1912 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 1912.

Events

W.C. Handy writes "The Memphis Blues". It becomes a great hit, making the start of published blues music.
The singer Bessie Smith starts working as a vaudeville dancer.
Louis Armstrong forms a vocal quartet together with some long time friends in New Orleans.

Births

; January1 – Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist and percussionist.7 – Bob Zurke, American pianist, arranger, and composer.12 – Trummy Young, African-American trombonist.22 – Harry Parry, Welsh clarinetist and bandleader.
; February12 – Paul Bascomb, American tenor saxophonist.
; March1 – Joseph Reinhardt, French guitarist and composer.2 – Red Saunders, American drummer and bandleader.12

* Jiří Traxler, Czech-Canadian pianist, composer, lyricist, and arranger.
* Paul Weston, American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor.

; April2 – Herbert Mills, American singer, Mills Brothers.11 – John Levy, African-American upright bassist.
; May9 – George T. Simon, American writer and drummer.13 – Gil Evans, Canadian pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader.14 – Les Brown, American bandleader.28 – Dave Barbour, American guitarist.
; June15 – Alix Combelle, French tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader.26 – Clarence Profit, American pianist and composer.
; July8 – Johnny Mince, American clarinetist.12 – Will Bradley, American trombonist and bandleader.27 – Asser Fagerström, Finnish pianist, composer, and actor.
; August13 – Nate Kazebier, American trumpeter.26 – Léo Marjane, French singer.
; September7 – Alvin Alcorn, American trumpeter.9 – Jean Omer, Belgian reedist and bandleader.27 – Erhard Bauschke, German reedist and bandleader.30 – Bill Johnson, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and arranger.
; October5 – Ernst Höllerhagen, German reedist.7 – Beverly Peer, American upright bassist.13 – Nellie Lutcher, African-American singer and pianist.19 – Red Richards, American pianist.21 – Don Byas, American tenor saxophonist.27 – Gösta Törner, Swedish jazz trumpeter and bandleader.
; November1 – Franz Jackson, American saxophonist and clarinetist.13 – Ted Donnelly, American trombonist.23

* Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist, percussionist, and bandleader.
* Anselmo Sacasas, Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger.24 – Teddy Wilson, American pianist.

; December5 – Marshall Royal, American clarinetist and alto saxophonist.6 – Paloma Efron, Argentine singer.10 – Irving Fazola, American clarinetist.24 – Anne Lenner, English singer.29 – Thore Ehrling, Swedish trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.