This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1913.

Events

• The word "jazz" first appears in print.^[1]
• James Reese Europe records ragtime arrangements in New York with the first black ensemble to be recorded.^[2]

Standards

Births

January

• 17 – Vido Musso, Italian-American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader (died 1982).
• 27 – Milton Adolphus, American pianist and composer (died 1998).

February

• 5 – Rozelle Claxton, American pianist (died 1995).
• 22 – Buddy Tate, American saxophonist and clarinetist (died 2001).

March

• 1 – Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic (died 1994).
• 31 – Etta Baker, American guitarist and singer (died 2006).

April

• 4
  • Gene Ramey, American upright bassist (died 1984).
  • Muddy Waters, American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter (died 1983).
• 25 – Earl Bostic, American alto saxophonist (died 1965).
• 29 – Jack Bentley, English trombonist, journalist, and scriptwriter (died 1994).

May

• 16 – Woody Herman, American clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader (died 1987).^[3]

June

• 14 – Stanley Black, English bandleader, composer, conductor, arranger and pianist (died 2002).
• 20 – Alfred Gallodoro, American musician (died 2008).^[4]
• 23 – Helen Humes, American singer (died 1981).
• 25 – Adele Girard, American harpist (died 1993).^[5]

July

• 5 – Smiley Lewis, American singer and guitarist (died 1966).
• 18 – Nat Temple, British big band leader (died 2008).^[6]

August

• 7 – George Van Eps, American guitarist (died 1998).
• 13 – Anna Mae Winburn, African-American vocalist and bandleader (died 1999).
• 23 – Bob Crosby, American singer and bandleader (died 1993).^[7]

September

• 10 – Cliff Leeman, American drummer (died 1986).
• 19 – Helen Ward, American singer (died 1998).
• 20 – John Collins, American guitarist (died 2001).
• 24 – Herb Jeffries, African-American actor and singer-songwriter (died 2014).
• 26 – Dorothy Sloop, American pianist (died 1998).

October

• 1 – Harry Lookofsky, American violinist (died 1998).
• 2 – Wally Rose, American pianist (died 1997).
• 15 – Thore Jederby, Swedish upright bassist, record producer, and radio broadcaster (died 1984).
• 19 – Vinicius de Moraes, Brazilian singer, poet, lyricist, essayist, and playwright (died 1980).
• 21
  • Cosimo Di Ceglie, Italian guitarist (died 1980).
  • Gus Clark, Belgian pianist (died 1979).
• 26 – Charlie Barnet, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (died 1991).^[8]
• 27 – Boyd Raeburn, American bandleader and bass saxophonist (heart attack) (died 1966).

November

• 13
  • Singleton Palmer, American bassist, cornetist, tubist, and bandleader (died 1993).^[9]
  • Blue Lu Barker, American singer (died 1998).
• 15 – Gus Johnson, American drummer (died 2000).
• 19 – Blue Barron, American orchestra leader (died 2005).

December

• 7 – Blind John Davis, African-American, blues, jazz and boogie-woogie pianist and singer (died 1985).
• 10
  • Pannonica de Koenigswarter, British-born jazz patron and writer (died 1988).
  • Ray Nance, American trumpeter, violinist and singer (died 1976).
• 12 – Don Stovall, American alto saxophonist (died 1970).^[10]
• 14 – Ted Buckner, American saxophonist (died 1976).
• 25 – Candy Candido, American bassist and vocalist (died 1999).