1951 in music

See also:

Events

• Johnnie Ray has his first hit record with "Cry." Some music historians consider this to be the first rock and roll record.
• Teresa Brewer leaves the London label for Coral
• Georgia Gibbs leaves Coral to sign with Mercury, where she will experience all of her biggest hits
• Frankie Laine is signed by Columbia Records, becoming the highest paid vocalist of his day. He immediately justifies his new contract with the double-sided megahit "Jezebel"/"Rose, Rose, I Love You."
• July 11 - Disc jockey and music promoter Alan Freed broadcasts his first Rhythm and blues radio programme from station WJW in Cleveland, Ohio
• September 11 - The Rake's Progress, an opera by Igor Stravinsky with libretto by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, premieres in Venice, conducted by the composer
• November - Popular songstress Dinah Shore begins her first tv show, The Dinah Shore Show, which will run for 5 1/2 years
• Disc jockey Alan Freed uses the term rock and roll to describe R&B, in an effort to introduce the music to a broader white audience.
• Both Jackie Brentson and the Delta Cats and Bill Haley and His Saddlemen release versions of "Rocket 88". The Haley version, which combines the original's rhythm and blues arrangement with country music trappings, is considered by many musical historians to be the first true rock and roll record. Other historians contend that Brentson's RnB recording deserves this honor.
• Ray Charles' musical career begins
• Charlie Rich's musical career begins
• Big Mama Thornton's musical career begins
• Bobby Blue Bland's musical career begins