1909 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 1909.

• Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins started playing the piano at the age of five years.^[1]

January

• 13
  • Danny Barker, American guitarist, banjoist, vocalist, and author (died 1994).
  • Ed Burke, American violinist and trombonist (died 1988).
• 15 – Gene Krupa, American jazz and big band drummer, band leader, actor, and composer (died 1973).^[2]
• 22 – Mouse Randolph, American trumpeter (died 1997).
• 24 – Tiny Winters, English bassist and vocalist (died 1996).

February

• 4 – Artie Bernstein, American upright bassist (died 1964).
• 20 – Oscar Alemán, Argentine guitarist, singer, and dancer (died 1980).

March

• 2 – Narvin Kimball, American musician (died 2006).^[3]
• 3 – Booker Pittman, American clarinetist (died 1969).
• 9 – Herschel Evans, American tenor saxophonist (died 1939).^[4]
• 21 – Miff Görling, Swedish bandleader, trombonist, arranger, and composer (died 1988).
• 27 – Ben Webster, American tenor saxophonist (died 1973).^[5]

April

• 15 – Wilbert Baranco, American pianist and bandleader (died 1983).
• 16 – Pippo Starnazza, Italian singer and actor (died 1975).
• 29 – Jacques Butler, American trumpeter and vocalist (died 2003).

May

• 7 – Teddy Bunn, American guitarist, Spirits of Rhythm (died 1978).
• 29 – Dick Stabile, American saxophonist and bandleader (died 1980).
• 30 – Benny Goodman, American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing" (died 1986).^[6]

June

• 8 – Henry Nemo, American musician, songwriter, and actor (died 1999).
• 13 – Garland Wilson, American pianist (died 1954).
• 27 – Leon Washington, American tenor saxophonist (died 1973).

July

• 16 – Teddy Buckner, American trumpeter (died 1994).
• 22 – Cassino Simpson, American pianist (died 1952).^[7]

August

• 8 – Rupert Cole, Trinidadian alto saxophonist and clarinetist (died unknown date).
• 10 – Claude Thornhill, American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader (died 1965).^[8]
• 14 – Stuff Smith, American violinist (died 1967).
• 17 – Larry Clinton, American bandleader and songwriter (died 1985).
• 27 – Lester Young, American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and bandleader (died 1959).^[9]

September

• 26 – Gus Deloof, Belgian trumpeter, composer, and arranger (died 1974).

October

• 4 – Buddy Featherstonhaugh, English saxophonist (died 1976).
• 13
  • Art Tatum, American pianist (died 1956).
  • Scoville Browne, American reedist (died 1994).
• 17 – Cozy Cole, American drummer (died 1981).

December

• 12 – Eddie Barefield, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and arranger (died 1991).
• 17 – Roy McCloud, American cornetist (died 1986).
• 31 – Jonah Jones, American trumpeter sometimes referred to as "King Louis II" (died 2000).^[10]

Unknown date

• Roger Chaput, French guitarist and visual artist, Quintette du Hot Club de France (died 1995).
• Rudy Williams, American jazz alto saxophonist (died 1954).
• Tiny Davis, American trumpeter and vocalist (died 1994).

• History Of Jazz Timeline: 1909 at All About Jazz