Musicians Born in 1908

Ethel Merman (1908-1984)

Jan 16 American Tony and Grammy Award-winning stage and screen singer ("There's No Business Like Show Business"), and actress (It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World), born in Astoria, New York City

Jan 20 Wilfred Conwell Bain, American music educator (Insian University, 1947-73), born in Shawville, Quebec (d. 1997)
Jan 22 Hammie Nixon [Nickerson], American blues harmonica player (Sleepy John Estes), born in Brownsville, Tennessee (d. 1984)
Jan 22 Melle Weersma, Dutch jazz arranger and composer ("Penny Serenade"), born in Harlingen, Netherlands (d. 1988)
Jan 26 Stéphane Grappelli, French jazz violinist (Quintette du Hot Club de France), born in Paris, France (d. 1997)
Jan 27 Oran "Hot Lips" Page, American jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader, born in Dallas, Texas (d. 1954)
Jan 28 Paul Misraki [Misrachi], French jazz pianist, songwriter, and film score composer (Jean Renoir), born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (d. 1998)
Jan 31 Atahualpa Yupanqui, Argentine folk musician, born in Pergamino, Argentina (d. 1992)
Feb 1 Edward Staempfli, Swiss pianist, conductor, and composer, born in Bern, Switzerland (d. 2002)
Feb 2 Pavel Sivic, Slovenian composer, born in Radovljica, Slovenia (d. 1995)
Feb 2 Renzo Rossellini, Italian composer, born in Rome, Italy (d. 1982)
Feb 4 (Emmanuel) "Mannie" Klein, American swing jazz and session trumpeter (Frank Trumbauer; NBC Orchestra), born in New York City (d. 1994)
Feb 8 Grigor Eghiazaryan, Armenian composer, born in Blur, Russian Empire (d. 1988)
Feb 10 Jean Coulthard, Canadian composer, and music educator, born in Vancouver, British Columbia (d. 2000)
Feb 13 Gerald Strang, American classical and electronic music composer, born in Claresholm, Alberta, Canada (d. 1983)
Feb 13 Lennie Hayton, American pianist, composer, conductor and arranger (Paul Whiteman; Bing Crosby; MGM), born in New York City (d. 1971)
Feb 20 Seymour Österwall, Swedish jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader and composer, born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1981)
Feb 22 Claude "Fiddler" Williams, American jazz violinist and guitarist (Twelve Clouds of Joy; Count Basie), born in Muskogee, Oklahoma (d. 2004)
Feb 26 Néstor Mesta Cháyres, Mexican lyric tenor, born in Mexico City, Mexico (d. 1971)
Mar 3 Riccardo Nielsen, Italian composer and music director, born in Bologna, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1982)
Mar 7 Nat Gonella, British big band jazz trumpeter, mellophonist, singer, and bandleader (The Georgians; Oh, Monah), born in Islington, London, England (d. 1998)
Mar 7 Tomas de Manzarraga, Spanish composer, born in Igorre, Spain (d. 1988)
Mar 9 Luiz Cosme, Brazilian composer, born in Porte Alegre, Brazil (d. 1965)
Mar 13 Helen Sinclair Glatz (née Hunter), English composer, born in South Shields, Durham, England (d. 1996)
Mar 14 Nikolay Rakov, Russian composer, born in Kaluga, Russia (d. 1990)
Mar 17 Radie Britain, American composer, born near Silverton, Texas (d. 1994)
Mar 18 Louis "Loulou" Gasté, French songwriter ("Pour Toi" aka "Feelings"), born in Paris, France (d. 1995)
Mar 26 Hank Sylvern [Henry Silverstein], American organist, radio and television theme composer and musical director (Suspense; Jane Froman's USA Canteen; The Phil Silvers Show), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1964)
Mar 30 Camille Schmit, Belgian organist, composer, and educator, born in Aubangez, Belgium (d. 1976)
Mar 30 Kurt Brüggemann, German composer, conductor, and music educator, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 2002)
Mar 31 Red Norvo [Kenneth Norville], American jazz vibraphonist known as "Mr. Swing" ("Congo Blues"; "Knockin' On Wood"), born in Beardstown, Illinois (d. 1999)
Apr 5 George Schick, Czech conductor (Chicago Symphony, 1950-56; Metropolitan Opera, 1958-69), and educator, born in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (now Czech Republic) (d. 1985)
Apr 5 Herbert von Karajan, Austrian conductor (Berlin Philharmonic, 1955-89), born in Salzburg, Austria-Hungary (d. 1989)
Apr 6 Vano Muradeli, Soviet Georgian composer (The Great Friendship; Our Leader), and pedagogue, born in Gori, Georgia, Imperial Russia (d. 1970)
Apr 7 Percy Faith, Canadian-American pop and easy listening composer and bandleader ("Theme from A Summer Place"), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 1976)
Apr 9 Fred Lohse, German composer, born in Leipzig, Germany (d. 1987)
Apr 11 Karel Ančerl, Czechoslovak conductor (Czech Philharmonic, 1950-68; Toronto Symphony, 1968-73), composer, and Auschwitz survivor, born in Tučapy, Czech Republic (d. 1973)
Apr 15 Eden Ahbez [George Aberle], American songwriter ("Nature Boy"; "Lonely Island"), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1995)
Apr 16 Ray Ventura, French jazz pianist and big band lbandeader ("Tout va très bien, Madame la Marquise"), born in Paris, France (d. 1979)
Apr 18 Eric Spear, British film and TV composer (Coronation Street theme), born in Croydon, Surrey (d. 1966)
Apr 19 Joseph Keilberth, German conductor (Bayreuther Festspiele), born in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (d. 1968)
Apr 20 Lionel Hampton, American jazz vibraphone player, pianist, drummer, and actor, born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 2002)
Apr 29 Philippe Brun, French jazz trumpeter, born in Paris (d. 1994)
May 6 Necil Kazım Akses, Turkish classical composer, born in Istanbul, Turkey (d. 1999)
May 7 Wouter Paap, Dutch composer, born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1981)
May 15 Lars-Erik Larsson, Swedish composer (God in Disguise (Förklädd gud, Op. 24); Linden), and pedagogue (Stockholm Conservatory; Uppsala University), born in Åkarp Sweden (d. 1986)
May 17 Sigismund Toduţă, Romanian composer, born in Simeria, Romania (d. 1991)
May 24 Krešimir Fribec, Croatian composer, born in Daruvar, Croatia (d. 1996)
May 26 Vera Van [Webster], American radio and dance band singer, born in Marion, Ohio (d. 2006)
May 27 Harold Rome, American composer (Fanny; Pins & Needles), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 1993)
May 31 Gene Gifford American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and arranger (Jean Goldkette; Casa Loma Orchestra), born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1970)
Jun 7 Boris Goldovsky, Russian-American conductor, educator (Tangle wood, 1942-62), and opera broadcast commentator (Metropolitan Opera, 1946-85), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 2001)
Jun 12 Marina Semyonova, Russian ballerina, born in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire (d. 2010)
Jun 13 Clarence Hutchenrider, American jazz clarinetist (Casa Loma Orchestra), born in Waco, Texas (d. 1991)
Jun 14 John Scott Trotter, American orchestra leader (George Gobel Show), born in Charlotte, North Carolina (d. 1975)
Jun 17 John Verrall, American composer, born in Britt, Iowa (d. 2001)
Jun 24 Guru Gopinath, Indian classical dancer, born in Champakulam, Kuttanad (now Kerala), British India (d. 1987)
Jun 24 Hugo Distler, German organist, choral conductor and composer, born in Nuremberg, Kingdom of Bavaria (now Germany) (d. 1942)
Jun 26 Jimmy McLin, American jazz banjo player, and guitarist (James P. Johnson; Willie "The Lion" Smith; The Ink Spots), born in Brooksville, Florida (d. 1983)
Jun 27 Hans de Jong, musician and conductor (De Damrakkertjes) (d. 1994)
Jun 29 Leroy Anderson, American composer (Syncopated Clock), born in Cambridge, Massachusetts (d. 1975)
Jun 29 Rene Gerber, Swiss composer, born in Travers (d. 2006)
Jun 30 Lucino Tinio Sacramento, Filipino composer, born in Licab, Nueva Ecija, Philippines (d. 1984)
Jul 1 Peter Anders, German opera singer, born in Essen, Germany (d. 1954)
Jul 6 Léonce Grass, Flemish singer and conductor, born in Borgerhout, Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1993)

Louis Jordan (1908-1975)

Jul 8 American musician, songwriter and bandleader ("Caldonia"; "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"; "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"), born in Brinkley, Arkansas

Jul 12 Johan Franco, Dutch composer, born in Zaandam, Netherlands (d. 1988)
Jul 17 Rudolf Petzold, German educator and composer, born in Liverpool, England (d. 1991)
Jul 18 Barry Gray [John Livesey Eccles], British pianist, ondist, Hammond organ player, film and television composer (Thunderbirds; Space:1999), born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England (d. 1984)
Jul 20 Gunnar de Frumerie, Swedish pianist and composer (Circulus Quintus), born in Nacka, Sweden (d. 1987)
Jul 25 Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Indian Carnatic vocalist, born in Tirukkodikaval, Madras Province, British India (d. 2003)
Aug 1 Miloslav Kabeláč, Czech composer, born in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (now Czech Republic) (d. 1979)
Aug 4 Kurt Eichhorn, German conductor, born in Munich (d. 1994)
Aug 6 George Singer, Czech-Israeli pianist, composer, and opera conductor (Hamburg Staatsoper; Israeli Opera), born in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (now Czech Republic) (d. 1980)
Aug 6 Svend Erik Tarp, Danish composer, born in Thisted, Denmark (d. 1994)
Aug 17 Kurt Hessenberg, German composer, born in Frankfurt, Germany (d. 1994)
Aug 18 Milan Ristić, Serbian composer, born in Belgrade, Serbia (d. 1982)
Aug 19 (Lyle) "Spud" Murphy [Miko Stefanovic], Serbian-American jazz multi-instrumentalist, arranger (Benny Goodman; Casa Loma Orchestra), bandleader, composer (Columbia Pictures), and educator (Equal Interval System), born in Berlin, Germany (d. 2005)
Aug 19 Al Morgan, American jazz double-bassist (Cab Calloway; Fats Waller; Louis Jordan), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1974)
Aug 28 Orestes López, Cuban band leader and composer (co-inventor of 'mambo' with his brother, Cachao), born in Havana, Cuba (d. 1991)
Aug 30 Willie Bryant, American jazz singer, bandleader, and disc jockey (Sugar Hill Times), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1964)
Aug 31 Conrad Baden, Norwegian composer, organist and music critic, born in Drammen, Norway (d. 1989)
Sep 5 Cecilia Seghizzi, Italian composer, born in Gotizia, Austria-Hungary (d. 2019)
Sep 5 Joaquin Maria Nin-Culmell, Cuban-Spanish composer, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 2004)
Sep 6 Paul Lavalle, American bandleader (Cities Service Band of America), born in Beacon, New York (d. 1997)
Sep 7 Max Kaminsky, American jazz trumpeter and bandleader (Max Kaminsky Orchestra), born in Brockton, Massachusetts (d. 1994)
Sep 10 Raymond Scott [Harry Warnow], American composer ('The Toy Trumpet'), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1994)
Sep 13 (Leon) "Chu" Berry, American swing jazz tenor saxophonist (Fletcher Henderson; Cab Calloway), born in Wheeling, West Virginia (d. 1941)
Sep 13 Ray Green, American composer and publisher, born in Cavendish, Missouri (d. 1997)
Sep 14 Bernie Green, American orchestra leader (Arthur Godfrey Show, Garry Moore Show), born in New York City (d. 1975)
Sep 17 Franz Grothe, German composer, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1982)
Sep 25 Eugen Suchoň, Slovak organist and composer (Krútňava (The Whirlpool); Psalm of the Carpathian Lands; Kaleidoscope), and music educator, born in Pezinok, Austro-Hungarian Empire (d. 1993)
Sep 28 Marin Goleminov, Bulgarian violinist, composer, and pedagogue, born in Kyustendil, Bulgaria (d. 2000)
Sep 30 David Oistrakh, Soviet violinist considered one of the pre-eminent violinists of the 20th century (Moscow Conservatory), born in Odessa, Ukraine, Russian Empire (d. 1974)
Oct 1 Herman D. Koppel, Danish pianist and composer, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1998)
Oct 3 Zenobia Powell Perry, American composer (Tawawa House), educator, and civil rights activist, born in Boley, Oklahoma (d. 2004)
Oct 8 Paul Van Buskirk Yoder, American composer, born in Tacoma, Washington (d. 1990)
Oct 9 Lee Wiley, American jazz singer, and lyricist (Night in Manhattan; "Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere"), born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma (d. 1975)
Oct 10 Johnny Green, American singer ("Body and Soul") and film score composer who won 5 Academy Awards, born in New York City (d. 1989)
Oct 11 Armen Carapetyan, American musicologist and composer, born in Isfahan, Iran (d. 1992)
Oct 12 Harmonica Frank [Floyd], American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, born in Toccopola, Mississippi (d. 1984)
Oct 15 Herman "Ivory" Chittison, American jazz pianist (Harlem Rhythm Makers), born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky (d. 1967) [1]
Oct 19 Patrick Cairns "Spike" Hughes, British jazz double bassist and composer (Elegy), born in London (d. 1987)
Oct 19 [Nils] Geirr Tveitt, Norwegian classical pianist and composer, born in Bergen, Norway (d. 1981)
Oct 20 Stuart Hamblen, American singer and composer (This Ole House), born in Kellyville, Texas (d. 1989)
Oct 21 Alexander Schneider, Lithuanian violinist (Budapest String Quartet), born in Vilnius, Lithuania (d. 1993)
Oct 21 Howard Ferguson, British-Irish pianist, composer, teacher and musicologist, born in Belfast, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) (d. 1999)
Oct 30 Franco Margola, Italian composer, born in Orzinuovi, Lombardy, Italy (d. 1992)
Nov 2 (Roland) "Bunny" Berigan, American session and big band jazz trumpeter (Paul Whiteman; Benny Goodman - "King Porter Stomp"; Tommy Dorsey - "Marie"), vocalist, and bandleader ("I Can't Get Started"), born in Hilbert, Wisconsin (d. 1942)
Nov 19 Mikhail Chulaki, Soviet composer, born in Simferopol, Crimea (d. 1989)
Nov 24 Ray Carter, American orchestra leader (Arthur Murray Dance Party), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1982)
Nov 26 Philipp Mohler, German composer, born in Kaiserslautern, Germany (d. 1982)
Nov 28 Roberto Lupi, Italian composer, born in Milan, Italy (d. 1971)
Dec 1 Georgios Kasassoglou, Greek violinist, composer (Four Preludes on The Return from The Front; Clouds), educator and arts advocate, born in Athens, Greece (d. 1984)
Dec 3 Halsey Stevens, American composer (Triskelion), born in Scott, New York (d. 1989)
Dec 10 Olivier Messiaen, French composer (L'Ame en Bourgeon; St Francois d'Assise), born in Avignon, France (d. 1992)
Dec 11 Elliott Carter, American classical composer and winner of two Pulitzer prizes, born in New York City (d. 2012)
Dec 13 Victor Babin, Russian-American concert pianist (Vronsky & Babin), composer, and educator (Cleveland Institute, 1961-72), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1972)
Dec 14 (Moritz) "Morey" Amsterdam, American comedian, cellist, and actor (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Buddy"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1996)
Dec 17 William Brocklesby Wordsworth, English composer, born in London, England (d. 1988)
Dec 20 Julio César Brero [or Giulio Cesare], Italian-born Argentine composer and lawyer (Novella), born in Milan, Italy (d. 1973)
Dec 20 Norman Hackforth, British musician and radio broadcaster (Noel Coward; Twenty Questions), born in Bihar, British India (d. 1996)
Dec 24 Cladys "Jabbo" Smith, American jazz trumpet pioneer, born in Pembroke, Georgia (d. 1991)
Dec 25 Jan Seidel, Czech composer, born in Nymburk, Bohemia (d. 1998)
Dec 28 Felicja Blumental, Polish-Brazilian concert pianist (Villa-Lobos' Piano Concerto No. 5; Penderecki's Partita for Harpsichord), born in Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire (d. 1991)
Dec 31 John Kirby [Kirk], American jazz double-bassist and tuba player (Benny Goodman; "Undecided"), born in Winchester, Virginia (d. 1952)
Dec 31 Marko Rothmuller, Croatian composer, born in Slavonski Brod, Croatia (d. 1993)