This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1931.

Events

Standards

Deaths

June 14 – Jimmy Blythe, jazz and boogie woogie pianist (born 1901).

July 4 – Buddie Petit, jazz cornetist (born 1897). 23 – Jimmy Harrison, American jazz trombonist (born 1900).

August 6 – Bix Beiderbecke, American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer (born 1903).

November 4 – Buddy Bolden, cornetist (born 1877).

Births

January 1 – Rose Brennan, Irish singer. 2 – Frank Marocco, American piano-accordionist (died 2012). 3 – John Jenkins, American saxophonist (died 1993). 5 Alfred Brendel, Austrian pianist, poet and author. Dizzy Reece, Jamaican trumpeter. 6 – Keith Christie, English trombonist (died 1980). 9 – Carson Smith, American upright bassist (died 1997). 12 – Roland Alphonso, Jamaican tenor saxophonist (died 1998). 14 – Caterina Valente, Italian singer, guitarist, dancer, and actress. 19 – Horace Parlan, American pianist and composer (died 2017). 20 – Hachidai Nakamura, Japanese songwriter and pianist (died 1992). 22 – Sam Cooke, American singer and songwriter (died 1964). 23 – Gianni Coscia, Italian accordionist. 30 – Gene Gammage, American drummer.

February 6 – John Pisano, American guitarist. 11 Bobby Lamb, Irish trombonist. Lionel Batiste, American singer and drummer (died 2012). 12 – Walt Groller, American accordionist (died 2023).

March 4 – Sonya Hedenbratt, Swedish singer and actress (died 2001). 11 – Allan Ganley, English drummer (died 2008). 15 D. J. Fontana, American drummer (died 2018). Theo Bophela, South African band leader, composer, pianist, arranger, and music educator (died 2017). 17 – Karel Velebný, Czech vibraphonist, pianist, and saxophonist (died 1989). 25 – Paul Motian, American drummer and percussionist (died 2011).

April 4 – Jake Hanna, American drummer (died 2010). 17 – David Axelrod, American composer and producer (died 2017). 18 – Willie Pickens, American pianist (died 2017). 22 – Joe Cuba, Puerto Rican-American conga drummer (died 2009). 27 – Krzysztof Komeda, Polish film composer and pianist (died 1969). 29 – Lonnie Donegan, Scottish guitarist, singer, and songwriter (died 2002). 30 – Dick Twardzik, American pianist (died 1955).

May 1 – Ira Sullivan, American trumpeter, flugelhornist, flautist, and saxophonist (died 2020). 2 – Richard Holmes, American organist (died 1991). 4 Ed Cassidy, American drummer (died 2012). Richard Williams, American trumpeter (died 1985). 7 – Teresa Brewer, American singer (died 2007). 9 – Raymond Berthiaume, Canadian singer (died 2009). 11 – Freddie Roach, American Hammond B3 organist (died 1980). 14 – Alvin Lucier, American composer of experimental music and sound installations (died 2021). 16 – Walt Dickerson, American vibraphonist (died 2008). 17 Dewey Redman, American saxophonist (died 2006). Jackie McLean, American alto saxophonist (died 2006). 20 – Louis Smith, American trumpeter (died 2016) 27 – Diz Disley, Anglo-Canadian guitarist (died 2010). 31 – Dick Garcia, American guitarist.

June 2 – Ronnie Bedford, American drummer (died 2014). 7 – Mike Pratt, English actor, musician, songwriter, and screenwriter (died 1976). 10 – João Gilberto, Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist (died 2019). 13 – Georges Arvanitas, French pianist and organist (died 2005). 14 – Junior Walker, American saxophonist (died 1995). 17 – Dominic Frontiere, American composer, arranger, and accordionist (died 2017). 19 – Phil Bates, English upright bassist. 30 – Andrew Hill, American pianist and composer (died 2007).

July 6 – Della Reese, American singer (died 2017). 11 – Tab Hunter, American actor, singer, and author (died 2018). 13 – Long John Hunter, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter (died 2016). 21 Plas Johnson, American tenor saxophonist. Sonny Clark, American pianist (died 1963). 26 – Patti Bown, American pianist and singer (died 2008). 31 – Kenny Burrell, American guitarist.

August 15 – Terry Pollard, American pianist and vibraphonist (died 2009). 17 – Derek Smith, British pianist (died 2016). 20 Alain Goraguer, French pianist (died 2023). Frank Capp, American drummer (died 2017).

September 1 – Willie Ruff, American French hornist and upright bassist. 2 – Clifford Jordan, American tenor saxophonist (died 1993). 5 – Richie Powell, American pianist (died 1956). 7 – Makanda Ken McIntyre, American saxophonist (died 2001). 8 – Marion Brown, American saxophonist and ethnomusicologist (died 2010). 10 – Franco Manzecchi, Italian drummer (died 1979). 16 – Jan Johansson, Swedish pianist (died 1968). 27 – Thandi Klaasen, South African singer (died 2017). 28 – John Gilmore, American saxophonist (died 1995).

October 14 – Duško Gojković, Serbian trumpeter and composer (died 2023). 15 – Freddy Cole, American singer and pianist (died 2020). 27 – Sonny Dallas, American bassist and singer (died 2009). 28 – Harold Battiste, American saxophonist, pianist, and composer (died 2015).

November 1 – Leon Spencer, American organist (died 2012). 2 – Phil Woods, American alto saxophonist and clarinetist (died 2015). 5 – Harold McNair, Jamaican saxophonist and flautist (died 1971). 17 – Wayne Andre, American trombonist (died 2003). 23 – Gloria Lynne, American singer (died 2013). 25 – Nat Adderley, American trumpeter (died 2000). 30 – Jack Sheldon, American trumpeter, singer, and actor (died 2019).

December 1 Jimmy Lyons, American saxophonist (died 1986). Johnny Răducanu, Romanian pianist (died 2011). 2 – Wynton Kelly, Jamaican-American pianist and composer (died 1971). 14 – Phineas Newborn Jr., American pianist (died 1989). 21 – David Baker, American symphonic jazz composer (died 2016). 24 – Ray Bryant, American pianist and composer (died 2011). 27 – Walter Norris, American pianist and composer (died 2011). 31 – Gil Mellé, American saxophonist and film composer (died 2004).

References

External links History Of Jazz Timeline: 1931 at All About Jazz