- Jan 1 Giuseppe Ferrata, Italian composer and pianist, born in Gradoli, Italy (d. 1928)
- Jan 3 Henry Lytton, British actor and opera singer (The Mikado), born in London, England (d. 1936)
- Feb 5 Harvey Worthington Loomis, American composer (Lyrics of the Red Man), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1930)
- Mar 2 Théophile "Théo" Ysaÿe, Belgian composer and pianist, born in Verviers, Belgium (d. 1918)
- Mar 3 Alexander Winkler, Russian composer, born in Kharkiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1935)
- Apr 13 Heinrich Reinhardt, Austrian composer, born in Pressburg, Austrian Empire (now Bratislava, Slovakia) (d. 1922)
- May 5 Felicjan Szopski, Polish composer, born in Krzeszowice, Poland (d. 1939)
- May 9 August de Boeck, Flemish composer, born in Merchtem, Belgium (d. 1937)
- May 22 Enric Morera i Viura, Spanish musician and composer, born in Barcelona (d. 1942)
- Jun 4 Guido Gasperini, Italian composer, born in Florence, Italy (d. 1942)
- Jun 9 Albéric Magnard, French composer (died defending his property against German invasion 1914), born in Paris, France (d. 1914)
- Jun 9 Carl Nielsen, Danish violinist and composer (Det Uudslukkelige), born in Sortelung, Denmark (d. 1931)
- Jun 14 Auguste Serieyx, French composer and pedagogue, born in Amiens, France (d. 1949)
- Jun 15 Paul Gilson, Belgian composer, born in Brussels (d. 1942)
- Jun 21 Herbert Brewer, English composer, born in Gloucester, England (d. 1928)
- Jul 6 Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, Swiss musician, composer, and pedagogue (Dalcroze Eurythmics), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1950)
- Jul 21 Robert Kahn, German composer, born in Mannheim, Baden, German Confederation (d. 1951)
- Jul 29 Nicola Spinelli, Italian opera composer, born in Turin, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1909)
- Aug 10 Alexander Glazunov, Russian pianist, composer (Chopiniana; Stenka Razin), and educator (St Petersburg Conservatory, 1899-1930), born in St.Petersburg, Russia (d. 1936)
- Aug 16 Jón Friðfinnsson, Icelandic-Canadian composer (The Millennial Cantata), born in Breiðdal, Iceland (d. 1936)
- Sep 9 Edwin H. Lemare, British organist and composer (Andantino in D-flat, also known as "Moonlight and Roses"), born in Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight (d. 1934)
- Sep 11 Alfred Hollins, British composer, born in Hull, Yorkshire, England (d. 1942)
- Oct 1 Paul Dukas, French composer, born in Paris (d. 1935)
- Nov 12 Frans "Sas" van Aerschot, Flemish operetta actor (Paljas), born in Herentals, Flanders, Belgium (d. 1939)
- Nov 26 Earl Ross Drake, American composer, born in Aurora, Illinois (d. 1916)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Dec 8 Finnish composer (Valse Triste, Finlandia), born in Tavastehus, Finland
- Dec 13 Gustav Luders, German-American conductor and stage musical composer (The Prince of Pilsen), born in Bremen, Germany (d. 1913)
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers