1961 in music

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This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1961.

Events

• January 15 – Motown Records signs The Supremes.
• January 20 – Francis Poulenc's Gloria receives its premiėre in Boston, USA.
• February 12 – The Miracles' "Shop Around" becomes Motown's first million-selling single.
• February 13 – Frank Sinatra forms his own record label, Reprise Records, which would later release recordings by The Beach Boys, Ella Fitzgerald, The Kinks and Jimi Hendrix.
• February 14 – The Platters file a lawsuit against Mercury Records for breach of contract after the record company refuses to accept recordings on which Tony Williams does not sing lead. The group's lawsuit contends that their contract does not require Williams to sing lead
• March 21 – The Beatles perform at the Cavern Club for the first time
• March 25 – Elvis Presley performs a benefit show at the Block Arena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The show raises $62,000 for the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial fund.
• April 13 – Intolleranza 1960 by Luigi Nono, his first opera, premières at La Fenice.
• April 17 - Dalida receives the Music Oscar for Best Song with Charles Aznavour.
• April 23 – Judy Garland's concert at Carnegie Hall.
• April 29 – Luciano Pavarotti makes his operatic debut as Rodolfo in La Bohème.
• May 1 – The Pulitzer Prize for Music is awarded to Walter Piston for his Symphony No. 7.
• June 14 – Patsy Cline is hospitalized as a result of a head-on car collision. While she is in hospital, the song "I Fall to Pieces" becomes a big Country/Pop crossover hit for Cline.
• June 25 – The Bill Evans Trio completes a two-week stay at The Village Vanguard in New York. It was the last time this trio would play before virtuoso bassist Scott LaFaro's death 10 days later. The five sets they played on the 25th were recorded, and the resulting two albums, Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby.
• July 17 – Billboard magazine first publishes an "Easy Listening" chart, listing songs that the magazine determined were not rock & roll records. The first #1 song on this chart was "The Boll Weevil Song" by Brook Benton. This chart would eventually be renamed a number of times and is currently called the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
• December 8 – Beach Boys release their debut 45rpm single: Surfin'/Luau on the small California label Candix Records.
• William Alwyn marries fellow-composer Doreen Carwithen, his former pupil.
• The Leeds International Pianoforte Competition is founded by Marion, Countess of Harewood and Fanny Waterman.
• Bob Seger's musical career begins.
• Indian tabla player Keshav Sathe and sitar player Bhaskar Chandavarkar perform with Larry Adler.
• The Country Music Association (CMA) creates the Country Music Hall of Fame and inducts, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams as the first three members.

Bands formed

• See Category:Musical groups established in 1961

Albums released

• All the Way – Frank Sinatra
• Bikini Twist – Bill Haley & His Comets
• Blue Hawaii (OST) – Elvis Presley
• The Blues and the Abstract Truth – Oliver Nelson
• Bo Diddley Is a Lover – Bo Diddley
• Bright and Shiny – Doris Day
• Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! – Ella Fitzgerald
• Come Swing with Me – Frank Sinatra
• Connie At The Copa – Connie Francis
• Dance 'Till Quarter To Three – Gary U.S. Bonds
• Runaround Sue – Dion
• An Electrifying Evening with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet – Dizzy Gillespie
• Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook – Ella Fitzgerald
• Ella in Hollywood – Ella Fitzgerald
• Ella Returns to Berlin – Ella Fitzgerald
• Emotions – Brenda Lee
• Explorations – Bill Evans Trio
• Garde-moi la dernière danse – Dalida
• The Genius Sings the Blues – Ray Charles
• Goin' Places – The Kingston Trio
• The Greatest Horn in the World - Al Hirt
• He's the King and His Band - Al Hirt
• I Have Dreamed – Doris Day
• I Remember Tommy – Frank Sinatra
• In Person: At the Blackhawk, San Francisco – Miles Davis
• It's Morrissey, Man! – Dick Morrissey
• Joan Baez, Vol. 2 – Joan Baez
• Judy at Carnegie Hall – Judy Garland
• Listen to Cliff – Cliff Richard
• Loin de Moi – Dalida
• Lonely and Blue – Roy Orbison
• The Lure of the Grand Canyon – Johnny Cash
• Make Way – The Kingston Trio
• Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall – Miles Davis
• Music of My Life – Jo Stafford
• My Favorite Things – John Coltrane
• New Juke-Box Hits – Chuck Berry
• Now Here's Johnny Cash – Johnny Cash
• Patsy Cline Showcase – Patsy Cline
• Rah! – Mark Murphy
• Ring-A-Ding-Ding – Frank Sinatra
• Rick Is 21 – Ricky Nelson
• Roy Orbison At The Rock House – Roy Orbison
• A Scottish Soldier – Andy Stewart
• Send for Me – Julie London
• The Shadows- The Shadows
• Sinatra Swings – Frank Sinatra
• Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! – Frank Sinatra
• Sing to Me Mr. C – Perry Como
• Someday My Prince Will Come – Miles Davis
• Something for Everybody – Elvis Presley
• Sunday at the Village Vanguard – Bill Evans Trio
• The Swingin's Mutual! – Nancy Wilson with the George Shearing quintet
• 21 Today – Cliff Richard
• Twist – Bill Haley & His Comets
• Whatever Julie Wants – Julie London

Biggest hit singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in 1961.

#	Artist	Title	Year	Country	Chart Entries
1	Ben E King	Stand By Me	1961		UK 1 – Feb 1987, Ireland 1 – Feb 1987, DDD 1 of 1961, RYM 2 of 1961, Switzerland 3 – Mar 1987, US BB 4 – May 1961, Germany 4 – Mar 1987, US BB 7 of 1961, Netherlands 7 – Mar 1987, POP 7 of 1961, Norway 9 – Apr 1987, Scrobulate 14 of soul, Canada 16 – May 1961, Austria 17 – Apr 1987, RIAA 25, US CashBox 43 of 1961, Acclaimed 53, 95 in 2FM list, Italy 96 of 1962, Rolling Stone 121, Germany 235 of the 1980s, Party 269 of 1999, WXPN 746
2	Del Shannon	Runaway	1961		UK 1 – Apr 1961, US BB 1 – Mar 1961, Canada 1 – Mar 1961, Australia 1 for 6 weeks Oct 1960, RYM 1 of 1961, Norway 4 – Jun 1961, DDD 7 of 1961, US CashBox 9 of 1961, Australia Goset 12 – Oct 1967, Australia 15 of 1961, US BB 5 of 1961, POP 17 of 1961, South Africa 18 of 1961, Acclaimed 66, Scrobulate 96 of oldies, Rolling Stone 466
3	Chubby Checker	Let's Twist Again	1961		UK 2 – Dec 1961, Canada 2 – Jul 1961, Norway 2 – Feb 1962, US BB 3 of 1961, Netherlands 3 – Jan 1976, POP 3 of 1961, South Africa 6 of 1962, US BB 8 – Jul 1961, Sweden (alt) 10 – Feb 1976, Austria 11 – Apr 1976, Germany 12 – Mar 1962, RYM 16 of 1961, Italy 17 of 1962, Party 23 of 1999, US CashBox 62 of 1961, DDD 67 of 1961, Scrobulate 95 of oldies, Germany 396 of the 1960s
4	Elvis Presley	Surrender	1961		UK 1 – May 1961, US BB 1 – Feb 1961, Canada 1 – Mar 1961, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Sep 1960, Norway 2 – Apr 1961, Germany 6 – May 1961, South Africa 10 of 1961, US CashBox 32 of 1961, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1961, RYM 33 of 1961
5	The Marcels	Blue Moon	1961		UK 1 – Apr 1961, US BB 1 – Mar 1961, Canada 1 – Mar 1961, Norway 4 – May 1961, US CashBox 11 of 1961, South Africa 11 of 1961, Germany 13 – Jun 1961, US BB 14 of 1961, DDD 14 of 1961, POP 14 of 1961, RYM 26 of 1961, Acclaimed 1034

Top hits on record

• "A Certain Girl" – Ernie K-Doe
• "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" - Gene McDaniels
• "Angel Baby" – Rosie & The Originals
• "At Last" – Etta James
• "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" – Elvis Presley
• "Are You Sure?" – The Allisons
• "Big River, Big Man" – Claude King
• "Blue Moon" – The Marcels
• "Calcutta" – Lawrence Welk
• "Calendar Girl" – Neil Sedaka
• "Crazy" – Patsy Cline
• "Crying" – Roy Orbison
• "Danny Boy" - Andy Williams
• "F.B.I." – The Shadows
• "Fly by Night" - Andy Williams
• "Fool No. 1" – Brenda Lee
• "The Frightened City" – The Shadows
• "Garde-moi la dernière danse" – Dalida
• "Gee Whiz it's You" – Cliff Richard and The Shadows
• "A Girl Like You" – Cliff Richard and The Shadows
• "Hello Mary Lou" – Ricky Nelson
• "Hit the Road Jack" – Ray Charles
• "I Fall to Pieces" – Patsy Cline
• "I Like It Like That, Part 1" – Chris Kenner
• "I Love How You Love Me" – The Paris Sisters
• "It Will Stand" – The Showmen
• "Let's Go Trippin'" – Dick Dale
• "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" – Gene Pitney
• "Kon-Tiki" – The Shadows
• "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"/"Little Sister" – Elvis Presley
• "Moody River" – Pat Boone
• "Mother-In-Law" – Ernie K-Doe
• "My Bonnie" – Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers
• "Nuits d'Espagne" – Dalida
• "On The Rebound" – Floyd Cramer
• "Operation Heartbreak" - Aretha Franklin
• "Please Mr. Postman" – The Marvelettes
• "Quarter To Three" – Gary U.S. Bonds
• "Raindrops" – Dee Clark
• "Runaround Sue" – Dion
• "Runaway" – Del Shannon
• "Running Scared" – Roy Orbison
• "Sailor" – Petula Clark
• "The Savage" – The Shadows
• "Shop Around" – The Miracles
• "Spanish Harlem" – Ben E. King
• "Stand By Me" – Ben E. King
• "Surfin'" – The Beach Boys
• "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" – Ernie K-Doe
• "The Comancheros" – Claude King
• "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" – The Tokens
• "The Mountain's High" – Dick and Deedee
• "The Wanderer" – Dion
• "Theme for a Dream" – Cliff Richard and The Shadows
• "There's No Other Like My Baby" – The Crystals
• "Till" - The Angels
• "Together" – Connie Francis
• "Tossin' and Turnin' " – Bobby Lewis
• "Town Without Pity" – Gene Pitney
• "Travelin' Man" – Ricky Nelson
• "Underwater" - The Frogmen
• "Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes" – The Everly Brothers
• "Walkin' Back to Happiness" – Helen Shapiro
• "What I'd Say" – Cliff Richard and The Shadows
• "When the Girl in Your Arms (Is the Girl in Your Heart)" – Cliff Richard
• "Where the Boys Are" – Connie Francis
• "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" – The Shirelles
• "Won't Be Long" - Aretha Franklin
• "You Don't Know" – Helen Shapiro
• "You're Driving Me Crazy" – The Temperance Seven
• See also: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1961 (USA)

Published popular music

• "Another Time, Another Place" w.m. Richard Adler from the musical Kwamina
• "Baby Elephant Walk" m. Henry Mancini from the film Hatari!
• "Big, Bad John" w.m. Jimmy Dean
• "Blue Bayou" w.m. Joe Melson & Roy Orbison
• "Breaking In A Brand New Broken Heart" w.m. Howard Greenfield & Jack Keller
• "Crazy" w.m. Willie Nelson
• Cruella DeVil w.m. Mel Leven, from the Walt Disney animated film 101 Dalmatians
• "Crying" w.m. Joe Melson & Roy Orbison
• "Funny How Time Slips Away" w.m. Willie Nelson
• "Hats Off to Larry" w.m. Del Shannon
• "Hit the Road Jack" w.m. Percy Mayfield
• "I Love How You Love Me" w.m. Barry Mann & Larry Kolber
• "Let's Get Together" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film The Parent Trap
• "Let's Twist Again" w.m. Dave Appell & Kal Mann
• "Little Miss Stuck-up" w.m. Lee Pockriss & Paul Vance
• "Love Makes the World Go 'Round" w.m. Bob Merrill from the film Carnival!
• "Mister Ed theme song" w.m. Jay Livingston & Ray Evans
• "Moon River" w. Johnny Mercer m. Henry Mancini from the film Breakfast at Tiffany's
• "Multiplication" w.m. Bobby Darin. Introduced by Bobby Darin in the film Come September.
• "My Kind Of Girl"      w.m. Leslie Bricusse
• "The Passenger's Always Right" w.m. Noël Coward from the musical Sail Away
• "Pocketful Of Miracles"     w. Sammy Cahn m. Jimmy Van Heusen from the film Pocketful of Miracles
• "Running Scared" w.m. Joe Melson & Roy Orbison
• "Speedy Gonzales" w.m David Hess, Buddy Kaye & Ethel Lee
• "Ten Girls Ago" w. Diane Lampert m. Sammy Fain
• "Tender Is the Night" w. Paul Francis Webster m. Sammy Fain. Theme from the film Tender Is the Night
• "Tower of Strength" w. Bob Hilliard m. Burt Bacharach
• "A Walk On The Wild Side" w. Mack David m. Elmer Bernstein
• "When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart" w.m. Roy Bennett & Sid Tepper from the soundtrack album The Young Ones
• "Why Do The Wrong People Travel?" w.m. Noël Coward from the musical Sail Away
• "The Young Ones" w. Roy Bennett m. Sid Tepper from soundtrack album The Young Ones

Other notable songs

• "Buliao qing" m. Wong Fuk Ling w. Tao Tseon, sung by Koo Mei
• "Nous les amoureux" by Jean-Claude Pascal
• "Santiano" by Hugues Aufray

Classical music

• Samuel Adler – Symphony No. 3
• Malcolm Arnold – Symphony No. 5
• Milton Babbitt – Vision and Prayer
• Niels Viggo Bentzon – Concerto No. 2 for violin and orchestra
• Havergal Brian – Symphony No. 19
• Benjamin Britten – Cello Sonata
• Earle Brown – Available Forms I
• Elliott Carter – Double Concerto (1959–61); revision of Holiday Overture
• Mario Davidovsky – Electronic Study No. 1; Piano 1961 for orchestra
• Edison Denisov – String Quartet No. 2
• Alun Hoddinott – Concerto for Piano, Winds and Percussion
• Jānis Ivanovs – String Quartet No. 3
• Yuri Levitin – Concertino for Cello and Orchestra, opus 54
• György Ligeti – Atmosphères for Orchestra
• Witold Lutosławski – Jéux vénitiéns for Orchestra
• William Mathias – Second Piano Concerto
• Einojuhani Rautavaara – Symphony No. 3
• Alan Rawsthorne – Concerto for Ten Instruments
• Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 12 D minor, Op. 112 "The Year 1917"
• Karlheinz Stockhausen – Originale, musical theatre, Nr. 12⅔
• Edgard Varèse – Nocturnal
• Mieczysław Weinberg – Concerto for flute and orchestra in D minor, op. 75
• Isang Yun – Third String Quartet (1959–61)

Opera

• Jean Françaix – La Princesse de Clèves
• Vittorio Giannini – The Harvest
• Robert Ward – The Crucible
• Grace Williams – The Parlour
• Hans Werner Henze - Elegy for Young Lovers, libretto by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman.
• Luigi Nono - Intolleranza 1960

Musical theater

• Carnival! (Music and Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Michael Stewart). Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on April 13 and ran for 719 performances
• Do Re Mi London production opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on October 12 and ran for 169 performances
• Donnybrook! Broadway production opened at the 46th Street Theatre on May 18 and ran for 68 performances.
• The Fantasticks     London production opened at the Apollo Theatre on September 7 and ran for 44 performances
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Music and Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstein and Willie Gilbert) – Broadway production opened at the 46th Street Theatre on October 14 and ran for 1417 performances.
• Kwamina     Broadway production opened at the 54th Street Theatre on October 23 and ran for 32 performances
• Milk and Honey     Broadway production opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 10 and ran for 543 performances
• The Music Man London production opened at the Adelphi Theatre on March 16. Starring Van Johnson, Patricia Lambert, Ruth Kettlewell and Dennis Waterman.
• Salad Days (Julian Slade) – London revival at Prince's Theatre
• Sail Away     Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on October 3 and ran for 167n performances
• The Sentimental Bloke (Music: Albert Arlen Lyrics: Nancy Brown, Albert Arlen, Lloyd Thomson and C. J. Dennis Book: Lloyd Thomson and Nancy Brown). Premiered at the Albert Hall, Canberra, March. Melbourne production opened at the Comedy Theatre on November 4.
• The Sound Of Music (Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse) – London production opened at the Palace Theatre and ran for 2385 performances.
• Stop the World – I Want to Get Off (Music, Lyrics and Book: Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse) -London production opened at the Queen's Theatre on July 20 and ran for 485 performances.
• Subways Are For Sleeping (Music: Jule Styne Lyrics and Book: Adolph Green & Betty Comden) Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on December 27 and ran for 205 performances.
• Wildest Dreams (by Julian Slade)      London production opened at the Vaudeville Theatre on August 3 and ran for 76 performances

Musical films

• 101 Dalmatians
• Amorina
• Babes in Toyland
• Blue Hawaii starring Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury and Pamela Austin. Directed by Norman Taurog.
• Flower Drum Song
• Gunga Jumna, starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala
• Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, starring N.T. Rama Rao
• Season in Salzburg
• West Side Story
• Une femme est une femme, directed by Jean-Luc Godard with music by Michel Legrand
• The Young Ones, starring Cliff Richard

Births

• January 13 – Suggs, singer (Madness)
• January 14 – Mike Tramp (White Lion)
• January 27 – Gillian Gilbert (New Order)
• January 29 – Eddie Jackson (Queensrÿche)
• January 31 – Lloyd Cole, singer and songwriter
• February 8 – Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe)
• February 13
  • Henry Rollins, punk/rock vocalist and spoken word performer
  • cEvin Key, musician
• February 16 – Andy Taylor, guitarist (Duran Duran)
• February 27 – Hideaki Tokunaga, Japanese singer
• March 2
  • Sara Mingardo, Italian operatic contralto
  • Simone Young, Australian conductor
• March 15 - Fabio Biondi, Italian violinist and conductor
• March 20 – Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats)
• March 27 – Tak Matsumoto, Japanese guitarist
• April 1
  • Susan Boyle, Scottish singer
  • Mark White (ABC)
• April 2 – Keren Woodward, singer (Bananarama)
• April 6 – Gene Eugene, actor, lead singer of Adam Again
• April 12 – Christophe Rousset, harpsichordist
• April 28 – Roland Gift, singer (Fine Young Cannibals)
• May 7 – Robert Spano, American conductor and pianist
• May 10 – Danny Carey, American rock drummer
• May 17 – Enya, Irish singer-songwriter
• May 20 – Nick Heyward, singer-songwriter
• May 29 – Melissa Etheridge, singer-songwriter
• May 30 – Gina Sanders, opera singer and vocal pedagogue
• June 1 – Peter Machajdík, Slovak composer
• June 4 – El DeBarge, singer
• June 6 – Tom Araya (Slayer)
• June 9 - Debasis Chakroborty, Indian classical slide guitar player
• June 14 – Boy George, singer
• June 15 – Kai Eckhardt, German bass guitarist
• June 18 – Alison Moyet, British singer
• June 22 – Jimmy Somerville, British singer
• June 24 – Curt Smith, singer (Tears for Fears)
• June 25 – Ricky Gervais, English comedian and singer
• June 26 – Terri Nunn (Berlin)
• June 27 – Margo Timmons (Cowboy Junkies)
• June 29 – Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks, Bad Religion)
• July 2 – Paul Geary (Extreme)
• July 6 – Rick Price, Australian singer/songwriter
• July 10 – Jacky Cheung, Hong Kong singer and actor
• July 22 – Keith Sweat, R&B/soul singer
• July 23 – Martin Gore, English rock musician and songwriter
• July 24
  • Gary Cherone (Extreme)
  • Maxim Fedotov, violinist and conductor
• July 26 – Keiko Matsui, Japanese pianist and composer
• August 2 – Pete de Freitas, drummer of Echo & The Bunnymen (d. 1989)
• August 8
  • Rikki Rockett (Poison)
  • The Edge, guitarist for the rock band U2
• August 10 – Jon Farriss, drummer for the rock band INXS
• August 15 – Matt Johnson, English singer-songwriter
• August 19 – Cor Bakker, Dutch pianist
• August 22
  • Andres Calamaro, Argentine musician
  • Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
• August 23
  • Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots)
  • Mark Bedford (Madness)
• August 25 – Billy Ray Cyrus, American singer and actor
• August 26 – Daniel Lévi, French singer-songwriter, composer and pianist
• August 28 – Kim Appleby, singer (Mel and Kim)
• September 5 - Marc-André Hamelin, pianist and composer
• September 6
  • Scott Travis, American metal drummer (Judas Priest)
  • Pål Waaktaar-Savoy, guitarist and songwriter (a-ha)
• September 7 – Jean-Yves Thibaudet, pianist
• September 12 – Mylène Farmer, singer, songwriter, actress and author
• September 13 – Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
• September 22 – Michael Torke, composer
• September 27 – Andy Lau, Hong Kong actor and singer
• September 30 – Sally Yeh, Hong Kong singer and actress
• October 8 – Ted Kooshian, American jazz pianist
• October 9 – Kurt Neumann (The BoDeans)
• October 10 – Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
• October 11 – Amr Diab, Egyptian singer
• October 18 – Wynton Marsalis, jazz trumpeter and composer
• October 26 – Erica Muhl, American composer and conductor
• October 29 – Randy Jackson, singer (The Jacksons)
• October 31 – Larry Mullen, drummer for the rock band U2
• November 2 – k.d. lang, singer-songwriter
• November 4
  • Daron Hagen, classical and opera composer
  • Edward Knight, American composer
• November 5 – David Bryson (Counting Crows)
• November 6 - Daniele Gatti, conductor
• November 8 – Leif Garrett, singer
• November 11 – Jan Kuehnemund, American guitarist (Vixen)
• November 12 - Michaela Paetsch, violinist
• November 13 – Klayton, American rock musician
• November 18 – Anthony Warlow, Australian singer
• November 20 – Jim Brickman, songwriter and pianist
• November 22 - Stephen Hough, pianist
• November 25 - Nuccia Focile, operatic soprano
• December 11 – Dave King, Irish-American singer
• December 12 – Daniel O'Donnell, Irish singer
• December 17 – Sarah Dallin, singer (Bananarama)
• December 20 – Mohammad Fouad, Arab singer and actor
• December 29 – Jim Reid, Scottish musician

Deaths

• January – Margaret Balfour, mezzo-soprano
• January 13 – Blanche Ring, US singer and actress
• January 14 - Henry Geehl, pianist, 79
• February 4 – Alphonse Picou, jazz musician
• February 7 – Noah Lewis, jug band musician
• February 20 – Percy Grainger, pianist and composer
• March 3 – Paul Wittgenstein, pianist, 73
• March 6 – George Formby, English Music hall comedian, singer & songwriter and ukulele player extraordinaire
• March 8 – Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor
• March 9 – Wilber Sweatman, jazz musician and composer
• March 16 - Václav Talich, Czech conductor, violinist and teacher, 77
• March 24 - Freddy Johnson, jazz pianist and singer, 57 (cancer)
• April 2 – Wallingford Riegger, composer
• April 29
  • Cisco Houston, folk singer
  • Miff Mole, jazz trombonist and bandleader
• May 8 – Victor Cornelius, Danish composer, pianist and singer, 63
• May 29 – Uuno Klami, composer
• June 6 – Art Gillham, songwriter
• July 6 – Scott LaFaro, jazz bassist
• August - Nadezhda Obukhova, operatic mezzo-soprano
• August 8 – Mei Lanfang, Beijing opera performer, 66
• August 14 – Heddle Nash, operatic tenor
• August 15
  • Stick McGhee, guitarist
  • Morton Harvey, vaudeville entertainer
• August 24 – Clarice Vance, "the Southern singer"
• September 21 – Maurice Delage, pianist and composer, 81
• September 23 – Elmer Diktonius, composer and poet
• September 26 – Bulbul, singer
• September 27 – Peter Dawson, bass-baritone
• October 5 – Booker Little, jazz musician, 23
• October 11 – Chico Marx, comedian and pianist, 74
• October 12 – Marguerite Monnot, songwriter, 58
• October 13 – Maya Deren, dancer and choreographer, 44
• October 20 – Sylvia Rexach, singer and composer, 39
• November 1 – Joan McCracken, dancer, 43
• November 22 - Ninon Vallin, operatic soprano, 75
• November 23 – York Bowen, pianist and composer, 77
• November 25 - Adelina de Lara, pianist and composer, 90
• November 26 - Alexander Goldenweiser, pianist and composer, 86
• December 18 - Leo Reisman, violinist and bandleader, 64
• December 20 – Moss Hart, musical theatre librettist, 57
• December 30 – Boris Ord, organist and choirmaster, 64
• date unknown – Ernest Ka'ai, ukulele virtuoso

Awards

Grammy Awards

• Grammy Awards of 1961

Eurovision Song Contest

• Eurovision Song Contest 1961