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

 * January
 * 18 – Min Leibrook, American tubist and bassist (died 1943).


 * February
 * 27 – Mildred Bailey, American singer (died 1951).


 * March
 * 8 – John Ouwerx, Belgian pianist and composer (died 1983).
 * 10 – Bix Beiderbecke, American cornetist, pianist, and composer (died 1931).
 * 20 – Einar Aaron Swan, American violinist, clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, arranger, and composer (died 1940).
 * 25 – Frankie Carle, American pianist and bandleader (died 2001).


 * April
 * 3 – James "Bubber" Miley, American trumpetist and cornetist (died 1932).


 * May
 * 2 – Spiegle Willcox, American trombonist (died 1999).


 * June
 * 3 – Josephine Baker, French singer, entertainer, activist, and Resistance agent (died 1975).
 * 12 – Emmett Hardy, American cornetist (died 1925).
 * 28 – Adrian Rollini, American bass saxophonist, pianist, vibraphonist, and multi-instrumentalist (died 1956).


 * July
 * 25 – Happy Caldwell, American clarinetist and tenor saxophonist (died 1978).


 * August
 * 14 – Jack Gardner, American pianist (died 1957).
 * 15
 * Joe Garland, American saxophonist, composer, and arranger, "In the Mood" (died 1977).
 * Monk Hazel, American drummer (died 1968).
 * 24 – Claude Hopkins, American stride pianist and bandleader (died 1984).


 * September
 * 16 – Joe Venuti, Italian-American violinist (died 1978).


 * October
 * 10 – Lee Blair, American banjoist and guitarist (died 1966).
 * 11 – Teddy Weatherford, American pianist and an accomplished stride pianist (died 1945).
 * 15 – Chas Remue, Belgian reedist (died 1971).
 * 16 – Big Joe Williams, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter (died 1982).


 * December
 * 3 – Brad Gowans, American trombonist and reedist (died 1954).
 * 17 – Ray Noble, English bandleader, composer, arranger, radio comedian, and actor (died 1978).
 * 28 – Earl Hines, American pianist and bandleader (died 1983).
 * 29 – Clyde McCoy, American trumpeter (died 1990).


 * Unknown date
 * June Cole, American bassist, tubist, and singer (died 1960).