1937 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1937.^[1]

• Charlie Parker starts collaboration with pianist Jay McShann, and plays in his band in Kansas City from time to time until 1941.^[1]

February

• 1– Alex Hill American pianist (born 1906).

March

• 15– Ward Pinkett, American jazz trumpeter (born 1906).

July

• 11– George Gershwin, American composer and pianist (born 1898).

August

• 20– Johnny Dunn, American trumpeter and vaudeville performer (born 1897).

September

• 26– Bessie Smith, American blues singer, nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues" (car accident in Clarksdale, Mississippi) (born 1894).^[2]

January

• 1 – Neville Dickie, English pianist.
• 6 – Paolo Conte, Italian singer, pianist, composer, and lawyer.
• 9 – Malcolm Cecil, British bassist (died 2021).
• 17 – Ted Dunbar, American guitarist, composer, and educator (died 1998).
• 19 – Phil Wilson, American trombonist.
• 29 – Jeff Clyne, British bassist (died 2009).

February

• 1 – Erik Amundsen, Norwegian upright bassist (died 2015).^[3]
• 3 – Bobby Durham, American drummer (died 2008).
• 5 – Big Bill Bissonnette, American trombonist, drummer and producer (died 2018).
• 9 – Len Skeat, English upright bassist.(died 2021)
• 10 – Ed Polcer, American cornetist.
• 11 – Brian Lemon, British pianist and arranger (died 2014).
• 15
  • Kirk Lightsey, American pianist.
  • Nathan Davis, American saxophonist, flautist, and multi-instrumentalist (died 2018).^[4]
• 19
  • Fred Van Hove, Belgian pianist, accordionist, church organist, carillonist, and composer (died 2022).
  • Robert Walker, American guitarist (died 2017).
• 20 – Nancy Wilson, American singer (died 2018).
• 21 – Graham Collier, English bassist, bandleader and composer (died 2011).
• 25 – Don Randi, American keyboarder, bandleader and songwriter.

March

• 4 – Barney Wilen, French saxophonist and composer (died 1996).
• 5 – Carol Sloane, American singer (died 2023).
• 7 – Roy Williams, English trombonist.
• 12 – Janne Carlsson, Swedish drummer and actor (died 2017).
• 16 – Brian Browne, Canadian pianist and composer (died 2018).
• 20 – Eddie Shaw, American saxophonist (died 2018).^[5]
• 24 – Billy Stewart, American singer (died 1970).
• 31 – Rafig Babayev, Azerbaijani musician and composer (died 1994).

April

• 3 – Louis Satterfield, American bassist and trombonist, The Pharaohs (died 2004).
• 6 – Gene Bertoncini, American guitarist.
• 11 – Bud Brisbois, American trumpeter (died 1978).
• 13 – J. R. Mitchell, American drummer (died 2004).
• 22 – Jack Nitzsche, American saxophonist and pianist (died 2000).
• 24
  • Joe Henderson, American tenor saxophonist (died 2001).
  • Spanky DeBrest, American bassist (died 1973).

May

• 4 – Ron Carter, American upright bassist.
• 10 – Mike Melvoin, American pianist, composer, and arranger (died 2012).
• 15 – Karin Krog, Norwegian vocalist.
• 24
  • Archie Shepp, American saxophonist.
  • Charly Antolini, Swiss drummer.
• 26 – Neil Ardley, English pianist and composer (died 2004).
• 30 – Claes Andersson, Finland-Swedish pianist, psychiatrist, author, and poet (died 2019).
• 31 – Louis Hayes, American drummer.

June

• 2 – Pierre Favre, Swiss drummer and percussionist.
• 3 – Grachan Moncur III, American trombonist (died 2022).
• 4 – Mark Whitecage, American saxophonist (died 2021).
• 8 – Toni Harper, American singer (died 2023).
• 13 – Frank Strozier, American alto saxophonist.
• 14 – Burton Greene, American pianist (died 2021).
• 22 – Bernie McGann, Australian alto saxophonist (died 2013).
• 23 – Elza Soares, Brazilian singer and samba recording artist (died 2022).
• 26 – Reggie Workman, American upright bassist.
• 30 – Börje Fredriksson, Swedist tenor saxophonist (died 1968).

July

• 22 – Bob Downes, English flautist and saxophonist.
• 27 – Charlie Shoemake, American vibraphonist.
• 30 – James Spaulding, American alto saxophonist and flautist.

August

• 6
  • Baden Powell, Brazilian guitarist (died 2000).
  • Charlie Haden, American upright bassist (died 2014).
• 7 – George Bohanon, American trombonist.
• 14
  • Barbara Jay, British singer.
  • Terry Evans, American singer and guitarist (died 2018).^[6]
• 17 – Guitar Gable, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter (died 2017).
• 27 – Alice Coltrane, American pianist, organist, harpist and composer (died 2007).
• 31 – Gunter Hampel, German vibraphonist, clarinetist, saxophonist, flautist, pianist and composer.

September

• 3 – Larry Ridley, American bassist and music educator.
• 4 – Gene Ludwig, American organist (died 2010).
• 6 – Bosse Broberg, Swedish trumpeter and composer.
• 7 – Olly Wilson, American composer, pianist, double bassist, and musicologist (died 2018).
• 8 – Joe Gallivan, American drummer, percussion, and synthesizer player.
• 14 – Joseph Jarman, American saxophonist, Art Ensemble of Chicago (died 2019).^[7]
• 20 – Monica Zetterlund, Swedish singer and actress (died 2005).
• 25
  • Horace Arnold, American drummer.
  • Michael Gibbs, Rhodesian composer, trombonist, and keyboardist.
• 27 – Guido Basso, Canadian trumpeter (died 2023).

October

• 4 – Leon Thomas, American singer (died 1999).
• 19 – John Crocker, English clarinettist and saxophonist.

November

• 6 – Gordon Brisker, American tenor saxophonist (died 2004).
• 27 – Wilber Morris, American upright bassist and bandleader (died 2002).
• 30 – Miúcha, Brazilian singer and composer (died 2018).

December

• 4 – Ernie Carson, American cornetist, pianist and singer (died 2012).
• 6 – Eddie Gladden, American drummer (died 2003).
• 7 – Mike Carr, English organist, pianist and vibraphonist (died 2017).
• 11 – Beegie Adair, American pianist (died 2022).
• 16 – Joe Farrell, American saxophonist and flautist (died 1986).
• 19 – Milcho Leviev, Bulgarian composer, arranger, and pianist (died 2019.
• 24 – Bernt Rosengren, Swedist tenor saxophonist (died 2023).

Unknown date

• Barry Vercoe, Zealand-born computer scientist and composer.
• Bill Cole, American musician, professor of music, and author.
• Brad Terry, American clarinetist and whistler.
• Humberto Clayber, Brazilian composer and musician.

• 1937 in music

• History Of Jazz Timeline: 1937 at All About Jazz