchestra || "Moon Love"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-037157. Moon love / Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200037543/BS-037157-Moon_love |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Bluebird 10303 || {{Start date|1939|5|25}} || {{Start date|1939|6|12}} || US Billboard 1939 #9, US #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks
|-
| 189 || [[Walter Huston]] || "[[September Song]]" || Brunswick 8272 || {{Start date|1938|11|14}} || {{Start date|1939|1}} || US Billboard 1939 #189, US #12 for 1 week, 5 total weeks
|-
| 190 || [[Gene Autry]] || "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)"<ref name=Vocalion2/> || Vocalion 5122 || {{Start date|1939|9|11}} || {{Start date|1939|10|13}} || US Billboard 1939 #190, US #12 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, US BBHB 1939 #8, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales<ref>{{Cite web |title=TSHA {{!}} Home |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/home |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=www.tshaonline.org}}</ref>
|-
| 325 || [[Ted Weems|Ted Weems And His Orchestra]] (vocal [[Perry Como]]) || "[[I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now]]" || Decca 2919 || {{Start date|1939|10|5}} || {{Start date|1939|12}} || US Billboard 1939 #325, US #19 for 1 week, 1 total weeks
|}

==Race and blues hits==

{| class="wikitable"
! Rank
! Artist
! Title
! Label
! Recorded
! Released
! Chart positions
|-
| 1 || [[The Ink Spots]] || ""[[If I Didn't Care]]" || Decca 2286 || {{Start date|1939|1|12}} || {{Start date|1939|2|9}} || US Billboard 1939 #38, US #2 for 1 week, 9 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1987, National Recording Registry 2017
|-
| 2 || [[Cab Calloway|Cab Calloway and His Orchestra]] || "[[Jumpin' Jive|(Hep-Hep) The Jumpin' Jive]]"<ref name=Vocalion2/> || Vocalion 5005 || {{Start date|1939|7|17}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} || US Billboard 1939 #25, US #2 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2017
|-
| 3 || The Ink Spots || "Address Unknown" || Decca 2707 || {{Start date|1939|8|17}} || {{Start date|1939|10}} || US Billboard 1939 #30, US #1 for 1 week, 9 total weeks 
|-
| 4 || The Ink Spots || ""[[My Prayer]]" || Decca 2790 || {{Start date|1939|9|18}} || {{Start date|1939|10}} || US Billboard 1939 #42, US #3 for 1 week, 12 total weeks
|-
| 5 || [[Fats Waller]] || "Good for Nothin' but Love"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-031533. Good for nothin' but love / Fats Waller and his Rhythm – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200035475/BS-031533-Good_for_nothin_but_love |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu |language=en}}</ref> || Bluebird 10129 || {{Start date|1939|1|19}} || {{Start date|1939|2|18}} || US Billboard 1939 #102, US #7 for 1 week, 6 total weeks
|-
| 6 || [[Chick Webb|Chick Webb Orchestra]] (vocal Ella Fitzgerald) || "'F.D.R. Jones" || Decca 2105 || {{Start date|1938|10|6}} || {{Start date|1938|11}} || US Billboard 1939 #116, US #8 for 1 week, 6 total weeks
|-
| 7 || Chick Webb Orchestra (vocal Ella Fitzgerald) || "[[Undecided]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 65039. Undecided / Chick Webb Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000293152/65039-Undecided |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2323 || {{Start date|1939|2|17}} || {{Start date|1939|3}} || US Billboard 1939 #120, US #8 for 1 week, 4 total weeks
|-
| 8 || [[Ella Fitzgerald|Ella Fitzgerald And Her Famous Orchestra]] || "I Want the Waiter (With the Water)"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 65905. I want the waiter (with the water) / Ella Fitzgerald – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000294018/65905-I_want_the_waiter_with_the_water |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2628 || {{Start date|1939|6|29}} || {{Start date|1939|9}} || US Billboard 1939 #138, US #9 for 1 week, 3 total weeks
|-
| 9 || [[Lionel Hampton|Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra]] || "Wizzin' the Wiz"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-035706. Wizzin' the wizz / Lionel Hampton Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200036886/BS-035706-Wizzin_the_wizz |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Victor 26233 || {{Start date|1939|4|5}} || {{Start date|1939|5|3}} || US Billboard 1939 #153, US #10 for 1 week, 5 total weeks
|-
| 10 || [[Louis Armstrong|Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra]] || "[[When the Saints Go Marching In]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 63778. When the Saints go marchin' in / Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000291891/63778-When_the_Saints_go_marchin_in |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2230 || {{Start date|1938|5|13}} || {{Start date|1939|1}} || US Billboard 1939 #155, US #15 for 1 week, 3 total weeks
|-
| 11 || [[The Mills Brothers]] || "Sweet Adeline (You're the Flower of My Heart)"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 64934. Sweet Adeline / Mills Brothers – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000293047/64934-Sweet_Adeline |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2285 || {{Start date|1939|1|24}} || {{Start date|1939|2|9}} || US Billboard 1939 #160, US #10 for 1 week, 2 total weeks
|-
| 12 || [[Count Basie|Count Basie and His Orchestra]] || "Jumpin' At The Woodside" || Decca 2212 || {{Start date|1938|8|22}} || {{Start date|1938|12}} || US Billboard 1939 #174, US #11 for 1 week, 4 total weeks
|-
| 13 || Fats Waller || "Hold Tight" || Bluebird 10116 || {{Start date|1939|1|19}} || {{Start date|1939|2|18}} || US Billboard 1939 #176, US #11 for 1 week, 4 total weeks
|-
| 14 || Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra || "[[West End Blues]]" || Decca 2480 || {{Start date|1939|2|1}} || {{Start date|1939|5}} || US Billboard 1939 #218, US #13 for 1 week, 1 total weeks
|-
| 15 || [[Mildred Bailey]] || "Blame it on My Last Affair" || Vocalion 04632 || {{Start date|1938|12|8}} || {{Start date|1939|2}} || US Billboard 1939 #219, US #13 for 1 week, 1 total weeks
|-
| 16 || [[Billie Holiday]] || "[[Strange Fruit]]" || Commodore 526 || {{Start date|1937|6|20}} || {{Start date|1939|2|9}} || US Billboard 1939 #287, US #16 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1978, National Recording Registry 2002
|-
| 18 || [[Blind Boy Fuller]] || "Big Leg Woman Gets My Pay" || Vocalion 05030 || {{Start date|1939|7|12}} || {{Start date|1939|11}} ||
|-
| 19 || [[Robert Johnson]] || "[[Love in Vain Blues]]" || Vocalion 04630 || {{Start date|1937|6|20}} || {{Start date|1939|2|9}} ||
|-
| 20 || Robert Johnson || "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)" || Vocalion 04630 || {{Start date|1936|11|27}} || {{Start date|1939|2|9}} ||
|-
| 21 || [[Lead Belly|Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter)]] || "[[The Maid Freed from the Gallows|The Gallis Pole]]" || Musicraft 227 || {{Start date|1939|6|14}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} ||
|-
| 22 || Lead Belly || "[[The Bourgeois Blues]]" || Musicraft 227 || {{Start date|1939|4|1}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} ||
|-
| 23 || Lead Belly || "[[Boll Weevil (song)|The Boll Weevil]]" || Musicraft 226 || {{Start date|1939|4|1}} || {{Start date|1939|8}} ||
|}

==Christmas hits==

{| class="wikitable"
! Rank
! Artist
! Title
! Label
! Recorded
! Released
! Chart positions
|-
| 1 || [[Guy Lombardo|Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians]] || "[[Auld Lang Syne]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 65215. Auld Lang Syne / Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000293328/65215-Auld_Lang_Syne |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref> || Decca 2478 || {{Start date|1939|3|7}} || {{Start date|1939|12}} ||
|}

==Published popular music==
* "Address Unknown" words and music: [[Carmen Lombardo]], Johnny Marks & Dedette Lee Hill
* "All in Fun" words: [[Oscar Hammerstein II]], music: [[Jerome Kern]] Introduced by [[Frances Mercer]] and [[Jack Whiting (actor)|Jack Whiting]] in the musical ''[[Very Warm for May]]''
* "[[All or Nothing at All]]" w. [[Jack Lawrence (songwriter)|Jack Lawrence]] m. [[Arthur Altman]]
* "[[All the Things You Are]]" w. [[Oscar Hammerstein II]] m. [[Jerome Kern]] from the musical ''[[Very Warm for May]]''
* "Anatole (Of Paris)" w.m. [[Sylvia Fine]] Introduced by [[Danny Kaye]] in the revue ''[[The Straw Hat Revue]]''
* "An Apple For the Teacher" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyricist)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "[[Are You Havin' Any Fun?]]" w. [[Jack Yellen]] m. [[Sammy Fain]]
* "The Army Air Corps" w.m. Robert M. Crawford
* "[[At the Woodchopper's Ball]]" m. [[Woody Herman]] & Joe Bishop
* "[[Back in the Saddle Again|Back In The Saddle Again]]" w.m. [[Gene Autry]] & Ray Whitley
* "Between Eighteenth And Nineteenth On Chestnut Street" w.m. Will Osborne & Dick Rodgers
* "Bless You" w.m. Don Baker & Eddie Lane
* "Blue Orchids" w.m. [[Hoagy Carmichael]]
* "Bluebirds in the Moonlight" w. [[Leo Robin]] m. [[Ralph Rainger]]
* "[[The Boys in the Back Room (song)|The Boys in the Back Room]]" w. [[Frank Loesser]] m. [[Frederick Hollander]]. Introduced by [[Marlene Dietrich]] in the film ''[[Destry Rides Again]]''.
* "[[Brazil (1939 song)|Brazil]]" w. (Eng) Bob Russell m. Ary Baroso
* "Careless" w.m. Lew Quadling, [[Eddy Howard]] & [[Dick Jurgens]]
* "[[Comes Love]]" w.m. [[Sam H. Stept]], [[Charles Tobias]] & [[Lew Brown]]
* "Cuckoo in the Clock" w. [[Johnny Mercer]] m. [[Walter Donaldson (songwriter)|Walter Donaldson]]
* "[[Darn That Dream]]" w. [[Eddie DeLange]] m. [[Jimmy Van Heusen]]
* "[[Day In, Day Out (1939 song)|Day In, Day Out]]" w. [[Johnny Mercer]] m. [[Rube Bloom]]
* "Desert Rumba" m. [[John Serry, Sr.]]
* "[[Ding-Dong! the Witch Is Dead]]" w. [[E. Y. Harburg]] m. [[Harold Arlen]]
* "[[Do I Love You?]]" w.m. [[Cole Porter]]
* "[[Don't Worry 'Bout Me]]" w. [[Ted Koehler]] m. Rube Bloom
* "Faithful Forever" w. [[Leo Robin]] m. [[Ralph Rainger]]
* "Flyin' Home" w. Sid Robin m. [[Lionel Hampton]] & [[Benny Goodman]]
* "[[Frenesi]]" w. (Eng) [[Ray Charles]] & Bob Russell m. Alberto Dominguez
* "The Gaucho Serenade" w.m. James Cavanaugh, John Redmond & Nat Simon
* "[[Give Him the Ooh-La-La (song)|Give Him the Ooh-La-La]]" w.m. [[Cole Porter]]
* "[[Give it Back to the Indians]]" w. [[Lorenz Hart]] m. [[Richard Rodgers]]. Introduced by [[Mary Jane Walsh]] in the [[musical theater|musical]] ''[[Too Many Girls (musical)|Too Many Girls]]''.
* "Go Fly a Kite" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyricist)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "[[God Bless America]]" w.m. [[Irving Berlin]]
* "Good Morning" w. [[Arthur Freed]] m. [[Nacio Herb Brown]]
* "Goodnight, Children Ev'rywhere" w.m. Gabby Rogers & Harry Phillips
* "Hang Your Heart on a Hickory Limb" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "Heaven Can Wait" w. Eddie DeLange m. [[Jimmy Van Heusen]]
*"Heaven in My Arms" w. [[Oscar Hammerstein II]] m. [[Jerome Kern]]. Introduced by [[Jack Whiting (actor)|Jack Whiting]], [[Frances Mercer]] and [[Hollace Shaw]] in the musical ''[[Very Warm for May]]''
* "[[Honey Hush]]" [[Fats Waller]], Ed Kirkeby
* "Huckleberry Duck" w. [[Jack Lawrence (songwriter)|Jack Lawrence]] m. [[Raymond Scott]]
* "[[I Didn't Know What Time It Was]]" w. [[Lorenz Hart]] m. [[Richard Rodgers]]. Introduced by [[Richard Kollmar]] and [[Marcy Westcott]] in the musical ''[[Too Many Girls (musical)|Too Many Girls]]''.  Performed by [[Trudy Erwin]] dubbing for [[Lucille Ball]] in the [[1940 in music|1940]] film version and interpolated into the score of the [[1957 in music|1957]] film ''[[Pal Joey (film)|Pal Joey]]'' where it was sung by [[Frank Sinatra]].
* "[[I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)]]" m. [[Hoagy Carmichael]] w. Jane Brown Thompson
* "[[I Like to Recognize the Tune]]" w. [[Lorenz Hart]] m. [[Richard Rodgers]]. Introduced by [[Eddie Bracken]], [[Marcy Westcott]], [[Mary Jane Walsh]], [[Richard Kollmar]] and [[Hal Le Roy]] in the musical ''[[Too Many Girls (musical)|Too Many Girls]]''.
* "I Miss You in the Morning" w. [[Edgar Leslie]] m. [[Joe Burke (composer)|Joe Burke]]
* "I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak" w. [[Mack Gordon]] m. Harry Revel
* "I Poured My Heart Into a Song" w.m. [[Irving Berlin]]
* "[[I Thought About You]]" w. [[Johnny Mercer]] m. [[Jimmy Van Heusen]]
* "I Want My Mama" w. (Port) Jararaca & Vincente Paiva (Eng) Al Stillman m. Jararaca & Vincente Paiva
* "[[I Went to a Marvelous Party]]" w.m. [[Noël Coward]]. Introduced by [[Beatrice Lillie]] in the [[revue]] ''[[Set to Music]]''.
* "If a Grey Haired Lady Says "How's Yer Father?"" w.m. Ted Waite
* "[[If I Didn't Care]]" w.m. [[Jack Lawrence (songwriter)|Jack Lawrence]]
* "[[If I Only Had a Brain]]" w. [[E. Y. Harburg]] m. [[Harold Arlen]]
* "If I Only Had Wings" w.m. Sid Colin & Ronnie Aldrich
* "[[I'll Never Smile Again]]" w.m. [[Ruth Lowe]]
* "I'll Walk Beside You" w.m. Alan Murray & [[Edward Lockton]]
* "I'm Building a Sailboat of Dreams" [[Cliff Friend]], Dave Franklin
* "[[In a Mellow Tone]]" w. [[Milt Gabler]] m. [[Duke Ellington]]
* "In an Eighteenth Century Drawing Room" m. [[Raymond Scott]]
* "[[In the Middle of a Dream]]" w. [[Al Stillman]] m. [[Tommy Dorsey]] & [[Einar Swan]]
* "[[In the Mood|In The Mood]]" w. [[Andy Razaf]] m. Joe Garland
* "Is 'E An Aussie, Lizzie, Is 'E?" w.m. [[B. C. Hilliam]] & [[Malcolm McEachern]]
* "[[It's A Big, Wide, Wonderful World]]" w.m. John Rox
* "[[It's a Hap-Hap-Happy Day]]" w. Sammy Timberg & Winston Sharples m. [[Al J. Neiburg]]. Introduced by the voice of [[Lanny Ross]] on the soundtrack of the animated feature film ''[[Gulliver's Travels (1939 film)|Gulliver's Travels]]''.
* "[[I've Got My Eyes On You (1939 song)|I've Got My Eyes On You]]" w.m. [[Cole Porter]]
* "[[J'attendrai]]" w. (Fr) Louis Poterat (Eng) [[Anna Sosenko]] m. [[Dino Olivieri]]
* "The Jumpin' Jive" w.m. [[Cab Calloway]], [[Frank Froeba]] & Jack Palmer
* "Katie Went to Haiti" w.m. [[Cole Porter]]
* "[[Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major|Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant-Major]]" [[Art Noel]], [[Don Pelosi]]
* "[[The Lady's In Love With You]]" w. [[Frank Loesser]] m. Burton Lane
* "[[The Lamp Is Low]]" w. [[Mitchell Parish]] m. Peter De Rose & [[Bert Shefter]]
* "Leanin' On The Ole Top Rail" w.m. [[Charles Kenny]] & Nick Kenny
* "[[Lili Marleen|Lili Marlene]]" w. (Ger) Hans Leip (Eng) [[Tommie Connor]] m. Norbert Schultze
* "[[The Little Man Who Wasn't There (song)|The Little Man Who Wasn't There]]" w. [[Harold Adamson]] m. [[Bernie Hanighen]]
* "Love Never Went to College" w. [[Lorenz Hart]] m. [[Richard Rodgers]]
* "A Lover Is Blue" w.m. Charles Carpenter, James R. Mundy & Trummy Young
* "[[Lydia the Tattooed Lady|Lydia, The Tattooed Lady]]" w. [[E. Y. Harburg]] m. [[Harold Arlen]]. Introduced by [[Groucho Marx]] in the film ''[[At the Circus]]''.
* "A Man and His Dream" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "The Man With the Mandolin" w. James Cavanaugh & John Redmond m. Frank Weldon
* "The Masquerade Is Over" w. [[Herb Magidson]] m. Allie Wrubel
* "The Moon and the Willow Tree" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[Victor Schertzinger]]
* "Moon Love" w.m. Mack David, Mack Davis & Andre Kostelanetz
* "[[Moonlight Serenade]]" w. [[Mitchell Parish]] m. [[Glenn Miller]]
* "My Dearest Dear" w.m. [[Ivor Novello]] & Christopher Hassall
* "[[My Prayer]]" w. [[Jimmy Kennedy]] m. Georges Boulanger & Jimmy Kennedy
* "Night in Sudan" w. Charles Carpenter m. [[Tommy Dorsey]] & [[Jimmy Mundy]]
* "On a Little Street in Singapore" w.m. [[Peter DeRose]] & [[Billy Hill (songwriter)|Billy Hill]]
* "On The Outside Always Lookin' In" w.m. [[Michael Carr (composer)|Michael Carr]]
* "[[Over The Rainbow]]" w. [[E. Y. Harburg]] m. [[Harold Arlen]]. Introduced by [[Judy Garland]] in the film ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''.
* "Palms in Paradise" w. [[Frank Loesser]] m. [[Frederick Hollander]] Introduced by [[Dorothy Lamour]] in the 1940 film ''[[Typhoon (1940 film)|Typhoon]]''.
* "[[Pennsylvania 6-5000 (song)|Pennsylvania 6-5000]]" w. [[Carl Sigman]] m. [[Jerry Gray (arranger)|Jerry Gray]]
* "[[Perfidia]]" w. (Eng) Milton Leeds m. Alberto Dominguez
* "[[Run, Rabbit, Run]]" w. [[Noel Gay]] & Ralph T. Butler m. [[Noel Gay]]
* "Scatterbrain" w.m. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]], Carl Bean, Kahn Keene & Frankie Masters
* "[[She Had to Go and Lose It at the Astor]]" w.m. [[Don Raye]] & Hugh Prince
* "Sing a Song of Sunbeams" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "Sing My Heart" w. [[Ted Koehler]] m. [[Harold Arlen]]. Introduced by [[Irene Dunne]] in the film ''[[Love Affair (1939 film)|Love Affair]]''.
* "Somewhere in France With You" w.m. Michael Carr
* "South American Way" w. [[Al Dubin]] m. [[Jimmy McHugh]]
* "[[South of the Border (1939 song)|South Of The Border]]" w.m. Jimmy Kennedy & Michael Carr
* "Stairway to the Stars" w. [[Mitchell Parish]] m. [[Matty Malneck]]
* "Start the Day Right" w.m. Al Lewis, Maurice Spitalny & Charles Tobias
* "[[Strange Fruit]]" w.m. Lewis Allan
* "Sunrise Serenade" w. [[Jack Lawrence (songwriter)|Jack Lawrence]] m. [[Frankie Carle]]
* "Sweet Potato Piper" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "[[T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)|'Tain't What You Do]]" w.m. [[Sy Oliver]] & [[Trummy Young]]
* "Tara's Theme" m. Max Steiner
* "That Sentimental Sandwich" w. [[Frank Loesser]] m. [[Frederick Hollander]]
* "That Sly Old Gentleman" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "They Would Wind Him Up And He Would Whistle" Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby
* "This Is It" w. [[Dorothy Fields]] m. Arthur Schwartz
* ""[[This Is No Dream]]" w.m. [[Tommy Dorsey]], [[Benny Davis]] & [[Ted Shapiro]]
* "Three Little Fishes" w.m. Saxie Dowell
* "Till The Lights Of London Shine Again" w.m. [[Tommie Connor]], [[Eddie Pola]]
* "[[To You (1939 song)|To You]]" w.m. [[Tommy Dorsey]], [[Benny Davis]] & [[Ted Shapiro]]
* "Too Romantic" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[James V. Monaco]]
* "Traffic Jam" m. Teddy McRae & [[Artie Shaw]]
* "[[Tuxedo Junction]]" w. Buddy Feyne m. [[Erskine Hawkins]], Williams Johnson & Julian Dash
* "Two Blind Loves" w. [[E. Y. Harburg]] m. [[Harold Arlen]]
* "Two O'Clock Jump" m. [[Harry James]], [[Count Basie]] & [[Benny Goodman]]
* "Under a Blanket of Blue" w.m. [[Jerry Livingston]], Al J. Neiburg, & Marty Symes
* "[[We'll Meet Again (song)|We'll Meet Again]]" w. [[Hughie Charles]] m. [[Ross Parker (songwriter)|Ross Parker]]
* "[[Well, Did You Evah!]]" w. m. [[Cole Porter]]
* "[[We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line]]" w.m. Jimmy Kennedy & Michael Carr
* "[[What's New?]]" w. [[Johnny Burke (lyric writer)|Johnny Burke]] m. [[Bob Haggart]]
* "[[When You Wish upon a Star]]" w. [[Ned Washington]] m. [[Leigh Harline]]
* "Who's Taking You Home Tonight?" w.m. [[Manning Sherwin]] & [[Tommie Connor]] from the [[revue]] ''[[Shephard's Pie]]''
* "Wish Me Luck" w.m. Harry Parr-Davies & Phil Park
* "Wishing (Will Make It So)" w.m. B. G. De Sylva
* "You Meet The Nicest People In Your Dreams" Al Hoffman, Al Goodhart, Manny Kurtz
* "[[You Taught Me to Love Again]]" w. Charles Carpenter m. [[Tommy Dorsey]] & [[Henri Woode]]
* "You've Got That Look" w. [[Frank Loesser]] m. [[Frederick Hollander]] from the film ''[[Destry Rides Again]]''

==Classical music==

===Premieres===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Composer !! Composition !! Date !! Location !! Performers
|-
| | [[Béla Bartók|Bartók, Béla]] || [[Violin Concerto No. 2 (Bartók)|Violin Concerto No. 2]] || 1939-03-23 || Amsterdam || [[Zoltán Székely|Székely]] / [[Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra|Concertgebouw Orchestra]] – [[Willem Mengelberg|Mengelberg]]<ref>[https://archive.org/details/concertolistener00stei/page/45 <!-- quote=violin concerto bartok szekely mengelberg. --> The Concerto: A Listener's Guide]</ref>
|-
| [[Arnold Bax|Bax, Arnold]] || [[Symphony No. 7 (Bax)|Symphony No. 7]] || 1939-06-09 || New York City ([[1939 New York World's Fair|EXPO]]) || [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra|New York Philharmonic]] – [[Adrian Boult|Boult]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/8b107e2f-6f39-4c17-b03c-3c7942e12e21?search-type=singleFilter&search-text=*&doctype=program&npp:ComposerWorksTitle_facet%5B0%5D=Bax%2C++Sir++Arnold+%2F+SYMPHONY+NO.+7%2C+A+FLAT+MAJOR |title=New York Philharmonic Archives |access-date=2015-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122950/http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/8b107e2f-6f39-4c17-b03c-3c7942e12e21?search-type=singleFilter&search-text=%2A&doctype=program&npp%3AComposerWorksTitle_facet%5B0%5D=Bax%2C++Sir++Arnold+%2F+SYMPHONY+NO.+7%2C+A+FLAT+MAJOR |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Arthur Bliss|Bliss, Arthur]] || [[Piano Concerto (Bliss)|Piano Concerto]] || 1939-06-10 || New York City ([[1939 New York World's Fair|EXPO]]) || [[Solomon (pianist)|Solomon]] / [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra|New York Philharmonic]] – [[Adrian Boult|Boult]]<ref>[http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/7515 Music Sales Classical]</ref>
|-
| [[Rutland Boughton|Boughton, Rutland]] || [[Symphony No. 3 (Boughton)|Symphony No. 3]] (1937) || 1939-01-01 || London || [unknown ensemble] – [[Jean Pougnet|Pougnet]]<ref>[http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/55019-B.pdf Hyperion Records]</ref>
|-
| [[Benjamin Britten|Britten, Benjamin]] || ''[[Young Apollo]]'' || 1939-08-02 || Toronto || Britten / [[Toronto Melodic Strings]] – [[Alexander Chuhaldin|Chuhaldin]]<ref>{{iRCAM work|22922|Benjamin Britten: ''Young Apollo''}}</ref>
|-
| [[George Enescu|Enescu, George]] || [[Orchestral Suite No. 3 (Enescu)|Orchestral Suite No. 3, "Villageoise" (1938)]] || 1939-02-02 || New York City [[Carnegie Hall]] || [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra|New York Philharmonic-Symphony]] – [[George Enescu|Enescu]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/19889e46-1d1b-42b5-a3c6-054f47495cfc/fullview#page/1/mode/2up |title=New York Philharmonic: Viewer |access-date=2017-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410213925/http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/19889e46-1d1b-42b5-a3c6-054f47495cfc/fullview#page/1/mode/2up |archive-date=2017-04-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Alberto Ginastera|Ginastera, Alberto]] || [[Harp Sonatina (Ginastera)|Harp Sonatina]] || 1939-06-26 || Buenos Aires || [[Augusto Sebastiani|Sebastiani]]<ref>{{IRCAM work|31588|Alberto Ginastera: Harp Sonatina}}</ref>
|-
| [[Roy Harris|Harris, Roy]] || [[Symphony No. 3 (Harris)|Symphony No. 3]] || 1939-02-24 || Boston || [[Boston Symphony Orchestra|Boston Symphony]] – [[Sergei Koussevitzky|Koussevitzky]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/historyarchives/archival-collection/world-premieres-at-the-bso/world-premieres-the-1900s.aspx |title=Boston Symphony Orchestra |access-date=2015-07-24 |archive-date=2017-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118212645/http://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/historyarchives/archival-collection/world-premieres-at-the-bso/world-premieres-the-1900s.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Alan Hovhaness|Hovhaness, Alan]] || ''[[Symphony No. 1 (Hovhaness)|Exile]]'' (Symphony No. 1) (1936) || 1939-05-26 || London || [[BBC Symphony Orchestra|BBC Symphony]] – [[Leslie Heward|Heward]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WR8jAQAAQBAJ&dq=alan+hovhaness+symphony+1+exile+bbc+symphony+1939&pg=PA215 Dictionary of American Classical Composers]</ref> 
|-
| [[Witold Lutosławski|Lutosławski, Witold]] || [[Symphonic Variations (Lutoslawski)|Symphonic Variations]] || 1939-06-17 || Cracow, Poland || [[Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra|Polish Radio Symphony]] – [[Grzegorz Fitelberg|Fitelberg]]<ref>{{IRCAM work|10309|Witold Lutosławski: Symphonic Variations}}</ref>
|-
| [[Olivier Messiaen|Messiaen, Olivier]] || ''[[Chants de Terre et de Ciel]]'' || 1939-01-23 || Paris || [[Marcelle Bunlet|Bunlet]], Messiaen<ref>{{IRCAM work|10585|Olivier Messiaen: Chants de Terre et de Ciel}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev, Sergei]] || ''[[Alexander Nevsky (cantata)|Alexander Nevsky]]'', cantata || 1939-05-17 || Moscow || [[Valentina Gagarina|Gagarina]] / [[Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra|Moscow Philharmonic]] – Prokofiev<ref>[http://www.flaminioonline.it/Guide/Prokofiev/Prokofiev-Nevskij78.html Orchestra Virtuale del Flaminio]</ref> 
|-
| [[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev, Sergei]] || ''[[Zdravitsa (Prokofiev)|Zdravitsa]]'', cantata || 1939-12-21 || Moscow || [[Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra|USSR Radio Symphony]] – [[Nikolai Golovanov|Golovanov]]<ref>[http://www.sikorski.de/media/files/1/2/1381/7212/7394/7239/7240/prokofjew_werkverzeichnis.pdf Edition Sikorski]</ref>
|-
| [[Hilding Rosenberg|Rosenberg, Hilding]] || [[Symphony No. 3 (Rosenberg)|Symphony No. 3]] || 1939-12-11 || Stockholm || [[Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra|Swedish Radio Symphony]] – Rosenberg<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gehrmans.se/en/catalogue_search?cpid=7987a34c-6b77-4f6e-b2b7-829221d03fd9 |title=Gehrmans Musikförlag |access-date=2015-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725010610/http://www.gehrmans.se/en/catalogue_search?cpid=7987a34c-6b77-4f6e-b2b7-829221d03fd9 |archive-date=2015-07-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Dmitri Shostakovich|Shostakovich, Dmitri]] || [[Symphony No. 6 (Shostakovich)|Symphony No. 6]] || 1939-11-21 || Leningrad || [[Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra|Leningrad Philharmonic]] – [[Evgeni Mravinsky|Mravinsky]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=2H-fma7sFd0C&dq=shostakovich+symphony+6+mravinsky+november+1939&pg=PA351 Shostakovich: A Life]</ref>
|-
| [[Igor Stravinsky|Stravinsky, Igor]] || ''[[Le roi des étoiles]]'', cantata || 1939-04-19 || Brussels || [[Brussels Philharmonic|Brussels Radio Symphony]] – [[Franz André|André]]<ref>{{IRCAM work|24783|Igor Stravinsky: ''Le roi des étoiles''}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ralph Vaughan Williams|Vaughan Williams, Ralph]] || ''[[Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus]]'' || 1939-06-10 || New York City ([[1939 New York World's Fair|EXPO]]) || [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra|New York Philharmonic]] – [[Adrian Boult|Boult]]<ref>[http://data.instantencore.com/pdf/1025737/11-20-13.pdf Cornell Chamber Orchestra]</ref>
|-
| [[William Walton|Walton, William]] || [[Violin Concerto (Walton)|Violin Concerto]] || 1939-12-07 || Cleveland || [[Jascha Heifetz|Heifetz]] / [[Cleveland Orchestra]] – [[Artur Rodziński|Rodziński]]<ref>[http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.111367&catNum=8111367&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English Naxos Records]</ref>
|-
| [[Jaromír Weinberger|Weinberger, Jaromír]] || ''[[Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree]]'' || 1939-10-12 || New York City || [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra|New York Philharmonic]] – [[John Barbirolli|Barbirolli]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/f5787645-4791-4b5f-8cd7-c0d0cf04c2f1?search-type=singleFilter&search-text=*&doctype=program&npp:ComposerWorksTitle_facet%5B0%5D=Weinberger%2C++Jaromir+%2F+UNDER+THE+SPREADING+CHESTNUT+TREE |title=New York Philharmonic Archives |access-date=2015-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103309/http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/f5787645-4791-4b5f-8cd7-c0d0cf04c2f1?search-type=singleFilter&search-text=%2A&doctype=program&npp%3AComposerWorksTitle_facet%5B0%5D=Weinberger%2C++Jaromir+%2F+UNDER+THE+SPREADING+CHESTNUT+TREE |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Xian Xinghai]] || ''[[Yellow River Cantata]]'' || 1939-04-13 || Yan'an, Vhina || [unknown ensemble] – [[Wu Xiling]]<ref>[http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.554499&catNum=554499&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English Naxos Records]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.flagstaffsymphony.org/documents/programNotes_february.pdf |title=Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra |access-date=2015-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724213210/http://www.flagstaffsymphony.org/documents/programNotes_february.pdf |archive-date=2015-07-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|}

===Compositions===
*[[Samuel Barber]] – [[Violin Concerto (Barber)|Violin Concerto]]
*[[Agustín Barrios]] – ''Variations on a Theme of [[Francisco Tárrega|Tárrega]]''
*[[Arnold Bax]] – ''Pastoral Fantasia'' for Viola and String Orchestra
*[[Béla Bartók]]
**[[Divertimento for String Orchestra (Bartók)|Divertimento for String Orchestra]]
**[[String Quartet No. 6 (Bartók)|String Quartet No. 6]]
*[[Arthur Bliss]] – [[Piano Concerto (Bliss)|Piano Concerto in B-flat]]
*[[Eugène Bozza]]
**''Divertissement'' for English horn (or alto saxophone) and piano, Op. 39
**''Fantaisie italienne'' for clarinet (or flute, or oboe) and piano
**''Fantaisie pastorale'' for oboe and piano, Op. 37
**Ballade for bass clarinet and piano
**''Fantaisie italienne'' for clarinet (or flute, or oboe) and piano
*[[Hanns Eisler]] – Spruch 1939
*[[John Fernström]] – Symphony No. 5, Op. 40
*[[Karl Amadeus Hartmann]] – ''[[Concerto funebre]]'' for violin and string orchestra
*[[Herbert Howells]] – Concerto for Strings
*[[Zoltán Kodály]] – Variations on a Hungarian folk song "Fölszállott a páva" ("The Peacock")
*[[Frank Martin (composer)|Frank Martin]] – Ballade for flute and piano
*[[Joaquín Rodrigo]] – ''[[Concierto de Aranjuez]]''
*[[Hilding Rosenberg]] – String Quartet No. 4
*[[William Schuman]] – ''American Festival Overture''
*[[Dmitri Shostakovich]] – [[Symphony No. 6 (Shostakovich)|Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54]]
*[[Alexandre Tansman]] – [[Symphony No. 4 (Tansman)|Symphony No. 4]]
*[[Heitor Villa-Lobos]] – ''New York Sky-Line Melody''
*[[William Walton]] – [[Violin Concerto (Walton)|Violin Concerto]]
*[[Darius Milhaud]] – [[Symphony No. 1 (Milhaud)|Symphony No. 1]]

==[[Opera]]==
*[[Gian Carlo Menotti]] – ''[[The Old Maid and the Thief]]'' ([[radio opera]])
*[[Tolib Sodiqov]] – ''Leili and Mejnun''

==Film==
*[[Aaron Copland]] – ''[[Of Mice and Men (1939 film)]]''
*Aaron Copland – ''[[The City (1939 film)]]''
*[[Erich Korngold]] – ''[[Juarez (film)]]''
*[[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]] – ''[[Gunga Din (film)]]''
*[[Dmitri Shostakovich]] – ''[[The Great Citizen]]''
*[[Max Steiner]] – ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]''

==[[Jazz]]==
{{Main|1939 in jazz}}

==[[Musical theatre]]==
* ''[[Black Velvet (revue)|Black Velvet]]'' [[West End theatre|London]] [[revue]] opened at the [[Hippodrome Theatre]] on November 14 and ran for 620 performances
* ''[[The Dancing Years]]'' London production opened at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]] on March 23 and ran for 187 performances
* ''[[DuBarry Was a Lady|Du Barry Was A Lady]]'' [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production opened at the [[46th Street Theatre]] on December 6 and ran for 408 performances
* ''[[Folies Bergère]]'' Broadway [[revue]] opened at [[the Broadway Theatre]] on December 25 and ran for 121 performances
* ''[[George White's Scandals of 1939]]'' Broadway revue opened at the [[Alvin Theatre]] on August 28 and ran for 120 performances
* ''[[Haw-Haw]]'' (Music: [[Harry Parr Davies]] Words: [[Phil Park]] Script: [[Max Miller (comedian)|Max Miller]] & [[Ben Lyon]]) opened at the [[Holborn Empire]] on December 22. Starring [[Bebe Daniels]], [[Ben Lyon]] and [[Max Miller (comedian)|Max Miller]].
* ''[[The Little Revue (musical)|The Little Revue]]'' London revue opened at [[Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain|The Little Theatre]] on April 21 and ran for 415 performances
* ''[[Magyar Melody]]'' London production opened at [[His Majesty's Theatre, London|His Majesty's Theatre]] on January 20 and ran for 105 performances
* ''[[New Pins And Needles]]'' Broadway revue (a renamed version of ''[[Pins and Needles]]'' which opened in 1937)
*''[[Runaway Love (musical)|Runaway Love]]'' opened at the [[Saville Theatre]] on November 3 and ran for 195 performances
*''[[Shephard's Pie]]'' [[West End theatre|London]] [[revue]] opened at the [[Princes Theatre]] on December 21
* ''[[Stars in Your Eyes]]'' (Book: J. P. McEvoy Lyrics: [[Dorothy Fields]] Music: [[Arthur Schwartz]]) Broadway production opened at the [[Majestic Theatre (Broadway)|Majestic Theatre]] on February 9 and ran for 127 performances.
*''[[The Straw Hat Revue]]'' opened at the [[Ambassador Theatre (New York)|Ambassador Theatre]] on September 29 and ran for 75 performances
* ''[[The Streets of Paris]]'' Broadway [[revue]] opened at the [[Broadhurst Theatre]] on June 19 and ran for 274 performances
* ''[[Swingin' the Dream]]'' Broadway production opened at the [[Center Theatre (New York, New York)|Center Theatre]] on November 29 and ran for 13 performances. A musical version of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' starring [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Benny Goodman]] & his Sextet and [[Maxine Sullivan]].
* ''[[Too Many Girls (musical)|Too Many Girls]]'' Broadway production opened at the [[Imperial Theatre (Broadway)|Imperial Theatre]] on October 18 and ran for 249 performances.
*''[[Very Warm for May]]'' Broadway production opened at the [[Alvin Theatre]] on November 17 and ran for 59 performances

==[[Musical film]]s==
* ''[[Babes in Arms (film)|Babes In Arms]]'', starring [[Mickey Rooney]] and [[Judy Garland]]
* ''[[Balalaika (film)|Balalaika]]'', released on December 15, starring [[Nelson Eddy]] and [[Ilona Massey]]
* ''[[Entre el barro]]'', starring [[Tito Lusiardo]]
* ''[[East Side of Heaven]]'', starring [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Joan Blondell]]
* ''[[Giliw Ko]]'', starring [[Mila del Sol]], [[Fernando Poe, Sr.]], Ely Ramos and [[Mona Lisa (actress)|Fleur de Lis]]<ref>[http://www.lff.org.uk/films_details.php?FilmID=180 Times Film Festival review and background] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060420161442/http://www.lff.org.uk/films_details.php?FilmID=180 |date=2006-04-20 }}</ref>
* ''[[Hawaiian Nights]]'', starring [[Mary Carlisle]], [[Constance Moore]] and [[Johnny Downs]]. Directed by [[Albert S. Rogell]].
* ''[[Honolulu (1939 film)|Honolulu]]'', starring [[Eleanor Powell]], [[Robert Young (actor)|Robert Young]], [[George Burns]] and [[Gracie Allen]]
* ''[[Lambeth Walk (film)|Lambeth Walk]]'', starring [[Lupino Lane]]
* ''[[La vida es un tango]]'', starring [[Tito Lusiardo]]
* ''[[Love Affair (1939 film)|Love Affair]]'', starring [[Charles Boyer]], [[Irene Dunne]] and [[Maria Ouspenskaya]]. Directed by [[Leo McCarey]].
* ''[[Man About Town (1939 film)|Man About Town]]'', released June 29, starring [[Dorothy Lamour]] and [[Jack Benny]], featuring [[Betty Grable]], [[Phil Harris]] and [[Matty Malneck]] and his Orchestra.
* ''[[The Mikado (1939 film)|The Mikado]]'', starring [[Kenny Baker (American singer and actor)|Kenny Baker]] and [[Jean Colin]]
* ''[[Naughty but Nice (1939 film)|Naughty but Nice]]'', starring [[Ann Sheridan]] and [[Dick Powell]]
* ''[[Paris Honeymoon]]'', starring [[Bing Crosby]], [[Franciska Gaal]], [[Shirley Ross]] and [[Edward Everett Horton]]
* ''[[Second Fiddle (1939 film)|Second Fiddle]]'', starring [[Sonja Henie]], [[Tyrone Power]], [[Rudy Vallee]] and [[Mary Healy (entertainer)|Mary Healy]]. Directed by [[Sidney Lanfield]].
*''[[The Star Maker (1939 film)|The Star Maker]]'', released on August 25, starring [[Bing Crosby]]
* ''[[Three Smart Girls Grow Up]]'', starring [[Deanna Durbin]]
* ''[[Walang Sugat]]'', starring [[Rosa del Rosario]]
* ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' starring [[Judy Garland]], [[Frank Morgan]], [[Billie Burke]], [[Ray Bolger]], [[Bert Lahr]] and [[Jack Haley]].

==Births==
*[[January 3]]
**[[Gene Summers]], singer-songwriter (died 2021)
**[[Arik Einstein]], Israeli singer (died 2013)
*[[January 9]] – [[Jimmy Boyd]], singer and actor (died 2009)
*[[January 10]] – [[Scott McKenzie]], singer (died 2012)
*[[January 12]] – [[William Lee Golden]], country singer ([[The Oakridge Boys]])
*[[January 19]] – Phil Everly ([[The Everly Brothers]]) (died 2014)
*[[January 21]] – [[Wolfman Jack]], DJ (died 1995)
*[[February 1]]
**[[Del McCoury]], American singer and guitarist ([[Del McCoury Band]])
**[[Joe Sample]], American pianist and composer ([[The Crusaders (Houston group)|The Crusaders]]) (died 2014)
*[[February 9]] – [[Barry Mann]], songwriter
*[[February 11]] – [[Gerry Goffin]], songwriter (died 2014)
*[[February 12]] – [[Ray Manzarek]], keyboard player ([[The Doors]]) (died 2013)
*[[February 16]] – [[Czesław Niemen]], Polish singer-songwriter, rock balladeer (died [[2004 in music|2004]])
*[[February 28]]
**<!--February 28-->[[John Fahey (musician)|John Fahey]], guitarist and composer (died 2001)
**<!--February 28-->[[Tommy Tune]], actor, singer and dancer
*[[March 1]] – [[Leo Brouwer]], Cuban composer and guitarist
*[[March 8]] – [[Robert Tear]], tenor
*[[March 9]] – [[Rohan de Saram]], British-born Sri Lankan cellist (died 2024)
*[[March 11]] – [[Flaco Jiménez]], accordionist and singer
*[[March 13]] – [[Neil Sedaka]], pianist and singer-songwriter
*[[March 18]] – [[Peter Kraus]], German singer
*[[March 27]] – [[Beba Selimović]], sevdalinka folk singer (died 2020)
*[[April 1]] – [[Rudolph Isley]], R&B singer ([[The Isley Brothers]]) (died 2023)
*[[April 2]] – [[Marvin Gaye]], soul singer (died 1984)
*[[April 4]] – [[Hugh Masekela]], jazz trumpeter (died 2018)
*[[April 5]] – [[Ronnie White]], R&B musician and songwriter ([[The Miracles]]) (died 1995)
*[[April 6]] – [[Beverly Watkins]], blues guitarist (died 2019)
*[[April 16]] – [[Dusty Springfield]], singer (died 1999)
*[[April 18]] – [[Glen Hardin]], rock pianist and arranger ([[The Crickets]])
*[[April 20]] – [[Johnny Tillotson]], singer-songwriter
*[[April 21]]
**<!--April 21-->[[Ernie Maresca]], singer-songwriter and record industry executive (died 2015)
**<!--April 21-->[[John McCabe (composer)|John McCabe]], composer and pianist (died 2015)
*[[April 23]] – [[Wizz Jones]], guitarist and singer-songwriter
*[[May 1]] – [[Judy Collins]], singer
*[[May 3]] – [[Jonathan Harvey (composer)|Jonathan Harvey]], English composer (died 2012)
*[[May 7]]
**<!--May 7-->[[José Antonio Abreu]], orchestral conductor and music educator (died 2018)
**<!--May 7-->[[The Brooklyn Bridge (band)|Johnny Maestro]], vocalist (died 2010)
**<!--May 7-->[[Jimmy Ruffin]], singer (died 2014)
*[[May 9]] – [[Nokie Edwards]], rock musician ([[The Ventures]]) (died 2018)
*[[May 10]] – [[Wayne Cochran]], American singer (died [[2017]])
*[[May 14]] – [[Troy Shondell]], American singer (died [[2016]])
*[[May 19]]
**<!--May 19-->[[Nancy Kwan]], dancer, singer and actress
**<!--May 19-->[[Sonny Fortune]], jazz musician (died 2018)
**<!--May 19-->[[John Sheahan]], folk musician ([[The Dubliners]])
*[[May 23]] – [[Michel Colombier]], composer and songwriter (died 2004)
*[[June 3]] – [[Ian Hunter (singer)|Ian Hunter]], British rock singer-songwriter ([[Mott The Hoople]])
*[[June 6]]
**<!--June 6-->[[Louis Andriessen]], composer (died 2021)
**<!--June 6-->[[Gary U.S. Bonds]], singer-songwriter
*[[June 9]] – [[Ileana Cotrubaş]], operatic soprano
*[[June 11]] – [[Wilma Burgess]], American country music singer (died [[2003]])
*[[June 16]] – [[Billy "Crash" Craddock]], country singer
*[[June 19]] – [[Al Wilson (singer)|Al Wilson]], American soul singer (died 2008)
*[[June 25]] – [[Garech Browne]], promoter of Irish traditional music (died 2018)
*[[June 30]] – [[Tony Hatch]], composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and record producer
*[[July 1]] – [[Delaney Bramlett]], blues singer-songwriter ([[Delaney & Bonnie]]) (died 2008)
*[[July 2]] – [[Paul Williams (The Temptations)|Paul Williams]], soul singer ([[The Temptations]]) (died 1973)
*[[July 3]] – [[Brigitte Fassbaender]], operatic mezzo-soprano
*[[July 5]] – [[Owen Gray]], Jamaican singer
*[[July 6]] – [[Jet Harris]], British bassist and singer-songwriter ([[The Shadows]]) (died 2011)
*[[July 14]]
**[[Karel Gott]], singer (died 2019)
**[[Vince Taylor]], rock and roll singer (died 1991)
*[[July 16]] – [[William Bell (singer)|William Bell]], born William Yarbrough, soul singer-songwriter
*[[July 17]] – [[Spencer Davis]], beat musician, multi-instrumentalist ([[The Spencer Davis Group]]) (died 2020)
*[[July 18]]
**<!--July 18-->[[Brian Auger]], jazz fusion keyboard player ([[Brian Auger Trinity]])
**<!--July 18-->[[Dion DiMucci]], singer-songwriter
*[[July 22]] – [[Warda Al-Jazairia]], born Warda Mohammed Ftouki, singer (died 2012)
*[[July 25]] – [[Denis King]], pop singer and screen composer
*[[July 31]] – [[Steuart Bedford]], conductor and pianist (died 2021)<ref>{{cite web|title=The conductor and pianist Steuart Bedford has died|url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/article/the-conductor-and-pianist-steuart-bedford-has-died|work=The Gramophone|date=2021-02-16|accessdate=2021-02-16}}</ref>
*[[August 4]] – [[Frankie Ford]], singer (died 2015)
*[[August 9]]
**[[Billy Henderson (American singer)|Billy Henderson]] R&B soul singer ([[The Spinners (American R&B group)|The Spinners]]) (died 2007)
**[[The Mighty Hannibal]], American singer-songwriter and record producer (died 2014)
*[[August 13]] – [[Howard Tate]], American soul singer-songwriter (died 2011)
*[[August 15]] – [[Norma Waterson]], English traditional folk singer (died 2022)
*[[August 16]]
**[[Billy Joe Shaver]], American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2020)
**[[Eric Weissberg]], American folk musician (died 2020)
*[[August 17]]
**[[Luther Allison]], blues guitarist (died 1997)
**[[Ed Sanders]], poet and folk singer ([[The Fugs]])
*[[August 18]]
** [[Molly Bee]], American country music singer (died [[2009]])
** [[Johnny Preston]], American singer (died [[2011]])
*[[August 19]] – [[Ginger Baker]], rock drummer ([[Cream (band)|Cream]]) (died [[2019]])
*[[August 24]] – Ernest Wright, R&B singer ([[Little Anthony and the Imperials]])
*[[August 25]] – [[Robert Jager]], American composer and theorist
*[[August 28]] – [[Robert Aitken (composer)|Robert Aitken]], composer
*[[August 30]] – [[John Peel]] (John Ravenscroft), influential disc jockey (died 2004)
*[[August 31]]
**[[Jerry Allison]], American rock drummer ([[The Crickets]]) (died 2022)
**[[Cleveland Eaton]], American jazz musician (died 2020)
*[[September 2]]
**<!--September 2-->[[Sam Gooden]], soul singer ([[The Impressions]]) (died 2022)
**<!--September 2-->[[James & Bobby Purify|Bobby Lee Dickey]], singer
*[[September 5]] – [[John Stewart (folk musician)|John Stewart]], folk singer-songwriter (died 2008)
*[[September 6]] – [[David Allan Coe]], American musician<ref>Tucker, Stephen R. (1998). "David Allan Coe." In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p.&nbsp;102.</ref>
*[[September 7]] – [[Riccardo Del Turco]], Italian singer
*[[September 8]] – [[Guitar Shorty]], American blues guitarist (died 2022)
*[[September 13]] – [[Gene Page]], arranger, producer and conductor (died 1998)
*[[September 17]] – [[Shelby Flint]], American singer
*[[September 18]] – [[Frankie Avalon]], singer and actor
*[[September 23]] – [[Roy Buchanan]], guitarist (died 1988)
*[[September 28]] – Elbridge Bryant ([[The Temptations]]) (died 1975)
*[[September 30]] – [[Len Cariou]], Canadian actor and singer
*[[October 16]] – [[Joe Dolan]], Irish entertainer, recording artist and pop singer (died [[2007 in music|2007]])
*[[October 18]] – [[Paddy Reilly]], folk musician
*[[October 30]]
**<!--October 30-->[[Eddie Holland]], songwriter ([[Holland-Dozier-Holland]])
**<!--October 30-->[[Grace Slick]], vocalist ([[Jefferson Airplane]])
*[[October 31]] – [[Gordon Bok]], singer-songwriter
*[[November 12]] – [[Ruby Nash Curtis]], R&B singer ([[Ruby & the Romantics]])
*[[November 15]] – [[Dinorah Varsi]], Uruguayan classical pianist (died [[2013]])
*[[November 17]] – [[Yuya Uchida (singer)|Yuya Uchida]], singer and film actor (died [[2019 in music|2019]])
*[[November 18]] – [[Tom Johnson (composer)|Tom Johnson]], minimalist composer
*[[November 19]] – [[Warren "Pete" Moore]], R&B singer-songwriter ([[The Miracles]]) (died 2017)
*[[November 22]] – [[Stefan Dimitrov (bass)|Stefan Dimitrov]], [[Bulgaria]]n operatic [[Bass (voice type)|bass]] (died 2004)
*[[November 23]]
**[[Betty Everett]], African-American soul singer, pianist (died [[2001]])
**Jan Rooney, American singer and wife of [[Mickey Rooney]]
*[[November 25]] – [[Rais Khan]], Pakistani sitarist (died [[2017 in music|2017]])<ref>{{cite book|title=The Illustrated Weekly of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wc6AQAAIAAJ|date=October 1974|publisher=Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press|page=83}}</ref>
*[[November 26]] – [[Tina Turner]], pop singer (died [[2023 in music|2023]])
*[[November 28]] – [[Gary Troxel]], pop singer ([[The Fleetwoods]])
*[[December 1]] – [[Dianne Lennon]], American singer ([[The Lennon Sisters]])
*[[December 4]] – [[Freddy Cannon]], American rock musician
*[[December 8]]
** [[Jerry Butler]], African-American singer-songwriter and politician
**Sir [[James Galway]], flautist
*[[December 13]] – [[Eric Flynn]], British actor and singer (died 2002)
*[[December 15]] – [[Cindy Birdsong]], soul singer ([[The Supremes]])
**[[Dave Clark (musician)|Dave Clark]] ([[The Dave Clark Five]])
*[[December 16]] – [[Barney McKenna]], folk musician ([[The Dubliners]]) (died 2012)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/arts/music/barney-mckenna-banjo-player-in-the-dubliners-dies-at-72.html?_r=1&ref=deathsobituaries|title=Barney McKenna, Banjo Player in the Dubliners, Dies at 72|author=Dennis Hevesi|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=11 April 2012}}</ref>
*[[December 17]]
**<!--December 17-->[[James Booker]], pianist and singer (died 1983)
**<!--December 17-->[[Eddie Kendricks]], vocalist ([[The Temptations]]) (died 1992)
*[[December 25]] – [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]], jazz keyboardist
*[[December 26]] – [[Phil Spector]], record producer and murderer (died 2021)
*[[December 28]] – [[Yehoram Gaon]], Israeli actor and singer
*[[December 30]] – [[Felix Pappalardi]], rock producer and bassist ([[Mountain (band)|Mountain]]) (died 1983)

==Deaths==
*[[January 12]] – [[Hariclea Darclée]], operatic soprano, 78
*[[January 16]] – [[Abe Holzmann]], composer, 64
*[[February 9]] – [[Herschel Evans]], saxophonist, 29 (heart disease)
*[[February 11]] – [[Franz Schmidt (composer)|Franz Schmidt]], cellist, pianist and composer, 64
*[[February 12]] – [[Potenciano Gregorio]], Filipino musician, 58
*[[February 17]] – [[Willy Hess (violinist)|Willy Hess]], violinist, 79
*[[March 6]] – [[Emma Juch]], operatic soprano, 77
*[[March 9]] – [[Ernie Hare]], US singer, 55 (bronchopneumonia)
*[[March 21]] – [[Evald Aav]], Estonian composer, 39
*[[April 8]] – [[Emilio Serrano y Ruiz]], pianist and composer, 89
*[[April 15]] - [[Dorothy Morton]], soprano and actress, 69<ref>{{cite news|title=Mrs. Frederick Conger, Actress, Will Be Buried in Bound Brook|work=[[Home News Tribune|The Daily Home News]]|date=April 17, 1939|page=14}}</ref> 
*[[April 21]]
**[[Herman Finck]], composer, 66
**[[Joe Young (lyricist)|Joe Young]], US lyricist, 49
*[[May 20]] – [[Alexandra Čvanová]], operatic soprano, 42 (car accident)
*[[June 4]] – [[Tommy Ladnier]], jazz trumpeter, 39 (heart attack)
*[[June 16]] – [[Chick Webb]], jazz drummer, 34
*[[August 1]] – [[Álvaro Sousa]], composer, 60
*[[August 3]] – [[August Enna]], composer, 80
*[[August 19]] – [[Achille Fortier]], composer, 74
*[[August 25]] – [[Geneviève Vix]], operatic soprano, 60
*[[October 9]] – [[Evelyn Parnell]], operatic soprano, 51 (appendicitis)
*[[October 14]] – [[Polaire]], singer and actress, 65
*[[October 16]] – [[Ludolf Nielsen]], pianist, violinist, conductor and composer, 63
*[[October 19]] – [[Marie Renard]], operatic mezzo-soprano, 75
*[[October 24]] – [[Prince Joachim Albert of Prussia]], composer, 63
*[[October 27]] – [[Nelly Bromley]], singer and actress, 89
*[[October 28]] – [[Alice Brady]], actress, 46
*[[October 29]] – [[Giulio Crimi]], operatic tenor, 54
*[[November 3]] (or 4) – [[Charles Tournemire]], organist and composer, 69
*[[November 9]] – [[Charles Goulding]], operatic tenor (born 1887)
*[[December 6]] – [[Charles Dalmorès]], operatic tenor, 68
*[[December 8]] – [[Ernest Schelling]], pianist, composer and conductor, 63
*[[December 18]]
**[[Jeanne Granier]], operatic soprano, 87
**[[Grikor Suni]], composer, 63
*[[December 22]] – [[Ma Rainey]], blues singer, 53 (heart attack)
*''date unknown''
**[[Francisco de Paula Aguirre]], composer of waltzes (born 1875)
**[[José Perches Enríquez]], composer (born 1883)
**[[Lena Wilson]], blues singer (born 1898)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1939 in music| ]]
[[Category:20th century in music]]
[[Category:Music by year]]