A bandleader is the director of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays either a popular music dance band or a big band, such as one which plays swing music.

Most bandleaders also were performers with their own band. Some shifted The bandleader role was dependent on a variety of skills, not just musicianship. A bandleader needed to be a music director, promoter, and performer. In general the bands were named after their bandleaders. Some bands have continued operating under their bandleaders names long after the death of the original bandleader.

Noted United States bandleaders and their instruments include:

• Les Brown - saxophone
• Cab Calloway - singer
• Jimmy Dorsey - Saxophone
• Tommy Dorsey - Trombone
• Duke Ellington - Piano
• Benny Goodman - Clarinet
• Woody Herman - Clarinet
• Glenn Miller - Trombone
• Artie Shaw - Clarinet
• Paul Whiteman - violin

British band leaders included:

• Bert Ambrose
• Acker Bilk
• Billy Cotton
• Fred Elizalde
• Spike Hughes
• Jack Hylton

Italian band leaders included:

• Renato Carosone - pianoforte
• Gorni Kramer
• Mantovani
• Pippo Barzizza