1949 in British music

Events

February – On hearing of the death of Ernest Walker, Albert Schweitzer writes: "Now the dear, gentle, kind, distinguished Dr. Walker has left this life. Seeing him impressed me deeply each time."^[1]
14 July – Kathleen Ferrier performs in the world premiere of Benjamin Britten's Spring Symphony in Amsterdam, with Eduard van Beinum and the Concertgebouw Orchestra, a work written specifically for her.^[2]
5 September – Wagnerian tenor Walter Widdop makes his last appearance at The Proms, singing an aria from Lohengrin, only one day before his sudden death.
date unknown – The Tempo Records jazz record label is founded by Colin Pomroy, Jack Clough, and R.E.G. (Ron) Davies.

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4 January – Margaret Anne Marshall, Scottish soprano
19 January – Robert Palmer, singer (died 2003)
22 January – Phil Miller, English guitarist
6 February – Mike Batt, singer and composer
7 February – Alan Lancaster, bass player (Status Quo and The Party Boys)
16 February – Lyn Paul, English singer and actress (The New Seekers)
26 February – Dame Emma Kirkby, soprano
24 March – Nick Lowe, singer-songwriter
11 April – Lee Sheriden, singer with Brotherhood of Man
13 May – Jane Glover, conductor
18 May – Rick Wakeman, multi-instrumentalist and composer
21 May – Rosalind Plowright, operatic mezzo-soprano
14 June – Alan White, rock drummer (Yes) (died 2022)
17 June – Snakefinger, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Residents and Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers) (died 1987)
24 June – John Illsley, singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer (Dire Straits)
3 July – John Verity, guitarist (Argent)
12 July – John Wetton, bass guitarist (King Crimson, Roxy Music)
15 July
- John Casken, composer
- Trevor Horn, record producer, songwriter, musician and singer, sometimes called "The Man Who Invented the Eighties".^[8]^[9]
17 July
- Geezer Butler, bass player and songwriter (Black Sabbath, Geezer Butler Band, GZR, and Heaven & Hell)
- Wayne Sleep, actor, dancer, and choreographer
28 July – Simon Kirke, English drummer (Bad Company and Free)
12 August
- Mark Knopfler, singer, songwriter, guitarist and composer
- Lou Martin, Irish-English pianist, songwriter, and producer (died 2012)
28 August – Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers)
1 October – Allan Barty, folk musician (died 2008)
29 October – David Paton, guitarist, singer and songwriter
2 November – Frankie Miller, rock singer-songwriter
23 November – Sandra Stevens, singer with Brotherhood of Man
26 November – Martin Lee, singer with Brotherhood of Man
3 December – Nicky Stevens, singer with Brotherhood of Man
5 December – John Altman, film composer, arranger and conductor
8 December – Ray Shulman, violinist, guitarist, and producer
17 December – Paul Rodgers, rock vocalist
22 December – Robin Gibb (died 2012) and Maurice Gibb (died 2003) (Bee Gees
date unknown – Eleanor Alberga, composer

Deaths

11 January – Edward Goll, Bohemian-born pianist, 64
15 January – Robert Evett, singer, actor, theatre manager and producer, 74
21 February – Ernest Walker, composer, pianist, organist, teacher and writer on music, 78
3 April – Basil Harwood, organist and composer, 89
3 May – David John Tawe Jones, composer, 64^[10]
6 September – Walter Widdop, operatic tenor, 51^[11]
30 October – Stanley Kirkby, baritone singer and variety artist, 71
date unknown – Frank Clifford Harris, lyricist, 74

1949 in British music

Events

Popular music

Classical music: new works

Opera

Film and Incidental music

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

See also

References

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