Miles of Jazz

Jazz Day…

while I do like jazz,

I have blogged

about jazz before… 

 So, I don’t feel

like learning more

about Jazz today. 

 Instead, I might learn

about Miles Davis,

Jazz Musician…

born on the 26^th of May 1926.

  He died on the 28^th

of September 1991.

Miles was given his first

trumpet when he was

13 years old…

He started playing gigs

 in local bars

while he was still in high school

and, by 16

he was playing out-of-town gigs.

 His music career was taking off…

He wanted to head

to New York to play

with two musicians he idolised…

so he applied and was accepted

 in to the Juilliard School in 1944.

 He was 18.

He only lasted at the school

 for a year before quitting

and playing jazz for a living.

Miles had a huge impact

on the world of jazz.

He was influential,

or at least involved

in every development

of jazz music,

throughout his career. 

He was a bandleader

and a composer. 

Miles received nine

Grammy Awards.

In the early 1950s

a heroin addiction

 impacted negatively on his music.

  He managed to fight it

and was clean by 1954.  

More music was made…

More changes were inspired…

By 1975,

he was addicted to

cocaine and alcohol.

In 1979, he married

 Cicely Tyson –

the woman who helped him

 get clean.

Miles continued to play

until he died, aged 65.

His last Grammy

was awarded after his death.

 Miles’ career lasted

for 50 years.

Impressive.

  Photos from here and here.