- Jan 17 Hans Jelmoli, Swiss pianist and composer, born in Zurich, Switzerland (d. 1936)
- Jan 20 Ruth St. Denis, American ballerina (Dances of the 5 Senses), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1968)
- Feb 1 Thomas Frederick Dunhill, British composer (The Wind Among The Reeds), and teacher, born in London, England (d. 1946)
- Feb 7 Feliks Nowowiejski, Polish organist and composer, born in Wartenburg, East Prussia, German Empire (d. 1946)
- Feb 13 Jāzeps Mediņš, Latvian composer, born in Kaunas, Latvia, Russian Empire (d. 1947)
- Feb 19 Louis Aubert French composer (Habanera), born in Paramé, France (d. 1968)
- Feb 24 Rudolph Ganz, Swiss-American pianist, conductor (St. Louis Symphony, 1921-27), composer, and educator (Chicago Musical College, 1928-54), born in Zurich, Switzerland (d. 1972)
- Feb 25 Erich von Hornbostel, Austrian musicologist, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1935)
- Feb 26 Russell Alexander, American vaudeville composer and entertainer (Barnum & Bailey Circus Band), born in Nevada, Missouri (d. 1915)
- Feb 28 Sergei Bortkiewicz, Russian-Austrian composer, pianist, and conductor, born in Kharkov, Russian Empire (d. 1952)
- Mar 4 Alexander Fyodorovich Gedike, Russian composer and pianist, born in Moscow (d. 1957)
- Mar 29 Reginald Goss-Custard, British organist, arranger and composer (Chelsea Fayre), born in St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, England (d. 1956)
- Apr 2 Arnold Schering, German musicologist (Humor, Heldentum, Tragik), born in Breslau, Germany (d. 1941)
- Apr 23 Arthur Farwell, American composer, born in St Paul, Minnesota (d. 1952)
- Apr 24 Charles Cuvillier, French composer of operetta (The Naughty Princess), born in Paris (d. 1955)
- May 10 Roderich Mojsisovics-Mojsvar, Austrian music educator and composer, born in Graz, Austria (d. 1954)
- May 25 Billy Murray, Irish-American vaudeville and early recording popular music tenor, known as the 'Denver Nightengale' ("Shine On, Harvest Moon"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1954)
Isadora Duncan (1877-1927)
May 26 American free form/interpretative dancer, born in San Francisco, California
- Jun 14 Jane Bathori, French mezzo-soprano, born in Paris, France (d. 1970)
- Jun 23 Blair Fairchild, American composer and diplomat, born in Belmont, Massachusetts (d. 1933)
- Jun 23 Hermann Stephani, German organist, and musicologist, born in Grimma, German Empire (d. 1960)
- Jul 6 David Stanley Smith, American composer (Merrymount), born in Toledo, Ohio (d. 1949)
- Jul 11 Edwin A. Fleisher, American music patron (founder of the Symphony Club), musicologist (The Fleisher Collection), and philanthropist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1959) [1]
- Jul 13 Karl Erb, German opera and oratorio tenor, born in Ravensburg, Kingdom of Württemberg (now Germany) (d. 1958)
- Jul 27 Ernst von Dohnányi [Dohnányi Ernő], Hungarian composer and conductor, born in Pozsony, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary (d. 1960)
- Jul 30 Charles Radoux-Rogier, Belgian composer, born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1952)
- Aug 16 Karl Hoschna, Tin Pan Alley-era composer (Every Little Movement), born in Kuschwarda, Bohemia (d. 1911)
- Aug 26 Harriet Ware (Krumbhaar), American concert pianist, composer (Women's Triumphal March; The Rose Is Red; The Varying Shore), and music educator, born in Waupun, Wisconsin (d. 1962)
- Sep 6 Charles "Buddy" Bolden, African-American jazz cornetist, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1931)
- Sep 6 Petar Stojanovic, Serbian composer, born in Budapest (d. 1957)
- Sep 9 Jesús Castillo, Guatemalan composer (Quiché Vinak), born in San Juan Ostuncalco (d. 1946)
- Sep 17 Jean Hure, French composer and organist, born in Gien, Loire, France (d. 1930)
- Sep 18 Jozef de Voght, Flemish priest and songwriter (Under the Snow), born in Broechem, Belgium (d. 1956)
- Sep 20 Armand Marsick, Belgian composer, born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1959)
- Sep 26 Alfred Cortot, French-Swiss pianist and teacher, born in Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland (d. 1962)
- Oct 11 John Parsons Beach, American composer, born in Gloversville, New York (d. 1953)
- Oct 20 Josephine McGill, American composer and folksong collector, born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 1919)
- Oct 24 Pavel Chesnokov, Russian-Soviet composer, born in Voskresensk, Moscow Oblast, Russia (d. 1944)
- Nov 1 Roger Quilter, British composer, born in Hove, Sussex, England (d. 1953)
- Nov 7 Henry Balfour Gardiner, English composer and musician, born in Kensington, England (d. 1950)
- Nov 21 Louis Campbell-Tipton, American composer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1921)
- Nov 21 Sigfrid Karg-Elert, German composer, born in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany (d. 1933)
- Dec 8 Paul Ladmirault, French composer, born in Nantes, France (d. 1944)
- Dec 13 Mykola Leontovych, Ukrainian composer (Carol of the Bells), born in Selevyntsi, Podolia, Russian Empire (d. 1921)
- Dec 14 Lieven Duvosel, Flemish composer (De Leiecyclus - The Lys-cycle), born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1956)
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
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