Miles Davis

Who: Miles Davis

When did he live: May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991

What did he do: He was and African-American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer

Where is he from/where did he live: Davis was born in Alton, Illinois to an affluent family.  He grew up in East St. Louis and also spent some time in Arkansas, where his family owned a large ranch. He began studying music at 13 with trumpet lessons and was playing professionally by 16.  In 1944, he was asked to join the Billy Eckstine band, with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker as a temporary replacement for Buddy Anderson, who was ill at the time. After graduating high school, Davies moved to New York City to study at Juilliard, but dropped out because he felt too much emphasis was placed on classical European music.  He began working as a club musician and eventually joined Charlie Parker’s quintet. Artistic and personal conflict led him to leave the quintet after a few years.

Why is he remembered: Davis is considered one of the greatest innovators in jazz, having played a role in every major development in jazz from the 1940’s forward, including hard bop, bebop, cool jazz, modal, fusion, third stream, jazz-funk and jazz rap.   He was also influential in rock music. His album Kind of Blue is the best selling jazz album of all time and was recognized by Congress as a “masterpiece…reaffirming jazz as a national treasure.”  His approach, based in the African-American performance tradition, focusing on individual expression, emphatic interaction and creative response to shifting contents, has had an impact on jazz musicians for generations.

Awards and Honors 

• Winner, Down Beat Reader's Poll Best Trumpet Player 1955, 1957, & 1971
• Winner of 9 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990
• Doctor of Music, honoris causa (1986; New England Conservatory)
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1990)
• Australian Film Institute Award for Best Original Music Score for Dingo, shared with Michel Legrand (1991)
• Knighted into the Legion of Honor (July 16, 1991; Paris)
• Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (February 19, 1998)
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction (March 13, 2006)
• Hollywood's Rockwalk Induction (September 28, 2006)
• RIAA Quadruple Platinum for Kind of Blue
• St. Louis Walk of Fame