The Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz, 1900-1950. Arlington House, 1974. Four volumes of which volumes two and three contain biographies. Musicians are generally listed by their working names with nicknames and real names supplied in parentheses. Full birth dates and death dates are given.
Dates are generally accurate.
Contains some foreign names, but not really strong in that area. Entries for groups as well. Because of its age, not a good source for today's jazz names. Volume four contains an index. Larkin, Colin, ed.