Jazz birthdays › April
April Jazz Birthdays
Jazz musicians born in April, day by day.
This page lists 65 jazz musicians born in April, day by day. The earliest-born is Ma Rainey (26 April 1886) and the most recent is Madeleine Peyroux (19 April 1974). The month also includes Duke Ellington (29 April), Billie Holiday (7 April) and Ella Fitzgerald (25 April). Underlined names link to our article about that musician.
1April
- Alberta Huntersinger · 1895
- Harry Carneybaritone saxophone · 1910
- Duke Jordanpiano · 1922
2April
- Booker Littletrumpet · 1938
- Larry Coryellguitar · 1943
3April
- Bubber Mileytrumpet · 1903
- Jimmy McGrifforgan · 1936
- Scott LaFarodouble bass · 1936
4April
- Muddy Watersblues guitar, singer · 1913
- Hugh Masekelatrumpet, flugelhorn · 1939
5April
- Stanley Turrentinetenor saxophone · 1934
- Evan Parkersaxophone · 1944
6April
- Charlie Rousetenor saxophone · 1924
- Randy Westonpiano · 1926
- Gerry Mulliganbaritone saxophone, arranger · 1927
7April
- Billie Holidaysinger · 1915
- Mongo Santamaríacongas, percussion · 1917
- Freddie Hubbardtrumpet · 1938
8April
- Carmen McRaesinger · 1920
9April
- Steve Gadddrums · 1945
10April
- Denny Zeitlinpiano · 1938
- Joey DeFrancescoorgan · 1971
11April
- John Levydouble bass, artist manager · 1912
12April
- Johnny Doddsclarinet · 1892
- Helen Forrestsinger · 1917
- Herbie Hancockpiano, keyboards · 1940
13April
- Bud Freemantenor saxophone · 1906
14April
- Shorty Rogerstrumpet, arranger · 1924
- Gene Ammonstenor saxophone · 1925
15April
- Bessie Smithsinger · 1892
- Richard Davisdouble bass · 1930
16April
- Henry Mancinicomposer, arranger · 1924
- Herbie Mannflute · 1930
- Esbjörn Svenssonpiano · 1964
17April
- Chris Barbertrombone, bandleader · 1930
- Buster Williamsdouble bass · 1942
- Jan Hammerkeyboards · 1948
18April
- Clarence "Gatemouth" Brownguitar, fiddle, singer · 1924
- Leo Parkerbaritone saxophone · 1925
19April
- Alexis Kornerblues guitar, singer, broadcaster · 1928
- Madeleine Peyrouxsinger · 1974
20April
- Lionel Hamptonvibraphone, bandleader · 1908
- Tito Puentetimbales, bandleader · 1923
21April
- Mundell Loweguitar · 1922
- Slide Hamptontrombone, arranger · 1932
22April
- Charles Mingusdouble bass, composer, bandleader · 1922
- Paul Chambersdouble bass · 1935
23April
- Jimmie Nooneclarinet · 1895
- Bunky Greenalto saxophone · 1933
24April
- Johnny Griffintenor saxophone · 1928
- Joe Hendersontenor saxophone · 1937
25April
- Earl Bosticalto saxophone · 1913
- Ella Fitzgeraldsinger · 1917
26April
- Ma Raineysinger · 1886
- Jimmy Giuffreclarinet, saxophone, composer · 1921
- Teddy Edwardstenor saxophone · 1924
27April
- Connie Kaydrums · 1927
- Krzysztof Komedapiano, composer · 1931
- Lionel Louekeguitar · 1973
28April
- Mario Bauzátrumpet, bandleader · 1911
- Blossom Deariesinger, piano · 1924
29April
- Duke Ellingtonpiano, composer, bandleader · 1899
- Toots Thielemansharmonica, guitar · 1922
30April
- Dorival Caymmisinger, songwriter · 1914
- Percy Heathdouble bass · 1923
Disputed April birth dates
- Muddy Waters (4 April 1913): Records point to 1913; Waters himself gave 1915, as does his gravestone.
- Bessie Smith (15 April 1892): The 1900 census points to 1892, but 15 April 1894 appears on later documents and is still widely given.
- Ella Fitzgerald (25 April 1917): Long given as 1918, and some sources still say so; biographers have established 1917.
- Ma Rainey (26 April 1886): She gave 26 April 1886 herself; the 1900 census suggests September 1882.
- Blossom Dearie (28 April 1924): Sometimes given as 1926; most obituaries say 1924.
Birth dates checked against standard references. Where sources disagree, we use the most widely cited date and say so. Spotted an error or a missing name? Let us know.