- Jan 3 Paul Charles Rene Landormy, French musicologist, music critic, and composer; born in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France (d. 1943)
- Jan 23 Felice Boghen, Italian composer, born in Florence, Italy (d. 1945)
- Jan 27 Will Marion Cook, American composer, violinist and choral director (In Dahomey), born in Washington D.C. (d. 1944)
- Jan 29 Andrey Scherbachov, Russian composer and pianist, born in St Petersburg, Russia (d. 1922)
- Feb 10 Vasily Kalafati, Russian composer (Cygany), born in Yevpatoria, Crimea (d. 1942)
- Mar 3 Henry Wood, British conductor associated with London's "Proms" concerts, vocal teacher (Gentle Art of Singing), and composer (Fantasia on British Sea Songs), born in London, England (d. 1944)
- Apr 5 Albert Roussel, French composer (Rapsodie Flamande), born in Tourcoing, France (d. 1937)
- Apr 25 Karl Prohaska, Austrian composer, born in Mödling, Austria (d. 1927)
- Apr 27 (William) Victor Harris, American organist, composer, conductor (St. Cecilia Society, 1902-36), vocal coach, and educator, born in New York (d. 1943)
- May 5 Hans Pfitzner, German composer (Palestrina), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1949)
- May 11 Francisco Lacerda, Portuguese composer, conductor, and musicologist, born in Ribeira Seca, Portugal (d. 1934)
- Jun 6 Siegfried Wagner, German opera composer and conductor, born in Tribschen, Lucerne, Switzerland (d. 1930)
- Jun 13 Ede Poldini, Hungarian composer (La poupée valsante; The Vagabond and the Princess), born in Pest, Hungary (d. 1957)
- Aug 14 Armas Järnefelt, Finnish conductor and composer (Berceuse), born in Vyborg, Russian Empire (d. 1958)
- Sep 6 Walford Davies, English composer, born in Oswestry, Shropshire, England (d. 1941)
- Sep 10 Caro Roma [Carrie Northey], American composer and singer, born in California (d. 1937)
- Sep 20 George Robey, English musical theatre actor and comedian, born in South London, England (d. 1954)
- Sep 21 Henryk Melcer-Szczawiński, Polish pianist, composer, and conductor, born in Marcelin, Poland (d. 1928)
- Oct 8 Komitas [Soghomon Soghomonian], Armenian priest, composer (Patarag), and musicologist, born in Kütahya, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) (d. 1935) [O.S. birth 09-26]
- Oct 9 Harry Lawrence Freeman, African-American composer, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1954)
- Oct 11 Frederic Norton, English composer (Chu Chin Chow), born in Broughton-in-Salford (d. 1946)
- Oct 23 Jacobus H "Koos" Speenhoff, Dutch cabaret singer, born in Kralingen, Holland (d. 1945)
- Oct 26 August Halm, German composer, born in Vellberg, Germany (d. 1929)
- Dec 16 Alfred Hill, Australian-New Zealand composer and conductor (Hinemoa), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 1960)
- Dec 17 Nikolai Ivanovich Kazanli, Russian composer, born in Tiraspol, Russian Empire (now Moldova) (d. 1916)
- Dec 23 Hugh Allen, British organist, conductor (Bach Choir; Leeds Festival), and educator (Oxford, 1918-46-; Royal College of Music, 1918-37), born in Reading, Berkshire, England (d. 1946)
- Dec 26 Harry Redman, American composer, writer, and artist, born in Illinois (d. 1958)
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers