Sir Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music.
Born: May 26, 1926, Alton, IL
Died: September 28, 1991, Santa Monica, CA
Movies: Scrooged, Dingo, Miles Davis: Live in Munich, Miles Davis: That's What Happened: Live in Germany 1987
Spouse: Cicely Tyson (m. 1981–1988), Betty Davis (m. 1968–1969), Frances Davis (m. 1958–1968)
Children: Cheryl Davis, Erin Davis, Gregory Davis, Miles Davis IV
Born: May 26, 1926, Alton, IL
Died: September 28, 1991, Santa Monica, CA
Movies: Scrooged, Dingo, Miles Davis: Live in Munich, Miles Davis: That's What Happened: Live in Germany 1987
Spouse: Cicely Tyson (m. 1981–1988), Betty Davis (m. 1968–1969), Frances Davis (m. 1958–1968)
Children: Cheryl Davis, Erin Davis, Gregory Davis, Miles Davis IV
John William Coltrane, also known as "Trane", was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and was later at the forefront of free jazz. Wikipedia
Born: September 23, 1926, Hamlet, NC
Died: July 17, 1967, Huntington, NY
Spouse: Alice Coltrane (m. 1966–1967), Juanita Naima Grubbs (m. 1955–1966)
Children: Ravi Coltrane, Oranyan Coltrane, John Coltrane Jr.
Born: September 23, 1926, Hamlet, NC
Died: July 17, 1967, Huntington, NY
Spouse: Alice Coltrane (m. 1966–1967), Juanita Naima Grubbs (m. 1955–1966)
Children: Ravi Coltrane, Oranyan Coltrane, John Coltrane Jr.
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death in a career spanning over fifty years.
Born: April 29, 1899, Washington, D.C.
Died: May 24, 1974, New York City, NY
Education: Armstrong High School
Born: April 29, 1899, Washington, D.C.
Died: May 24, 1974, New York City, NY
Education: Armstrong High School
Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley was a jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s.
Born: September 15, 1928, Tampa, FL
Died: August 8, 1975, Gary, IN
Spouse: Olga James (m. 1962–1975)
Siblings: Nat Adderley
Born: September 15, 1928, Tampa, FL
Died: August 8, 1975, Gary, IN
Spouse: Olga James (m. 1962–1975)
Siblings: Nat Adderley
Louis Armstrong, nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American trumpeter, composer, singer and occasional actor who was one of the most influential figures in jazz.
Born: August 4, 1901, New Orleans, LA
Died: July 6, 1971, Corona, New York City, NY
Spouse: Lucille Wilson (m. 1942–1971), More
Nicknames: Satchmo, Ambassador Satch, Dipper, Dippermouth, Pops, Satch
Born: August 4, 1901, New Orleans, LA
Died: July 6, 1971, Corona, New York City, NY
Spouse: Lucille Wilson (m. 1942–1971), More
Nicknames: Satchmo, Ambassador Satch, Dipper, Dippermouth, Pops, Satch
Eleanora Fagan, professionally known as Billie Holiday, was an American jazz musician and singer-songwriter with a career spanning nearly thirty years.
Born: April 7, 1915, Philadelphia, PA
Died: July 17, 1959, New York City, NY
Movies: Lady Sings the Blues, New Orleans, Strange Fruit
Born: April 7, 1915, Philadelphia, PA
Died: July 17, 1959, New York City, NY
Movies: Lady Sings the Blues, New Orleans, Strange Fruit
Charles "Charlie" Parker, Jr., also known as Yardbird and Bird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer.
Born: August 29, 1920, Kansas City, KS
Died: March 12, 1955, New York City, NY
Movies: Norman Granz: Improvisation
Born: August 29, 1920, Kansas City, KS
Died: March 12, 1955, New York City, NY
Movies: Norman Granz: Improvisation
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer. Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "'Round Midnight", ... Wikipedia
Born: October 10, 1917, Rocky Mount, NC
Died: February 17, 1982, Englewood, NJ
Spouse: Nellie Smith (m. 1949–1982)
Siblings: Marion Barbara Monk, Thomas Monk
Born: October 10, 1917, Rocky Mount, NC
Died: February 17, 1982, Englewood, NJ
Spouse: Nellie Smith (m. 1949–1982)
Siblings: Marion Barbara Monk, Thomas Monk
Charlie Mingus was an American jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader. His compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop, drawing heavily from black gospel music and blues.
Born: April 22, 1922, Nogales, AZ
Died: January 5, 1979, Cuernavaca, Mexico
Spouse: Sue Mingus (m. 1975–1979), Celia Zaentz (m. 1951–1958), Judy Starkey (m. ?–1970)
Movies: Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968, All Night Long, More
Born: April 22, 1922, Nogales, AZ
Died: January 5, 1979, Cuernavaca, Mexico
Spouse: Sue Mingus (m. 1975–1979), Celia Zaentz (m. 1951–1958), Judy Starkey (m. ?–1970)
Movies: Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968, All Night Long, More
Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella.
Born: April 25, 1917, Newport News, VA
Died: June 15, 1996, Beverly Hills, CA
Spouse: Ray Brown (m. 1947–1953), Benny Kornegay (m. 1941–1943)
Born: April 25, 1917, Newport News, VA
Died: June 15, 1996, Beverly Hills, CA
Spouse: Ray Brown (m. 1947–1953), Benny Kornegay (m. 1941–1943)
Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley was a jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. Wikipedia
Born: September 15, 1928, Tampa, FL
Died: August 8, 1975, Gary, IN
Spouse: Olga James (m. 1962–1975)
Siblings: Nat Adderley
Born: September 15, 1928, Tampa, FL
Died: August 8, 1975, Gary, IN
Spouse: Olga James (m. 1962–1975)
Siblings: Nat Adderley
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck was an American jazz pianist and composer, considered to be one of the foremost exponents of cool jazz. He wrote a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke".
Born: December 6, 1920, Concord, CA
Died: December 5, 2012, Norwalk, CT
Spouse: Iola Whitlock (m. 1942–2012)
Music group: The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1951 – 2012)
Born: December 6, 1920, Concord, CA
Died: December 5, 2012, Norwalk, CT
Spouse: Iola Whitlock (m. 1942–2012)
Music group: The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1951 – 2012)