John Coltrane was an acclaimed American saxophonist, bandleader and composer, becoming an iconic figure of 20th-century jazz with albums like ‘Giant Steps,’ ‘My Favorite Things’ and ‘A Love Supreme.’ Continue reading Profile: John Coltrane (1926-1967)
African-American pianist Fats Waller wrote such jazz standards as “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and earned fame for his comedic radio performances in the 1930s. Synopsis Born on May 21, 1904, in New York City, Fats Waller was influenced as a teenager by jazz great James P. Johnson. He proved a gifted piano player and songwriter, delivering such jazz standards as “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” In the 1930s, Waller’s fame … Continue reading Fats Waller (1904–1943)
Synopsis Born on March 27, 1924, in Newark, New Jersey, Sarah Vaughan grew up with a love of music and performing. Winning a talent competition held at Harlem’s Apollo Theater launched her singing career. She worked with bandleaders Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine before becoming a successful solo performer who commingled pop and jazz. At age 66, Vaughan died in Hidden Hills, California, on April … Continue reading Profile: Sarah Vaughan
Born in 1917, Ella Fitzgerald turned to singing after a troubled childhood and debuted at the Apollo Theater in 1934. Discovered in an amateur contest, she went on to become the top female jazz singer for decades. In 1958, Fitzgerald made history as the first African-American woman to win a Grammy Award. Due in no small part to her vocal quality, with lucid intonation and a … Continue reading Profile: Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996)
