September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987
Bernard “Buddy” Rich played the drums. He played the drums really, really well. He had a temper. He (allegedly) liked to fire musicians in the middle of sets if the need arose. He played with all the big names like Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. He also led his own bands. And he had a bit of a temper.
April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington began playing piano at the age of 7 and never looked back. He wrote his first song at 15 and went on to become one of the most influential and prolific artists in American music at large, let alone within the genre with which he was most closely associated: Jazz. Nicknamed “Duke” because of his swagger and the way he dressed – even at a young age – Ellington led his orchestra for nearly a half century. He gained national exposure while playing on the radio from Harlem’s famed Cotton Club in the late 1920s. He wrote and recorded songs at a near unprecedented pace. He worked with greats in all genres from Frank Sinatra (Francis A. & Edward K.) to Louis Armstrong and constantly stretched himself into new musical territory.
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May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991
I could go on and on about the impact that Miles Dewey Davis III had on not only jazz, but popular music in general. I could list his accolades and triumphant successes like Milestones, Bitches Brew, On the Corner and his magnum opus, Kind of Blue. I could talk about the Grammys. I could talk about the cocaine use, short temper and contentious relationships with the press, critics and fellow musicians (like fellow Hard-Bopper, Thelonious Monk). But, why bother when we can both just sit and spend the next 9 1/2 minutes listening to this: Continue reading
January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012
Aaaat Laaaaaaaast….
The opening words of Etta James’ (born, Jamesetta Hawkins) classic ballad “At Last” are unmistakable. James was a prolific singer whose career covered and influenced nearly every genre imaginable. She won six Grammys, a host of other awards and was an 1993 inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Whether she was belting Jazz, R&B, Gospel or straight Blues, Etta was without equal. Continue reading
October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982
Thelonious Sphere Monk was a composer and pianist known for his improvisational and dissonant jazz stylings. His distinctive style (in both music and fashion) set him apart from many of his contemporaries. With popular recordings such as “Round Midnight” and “Straight, No Chaser,” Monk’s career would span four decades and inspire countless musicians and fans.
April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959
A revolutionary Jazz vocalist known to many as “Lady Day,” Billie Holiday had no equal. Her life was filled with hardship and drama from the beginning:
Underage prostitution? Check.
Drugs and alcohol? Check.
Abusive relationships? Check.
Married to a mafia enforcer? Check.
Arrested in a drug raid of her hospital room as she lay dying? Check.
She crammed a lot of life, both good and bad, into 44 brief years.
April 25, 1918 – June 15, 1996
A celebrated jazz vocalist, “Lady Ella” Fitzgerald was known as the “Queen of Jazz” and the “First Lady of Song.” She earned 13 Grammy awards as well as a number of other honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Ella’s unmistakable voice is often praised for its pure tone and flawless diction.
Celebrity Graveland 