This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 1912.

• W.C. Handy wrote "The Memphis Blues", and it became a great hit, making the publishing start of the Blues.^[1]
• The singer Bessie Smith starts working as a vaudeville dancer.^[1]
• Louis Armstrong forms a vocal quartet together with some long time friends in New Orleans.^[1]

January

• 1 – Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist and percussionist (died 1986).
• 7 – Bob Zurke, American pianist, arranger, and composer (died 1944).^[2]
• 12 – Trummy Young, African-American trombonist (died 1984).
• 22 – Harry Parry, Welsh clarinetist and bandleader (died 1956).

February

• 12 – Paul Bascomb, American tenor saxophonist (died 1986).

March

• 1 – Joseph Reinhardt, French guitarist and composer (died 1982).
• 2 – Red Saunders, American drummer and bandleader (died 1981).
• 12
  • Jiří Traxler, Czech-Canadian pianist, composer, lyricist, and arranger (died 2011).
  • Paul Weston, American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor (died 1996).

April

• 2 – Herbert Mills, American singer, Mills Brothers (died 1989).
• 11 – John Levy, African-American upright bassist (died 2012).

May

• 9 – George T. Simon, American writer and drummer (died 2001).
• 13 – Gil Evans, Canadian pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader (died 1988).^[3]
• 14 – Les Brown, American bandleader (died 2001).
• 28 – Dave Barbour, American guitarist (died 1965).

June

• 15 – Alix Combelle, French tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader (died 1978).
• 26 – Clarence Profit, American pianist and composer (died 1944).^[4]

July

• 8 – Johnny Mince, American clarinetist (died 1997).
• 12 – Will Bradley, American trombonist and bandleader (died 1989).
• 27 – Asser Fagerström, Finnish pianist, composer, and actor (died 1990).

August

• 13 – Nate Kazebier, American trumpeter (died 1969).
• 26 – Léo Marjane, French singer (died 2016).

September

• 7 – Alvin Alcorn, American trumpeter (died 2003).
• 9 – Jean Omer, Belgian reedist and bandleader (died 1994).
• 27 – Erhard Bauschke, German reedist and bandleader (died 1945).
• 30 – Bill Johnson, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and arranger (died 1960).

October

• 5 – Ernst Höllerhagen, German reedist (died 1956).
• 7 – Beverly Peer, American upright bassist (died 1997).
• 13 – Nellie Lutcher, African-American singer and pianist (died 2007).^[5]
• 19 – Red Richards, American pianist (died 1998).
• 21 – Don Byas, American tenor saxophonist (died 1972).
• 27 – Gösta Törner, Swedish jazz trumpeter and bandleader (died 1982).

November

• 1 – Franz Jackson, American saxophonist and clarinetist (died 2008).
• 13 – Ted Donnelly, American trombonist (died 1958).
• 23
  • Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist, percussionist, and bandleader (died 1986).^[6]
  • Anselmo Sacasas, Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger (died 1998).
• 24 – Teddy Wilson, American pianist (died 1986).

December

• 5 – Marshall Royal, American clarinetist and alto saxophonist (died 1995).
• 6 – Paloma Efron, Argentine singer (died 1977).
• 10 – Irving Fazola, American clarinetist (died 1949).^[7]
• 24 – Anne Lenner, English singer (died 1997).
• 29 – Thore Ehrling, Swedish trumpeter, composer, and bandleader (died 1994).