This is a summary of 1949 in music in the United Kingdom.
Events
- February â 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."
- 14 July â 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.
- 5 September â 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 â The Tempo Records jazz record label is founded by Colin Pomroy, Jack Clough, and R.E.G. (Ron) Davies.
Popular music
Classical music: new works
Opera
Film and Incidental music
Musical theatre
Musical films
Births
- 4 January â Margaret Anne Marshall, Scottish soprano
- 19 January â Robert Palmer, singer (died 2003)
- 22 January â Phil Miller, English guitarist
- 6 February â Mike Batt, singer and composer
- 7 February â Alan Lancaster, bass player (Status Quo and The Party Boys)
- 16 February â Lyn Paul, English singer and actress (The New Seekers)
- 26 February â Dame Emma Kirkby, soprano
- 24 March â Nick Lowe, singer-songwriter
- 11 April â Lee Sheriden, singer with Brotherhood of Man
- 13 May â Jane Glover, conductor
- 18 May â Rick Wakeman, multi-instrumentalist and composer
- 21 May â Rosalind Plowright, operatic mezzo-soprano
- 14 June â Alan White, rock drummer (Yes) (died 2022)
- 17 June â Snakefinger, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Residents and Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers) (died 1987)
- 24 June â John Illsley, singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer (Dire Straits)
- 3 July â John Verity, guitarist (Argent)
- 12 July â 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".
- 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 â 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 â Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers)
- 1 October â Allan Barty, folk musician (died 2008)
- 29 October â David Paton, guitarist, singer and songwriter
- 2 November â Frankie Miller, rock singer-songwriter
- 23 November â Sandra Stevens, singer with Brotherhood of Man
- 26 November â Martin Lee, singer with Brotherhood of Man
- 3 December â Nicky Stevens, singer with Brotherhood of Man
- 5 December â John Altman, film composer, arranger and conductor
- 8 December â Ray Shulman, violinist, guitarist, and producer
- 17 December â Paul Rodgers, rock vocalist
- 22 December â Robin Gibb (died 2012) and Maurice Gibb (died 2003) (Bee Gees
- date unknown â Eleanor Alberga, composer
Deaths
- 11 January â Edward Goll, Bohemian-born pianist, 64
- 15 January â Robert Evett, singer, actor, theatre manager and producer, 74
- 21 February â Ernest Walker, composer, pianist, organist, teacher and writer on music, 78
- 3 April â Basil Harwood, organist and composer, 89
- 3 May â David John Tawe Jones, composer, 64
- 6 September â Walter Widdop, operatic tenor, 51
- 30 October â Stanley Kirkby, baritone singer and variety artist, 71
- date unknown â Frank Clifford Harris, lyricist, 74
See also
References