1903 in jazz
This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1903.
Events
- Sidney Bechet borrows his brother's clarinet, and the result is well known.
Births
; January18 – Min Leibrook, American tubist and bassist.; February27 – Mildred Bailey, American singer.
; March8 – John Ouwerx, Belgian pianist and composer.10 – Bix Beiderbecke, American cornetist, pianist, and composer.20 – Einar Aaron Swan, American violinist, clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, arranger, and composer.25 – Frankie Carle, American pianist and bandleader.
; April3 – James "Bubber" Miley, American trumpetist and cornetist.
; May2 – Spiegle Willcox, American trombonist.
; June3 – Josephine Baker, French singer, entertainer, activist, and Resistance agent.12 – Emmett Hardy, American cornetist.28 – Adrian Rollini, American bass saxophonist, pianist, vibraphonist, and multi-instrumentalist.
; July25 – Happy Caldwell, American clarinetist and tenor saxophonist.
; August14 – Jack Gardner, American pianist.15
- * Joe Garland, American saxophonist, composer, and arranger, "In the Mood".
- * Monk Hazel, American drummer.24 – Claude Hopkins, American stride pianist and bandleader.
; October10 – Lee Blair, American banjoist and guitarist.11 – Teddy Weatherford, American pianist and an accomplished stride pianist.15 – Chas Remue, Belgian reedist.16 – Big Joe Williams, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
; December3 – Brad Gowans, American trombonist and reedist.17 – Ray Noble, English bandleader, composer, arranger, radio comedian, and actor.28 – Earl Hines, American pianist and bandleader.29 – Clyde McCoy, American trumpeter.
; Unknown date
- June Cole, American bassist, tubist, and singer.