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- Charlie Parker. Famously called Yardbird or Bird, Charlie Parker was an American jazz saxophonist who significantly contributed to the genre’s growth in the music scene.
- Dizzy Gillespie. Born in 1917 in South Carolina, Dizzy Gillespie, whose real name was John, was a jazz trumpeter who rose to fame during the 1940s. Most people knew him for his big cheeks, which puffed out as he played the trumpet.
- Miles Davis. Illinois native Miles Davis was arguably one of the most influential jazz musicians and could play the trumpet with a unique style. Born in 1926, Davis left home and moved to New York to attend Juilliard.
- Ella Fitzgerald. Called First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald was acclaimed for her vocal strength and distinctive voice, which sounded like an instrument when doing scat improvisations.
- Miles Davis
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Charlie Parker
- John Coltrane
- Chet Baker
- Billie Holiday
- Stan Getz
- Oscar Peterson
- Sarah Vaughan
- Thelonious Monk
Hailing from Alton, Illinois, Miles Daviselevated the trumpet to the forefront of American culture, and his contributions to the genre are undeniable. Davis received his first trumpet at age ten and wasted no time putting his indelible signature onto the instrument. By age 15, he was already playing professionally with St. Louis-area bands. By age ...
Known as the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgeraldwas born and raised in Newport News, Virginia. She’s regarded as one of the most famous American female vocalists of all time and a tremendous influence on the vocalists who followed her. During a tumultuous childhood, Fitzgerald found solace in song and dance. At age 17, she won first prize at one of...
Originating from Kansas City, Charlie “Bird” Parkeris a legendary jazz saxophonist whose influence within jazz far eclipsed his short time on earth. Parker died far too young, at age 35, but left behind a prolific catalog and a framework for other jazz saxophonists to follow. Parker is known best for pioneering the style of bebop—a fast, virtuous, ...
While John Coltranebegan playing music in his younger teens in Hamlet, North Carolina, it wasn’t until his 17th birthday that he received his first saxophone. Seeing Charlie Parker for the first time in 1945 lit a fire inside him, and he began striving for greatness. Coltrane’s contributions to jazz are many, and he applied himself to his craft in ...
The Prince of Cool, Chet Baker, was a prolific jazz trumpet player who helped pioneer the sound of the West Coast and cool jazz. Baker’s performance career began in the late 1940s, playing with legends like Vido Musso and Stan Getz before joining up with Charlie Parker for several West Coast engagements. Baker later settled with Gerry Mulligan’s qu...
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Billie Holidayis among the most prolific singers of all time, a constant innovator who left an indelible mark on jazz and pop music. After a chance meeting with Brunswick record producer John Hammond, he arranged Holiday’s recording debut with Benny Goodman, solidifying the young singer as a force in jazz. Holida...
Pennsylvania-born Stan Getzwas a legendary tenor saxophonist whose tone was so ubiquitous to the era that he was often called the Sound. Getz began playing saxophone at age 13 and was poised for a career as a musician long before finishing high school. As a teenager, Getz played alongside Nat King Cole and Lionel Hampton, and while still in his 20s...
While jazz is considered an American art form, Canadian musician Oscar Peterson may be the greatest piano player in history. Peterson began playing trumpet and piano by age five but focused exclusively on the piano after a bout of tuberculosis robbed him of his ability to play the trumpet. Peterson’s catalog was exceptionally prolific, appearing on...
The Newark, New Jersey, star Sarah “Sassy” Vaughanmight not have reached the meteoric heights of Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday. Still, she’s undoubtedly one of the preeminent female jazz vocalists and arguably the greatest jazz singer ever. Vaughan began her career in the early 1940s as a singer and piano player, and shortly after, she was disc...
Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Thelonious Monkwas the most colorful musician in the history of jazz piano. His contributions to the genre are still felt today. He is best known for his signature improvisational style, which features dramatic pauses and stops, characterized by his highly percussive attack. Monk contributed many jazz standards,...
- Dave Brubeck. First on our list, Dave Brubeck pioneered the use of unusual time signatures in jazz. While most songs on the charts have two, three, or four beats per measure, songs from the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s 1959 album Time Out featured no songs in 4/4.
- Miles Davis. Legendary jazz trumpet player and composer Miles Davis played a huge role in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He also had a distinctive playing style, which often included the use of mutes and minimalist solos.
- John Coltrane. Saxophonist John Coltrane is widely considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of jazz, not just in the 1960s.
- Charles Mingus. Bass player Charles Mingus revolutionized the way the upright bass was utilized in jazz. He often bowed his bass and played it as a solo instrument, liberating it from its usual spot in the rhythm section, tied to the drummer.
- Charles Waring
- Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) Born in Newport News, Virginia, Ella Fitzgerald earned the title “The First Lady Of Song” due to her peerless vocal abilities.
- Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Between 1927 and 1974, Washington DC-born Duke Ellington commanded one of the finest ensembles in jazz. A pianist by trade – he played in a unique staccato style – Ellington made his name performing at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club in the late 20s where his orchestra helped to usher in the big band swing movement.
- Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) Nicknamed “Satchmo” or “Pops,” New Orleans-born Louis Armstrong was one of jazz’s most significant founding fathers and played a profoundly influential role in exporting the music to other parts of the world.
- Miles Davis (1926-1991) A trumpeter and bandleader from East St. Louis, Illinois, Miles Davis is arguably the most influential jazz musician of all time.
Aug 23, 2023 · Frank Sinatra's career in the 1940s-90s transcended jazz, influencing popular music. His albums "In the Wee Small Hours" and "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!" are classics, and his Rat Pack shows are legendary. Sinatra's acting career, philanthropy, and connections to political figures add to his multifaceted legacy. He passed away in 1998.
Aug 23, 2024 · Dave Brubeck: A pioneering American jazz pianist and composer known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s, especially with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He is famous for Cool Jazz pieces like “Take Five.”. Stan Getz: An American tenor saxophonist, prominent in the 1950s and 1960s during the Cool Jazz era.
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Oct 17, 2024 · 29. Elvin Jones. Born: 1927. Rising to prominence in the post-bop jazz era Elvin Jones is, quite rightly, best known for his work on one the most famous jazz albums of all time : John Coltrane’s Love Supreme – along with Jimmy Garrison on bass and McCoy Tyner on piano.
