THELONIOUS MONK
(1917 - 1982)
(born October 21, 1917, Rocky Mount, North
Carolina;
died February 17, 1982, Weehawken, New Jersey)
Pianist,
composer, arranger, leader. Born in Rocky Mount,
North Carolina, ca. 1918. Monk was a self-taught
pianist who emerged as a major force in jazz after the
death of Charlie Parker. Monk was a member of
the adventurous musicians who liked to gather at
Minton's in Harlem and who contributed to the birth of
bebop.
Monk's distinctive, if
untutored, piano stylings made him one of the most
influencial members of this handful of pioneers.
Until he set out on his own, as
soloist, or as the leader of small jazz groups, Monk
played in the bands of Lucky Millinder and Coleman
Hawkins.
Widespread recognition came to
Monk ca. the mid 1950s, when he led his quartet and
made several recordings - "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,"
"I Should Care," - and jazz concert appearances in
the United States and abroad, from Europe to Japan.
Edward Jablonski - The Encyclopedia of American
Music
|
MY
MUSICAL
LIFE
By Carl
P. McConnell
Mabel
McConnell talks about the Carter Family,
Doc & Carl,
The
Original Virginia Boys and the early days of
radio.
|
