Miles Davis

Miles Davis was born in 1926 and grew up in East St. Louis, where he began playing the trumpet at age 13. By the time he was 15, Davis was already playing professionally in local jazz groups. After high school, Davis moved to New York to attend the Institute of Musical Art and search out his idol, Charlie Parker. From 1945 until the mid-1950s, Davis played alongside bebop greats, including Parker, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Horace Silver and J. J. Johnson. Davis, however, was always an innovator and began leaving bop to explore more expressive musical avenues.

In 1955, Davis formed a quintet with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones and John Coltrane; in the early 1960s, the group also included Bill Evans, Winton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb and Rollins. With the help of these musicians, Davis pioneered cool jazz and later modal jazz; his 1959 release "Kind of Blue" epitomized the modal jazz movement and is considered by many to be the quintessential jazz album.

In 1964, Davis formed his second quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams and Wayne Shorter and continued to push the boundaries of modern jazz. In the late 1960s, Davis experimented with an expanded group and electric instrumentation. His 1969 double album "Bitches Brew" is considered the first jazz-rock "fusion" album.

Davis continued playing until the mid-1970s, when he was forced to retire for health reasons. During the 1980s, Davis returned to the music scene, but his new sound was not met with much enthusiasm. Even so, through his powerful melodies and persistent, innovative drive, Davis is remembered as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the past half-century.