January
9 – Jimmy Maxwell, American trumpeter (died 2002).

10 – Jerry Wexler, American music journalist and music producer (died 2008).

14 – Billy Butterfield, American band leader, trumpeter, flugelhornist and cornetist (died 1988).

16 – Sandy Block, American bassist (died 1985).

19
Shep Shepherd, American drummer and trombonist (died 2018).

Streamline Ewing, American jazz trombonist (died 2002).

21 – Billy Maxted, American pianist (died 2001).

22 – Pud Brown, American reedist (died 1996).

23 – Fred Beckett, American trombonist (died 1946).

24 – Avery Parrish, American pianist and songwriter (died 1959).

25 – Floyd Smith, American guitarist and record producer (died 1982).

February
21 – Tadd Dameron, American pianist and composer (died 1965).

23 – John Benson Brooks, American pianist, songwriter, arranger, and composer (died 1999).

28 – Max Jones, British jazz author, radio host, and journalist (died 1993).

March
1 – Aimé Barelli, French trumpeter, vocalist, and band leader (died 1995).

14 – John Graas, American French horn player, composer, and arranger (died 1962).

16 – Junior Raglin, American upright bassist (died 1955).

19
Buster Harding, Canadian-American pianist, composer, and arranger (died 1965).

Curley Russell, American upright bassist (died 1986).

23 – Johnny Guarnieri, American virtuoso jazz and stride pianist (died 1985).

27 – Dardanelle Hadley, American singer, vibraphonist, pianist, composer, and arranger (died 1997).

April
3 – Bill Finegan, American bandleader, pianist, arranger, and composer (died 2008).

7 – Mongo Santamaría, Afro-Cuban percussionist (died 2003).

10 – Morty Corb, American upright bassist (died 1996).

12 – Helen Forrest, American singer (died 1999).

21 – Joe Dixon, American reedist (died 1998).

25 – Ella Fitzgerald, American vocalist (died 1996).

27 – Denzil Best, American percussionist and composer (died 1965).

30
Bea Wain, American singer (died 2017).

Frankie Lee Sims, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1970).

May
5 – Dalva de Oliveira, Brazilian singer (internal bleeding) (died 1972).

22 – Charlie Munro, New Zealand-Australian reedist and flautist (died 1985).

25 – Jimmy Hamilton, American clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, and composer (died 1995).

31 – Billie Rogers, American trumpeter and singer (died 2014).

June
7 – Dean Martin, American singer, actor, comedian, and film producer (died 1995).

13 – Si Zentner, American trombonist and big band leader (died 2000).

19 – Dave Lambert, American lyricist and singer (died 1966).

July
18
Henri Salvador, French-Caribbean comedian and singer (died 2008).

Joe Comfort, American bassist (died 1988).

22 – Lou McGarity, American trombonist, violinist and vocalist (died 1971).

August
3
Charlie Shavers, American trumpeter (died 1971).

Les Elgart, American bandleader and trumpeter (died 1995).

7 – Mose Vinson, American pianist and singer (died 2002).

10 – J. C. Heard, American drummer (died 1988).

30 – Lena Horne, African-American singer, dancer, actress, and civil rights activist (died 2010).

September
2
Armando Trovajoli, Italian film composer and pianist (died 2013).

Laurindo Almeida, Brazilian virtuoso guitarist and composer (died 1995).

6 – Johnny Letman, American trumpeter (died 1992).

11 – John Adriano Acea, American pianist (died 1963).

24 – Jimmy Butts, American upright bassist (died 1998).

26 – Nelson Williams, American jazz trumpeter (died 1973).

30 – Buddy Rich, American jazz drummer and bandleader (died 1987).

October
10 – Thelonious Monk, American pianist and composer (died 1982).

16 – Pat Flowers, American pianist and singer (died 2000).

21 – Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter and bandleader (died 1993).

24 – Mike Pedicin, American saxophonist and bandleader (died 2016).

November
7 – Howard Rumsey, American upright bassist (died 2015).

11 – Sonny White, American pianist (died 1971).

18 – Boots Mussulli, Italian-American saxophonist (died 1967).

December
2 – Sylvia Syms (singer), American singer (died 1992).

4 – Russell Jacquet, American trumpeter (died 1990).

18 – Eddie Vinson, American alto saxophonist and blues shouter (died 1988).
January
9 – Jimmy Maxwell, American trumpeter (died 2002).
10 – Jerry Wexler, American music journalist and music producer (died 2008).
14 – Billy Butterfield, American band leader, trumpeter, flugelhornist and cornetist (died 1988).
16 – Sandy Block, American bassist (died 1985).
19
Shep Shepherd, American drummer and trombonist (died 2018).
Streamline Ewing, American jazz trombonist (died 2002).
21 – Billy Maxted, American pianist (died 2001).
22 – Pud Brown, American reedist (died 1996).
23 – Fred Beckett, American trombonist (died 1946).
24 – Avery Parrish, American pianist and songwriter (died 1959).
25 – Floyd Smith, American guitarist and record producer (died 1982).
February
21 – Tadd Dameron, American pianist and composer (died 1965).
23 – John Benson Brooks, American pianist, songwriter, arranger, and composer (died 1999).
28 – Max Jones, British jazz author, radio host, and journalist (died 1993).
March
1 – Aimé Barelli, French trumpeter, vocalist, and band leader (died 1995).
14 – John Graas, American French horn player, composer, and arranger (died 1962).
16 – Junior Raglin, American upright bassist (died 1955).
19
Buster Harding, Canadian-American pianist, composer, and arranger (died 1965).
Curley Russell, American upright bassist (died 1986).
23 – Johnny Guarnieri, American virtuoso jazz and stride pianist (died 1985).
27 – Dardanelle Hadley, American singer, vibraphonist, pianist, composer, and arranger (died 1997).
April
3 – Bill Finegan, American bandleader, pianist, arranger, and composer (died 2008).
7 – Mongo Santamaría, Afro-Cuban percussionist (died 2003).
10 – Morty Corb, American upright bassist (died 1996).
12 – Helen Forrest, American singer (died 1999).
21 – Joe Dixon, American reedist (died 1998).
25 – Ella Fitzgerald, American vocalist (died 1996).
27 – Denzil Best, American percussionist and composer (died 1965).
30
Bea Wain, American singer (died 2017).
Frankie Lee Sims, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1970).
May
5 – Dalva de Oliveira, Brazilian singer (internal bleeding) (died 1972).
22 – Charlie Munro, New Zealand-Australian reedist and flautist (died 1985).
25 – Jimmy Hamilton, American clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, and composer (died 1995).
31 – Billie Rogers, American trumpeter and singer (died 2014).
June
7 – Dean Martin, American singer, actor, comedian, and film producer (died 1995).
13 – Si Zentner, American trombonist and big band leader (died 2000).
19 – Dave Lambert, American lyricist and singer (died 1966).
July
18
Henri Salvador, French-Caribbean comedian and singer (died 2008).
Joe Comfort, American bassist (died 1988).
22 – Lou McGarity, American trombonist, violinist and vocalist (died 1971).
August
3
Charlie Shavers, American trumpeter (died 1971).
Les Elgart, American bandleader and trumpeter (died 1995).
7 – Mose Vinson, American pianist and singer (died 2002).
10 – J. C. Heard, American drummer (died 1988).
30 – Lena Horne, African-American singer, dancer, actress, and civil rights activist (died 2010).
September
2
Armando Trovajoli, Italian film composer and pianist (died 2013).
Laurindo Almeida, Brazilian virtuoso guitarist and composer (died 1995).
6 – Johnny Letman, American trumpeter (died 1992).
11 – John Adriano Acea, American pianist (died 1963).
24 – Jimmy Butts, American upright bassist (died 1998).
26 – Nelson Williams, American jazz trumpeter (died 1973).
30 – Buddy Rich, American jazz drummer and bandleader (died 1987).
October
10 – Thelonious Monk, American pianist and composer (died 1982).
16 – Pat Flowers, American pianist and singer (died 2000).
21 – Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter and bandleader (died 1993).
24 – Mike Pedicin, American saxophonist and bandleader (died 2016).
November
7 – Howard Rumsey, American upright bassist (died 2015).
11 – Sonny White, American pianist (died 1971).
18 – Boots Mussulli, Italian-American saxophonist (died 1967).
December
2 – Sylvia Syms (singer), American singer (died 1992).
4 – Russell Jacquet, American trumpeter (died 1990).
18 – Eddie Vinson, American alto saxophonist and blues shouter (died 1988).

1917 in jazz