1959 in music

See also:

Events

• January 5 The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.
• January 22 - Buddy Holly records some acoustic demos in his New York City apartment. These songs would be the last songs recorded by Holly. Songs included "Peggy Sue Got Married," "Crying, Waiting, Hoping," "Learning the Game," "What to Do," "That's What They Say" and "That Makes it Tough."
• February 3 - News of the February 2 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper becomes widely known. This date becomes known as "The Day The Music Died". Future country star Waylon Jennings was scheduled to be on the plane, but instead gave his seat up to the Big Bopper.
• February 7 - New Orleans blues and R&B guitarist Eddie Guitar Slim Jones dies of pneumonia in New York City
• April 3 - The BBC bans the Coasters song "Charlie Brown" because of the word "spitball."
• April - The BBC reverses its earlier April 3 decision, and adds the Coasters song "Charlie Brown" to their playlist.
• April 24 - The Your Hit Parade television series airs its last episode
• May 12 - Eddie Fisher marries Elizabeth Taylor
• October 7 - Legendary tenor Mario Lanza dies
• December 14 - Berry Gordy, Jr. purchases the property for Hitsville USA and incorporates Tamla Records, which is soon renamed Motown Records.
• The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences sponsors the first Grammy Award ceremony for music recorded in 1958.
• Dalida receives a Music Oscar for Best Song and a first foreign award (a "Golden Lion" in Berlin).
• Carole King's musical career begins
• Roy Orbison signs with Monument Records
• The Supremes' musical career begins (as "The Primettes")