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1972 in music

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ike & Tina Turner in 1972

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1972.

Specific locations

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Specific genres

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Events

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Bands formed

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Bands disbanded

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Albums released

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January

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Day Album Artist Notes
3 The Right Combination / Burning the Midnight OilPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton-
7 Jamming with Edward!The Rolling Stones, Nicky Hopkins, Ry Cooder-
10 I've Found Someone of My OwnThe Free Movement-
16 Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster CultDebut
17 Lead Me OnConway Twitty and Loretta Lynn-
Linda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt-
20 GarciaJerry Garcia-
24 Cass ElliotCass Elliot-
Got to Be ThereMichael Jackson-
Paul SimonPaul Simon-
Young, Gifted and BlackAretha Franklin-
31 Let's Stay TogetherAl Green-
- 1+1Grin-
All the Good TimesNitty Gritty Dirt Band-
AmericaAmericaDebut
Baby I'm-a Want YouBread-
FlashFlash-
GreenhouseLeo Kottke-
HalfnelsonSparksas Halfnelson
Hendrix in the WestJimi HendrixLive 1969–70
I'm the OneAnnette Peacock-
Into the Purple ValleyRy Cooder-
Jackson BrowneJackson Browne-
Keep the FaithBlack Oak Arkansas-
Kraftwerk 2Kraftwerk-
LooseCrazy Horse-
MaloMalo-
Phase IIIThe Osmonds-
RockpileDave Edmunds-
Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage HeavenDaddy CoolAustralia
Solid RockThe Temptations-
The Spotlight KidCaptain Beefheart-
The UnnamablesMagmaas Univeria Zekt
Weird Scenes Inside the Gold MineThe DoorsCompilation

February

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Something/Anything?Todd Rundgren-
8 Root DownJimmy Smith-
9 Lonesome CrowScorpions-
12 Eat a PeachThe Allman Brothers Band-
15 HarvestNeil Young-
18 Manfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth Band-
18 Hellbound TrainSavoy Brown-
20 Elvis NowElvis Presley-
25 Pink MoonNick Drake-
- The World of Genius Hans Moving Gelatine Plates
All I Ever Need Is YouSonny & Cher-
Blue RiverEric Andersen-
Border LordKris Kristofferson-
BurgersHot Tuna-
CherishDavid Cassidy-
DinnertimeAlex Taylor-
Don QuixoteGordon Lightfoot-
Fanny HillFanny-
Forgotten Songs and Unsung HeroesJohn Kay-
Good Hearted WomanWaylon Jennings-
Grave New WorldStrawbs-
Greatest HitsBlood, Sweat & TearsCompilation
HeadkeeperDave Mason-
Oh How We DancedJim Capaldi-
PainOhio Players-
Rockin'The Guess Who-
Silver PistolBrinsley Schwarz-
Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1Michael Nesmith-

March

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Day Album Artist Notes
3 Black MagicMartha Reeves and the Vandellas-
GlitterGary Glitter-
Thick as a BrickJethro Tull-
Music of My MindStevie Wonder-
6 Bare TreesFleetwood Mac-
10 Shades of a Blue OrphanageThin Lizzy-
Touch Your WomanDolly Parton-
21 Love Theme from "The Godfather"Andy Williams-
24 Slade Alive!SladeLive
Coming TogetherNew Birth-
30 Machine HeadDeep Purple-
- Alvin Lee and CompanyTen Years AfterCompilation
The Ballad of CalicoKenny Rogers and the First Edition-
Bobby WhitlockBobby WhitlockSolo Debut
Clube da EsquinaMilton Nascimento and Lo Borges-
Cold Blue ExcursionRay Dorset-
D&B TogetherDelaney and Bonnie-
Drowning in the Sea of LoveJoe Simon
EnneaChase-
FeedbackSpirit-
Heads & TalesHarry ChapinDebut
Just Another Band from L.A.Frank Zappa and The MothersLive
The Killer Rocks OnJerry Lee Lewis-
The Kink KroniklesThe KinksUS; Compilation
Live Cream Volume IICreamLive 1968
PowerglideNew Riders of the Purple Sage-
Pure Prairie LeaguePure Prairie League-
Recall the Beginning...A Journey from EdenSteve Miller Band-
RoadworkEdgar Winter's White Trash-
Shopping BagThe Partridge Family-
Smokin'Humble Pie-
Space and First TakesLee Michaels-
Stories We Could TellThe Everly Brothers-
You Are the Music...We're Just the BandTrapeze-

April

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Day Album Artist Notes
4 Rio Grande MudZZ Top-
5 Graham Nash David CrosbyCrosby & Nash-
10 RaspberriesRaspberries-
11 Mardi GrasCreedence Clearwater Revival-
12 ManassasStephen Stills and Manassas-
14 Three FriendsGentle GiantUK
20 Dr. John's GumboDr. John-
24 Number 1 RecordBig Star-
28 ArgusWishbone Ash-
- Matching Mole Matching Mole
AnnieAnne Murray-
Arthur AlexanderArthur Alexander-
Bolan BoogieT. RexCompilation
Comin' ThruQuicksilver Messenger Service-
He Touched MeElvis Presley-
Henry the Human FlyRichard Thompson-
Hobo's LullabyArlo Guthrie-
The Island of RealThe Rascals-
Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and RabbitKossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit-
A Lonely ManThe Chi-Lites-
Merrimack CountyTom Rush-
MoonshotBuffy Sainte-Marie-
Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever OnMountainLive
On RecordApril Wine-
PhantasmagoriaCurved Air-
A Possible Projection of the Future / Childhood's EndAl Kooper-
Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony OrchestraProcol HarumLive
Roberta Flack & Donny HathawayRoberta Flack and Donny Hathaway-
A Thing Called LoveJohnny Cash-
You Don't Mess Around with JimJim Croce-

May

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Jeff Beck GroupJeff BeckUS
Still BillBill Withers-
2 Brother, Brother, BrotherThe Isley Brothers-
11 Cabbage AlleyThe Meters-
15 Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"The Beach Boys-
17 Lookin' Through the WindowsThe Jackson 5-
19 Demons and WizardsUriah Heep-
Honky ChâteauElton John-
Waterloo LilyCaravan-
22 America Eats Its YoungFunkadelic-
26 Exile on Main St.The Rolling Stones-
I Sing the Body ElectricWeather Report-
Wind of ChangePeter Frampton-
30 Live at Max's Kansas CityThe Velvet UndergroundLive 1970
UnderstandingBobby Womack-
- Live in EuropeRory Gallagher[4]
Lou ReedLou ReedSolo debut
AceBob Weir-
Bloodrock LiveBloodrockLive
ChameleonThe Four Seasons-
Colors of the DayJudy CollinsCompilation
Come from the ShadowsJoan Baez-
Floy JoyThe Supremes-
In ConcertJanis JoplinLive 1968 and 1970
Last of the Red Hot BurritosThe Flying Burrito BrothersLive
People ... Hold OnEddie Kendricks-
Roy Orbison SingsRoy Orbison-
Sail AwayRandy Newman-
Sailin' ShoesLittle Feat-
Skies of AmericaOrnette Coleman-
Tell Me This Is a DreamThe Delfonics-

June

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Amazing GraceAretha FranklinLive
EaglesEagles-
2 Obscured by CloudsPink Floyd-
Space ShantyKhan-
5 The Osmonds LiveThe OsmondsLive
6 Looking GlassLooking Glass-
9 EarthboundKing CrimsonLive
There It IsJames Brown-
10 Moon ShadowLaBelle-
12 Some Time in New York CityJohn Lennon and Yoko OnoUS
13 School's OutAlice Cooper-
A Song for YouCarpenters-
14 Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest HitsSimon & GarfunkelCompilation
15 Album IIILoudon Wainwright III-
16 Roxy MusicRoxy Music-
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsDavid Bowie-
TogetherGolden Earring-
20 SyreetaSyreeta-
23 TrilogyEmerson, Lake & Palmer-
Living in the PastJethro TullCompilation
26 CarneyLeon Russell-
- As Recorded at Madison Square GardenElvis PresleyLive
Dead Forever... Buffalo
666Aphrodite's Child-
Blues RootsIke Turner-
Free at LastFree-
If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home?Black Oak Arkansas-
Let Me Tell You About a SongMerle Haggard-

July

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 All the King's HorsesGrover Washington Jr.-
4 American GothicDavid Ackles-
5 Waka/JawakaFrank Zappa-
7 The Harder They ComeJimmy CliffSoundtrack
10 Chicago VChicago-
Son of SchmilssonHarry Nilsson-
11 Super FlyCurtis MayfieldSoundtrack
20 Long John SilverJefferson Airplane-
Straight ShooterJames Gang-
21 I Can See Clearly NowJohnny Nash-
Never a Dull MomentRod Stewart-
The SliderT. Rex-
27 All DirectionsThe Temptations-
Flying High TogetherSmokey Robinson & The Miracles-
Seven Separate FoolsThree Dog Night-
Toulouse StreetThe Doobie Brothers-
The Academy in PerilJohn Cale-
Captain BeyondCaptain Beyond-
Feel GoodIke & Tina Turner-
ExercisesNazareth-
FoghatFoghat-
Music Is the MessageKool & the Gang-
Saint Dominic's PreviewVan Morrison-
MoodsNeil Diamond-
Someplace Else NowLesley Gore-
SparksSparksDebut under final name

August

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Back StabbersThe O'Jays-
2 Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72Ella FitzgeraldLive
4 BenMichael Jackson-
7 America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and SongJohnny Cash-
15 Full CircleThe Doors-
Rock of AgesThe BandLive
25 Everybody's in Show-BizThe KinksDouble LP; one studio, one live
Harold Melvin & the Blue NotesHarold Melvin & the Blue Notes-
28 'Ot 'n' SweatyCactus-
31 StyxStyxDebut
- ElfElfDebut
And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'Michael Nesmith-
Free WillGil Scott-Heron-
IrrlichtKlaus Schulze-
Live at the ParamountThe Guess WhoLive
Roy BuchananRoy Buchanan-
Smokin' O.P.'sBob Seger-
ZeitTangerine Dream-

September

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Day Album Artist Notes
8 Close to the EdgeYes[5]
All the Young DudesMott the Hoople-
9 Summer BreezeSeals and Crofts-
10 Liza with a ZLiza MinnelliSoundtrack
11 Together AlwaysPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton-
15 FoxtrotGenesis-
Below the SaltSteeleye Span-
PhoenixGrand Funk Railroad-
Rocky Mountain HighJohn Denver-
22 Vol. 4Black Sabbath-
26 Live Full HouseThe J. Geils BandLive
27 Catch Bull at FourCat Stevens-
29 Glorified MagnifiedManfred Mann's Earth Band-
- At Home with Their Greatest HitsThe Partridge FamilyCompilation
BandstandFamily-
Bright PhoebusLal and Mike Waterson-
Give It UpBonnie Raitt-
Ladies Love OutlawsWaylon Jennings-
The Late Great Townes Van ZandtTownes Van Zandt-
My TimeBoz Scaggs-
Nervous on the RoadBrinsley Schwarz-
Rolling ThunderMickey Hart-
SandySandy Denny-
Solomon's SealPentangle-
SquawkBudgie-
Tequila SunriseDavid Clayton-Thomas-

October

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Day Album Artist Notes
2 My Favorite Songwriter: Porter WagonerDolly Parton-
4 Willie RemembersRare Earth-
9 Heavy CreamCreamCompilation
11 CaravanseraiSantana-
On the CornerMiles Davis-
23 I'm Still in Love with YouAl Green-
25 A Good Feelin' to KnowPoco-
27 Talking BookStevie Wonder-
- Matching Mole's Little Red Record Matching Mole
War HeroesJimi Hendrix-
At Crooked LakeCrazy Horse-
Back to FrontGilbert O'Sullivan-
BarnstormJoe WalshDebut
Music Is My LifeBilly Preston-
Crazy HorsesThe Osmonds-
Bustin' OutPure Prairie League-
Clear SpotCaptain Beefheart-
ExpectationsKeith Jarrett-
Glen Travis CampbellGlen Campbell-
Greetings from L.A.Tim Buckley-
Guitar ManBread-
Lady Sings the BluesDiana RossSoundtrack
The Lady's Not for SaleRita Coolidge-
Last Days and TimeEarth, Wind & Fire-
Live Concert at the ForumBarbra StreisandLive
Loggins and MessinaLoggins and Messina-
The London Chuck Berry SessionsChuck Berry-
Made in EnglandAtomic Rooster-
The MoviegoerScott Walker-
New BloodBlood, Sweat & Tears-
Passin' ThruJames Gang-
Rhymes & ReasonsCarole King-
Rock & Roll Music to the WorldTen Years After-
Round 2The Stylistics-
Sniper and Other Love SongsHarry Chapin-
Stealers WheelStealers Wheel-
To Whom It May ConcernBee Gees-
Who Came FirstPete Townshend-
A Woofer in Tweeter's ClothingSparksUS

November

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Burning Love and Hits from His Movies, Volume 2Elvis PresleyCompilation
One Man DogJames Taylor-
3 Whistle RymesJohn Entwistle-
5 Europe '72Grateful DeadLive
7 The Divine Miss MBette Midler-
Journey Through the PastNeil YoungSoundtrack
8 TransformerLou Reed-
10 Baby James HarvestBarclay James Harvest-
The Best of The Byrds: Greatest Hits, Volume IIThe ByrdsCompilation
See All Her FacesDusty Springfield-
13 FreshRaspberries-
15 HomecomingAmerica-
17 Seventh SojournThe Moody Blues-
20 Get on the Good FootJames Brown-
24 Doremi Fasol LatidoHawkwind-
27 Garden PartyRicky Nelson-
- Slayed?Slade-
Boomer's StoryRy Cooder-
Can't Buy a ThrillSteely Dan-
Don McLeanDon McLean-
Ege BamyasiCan-
Focus 3Focus-
RomanyThe Hollies-
EnnismoreColin Blunstone-
For the RosesJoni Mitchell-
Free to Be... You and MeMarlo Thomas & Friends-
Good TimesKool & the Gang-
International SuperstarJohnny CashCompilation
Jesus Was a CapricornKris Kristofferson-
Joe CockerJoe Cocker-
The Johnny Cash Family ChristmasJohnny CashChristmas
Killer JoeLittle Jimmy Osmond-
Life Goes OnPaul Williams-
The Magician's BirthdayUriah Heep-
No SecretsCarly Simon-
Not till TomorrowRalph McTell-
Old Dan's RecordsGordon Lightfoot-
PassageBloodrock-
The Partridge Family NotebookThe Partridge Family-
Smokestack LightningMike Harrison-
The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy WebbThe Supremes-
They Only Come Out at NightEdgar Winter Group-
Whatever's for UsJoan Armatrading-
Why DontchaWest, Bruce and Laing-
The World Is a GhettoWar-

December

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 OctopusGentle GiantUK
Separate WaysElvis PresleyCompilation
4 ReallyJJ Cale-
8 Trouble ManMarvin GayeSoundtrack
9 Hot August NightNeil DiamondLive
11 More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies)The Rolling StonesCompilation
15 PiledriverStatus Quo-
22 Made in JapanDeep PurpleLive
- Across 110th StreetBobby Womack and J.J. JohnsonSoundtrack
Azteca Azteca
The Grand WazooFrank Zappa-
Gypsy CowboyNew Riders of the Purple Sage-
It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)Merle Haggard-
Lady LakeGnidrolog-
PleasureOhio Players-
R.E.O./T.W.O.REO Speedwagon-
The Sweet's Biggest HitsSweetCompilation
Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano?Jerry Lee Lewis-

Release date unknown

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Biggest hit singles

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The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1972.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1Don McLean"American Pie"1972United StatesUS Billboard 1 for 19 weeks, Canada RPM 1 for 5 weeks, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks, Australia 1 for 5 weeks, UK 2 for 16 weeks
2Harry Nilsson"Without You"1972United StatesUK 1 for 20 weeks, Australia 1 for 5 weeks, US Billboard 1 for 19 weeks, New Zealand 1 for 2 weeks
3Hot Butter"Popcorn"1972United StatesHolland 1 for 15 weeks, France 1 for 5 weeks, Switzerland 1 for 17 weeks, Norway 1 for 20 weeks, Germany 1 for 5 months, UK 5 for 19 weeks, US Billboard 9 for 18 weeks
4Neil Young"Heart of Gold"1972CanadaUS Billboard 1 for 14 weeks, Canada 1 for 12 weeks, France 2 for 8 weeks, Norway 4 for 11 weeks, Germany 4 for 4 months,
5The Moody Blues"Nights in White Satin"1972United StatesUS Billboard 2 for 18 weeks, Canada 2 for 12 weeks, France 1 for 9 weeks, Holland 2 for 14 weeks,

Top 40 Chart hit singles

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Alice Cooper in 1972
The Carpenters in 1972
Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"10538 Overture"Electric Light OrchestraJune 1972n/a99 (United Kingdom)24 (Netherlands [Dutch Top 40])
"A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done"Sonny & CherFebruary 19728n/a3 (Canada)See chart entry performance
"A Horse with No Name"AmericaJanuary 1972131 (Canada, Finland, United States)See chart performance entry
"Ain't Understanding Mellow"Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee EagerJanuary 197021n/a21 (United States)3 (U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles)
"All the Young Dudes"Mott the HoopleJuly 19723733 (United Kingdom)4 (Ireland) - 13 (New Zealand) - 31 (Canada) - 32 (U.S. Record World) - 34 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
"Alone Again (Naturally)"Gilbert O'SullivanFebruary 1972131 (Canada, France, United States)See chart performance entry
"Amazing Grace"Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon GuardsApril 1972n/a11 (Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom)n/a
"America"Simon & GarfunkelJuly 1972972525 (United Kingdom)n/a
"American Pie"Don McLeanJanuary 1972121 (Australia, Canada, New Zealand)See chart performance entry [1971 single release overlapped into 1972]
"Anticipation"Carly SimonJanuary 197213n/a9 (Canada)3 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 10 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 64 (Australia)
"Baby Blue"BadfingerMarch 197214n/a3 (Malaysia)7 (Canada) - 9 (New Zealand, U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 12 (U.S. Record World Top 100) - 14 (Sweden) - 16 (Australia) - 18 (South Africa) - 30 (West Germany)

Other Chart hit singles

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Notable singles

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Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Starman"David BowieApril 1972See chart performance entry

Other Notable singles

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Other notable songs (world)

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Classical music

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Opera

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Jazz

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Musical theater

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Musical films

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Musical television productions

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Births

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Deaths

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Awards

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Grammy Awards

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Eurovision Song Contest

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References

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  1. Woodmansey, Mick (2016). Spider from Mars: My Life with Bowie. London: Pan Macmillan. p. 300. ISBN 978-0-283-07274-1.
  2. "1971 Grammy Award Winners". Grammy.com. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  3. "Edinburgh 1972 – Scoreboard". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. "Live! In Europe". Rorygallagher.com. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  5. "Close To The Edge (1972)". Forgotten-yesterdays.com. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  6. Osborne, Jerry (2003). Movie/TV soundtracks & original cast recordings price & reference guide. Port Townsend, WA: Osborne Enterprises. p. 1982. ISBN 9780932117373.
  7. Jha, Subhash (2006). The essential guide to Bollywood. New Delhi: Lustre Press Roli Books. p. 51. ISBN 9788174363787.
  8. "長沼英樹 (Hideki Naganuma)". Genius. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  9. Enrique Iturriaga (2001). "González Gamarra, Francisco". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.45211.