- Jan 1 Giovanni D'Anzi, Italian songwriter (d. 1974)
- Jan 7 Herbert Magidson, American lyricist, winner of first Academy Award for Best Original Song ("The Continental"; "Gone With The Wind"; "The Masquerade Is Over"), born in Braddock, Pennsylvania (d. 1986)
- Jan 8 Serge Poliakoff, Russian/French painter/guitarist
- Jan 11 Johannes Paul Thilman, composer
- Jan 12 (Woodward) "Tex" Ritter, American country singer (5 Star Jubilee, "Wayward Wind"), born in Murvaul, Texas (d. 1974)
- Jan 13 Maxime Jacob, composer
- Jan 14 Walter Knape, German conductor & composer, born in Bernburg, Germany (d. 2000)
- Jan 15 Rezső Kókai, Hungarian pianist, composer, musicologist, and pedagogue, born in Budapest (d. 1962)
- Jan 19 Lanny Ross, radio singer (Show Boat, The Swift Show), born in Seattle, Washington
- Jan 27 Radames Gnattali, composer
- Jan 31 Benjamin Frankel, British composer, born in London, England (d. 1973)
- Jan 31 Roosevelt Sykes, American blues and boogie-woogie pianist, and singer (The Honeydripper), born in Elmar, Arkansas (d. 1983)
- Feb 1 Hildegarde [Sell], American cabaret vocalist (“Leave It To The Girls"; "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup"), born in Adell, Wisconsin (d. 2005)
- Feb 1 Pierre Capdevielle, French conductor, composer (Élégie de Duino), music critic (Monde musicale), and teacher, born in Paris (d. 1969)
- Feb 3 Ludvig Nielsen, Norwegian organist, composer, choir director, and conductor (Nidaros Cathedral, 1935-76), born in Borge, Norway (d. 2001)
- Feb 8 Artur Balsam, Polish-American classical pianist (Begeleidde Menuhin, Milstein), born in Warsaw, Kingdom of Poland (d. 1994)
- Feb 9 Gwen Catley, British coloratura soprano, born in London (d. 1996)
- Feb 17 Ramon Tapales, Filipino composer and conductor, born in Baybay, Philippines (d. 1995)
- Feb 19 Grace Mary Williams, Welsh composer (Penillion), born in Barry, Wales (d. 1977)
- Feb 19 Hendrik Spruit, Dutch conductor and composer, born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1998)
- Feb 19 Louis Gesensway, Latvian-American violinist (Philadelphia Orchestra, 1926-71), and composer (Ode To Peace), born in Dvinsk, Russian Empire (now Daugavpils, Latvia) (d. 1976)
- Feb 20 Jack Jackson, British trumpeter, dance band leader, and influential BBC disc jockey, born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England (d. 1978)
- Feb 22 Edmund von Borck, composer
- Feb 25 Boris Papandopulo, Croatian composer, born in Bad Honnef, Germany (d. 1991)
- Mar 3 Donald Novis, British-American singer and actor (Monte Carlo; The Singing Plumber), born in Hastings, East Sussex, England (d. 1966)
- Mar 3 Albany "Barney" Bigard, Creole-American jazz clarinetist (Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1927-42 - "Mood Indigo"), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1980)
- Mar 7 Alejandro Garcia Caturla, Cuban composer, born in Remedios, Cuba (d. 1940)
- Mar 7 Hans Lachman, German born Dutch Jewish composer, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1990)
- Mar 11 Hasan Ferit Alnar, Turkish composer, born in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire (d. 1978)
- Mar 13 Frank Teschemacher, American jazz clarinetist and alto-saxophonist, born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1932)
- Mar 14 Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Turkish pianist, composer - one of "The Turkish Five" (Köçekçe - Dance Rhapsody for Orchestra), and pedagogue, born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire; (d. 1972)
- Mar 16 Henny Youngman, American comedian and violinist ("Take my wife ... please"), born in London, England (d. 1998)
- Mar 17 Tamara Geva, Russian-born dancer and actress, born in St. Petersburg (d. 1997)
- Mar 19 Normand Lockwood, composer
- Mar 23 George Posford [Ashwell], British composer (Goodnight Vienna), and conductor, born in Folkestone, England (d. 1976)
- Mar 24 Klavdiya Shulzhenko, Soviet jazz and pop singer ("Let's Smoke"), born in Kharkiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1984)
- Mar 25 Jean Sablon, French singer-songwriter, born in Nogent-sur-Marne, near Paris (d. 1994)
- Mar 27 Charles "Pee Wee" Russell, American jazz clarinet and saxophone player, born in Maplewood, Missouri (d. 1969)
- Mar 28 Murray Adaskin, Canadian violinist, composer, conductor (Saskatoon Symphony), and teacher (University of Saskatchewan), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2002)
- Mar 29 E. Power Biggs, English organist and composer (CBS), born in Westcliff-on-Sea, England (d. 1977)
- Mar 31 Lauri Saikkola, composer
- Apr 3 Walter "Fats" Pichon American jazz pianist, singer, and big bandleader, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1967)
- Apr 8 Raoul Jobin, French Canadian operatic tenor, born in Quebec City, Quebec (d. 1974)
- Apr 9 Antal Doráti, Hungarian-American conductor (Minneapolis Symphony, 1949-1960; National Symphony, 1970-77), and composer, born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1988)
- Apr 10 Joseph "Fud" Livingston, American jazz clarinetist, arranger, and composer ("Im Thru With Love"), born in Charleston, South Carolina (d. 1957) [1]
- Apr 13 Lawrence "Bud" Freeman, American jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and composer ("The Eel"; "Zen Is When"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1991)
- Apr 14 Hunter Johnson, American composer, born near Benson, North Carolina (d. 1998)
- Apr 18 (Eurreal) "Little Brother" Montgomery, American jazz, boogie-woogie and blues pianist, singer, and composer ("Vicksburg Blues"; "Crescent City Blues"), born in Kentwood, Louisiana (d. 1985)
- Apr 22 Eric Fenby, English composer and president (Delius Society), born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire (d. 1997)
- Apr 25 Zoltán Gárdonyi, Hungarian composer, born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1986)
- Apr 28 Paul Sacher, Swiss conductor and entrepreneur, born in Basel, Switzerland (d. 1999)
- May 2 Maurice Thiriet, French composer, born in Meulan, Yvelines, France (d. 1972)
- May 8 David Van Vactor, American classical composer (Chaconne), born in Plymouth, Indiana (1994)
- May 17 Zinka Milanov, Croatian soprano (Ljublama Opera, 1927; NY Metropolitan Opera, 1937-66), born in Zagreb, Croatia (d. 1989)
- May 23 Hellmuth Christian Wolff, composer
- May 28 Phil Regan, American actor and singer ("My Wild Irish Rose"), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1996)
- May 31 Hans Schaeuble, Swiss composer, born in Arosa, Switzerland (d. 1988)
Josephine Baker
Jun 3 Josephine Baker, American-French song and dance revue artist (Folies-Bergere), actress, and civil rights activist, born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1975)
- Jun 10 Janos Viski, Hungarian composer, born in Kolozsvár (d. 1961)
- Jun 18 (James) "Kay" Kyser, American bandleader and radio personality (Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge), born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina (d. 1985)
- Jun 20 Bob Howard, American singer and pianist (Sing it Again), born in Newton, Massachusetts (d. 1986)
- Jun 21 Helene Costello, American dancer and actress (Love Toy), born in NYC, New York (d. 1957)
- Jun 21 Lluís Maria Millet, Catalan composer, born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 1990)
- Jun 21 Harold Spina, American composer, born in NYC, New York (d. 1997)
- Jun 24 Pierre Fournier, French cellist, and teacher (Paris Conservatoire, 1937-49), born in Paris, France
- Jun 28 Safford Cape, American-Belgian conductor, composer and music historian, born in Denver, Colorado (d. 1973)
- Jul 2 Robert Levine Sanders, American composer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1974)
- Jul 6 Elisabeth Lutyens, English composer, born in London (d. 1983)
- Jul 7 Anton Karas, Viennese musician (d. 1985)
- Jul 9 Joe Darensbourg, Cajun-American dixieland-style jazz clarinetist (Jelly Roll Morton; Louis Armstrong), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (d. 1985)
- Jul 13 Harry Sosnik, American orchestra leader (Jack Carter Show, Your Hit Parade), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1996)
- Jul 14 Arthur Hutchings, English composer (d. 1989)
- Jul 18 Belle Stewart, Scottish traditional singer, born in Caputh, Blairgowrie, Scotland (d. 1997)
- Jul 19 Klaus Egge, Norwegian composer (Noregsonger), born in Gransherad, Telemark, Norway (d. 1979)
- Jul 21 Daniel Ayala Perez, Mexican composer and violinist, born in Abalá, Yucatán (d. 1975)
- Jul 26 Armando José Fernandes, Portuguese neoclassical composer, born in Lisbon, Portugal (d. 1983)
- Jul 28 Gottlob Frick, German opera singer, born in Ölbronn-Dürrn (d. 1994)
- Jul 30 Ľudovít Rajter, Slovak composer and conductor, born in Pezinok, Kingdom of Hungary (d. 2000)
- Jul 30 Serafin Pro, Cuban composer, born in La Habana (d. 1977)
- Aug 1 Nathan Perelman, Soviet Russian pianist and pedagogue, born in Zhitomir, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 2002)
- Aug 6 Vic Dickenson, American trombonist (d. 1984)
- Aug 7 Gerhard Frommel, German composer and pedagogue, born in Karlsruhe, Germany (d. 1984)
- Aug 10 Robert De Kers [Keersmaeker], Belgian jazz trumpeter and bandleaders, born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1987)
- Aug 15 Finn Videro, Danish organist and composer, born in Fuglebjerg, Næstved (d. 1987)
- Aug 19 Eddie Durham, American pioneering jazz electric guitarist, trombonist (Count Basie; Jimmie Luceford), composer ("Topsy"; "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire"), and bandleader (All-Star Girl Orchestra), born in San Marcos, Texas (d. 1987)
- Aug 21 Joachim Homs, Spanish composer, born in Barcelona (d. 2003)
- Sep 1 Franz Biebl, German composer (d. 2001)
- Sep 4 Alexander Moyzes, Slovak composer, born in Kláštor pod Znievom, Slovensko (d. 1984)
- Sep 4 Antanas Račiūnas, Lithuanian composer, born in Užliaušiai, Lithuania (d. 1984)
- Sep 5 Peter Mieg, Swiss composer, born in Lenzburg (d. 1990)
- Sep 7 Philip Herschkowitz, Romanian composer, born in Iași, Romania (d. 1989)
- Sep 10 Lambertus "Bertus" van Lyre, Dutch composer (Hooglied -Song of Songs), conductor, and pedagogue, born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1972)
- Sep 12 Ruvim Pergament, composer, born in Petrozavodsk, Russia (d. 1965)
- Sep 15 Kathryn Murray, American dancer (Arthur Murray Dance Party), born in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 1999)
- Sep 16 Johanna Sophia Hermes, Dutch singer, born in Hilversum, Netherlands (d. 1995)
- Sep 19 Dalibor Cyril Vačkář, Czech composer, born in Korčula, Croatia (d. 1984)
- Sep 19 Massimo Freccia, Italian-American conductor (New Orleans Symphony, 1944-52: Baltimore Symphony, 1952-59), born in Valdibure, Pistoia, Italy (d. 2004)
- Sep 20 David Sheinfeld, American violinist and composer, born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2001)
- Sep 23 Willard F McMurry, musician
Dmitri Shostakovich
Sep 25 Dmitri Shostakovich, Russian composer (The Gadfly; The Nose), born in St Petersburg, Russia (d. 1975)
- Sep 25 Jaroslav Ježek, Czechoslovakian composer, born in Prague (d. 1942)
- Sep 30 Éamonn Ó Gallchobhair [Eamonn O Gallagher], Irish composer, born in Dundalk, Ireland (d. 1982)
- Oct 9 Janis Ivanovs, Latvian composer, born in Babri, Preiļi, Latvia (d. 1983)
- Oct 10 Paul Creston [Giuseppe Guttoveggio], Italian-American composer (Zanoni), educator, and music theorist (Creative Harmony), born in NYC, New York (d. 1985)
- Oct 10 Leo Mathisen, Danish jazz pianist, composer, arranger, singer and bandleader, known as "The Lion" (Take It Easy; To Be Or Not To Be), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1969)
- Oct 12 Willy Hess, Swiss musicologist, composer and famous Beethoven scholar, born in Winterthur, Switzerland (d. 1997)
- Oct 22 Cornelis L "Kees" van Baaren, Dutch composer (Willem Pijper)
- Oct 23 Miriam Gideon, American composer, born in Greeley, Colorado (d. 1996)
- Oct 31 Louise Talma, American composer (Summer Sounds), born in Arcachon, France (d. 1996)
- Nov 4 Arnold Cooke, British composer, born in Gomersal, West Yorkshire, England (d. 2005)
- Nov 4 Siegfried Borris, German composer, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1987)
- Nov 12 (Booker T. Washington) "Bukka" White, American country and Delta blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter ("Shake'Em On Down"; "Parchman Farm Blues"), born near Aberdeen, Mississippi (d. 1977)
- Nov 13 Conrad Thibault, American singer (Jacques Fray Music Room), born in Northbridge, Massachusetts (d. 1987)
- Nov 19 Henri Temianka, Scottish-born Polish composer (California Chamber Symphony), born in Greenock, Scotland (d. 1992)
- Nov 19 Jacques Leguerney, French composer, born in LeHarve, France, (d. 1997)
- Nov 23 Mervyn Roberts, Welsh composer, born in Abergele, Denbighshire (d. 1990)
- Nov 26 Sandro Fuga, Italian composer and painist, born in Mogliano, Veneto (d. 1994)
- Dec 1 Jean Cartan, French composer, born in Nancy (d. 1932)
Peter Carl Goldmark
Dec 2 Peter Carl Goldmark, Hungarian-American engineer (developed the 33-1/3 rpm LP phonograph record format), born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary (d. 1977)
- Dec 7 George James, American jazz saxophonist, born in Boggs, Oklahoma (d. 1995)
- Dec 8 Leo Shuken, American film music composer and arranger (Stagecoach; The Fabulous Dorseys; The Unsinkable Molly Brown), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1976)
- Dec 8 (Lloyd) "Slim" Andrews, American comic actor (Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory), and singer-songwriter, born in Gravette, Arkansas (d. 1992) [1]
- Dec 9 Freddy Martin, American orchestra leader (started Merv Griffin) and tenor saxophonist, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1983)
- Dec 9 Greet Koeman, Dutch opera soprano, born in Zaandam, North Holland, Netherlands (d. 1961)
- Dec 11 Jack Purvis, American jazz trumpet player and composer, born in Kokomo, Indiana (d. 1962)
- Dec 13 Ingemar Liljefors, Swedish composer, born in Gothenburg, Sweden (d. 1981)
- Dec 14 Helmut Bornefeld, German organist and composer, born in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, Germany (d. 1990)
- Dec 14 Alexander Tsfasman, Soviet Russian jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, in Alexandrovsk, Russian Empire (now Zaporizhya, Ukraine) (d. 1971)
- Dec 17 Fernando Lopez-Garcia, composer
- Dec 18 Edwin H. "Buddy" Morris, American music publisher (Edwin H. Morris & Company), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Dec 23 Ross Lee Finney, American composer (Landscapes Remembered), born in Wells, Minnesota (d. 1997)
- Dec 24 Franz Waxman [Wachsmann], German-American film score composer (Rebecca; Sunset Boulevard; A Place In The Sun), born in Königshütte, Silesia, German Empire (now Chorzów, Poland) (d. 1967)
- Dec 27 Ivan Brkanović, Croatian composer (Triptych - Funeral Folk Rite), born in Škaljari, Montenegro (d. 1987)
- Dec 27 Oscar Levant, American pianist, composer and actor (An American in Paris; Dance of Life), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1972)
About 1906
How Old? 115 or 116 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation