1913 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1913.

Events

The word "jazz" first appears in print.
James Reese Europe records ragtime arrangements in New York with the first black ensemble to be recorded.

Births

; January17 – Vido Musso, Italian-American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader.27 – Milton Adolphus, American pianist and composer.
; February5 – Rozelle Claxton, American pianist.22 – Buddy Tate, American saxophonist and clarinetist.
; March1 – Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic.31 – Etta Baker, American guitarist and singer.
; April4

* Gene Ramey, American upright bassist.
* Muddy Waters, American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.25 – Earl Bostic, American alto saxophonist.29 – Jack Bentley, English trombonist, journalist, and scriptwriter.

; May16 – Woody Herman, American clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader.
; June14 – Stanley Black, English bandleader, composer, conductor, arranger and pianist.20 – Alfred Gallodoro, American musician.23 – Helen Humes, American singer.25 – Adele Girard, American harpist.
; July5 – Smiley Lewis, American singer and guitarist.18 – Nat Temple, British big band leader.
; August7 – George Van Eps, American guitarist.13 – Anna Mae Winburn, African-American vocalist and bandleader.23 – Bob Crosby, American singer and bandleader.
; September10 – Cliff Leeman, American drummer.19 – Helen Ward, American singer.20 – John Collins, American guitarist.24 – Herb Jeffries, African-American actor and singer-songwriter.26 – Dorothy Sloop, American pianist.
; October1 – Harry Lookofsky, American violinist.2 – Wally Rose, American pianist.15 – Thore Jederby, Swedish upright bassist, record producer, and radio broadcaster.19 – Vinicius de Moraes, Brazilian singer, poet, lyricist, essayist, and playwright.21

* Cosimo Di Ceglie, Italian guitarist.
* Gus Clark, Belgian pianist.26 – Charlie Barnet, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.27 – Boyd Raeburn, American bandleader and bass saxophonist .

* Singleton Palmer, American bassist, cornetist, tubist, and bandleader.
* Blue Lu Barker, American singer.15 – Gus Johnson, American drummer.19 – Blue Barron, American orchestra leader.

; December7 – Blind John Davis, African-American, blues, jazz and boogie-woogie pianist and singer.10

* Pannonica de Koenigswarter, British-born jazz patron and writer.
* Ray Nance, American trumpeter, violinist and singer.12 – Don Stovall, American alto saxophonist.14 – Ted Buckner, American saxophonist.25 – Candy Candido, American bassist and vocalist.