- Jan 3 Preston Jackson [James Preston McDonald], American jazz trombonist (Preservation Hall Jazz Band), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1983)
- Jan 5 Pierre Palla, Dutch pianist & organist, born in Venlo, Netherlands (d. 1968)
- Jan 6 Mark Brunswick, American composer, born in NYC, New York (d. 1971)
- Jan 8 Gret Palucca, German dancer and choreographer (Silent Song), born in Munich, Germany (d. 1993)
- Jan 9 Rudolf Bing, Austrian-born opera impresario (NY Metropolitan Opera manager, 1950-72), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1997)
- Jan 11 Maurice Duruflé, French organist (St. Etienne-du-Mond, 1929-75), composer (Requiem, Op. 9), and teacher (Paris Conservatory, 1943-70), born in Louviers (d. 1986)
- Jan 13 Louis "Putney" Dandridge American jazz pianist and singer (Heatin' Up Harlem), born in Richmond, Virginia (d. 1946)
- Jan 16 Evelyn Danzig [Levine], American songwriter ("Scarlet Ribbons"), born in Waco, Texas (d. 1996)
- Jan 23 Benny Waters, American jazz saxophonist & clarinetist, born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 1998)
- Feb 1 Carlo Borbolla, Cuban pianist, organist, and composer, born in Manzanillo, Cuba (d. 1990)
Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
Feb 1 American poet (Weary Blues), playwright (Mulatto), and librettist (Troubled Island), born in Joplin, Missouri
- Feb 5 Bronislaw Kaper, Polish-American Academy Award-winning film composer (Green Dolphin Street; Lili; The Brothers Karamazov), born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1983)
- Feb 6 George Brunies, American musician, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1974)
- Feb 9 Blanche Calloway, American jazz vocalist, bandleader (Twelve Clouds of Joy), civil rights activist, and broadcaster, born in Rochester, New York (d. 1978)
- Feb 10 Jack Pettis, American jazz saxophonist and bandleader, born in Ehrmandale, Indiana (d. 1963)
- Feb 12 William D. Revelli, American bandleader, born in Spring Gulch, Colorado (d. 1994)
- Feb 13 Valentin Ruiz Aznar, Spanish choirmaster, composer, and priest, born in Borja, Zaragoza, Spain (d. 1972)
- Feb 14 Fred Scott, American vocalist & actor (Melody of the Plains, Vincent Lopez), born in Fresno, California (d. 1991)
- Feb 18 Walter Herbert, German-born conductor and impresario (d. 1975)
- Feb 19 John Bubbles, American rhythm tap dancer (No Maps on My Taps), born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 1986)
- Feb 21 Bob Scholte, Dutch vocalist, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1983)
- Feb 26 Rudolf Moralt, German conductor (Vienna State Opera, 1940-58)n born in Munich, Germany (d. 1958)
- Mar 21 Edward "Son" House, American delta blues singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Walking Blues"; "Preachin' The Blues"), born in Lyons, Mississippi (d. 1988)
- Mar 22 Ellin Berlin (née MacKay), American heiress, writer (Lace Curtain), and second wife of songwriter Irving Berlin, born in Roslyn, New York (d. 1988)
- Mar 25 Sten Broman, Swedish composer and actor, born in Uppsala, Uppsala län (d. 1983)
- Mar 28 Jaromír Vejvoda, Czech composer (Beer Barrel Polka), born in Zbraslav, Czech Republic (d. 1988)
- Mar 28 Paul Godwin, Polish-Dutch violinist, born in Sosnowitz, Russian Empire (d. 1982)
- Mar 29 William Walton, British composer (Troilus & Cressida; Belhazzar's Feast), born in Oldham, Lancashire, England (d. 1983)
- Mar 30 Ted Heath, British jazz trombonist, composer, and big band bandleader, born in Wandsworth, London, England (d. 1969)
- Apr 2 Danilo Svara, Slovenian composer, born in San Giuseppe, Trieste, Italy (d. 1981)
- Apr 3 Henri Garat, French actor and singer (Les dieux s'amusent; Congress Dances), born in Paris, France (d. 1959)
- Apr 3 Siguringi Eirikur Hjorleifsson, Icelandic composer, born in Bergskot, Grindavík, Iceland (d. 1975)
- Apr 6 James "Rosy" McHargue, American jazz clarinetist, and vocalist (Ted Weems Orchestra; The Wolverines), born in Danville, Illinois (d. 1999)
- Apr 8 Elmer Feldcamp, American big band baritone vocalist, saxophone, and clarinet player (Freddy Martin Orchestra), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1938)
- Apr 8 Josef Krips, Austrian conductor (London Symphony, 1950-54; Buffalo Philharmonic, 1954-63; San Francisco Symphony, 1964-70), born in Vienna, Austria (d. !974)
- Apr 9 František Suchý, Czech oboist and composer (Moravian Wind Quintet), born in Libina, Bohemia, Austro-Hungarian Empire (d. 1977)
- Apr 13 Del Porter, American jazz singer (Foursome - "Walkin' My Baby Back Home"; Spike Jones and His City Slickers - "Der Fuehrer's Face"), born in Newberg, Oregon (d. 1977)
- Apr 17 Anton Beuving, Dutch lyricist (Ketelbinkie), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1977)
- Apr 20 Veselin Stoyanov, Bulgarian composer and pedagogue, born in Shumen, Bulgaria (d. 1969)
- Apr 24 Reuben "Rube" Bloom, American pianist, arranger, bandleader (The Bayou Boys), songwriter ("Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)"; "Give Me the Simple Life"), born in New York City (d. 1976)
- Apr 29 Theodore Chanler, American composer, born in Newport, Rhode Island (d. 1961)
- Apr 30 André-François Marescotti, Swiss organist and composer, born in Carouge, Switzerland (d. 1995)
- Apr 30 Rudolf Wittelsbach, Swiss pianist and composer, born in Constantinople, Turkey (d. 1972)
- May 3 Hugo Friedhofer, American composer, born in San Francisco, California (d. 1981)
- May 4 Cvjetko Rihtman, Bosnian composer, born in Rijeka, Croatia (d. 1989)
- May 16 Jan Kiepura, Polish vocalist and actor (Her Wonderful Lie; Give Us This Night), born in Sosnowiec, Poland (d. 1966)
- May 17 John Vincent, American composer, born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1977)
- May 18 Meredith Willson, American composer for stage (The Music Man), and screen (The Great Dictator; Little Foxes), born in Mason City, Iowa (d. 1984)
- May 23 Mark Lothar, German composer (The Story of the Lazy Bear), born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1985)
- May 25 Helvi Leiviskä, Finnish composer, born in Helsinki, Finland (d. 1982)
- May 27 Celius Dougherty, American pianist and composer, born in Glenwood, Minnesota (d. 1986)
- May 31 Billy Mayerl, British pianist, music hall songwriter, theatre composer (Marigold), music publisher, and teacher (School of Syncopation), born in London (d. 1959)
- May 31 Henk Schaer [Hendricus Schaareman], Dutch actor (Majoor Barbara; Lijmen), born in Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands (d. 1982)
- May 31 Ralph Wood, British composer, born in London, England (d. 1957)
- Jun 6 Avraham Daus, Israeli composer, born in Berlin (d. 1974)
- Jun 6 Jimmie Lunceford, American swing jazz saxophonist and bandleader (Rhythm Is Our Business; For Dancers Only), born in Fulton, Mississippi (d. 1947) [1] [2]
- Jun 9 Nehemiah "Skip" James, American Delta blues singer, guitarist and piano player ("I'm So Glad"), born in Bentonia, Mississippi (d. 1969)
- Jun 10 Gaston Brenta, Belgian composer, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1969)
- Jun 11 Vissarion Yakovlevich Shebalin, Soviet composer, born in Omsk, Russia (d. 1963)
- Jun 17 Sammy Fain, American popular music composer, born in NYC, New York (d. 1989)
- Jun 19 Guy Lombardo, Canadian-American orchestra leader (Auld Lang Syne), born in London, Ontario, (d. 1977)
- Jun 21 Wilhelm Maler, German composer, born in Heidelberg, Germany (d. 1976)
- Jun 26 Antonia Brico, Dutch-American conductor and pianist, born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1989)
- Jun 26 Hugues Cuénod, Swiss tenor and musical educator, born in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, Switzerland (d. 2010)
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
Jun 28 American composer, mostly for theater (Rodgers & Hart - "Pal Joey"; "Babes In Arms"; Rodgers & Hammerstein - "Oklahoma!"; "South Pacific"; "The King And I"; "The Sound Of Music") and 1st EGOT (Emmy; Grammy; Oscar; and Tony awards winner), born in NYC, New York
George Murphy (1902-1992)
Jul 4 American politician (US Senator, California), actor and dancer (MGM Parade), born in New Haven, Connecticut
- Jul 7 James McCartney, father of Beatle Paul McCartney, born in Everton, Liverpool, England (d. 1976)
- Jul 18 (Theodore Childress) "Chill" Wills, American pop baritone singer (Avalon Boys), and actor (The Alamo; Rounders), born in Seagoville, Texas (d. 1978)
- Jul 18 Karel Mengelberg, Dutch composer and conductor, born in Utrecht (d. 1984)
- Jul 19 (William) "Buster" Bailey, American jazz clarinetist (WC Handy; King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band; Fletcher Henderson; Noble Sissle; John Kirby), and bandleader, born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1967)
- Jul 20 Jimmy Kennedy, Irish singer-songwriter ("Teddy Bears' Picnic"; "My Prayer"), born in Omagh, Ireland (d. 1984)
- Jul 22 Vladimir Nikolayevich Kryukov, Russian composer, born in Moscow, Russian Empire (d. 1960)
- Jul 23 Walter Burle Marx, Brazilian pianist and composer, born in São Paulo, Brazil (d. 1990)
- Jul 24 Hans Chemin-Petit, German composer, born in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany (d. 1981)
- Jul 26 Gus Aiken, American jazz and blues trumpeter (Jenkins Orphanage Band), born in Charleston, South Carolina (d. 1973)
- Aug 3 Ray Block, French orchestra leader (Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason), born in Alsace-Lorraine (d. 1982)
- Aug 6 Michal Vilec, Slovak composer, born in Bardejovská Nová Ves, Czechoslovakia (d. 1979)
- Aug 9 Zino Francescatti, French violinist (New York Philharmonic, 1939), born in Marseille, France (d. 1991)
- Aug 13 Bartoes [Albertus J. Wijstma], Dutch singer and cabaret performer, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1976)
- Aug 16 Stefan Boleslaw Poradowski, Polish composer (Double Bass Concerto), born in Wloclawek (d. 1967)
- Aug 18 Julius Kalaš, Czech composer (Nepokořenĺ -The Proud Ones), born in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary (d. 1967)
- Aug 21 Renato Fasano, Italian composer, born in Naples, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1979)
- Aug 25 Stefan Wolpe, German composer (Zeus & Elidco), born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1972)
- Aug 27 Herbert Menges, English composer, born in Hove, East Sussex, England (d. 1972)
- Aug 30 Arnold Maria Walter, Canadian composer, born in Hanušovice, Moravia, Austria-Hungary (d. 1973)
- Sep 11 Alice Tully, American singer and arts patroness (Carnegie Hall), born in Corning, New York (d. 1993)
- Sep 14 Giorgos Papasideris Greek country singer, composer and lyricist, born in Salamis Island, Greece (d. 1977)
- Sep 25 Jeno Takacs, Austrian composer, born in Cinfalva, Hungary (d. 2005)
- Oct 6 Mihovil Logar, Serbian composer (A Would-be Lady), born in Rijeka, Croatia (d. 1998)
- Oct 15 William Edmonson, American bass harmony and gospel vocalist (Southernaires), radio, stage and screen actor (Thirty Years Later), born in Spokane, Washington (d. 1979)
- Oct 21 Hilarion Rubio, Filipino composer, born in Bacoor, Cavite (d. 1985)
- Oct 23 Otmar Nussio, Swiss conductor and composer (Boccaccio Suite), born in Grossetto, Italy; (d. 1990)
- Oct 23 Otto J. Gombosi, Hungarian-American musicologist, born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1955)
- Oct 25 Eddie Lang [Salvatore Massaro], American jazz guitarist known as the "father of jazz guitar", born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1933)
- Oct 30 Armin Kaufmann, Austrian composer, born in Bukowina, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Romania) (d. 1980)
- Nov 1 Eugen Jochum, German conductor (Hamburg Orchestra, 1934-49; Bavarian Radio Symphony, 1949-61), born in Babenhausen, Augsburg, German Empire (d. 1987)
- Nov 10 Antonio Maria Valencia, Colombian composer, born in Cali, Colombia (d. 1952)
- Nov 16 Marcel Boereboom, Belgian musicologist, born in Stalhille, Jabbeke, Belgium (d. 1985)
- Nov 18 Barbara Giuranna, Italian pianist and composer, born in Palermo, Italy (d. 1998)
- Nov 22 Emanuel Feuermann, American cellist (Chicago Symphony), born in Kolomyja, Galicia, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Kolomyia, Ukraine) (d. 1942)
- Nov 22 Ethel Smith [Goldsmith], American pop and Latin style Hammond organist ("Tico Tico", "Monkey on a String"), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1996)
- Nov 27 Giuseppe Savagnone, Italian composer, born in Palermo, Italy (d. 1984)
- Dec 2 Miroslav Ponc, Czech composer, born in Vysoké Mýto (d. 1976)
- Dec 6 Virgilio Mortari, Italian composer, born in Passirana, Italy (d. 1993)
- Dec 13 Paul Kurzbach, German composer, born in Hohndorf, Germany (d. 1997)
- Dec 14 Viola Wells [Evans], American jazz, blues, and gospel singer, born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1984)
- Dec 19 Dusolina Giannini, Italian-American dramatic soprano (New York Metropolitan Opera, 1935-42), and teacher, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1986)
- Dec 19 Leonard Hirsch, Irish violinist and orchestra leader (RAF Symphony Orchestra), born in Dublin (d. 1995) [1]
- Dec 19 Sol Hoʻopiʻi [Kaʻaiʻai], Native Hawaiian acoustic and electric lap steel guitar virtuoso, born in Honolulu, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 1953)
- Dec 21 Peetie Wheatstraw [William Bunch], American blues singer, songwriter, and piano player, born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas (d. 1941)
- Dec 27 Ferenc Szabó, Hungarian composer (Lúdas Matyi, Légy jó mindhalálig), born in Budapest (d. 1969)
- Dec 31 Lionel Daunais, Quebec singer and composer, born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1982)
About 1902
How Old? 120 or 121 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation