Scott Joplin Scott Joplin was born in 1868 in northeastern Texas. Scott Joplin is regarded as the “King of Ragtime”. He is known for his ragtime music, he wrote 44 ragtime songs including The Maple Leaf Rag which is the best-selling ragtime song. Joplin also wrote multiple operas including Guest of Honor and Treemonisha. He went to Sedalia’s George R. Smith College where he studied music and taught other ragtime musicians.
William Henry Webb, better known as Chick Webb, was born February 10, 1905 in Baltimore,Maryland. He was born with a condition in his back called spinal tuberculosis which led him to have poor health his entire life. Webb was a small hunchback man with great musical talent that people called an “unconquerable spirit”. He was one of the greatest jazz drummers of the Harlem Renaissance and still influences jazz drummers today. As a child, Webb had really stiff limbs because of his condition so his doctor suggested he play an instrument to loosen up.
Gene Krupa was sprouted from a beanstalk in Chicago, Illinois during the cold month of January. January 15th 1909 was the day a legend was born. The nature of drumming would never be the same after this legend picked up the drumsticks. Gene 's father passed away from cancer when he was in elementary school. His mother had to support his family as a milliner.
Joe King Oliver was born in New Orleans, 1885. He spent his youth as a trombonist playing in brass bands. During this time, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, and Louis Armstrong, were all born in New Orleans. All of them learned and played different instruments and had inspiration from the bands that had started playing this new genre of music. Joe King Oliver invited Armstrong to join his band in Chicago along with Sidney.
He had been recognized as a renowned saxophone player, who shared the stage with some of the legends in the music industry, such as John Lennon, George Harrison, Carly Simon, Eric Clapton, Harry Nilsson, Chuck Berry, Sheryl Crow and Buddy Holly. However, Keys cemented his name in the rock'n'roll scene when he began playing with the 'The Rolling Stones' in the 1960s. His performances with the band propelled his career to stardom. He also fostered deep relationships with the members of the band.
Ray Charles is an American singer, pianist, composer, and bandleader who is often referred to as ‘The Genius’. He earned many awards and achievements despite his vision disability. His “crossover” to pop and jazz has earned him one of the top positions on the R&B and pop charts. Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia. He commenced his musical career at the age of 5.
At the age of fifteen, Ellington wrote his first composition “Soda Fountain Rag” which was inspired by his by his job as a soda jerk. He was awarded an art scholarship to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, but he decided to play ragtime professionally at age seventeen. Two years later Ellington married Edna Thompson, his high school sweet heart. They attended Armstrong Technical High School. They had only one child; Mercer Kennedy Ellington.
Throughout his life, he’s earned honors, influential people, and made innovations to jazz. Louis Armstrong was a jazz trumpeter who faced struggles, could be described as brilliant and a leader, contributed to society, and ended up as a music legend. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901 to Mary “Mayann” Albert and boyfriend William Armstrong. Louis Armstrong grew up
He grew up in the east side of St. Louis, Missouri and went to Juilliard School (or Institute of Musical Art). His father, Miles, was a dental surgeon while is mother, Cleota, was a music teacher. When he was 13, his father introduced a trumpet to his list of talents. By the time
Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton, Illinois and he also was named after his father, being called Junior throughout his life. He tells what happened when he saw Charlie “Bird” Parker and Dizzy Guilipsee in a St. Louis nightclub playing Post-World War II style of Jazz bebop. Davis was amazed bight the revolutionary sounds of Parker and Gillespie, progressing from the ‘swing’ style of Jazz that came Pre-World War II. The bebop era and Charlie Parker would set the blueprint for Davis and others in the genre.
Charlie Parker was a famous American musician who played the saxophone, he was known as the “Yardbird” by other musicians. In the film “Celebrating the triumph of Charlie Parker”, I learned that Charlie was born in the year of 1920 in Kansas City, Kansas. Charlie began to play the saxophone when we was eleven. At the age of fourteen, he had the dream of becoming the most influential figure in the 20th century music. He was leading a revolution in modern jazz music when he was twenty years old.
He became a teacher with a degree from Hampton Institute. After graduating, he taught children during the day and adults at night. Some might say he was “tasked” with this little negro school, but Booker T. Washington called it “blessed”. Although he just graduated college, he continued to work hard and help others. There was little money and only two small buildings at the beginning of his journey there.
He went to Armstrong Musical Training school where he got his degree. During his time at Armstrong Duke Ellington started his first band Sextet, where he wrote his first song, “Soda Fountain Rag”. He would play at nightclubs for small amounts of money, but he did not
Steve LillyWhite When an album creates a sensation with rock audiences and music critics, the band or musician tends to receive the credit. Quite often, however, many people behind the scenes craft the quality of the product. Steve Lillywhite has worked behind a string of great albums by various bands. The producer of some of the most successful albums from such internationally acclaimed artists as U2, the Talking Heads, and the Rolling Stones. Lillywhite shaped several of the musical milestones of the 1980s.
"Satchmo," "Pops," and "Ambassador Satch" were names for an outstanding jazz artist that inspired many. He was one of the most important musicians in jazz. He helped to transform the traditional New Orleans style into a completely different form of jazz. Louis Daniel Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana in a very poor neighborhood. His father, a laborer, abandoned the family when he was young, and his mother was an irresponsible single parent.
