Legendary Music Icons of the 1940s

In the 40s, the world saw an abundance of turmoil with WWII, the Holocaust, and The Cold War. While the United States was coming out of the Great Depression, morale still needed lifting. Music played a pivotal role in this endeavor. At the beginning of the decade, big band music was highly popular with genres like swing, jazz, and country. Towards the end of the 40s, vocal pop and crooners became quite popular. This article will explore the top 15 music artists of the 40s.

To compile a list of the top music artists from the 40s, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources. These include IMDb and billboard.com. Here are 15 of the top music artists from the 40s.

1. Bing Crosby

One of the top music artists of the 40s was Bing Crosby. Crosby was born in 1903 as Harry Lillis Crosby, Jr. While Crosby went to law school, his interest in music eventually pulled him away. A few of his top hits were “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “Silent Night.” In addition to being a singer, Crosby also found success as an actor in films such as “Going My Way” and “The Country Girl.” His singing style was often described as chilled and calm. His style and presence were precisely what the world needed in the 40s.

2. Andrews Sisters

Andrew Sisters was a sister band consisting of Patty, Maxene, and Laverne Andrews. The sisters toured considerably with the USO. A few of their hits include “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Hawaiian Christmas Song,” and “Rum & Coca-Cola.” The Andrew Sisters were nicknamed “America’s Wartime Sweethearts” and took patriotic entertainment seriously. The sisters performed with several artists during their career, including Bing Crosby.

3. Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was born in 1915 in New Jersey. While growing up, Sinatra decided he wanted to work as hard as possible to succeed. His early music career began in dives as a pub singer. From there, Sinatra began singing with The Hoboken Four and later with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. His solo career saw great success. A few of Sinatra’s hits include “Strangers in the Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Somethin’ Stupid.”

4. Ernest Tubb

Ernest Tubb was born in 1914 in Texas. Tubb was not only a singer but also an actor and composer. His top songs include “Thanks A Lot,” “Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be,” and “Pass the Booze.” The country singer Tubb was a massive fan of Jimmie Rodgers and was later advised by Rodgers’s widow on how to become more successful.

5. Hank Williams

Hank Williams was a country legend born in 1927. He began his music career at 14 with a self-made band. From there, at the age of 17, Williams formed another band called the “Hank Williams’ Original Drifting Cowboys,” and they secured a manager. Unfortunately, Hank Williams passed away at the age of 29 from a heart attack.

6. Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald was one of the best jazz singers of the 20th century. When she was 16, she joined the Chick Webb Orchestra in 1935. Fitzgerald won 14 Grammy awards and the Best Female Vocalist award five times during her successful career. She had perfect pitch and a clear tone, making her one of the greats to ever walk through the music industry.

7. Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was born in 1915 and became one of the most iconic Jazz voices to grace the genre. She recorded her first record at the age of 18. A few hits of Holiday’s include “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Miss Brown to You,” and “Strange Fruit.” Sadly, Holiday passed away at the age of 44. However, her thriving career has left an imprint on the world that can still be felt today.

8. Doris Day

Doris Day was a famous actress and singer who was born in 1922. While she saw quite a success with acting, her singing talents helped propel her to success. At first, Day’s dream was to become a professional dancer. However, a car accident dashed those dreams. Therefore, she found newfound success with singing and acting. A few of Day’s top hits include “Everybody Loves a Lover,” “Tunnel of Love,” and “Anyway the Wind Blows.”

9. Helen Forrest

Helen Forrest was born in 1917 and knew from an early age that she loved music and singing. She began her music career early as a teen while working for CBS radio and WNEW. Artie Shaw hired Forrest to perform with Billie Holiday after hearing her perform with Bunny Berigan’s orchestra.

Forrest saw immense success with big bands and swing bands and ventured out as a solo artist from there. A few of her hits include “Time Waits for No One,” “Long Ago (and Far Away),” and “It Had to Be You.”

10. Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman was born in 1909 and was named “The King of Swing!” He was a talented singer, composer, and musician who began his career playing in different orchestras. Goodman’s career consisted of both singing and instrumental compositions. A few of his top hits include “Don’t Be That Way,” “Flying Home,” and Dizzy Spells.” Goodman’s career spanned from 1926 to 1986.

11. Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 and knew as a young child that he liked music. While he was at the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys, he began playing the bugle and the clarinet. Afterward, Armstrong joined the brass band at home and earned a bit of money by playing at small events.

From there, Armstrong started playing in Kid Ory Band and then the Creole Jazz Band. A few hits include “What a Wonderful World,” “I Still Get Jealous,” and “So Long Dearie.” Armstrong is considered one of the most influential voices in the Jazz genre.

12. Edith Piaf

Edith Piaf was born in 1915 to a street performer and was abandoned at a young age by her mother. Afterward, Piaf spent her youth singing on the streets of Paris while her dad performed an acrobat street act. When Piaf was 20 years old, Louis Leplee gave her a contract, and her professional career began there. Her music was often described as mellow, sorrowful, and captivating. A few of her hits include “Milord,” “La Foule,” and “Padam… padam.”

13. Erline Harris

Erline Harris was born in 1914 as Erlyn Eloise Johnson. She had a successful career as an American rhythm and blues singer. One of her top hits was “Rock and Roll Blues,” which was her debut single. More hits include “Jump and Shout,” “Never Missed My Baby,” and “Long Tall Papa.”

14. Nat “King” Cole

Born in 1919, Nat “King” Cole began his endeavors in music at the age of five. His mother would give him music lessons. By the time he was 12, Cole began playing the organ at church. Throughout his career, Cole was given 28 gold record awards. A few of his hits include “Ramblin’ Rose,” “That Sunday, That Summer,” and “The Christmas Song.”

Sadly, Nat “King” Cole’s life and career were cut short at 45. He passed away from lung cancer in 1965.

15. Vera Lynn

Vera Lynn was born in 1917 in London, England. Not only was she a singer, but she was also a successful actress. Lynn starred in the Movies, “Lolita,” “Hellboy,” and “Pink Floyd: The Wall.” Her start in the music industry began when she started singing at men’s clubs at the age of seven.

By 14, Lynn joined Madame Harris’s Kracker Kabaret Kids singing troupe. In the 40s, she joined the ENSA, Entertainment National Services. This allowed her to perform for troops. A few of her top hits include “Travellin’ Home,” “You’ll Never Know,” and “Yours.” (Take a look at the best movies to define the Boomer generation.)