October 25, 1926 James Edward “Jimmy” Heath, jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1948, at the age of 21, Heath performed in the First International Jazz Festival in Paris. He has performed with nearly all the jazz greats of the last 50 years, including Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Milt Jackson, […]
Tag Archives | composer
October 21st in African American History – John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie
October 21, 1917 John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie, jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer, was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. By the age of 12, Gillespie had taught himself to play the piano, trombone, and trumpet and he took his first professional job at 18. Together with Charlie Parker, Gillespie was a major figure in the development […]
October 15th in African American History – Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti (Fela Kuti)
October 15, 1938 Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti (Fela Kuti), multi-instrumentalist, composer, and human rights activist, was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria. In 1958, Fela was sent to London, England to study medicine, but decided to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music. In 1963, he moved back to Nigeria and formed a band. In […]
October 9th in African American History – Milton Jackson
October 9, 1999 Milton Jackson, jazz vibraphonist and composer, died. Jackson was born January 1, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan. He was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie who hired him for his sextet in 1946. Around 1950, Jackson formed his own group, the Milt Jackson Quartet which in 1952 was renamed the Modern Jazz Quartet.
October 1st in African American History – Youssou N’Dour
October 1, 1959 Youssou N’Dour, singer, composer, and entrepreneur, was born in Dakar, Senegal. N’Dour began performing at the age of 12 and within a couple of years was performing with the most popular group in Dakar. In 1979, he formed his own ensemble which by 1981 had evolved into Super Etoile de Dakar, the […]
September 28th in African American History – Miles Dewey Davis III
September 28, 1991 Miles Dewey Davis III, jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer, died. Davis was born May 26, 1926 in Alton, Illinois. By the age of 16, Davis was a member of the musical society and playing professionally. In 1944, he moved to New York City to study at the Juilliard School of Music. In […]
September 7th in African American History – Theodore Walter “Sonny” Rollins
September 7, 1930 Theodore Walter “Sonny” Rollins, jazz tenor saxophonist and composer, was born in New York City. Rollins received his first saxophone at 13 and first recorded in 1949. By 1954, Rollins had recorded with such jazz giants as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Thelonious Monk. By 1956, Rollins was leading his own groups […]