Essay on John Coltrane

the beginning of his musical life, Duke began to take a promising interest in a

According to “Waylon Jennings” published by Biography.com, which states Jennings was born on June, 15th 1937. Waylon Jennings grew up in a small town Texas, where he quickly grew an interest in outlaws, and playing guitar. Jennings started playing guitar at a young age, and by the age of 12 was exploring his interest in music in many different ways, such as starting a new band and becoming a radio disk jockey. Jennings liked music enough to drop out of school to explore the

As surprising as it may seem, Nat King Cole didn't start as a singer or jazz pianist. In fact, he started out as a pianist playing religious music. At the age of four he was taught the piano by his mother. With his parents being so involved with the church. He, himself participated in church, playing the piano and singing. Eventually,

In 1916, Joplin's career came to an abrupt end. Joplin contracted syphilis and began suffering the terminal effects of this disease. He suffered from paranoia, dementia, penalization, and other symptoms. In the latter part of 1916, he was admitted to Manhattan State Hospital, a mental hospital, where he would never leave until he passed away on April 1, 1917. After his death, Joplin's body was buried in the Astoria section of Queens, New York in St. Michael's Cemetery.

from big band to bebop. He did not always want to play the piano; he also had a love for

He would arrange dance bands for weddings and parties for extra money. He put his knowledge of piano playing to use and played at a few of the dance parties and weddings. After employing his artistic talent in painting posters, Duke then decided to put together his own band.

     James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in South Carolina. He lived a life without parental guidance. His mother left him with his father when he was only 4 years old. James was often left alone while his father traveled to turpentine camps selling tar for a living. James recalls the times he spent alone walking around in the woods looking for doodlebugs, and playing

James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was very small, and his father (who found American racism made his desires to be a lawyer impossible) left the family and emigrated to Mexico. Hughes' mother moved with her child to Lawrence, Kansas, so she and he could live with his grandmother, Mary Langston.

Because of his contact with people in the New York Clubs, Miles became addicted to heroin. Because of this, in 1953, Miles returned to his father's farm and remained there until his addiction was broken. In 1954 Miles made a number of important recordings, and began to utilize the Harmon mute which darkened the sound of his trumpet. Miles used this mute throughout the rest of his career. 1955 was perhaps one of the most important years of Mile's career. Miles played one his most popular solos ever for Thelonius Monk's "Round Midnight" at the Newport Jazz Festival. Miles was almost immediately popularized and continued to sign a record deal with Columbia and form his first quintet.

Frederic Chopin, the Polish composer and pianist, was born on March 1,1810, according to the statements of the artist himself and his family, but according to his baptismal certificate, which was written several weeks after his birth, the date was 22 February. His birthplace was the village of Zelazowa Wola, part of the Duchy of Warsaw.

     Jazz is a style of music that began and has been revolutionized within the United States. Jazz music first appeared in the city of New Orleans and eventually moved onto Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and New York City. Jazz unites different elements of African, African- American, religious, brass brand, and blues style of music. The music of Jazz, and its changes through the years, is now a form of music that is known and respected throughout this nation and the world.

Paul McCartney was born June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England. His contribution in the Beatles in the 1960s helped pop music ascend from its origins in the entertainment business and morphed it into a highly respected creative commercial art form. He also remains as one of the most prominent solo performers of all time in terms of both recordings at his concerts and sales of his attendants.

After being fired from Miles Davis's band in 1957 for his chronic use of heroin, John Coltrane was hurt tremendously. He decided it was time he quit using heroin. He took a month off from music while he went "cold turkey." During this month in the early spring of 1957, Coltrane had a momentous religious experience (Nisenson, 40). Coltrane asked God to give him "the means and privilege to make others happy through music" (Coltrane, 1995, 2). As time went on, Coltrane felt that he was leading a life that was "contradictory to the pledge and away from the esteemed path" that he had made to God (Coltrane, 1995, 2). Starting with A Love Supreme (recorded in December, 1964), Coltrane stuck to

although he was a talented artist that John had met at school, he could hardly play his instrument

Over time there have been many eras of music and many genres. One could say that the Classical music, or the Romantic era has been the most significant in music history. Although those times are very important to the music world, Jazz in the early 20th century is very significant to the history of music in the United States. Next is a little bit of history and what makes Jazz music Jazz.