Jazz birthdays › December
December Jazz Birthdays
Jazz musicians born in December, day by day.
This page lists 74 jazz musicians born in December, day by day. The earliest-born is Kid Ory (25 December 1886) and the most recent is Melissa Aldana (3 December 1988). The month also includes Frank Sinatra (12 December), Dave Brubeck (6 December) and Chet Baker (23 December). Underlined names link to our article about that musician.
1December
- Lou Rawlssinger · 1933
- Jaco Pastoriuselectric bass · 1951
2December
- Charlie Venturatenor saxophone, bandleader · 1916
- Wynton Kellypiano · 1931
- Toninho Hortaguitar, composer · 1948
3December
- Connee Boswellsinger · 1907
- Melissa Aldanatenor saxophone · 1988
4December
- Jim Hallguitar · 1930
- Cassandra Wilsonsinger · 1955
5December
- Egberto Gismontiguitar, piano, composer · 1947
- Enrico Pieranunzipiano · 1949
- Stefano Bollanipiano · 1972
6December
- Ira Gershwinlyricist · 1896
- Dave Brubeckpiano, composer · 1920
7December
- Louis Primatrumpet, singer, bandleader · 1910
- Tom Waitssinger-songwriter · 1949
8December
- Sammy Davis Jr.singer · 1925
- Jimmy Smithhammond organ · 1928
9December
- Donald Byrdtrumpet · 1932
- Junior Wellsblues harmonica, singer · 1934
10December
- Ray Nancetrumpet, violin, singer · 1913
- Pannonica de Koenigswarterjazz patron · 1913
11December
- Big Mama Thorntonblues singer · 1926
- McCoy Tynerpiano · 1938
12December
- Frank Sinatrasinger · 1915
- Grover Washington Jr.saxophone · 1943
- Tony Williamsdrums · 1945
13December
- Ben Tuckerdouble bass, composer · 1930
14December
- Clark Terrytrumpet, flugelhorn · 1920
- Cecil Paynebaritone saxophone · 1922
- Phineas Newborn Jr.piano · 1931
15December
- Stan Kentonpiano, bandleader · 1911
- Barry Harrispiano, educator · 1929
- Eddie Palmieripiano, bandleader · 1936
16December
- Joe Farrelltenor saxophone, flute · 1937
- John Abercrombieguitar · 1944
- Robben Fordguitar · 1951
17December
- Sy Olivertrumpet, arranger · 1910
- James Bookerpiano · 1939
18December
- Fletcher Hendersonpiano, bandleader, arranger · 1897
- Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinsonalto saxophone, singer · 1917
- Harold Landtenor saxophone · 1928
19December
- Professor Longhairpiano, singer · 1918
- Bob Brookmeyervalve trombone, arranger · 1929
- Bobby Timmonspiano, composer · 1935
20December
- Arne Domnérusalto saxophone, clarinet · 1924
- Larry Willispiano · 1942
21December
- Hank Crawfordalto saxophone · 1934
- Frank Zappaguitar, composer · 1940
- John Hickspiano · 1941
22December
- Lil Greenblues singer · 1901
- Joe Lee Wilsonsinger · 1935
23December
- Chet Bakertrumpet, singer · 1929
- Frank Morganalto saxophone · 1933
- Esther Phillipssinger · 1935
24December
- Baby Doddsdrums · 1898
- Ray Bryantpiano · 1931
- Woody Shawtrumpet · 1944
25December
- Kid Orytrombone, bandleader · 1886
- Cab Callowaysinger, bandleader · 1907
- Don Pullenpiano, organ · 1941
26December
- Monty Budwigdouble bass · 1929
- John Scofieldguitar · 1951
27December
- Bunk Johnsontrumpet · 1889
- Walter Norrispiano · 1931
28December
- Earl Hinespiano, bandleader · 1903
- Ed Thigpendrums · 1930
- Michel Petruccianipiano · 1962
29December
- Joe Lovanotenor saxophone · 1952
- Danilo Pérezpiano, composer · 1965
30December
- Stan Traceypiano, composer · 1926
- Jerry Granellidrums · 1940
31December
- Jonah Jonestrumpet · 1909
- Gil Mellésaxophone, composer · 1931
Disputed December birth dates
- Ben Tucker (13 December 1930): AllMusic gives 1931; Wikipedia gives 1930.
- Stan Kenton (15 December 1911): His parents told him he was born on 19 February 1912 (the date on his grave); his birth certificate confirms 15 December 1911.
- Larry Willis (20 December 1942): Wikipedia’s 1940 in jazz list gives 1940; his own article and his age at death (76 in 2019) give 1942.
- Lil Green (22 December 1901): Year disputed: Wikipedia follows researchers who chose 1901 from the 1910 census; other sources give 1905, 1910 or 1919.
- Bunk Johnson (27 December 1889): He gave his birth year as 1879, but his 1937 Social Security application says 1889, which most writers accept.
- Earl Hines (28 December 1903): Hines himself sometimes gave 1905; most sources agree on 1903.
- Jonah Jones (31 December 1909): The New York Times obituary gave his age as 91, which would imply 1908; Wikipedia gives 1909.
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.