1903 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1903.

1903 in jazz
Decade	Pre-1920 in jazz
Music	1903 in music
Standards	List of pre-1920 jazz standards
See also	1902 in jazz – 1904 in jazz

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Events

• Sidney Bechet borrows his brother's clarinet, and the result is well known.^[1]

Standards

See also: List of pre-1920 jazz standards § 1900–1909

Births

January

• 18 – Min Leibrook, American tubist and bassist (died 1943).

February

• 27 – Mildred Bailey, American singer (died 1951).^[2]

March

• 8 – John Ouwerx, Belgian pianist and composer (died 1983).
• 10 – Bix Beiderbecke, American cornetist, pianist, and composer (died 1931).
• 20 – Einar Aaron Swan, American violinist, clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, arranger, and composer (died 1940).
• 25 – Frankie Carle, American pianist and bandleader (died 2001).

April

• 3 – James "Bubber" Miley, American trumpetist and cornetist (died 1932).

May

• 2 – Spiegle Willcox, American trombonist (died 1999).

June

• 3 – Josephine Baker, French singer, entertainer, activist, and Resistance agent (died 1975).
• 12 – Emmett Hardy, American cornetist (died 1925).
• 28 – Adrian Rollini, American bass saxophonist, pianist, vibraphonist, and multi-instrumentalist (died 1956).

July

• 25 – Happy Caldwell, American clarinetist and tenor saxophonist (died 1978).

August

• 14 – Jack Gardner, American pianist (died 1957).
• 15
  • Joe Garland, American saxophonist, composer, and arranger, "In the Mood" (died 1977).
  • Monk Hazel, American drummer (died 1968).
• 24 – Claude Hopkins, American stride pianist and bandleader (died 1984).

September

• 16 – Joe Venuti, Italian-American violinist (died 1978).^[3]

October

• 10 – Lee Blair, American banjoist and guitarist (died 1966).
• 11 – Teddy Weatherford, American pianist and an accomplished stride pianist (died 1945).^[4]
• 15 – Chas Remue, Belgian reedist (died 1971).
• 16 – Big Joe Williams, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter (died 1982).

December

• 3 – Brad Gowans, American trombonist and reedist (died 1954).^[5]
• 17 – Ray Noble, English bandleader, composer, arranger, radio comedian, and actor (died 1978).^[6]
• 28 – Earl Hines, American pianist and bandleader (died 1983).
• 29 – Clyde McCoy, American trumpeter (died 1990).

Unknown date

• June Cole, American bassist, tubist, and singer (died 1960).