1912 in jazz

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

Events

 * W.C. Handy wrote "The Memphis Blues", and it became a great hit, making the publishing start of the Blues.
 * 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

 * January
 * 1 – Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist and percussionist (died 1986).
 * 7 – Bob Zurke, American pianist, arranger, and composer (died 1944).
 * 12 – Trummy Young, African-American trombonist (died 1984).
 * 22 – Harry Parry, Welsh clarinetist and bandleader (died 1956).


 * February
 * 12 – Paul Bascomb, American tenor saxophonist (died 1986).


 * March
 * 1 – Joseph Reinhardt, French guitarist and composer (died 1982).
 * 2 – Red Saunders, American drummer and bandleader (died 1981).
 * 12
 * Jiří Traxler, Czech-Canadian pianist, composer, lyricist, and arranger (died 2011).
 * Paul Weston, American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor (died 1996).


 * April
 * 2 – Herbert Mills, American singer, Mills Brothers (died 1989).
 * 11 – John Levy, African-American upright bassist (died 2012).


 * May
 * 9 – George T. Simon, American writer and drummer (died 2001).
 * 13 – Gil Evans, Canadian pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader (died 1988).
 * 14 – Les Brown, American bandleader (died 2001).
 * 28 – Dave Barbour, American guitarist (died 1965).


 * June
 * 15 – Alix Combelle, French tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader (died 1978).
 * 26 – Clarence Profit, American pianist and composer (died 1944).


 * July
 * 8 – Johnny Mince, American clarinetist (died 1997).
 * 12 – Will Bradley, American trombonist and bandleader (died 1989).
 * 27 – Asser Fagerström, Finnish pianist, composer, and actor (died 1990).


 * August
 * 13 – Nate Kazebier, American trumpeter (died 1969).
 * 26 – Léo Marjane, French singer (died 2016).


 * September
 * 7 – Alvin Alcorn, American trumpeter (died 2003).
 * 9 – Jean Omer, Belgian reedist and bandleader (died 1994).
 * 27 – Erhard Bauschke, German reedist and bandleader (died 1945).
 * 30 – Bill Johnson, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and arranger (died 1960).


 * October
 * 5 – Ernst Höllerhagen, German reedist (died 1956).
 * 7 – Beverly Peer, American upright bassist (died 1997).
 * 13 – Nellie Lutcher, African-American singer and pianist (died 2007).
 * 19 – Red Richards, American pianist (died 1998).
 * 21 – Don Byas, American tenor saxophonist (died 1972).
 * 27 – Gösta Törner, Swedish jazz trumpeter and bandleader (died 1982).


 * November
 * 1 – Franz Jackson, American saxophonist and clarinetist (died 2008).
 * 13 – Ted Donnelly, American trombonist (died 1958).
 * 23
 * Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist, percussionist, and bandleader (died 1986).
 * Anselmo Sacasas, Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger (died 1998).
 * 24 – Teddy Wilson, American pianist (died 1986).


 * December
 * 5 – Marshall Royal, American clarinetist and alto saxophonist (died 1995).
 * 6 – Paloma Efron, Argentine singer (died 1977).
 * 10 – Irving Fazola, American clarinetist (died 1949).
 * 24 – Anne Lenner, English singer (died 1997).
 * 29 – Thore Ehrling, Swedish trumpeter, composer, and bandleader (died 1994).