Biography of Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis the Third was a musician; composer; genius. Davis wrote a large portion of the music he played and he did not care what people thought about his music. “Do not fear mistakes, there are none.” (Miles Davis 29). The amount of skill Davis must have had to keep on creating new, original, different music is far beyond many people. Davis is one of the main contributing factors to change jazz. He, alone, has made his own style, the “Cool Jazz” genre (Karl Scarborough 26). Davis is surely one of the reasons I believe jazz is here to stay for a long time, and Davis thought so too. In Davis’ life, he has done many great things and experienced some good things as well as some bad things. Davis is a man whom, one might say, has “seen in all.” Even his childhood was different than most people born in the ‘20s and ‘30s.
Davis was born the 26th of May, 1926 in Alton Illinois (John Szwed 13). Davis has one sister, Dorothy Davis, and one brother, Vernon Davis. Davis’ father is Miles Dewey Davis the Second. Davis’ mother is Cleota Henry Davis. Davis married Betty Davis and had four children, three sons and one daughter. Miles Dewey Davis the Fourth, Gregory Davis, Erin Davis and Cheryl Davis (Quincy Troupe 9). Davis did not have the best relationship with his mother (Jack Chambers 25). They both liked to control things which they could not do at the same time (John Szwed 13). Although Da-vis was controlling, he was also shy as a child (John Szwed
Miles Davis was one of the greatest and most important figures in jazz history. Miles Dewey Davis III was a musician, composer, arranger, producer and bandleader all in one. Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz after World War 2. He was one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the twentieth century along with Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong. His versatility landed him at the forefront of bebop, cool jazz, modal, hard bop and fusion (Kirker, 2005:1). His sound went on to influence many other newer forms of music today such as pop, soul, R&B, funk and rap. As one of the last trumpet players, Davis employed a lyrical, melodic style that was known for its minimalism as well
Jazz to me is one of the inherent expressions of Negro life in America: the eternal tom-tom beating in the Negro soul-the tom-tom of revolt against weariness in a white world, a world of subway trains, and work, work; the tom-tom of joy and laughter, and pain swallowed in a smile. Yet the Philadelphia club woman , turns up her nose at jazz and all its manifetations-likewise almost anything else distinctly racial... She wants the artist to flatter her, to make the white world believe that all Negroes are as smug and as near white in soul as she wants to be. But, to my mind, it is the duty of the younger Negro artist, to change through the force of his art that old whispering "I want to be white, hidden in the aspirations of his people, to "Why should I want to he white? I am Negro-and beautiful"
He was important because he was a nine-time grammy awards. Miles Davis change of music styles was with his own personal experiences. It was a reflection within the civil rights time.Miles fought against the civil rights by making music for the community. After putting up a fight, he didn’t notice that he became an iconic symbol of strength and power within the Black community. Because of Miles Davis childhood, it let him become an innovator! It let him change the course of jazz. Miles Davis was beaten by a white police officer, after he help a white woman into a taxi. After this incident happened, it led him to change his music personality and style. He really believed that making this change he realizes that he could use his influence of music on a political scale. He also stood for a movement of the black power. Miles was on a journey to bring power to, relate to, and bring the truth to the black
Who was Miles Davis and why was he such an important element in the music of Jazz? Miles Davis, as we would know him, was born Miles Dewey Davis in Alton, Illinois on the 25th of May 1926 to a middle-class black family.. A couple of years later, Miles went on to St. Louis where he grew up. Since he was a youngster, Miles' hobby was to collect records and play them over without getting tired of them. Since his family knew Miles was so interested in the music of his time, primarily Jazz, for his thirteenth birthday Miles received his first trumpet, although he had been playing since the age of nine. With this Miles began to practice and play his trumpet along with his records. Who would have known that just three years later, at the
Louis Armstrong's diversity and adaptability is widely recognized as one of the most influential aspect in jazz music. Louis Armstrong's musical influence is still the fundamental base for modern jazz today. "Louis Armstrong is jazz. He represents what the music is all about.” — Wynton Marsalis perfectly sums up his contributions. His diversity sets him apart from other jazz artists because he managed to stay relevant throughout different musical eras like, the ENOJ era, The Swing Era, Blues etc., until the end of his career. The accomplishments he has achieved throughout his life and the hardships he has gone through has shaped his persona, contributing to how he will become as an artist. His instrumental style, singing, career throughout musical eras, accomplishments, and etc., contribute to how adaptable and diverse he is.
Miles Davis represents the pinnacle of modern American Jazz. He was one of the foremost pioneers in the inventions of cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz, fusion and techno. He was, arguably one of the most influential figures in music, pushing the boundaries of what was commonly known as jazz into new directions that most people thought was impossible.
As Davis starts to tell about his life as a young boy in America, he lets us know about his mother dying far too young, and him being raised by his father and aunt. David's dad is stereotype of a man and their emotions. He and his son never have a close relationship. Even when David gets hurt in an accident, his father doesn't want him to cry. He wants him to be a man, a manly man and
Born in Alton, Illinois, Miles Davis grew up in a middle-class family in East St. Louis. Miles Davis took up the trumpet at the age of 13 and was playing professionally two years later. Some of his first gigs included performances with his high school bandand playing with Eddie Randall and the blue Devils. Miles Davis has said that the greatest musical experience of his life was hearing the Billy Eckstine orchestra when it passed through St. Louis. In September 1944 Davis went to New York to study at Juilliard but spend much more time hanging out on 52nd Street and eventually dropped out of school. He moved from his home in East St. Louis to New York primarily to enter school but also to locate his musical idol,
Born on May 26, 1926, Miles Davis is considered to be one of the most influential jazz musicians in history. Being a trumpeter, keyboardist, composer, and band-leader, Miles is responsible for the popularization of many styles of jazz throughout his long and prolific career.
Nps.gov states that some of the greatest musician in America History has come from the jazz side of the world. Artist such as Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday and Jelly “Roll” Morton, pave the way for jazz to reach its height as it did in the early 20’s with the upbeat tempo and smooth classical sound. These artist brung a unique sound to jazz that was not there. Louis Armstrong contribute to jazz is so remarkable, he played the trumpet like no other. His sound was so soothing to the ears. When you think about jazz, Louis Armstrong is one of the first names most people relate to jazz. Jelly “Roll” Morton was probably the most influence artist there is. An innovative piano stylist and composer, began his odyssey outside of New Orleans as early as 1907. He continue his work throughout the 1920’s and was mainly consider the reason of the swing era.
The mystery of Jazz and its powerful impact on the music community can be explained largely by the context of it’s creation. Jazz was born in the United States, and because of this, many have referred to Jazz as “America’s music.” Like America, Jazz has a balance between structure and spontaneity. It capitalizes on the fluidity of the musicians, having several different instruments with independent spirits, coming together as one to form a great piece of music. Unlike other styles of music, Jazz has a certain way about it that makes it stand-alone in the world of genres. It improvises, moves, and transforms itself in a moment’s notice based on the musician’s intuition. Just as America harbors democracy, so too does a jazz ensemble, showing both the responsibility to a larger group, yet still allowing room for individual freedom. It all comes down to how well others can respect the overall framework and structure of the jingle.
to create new kinds of jazz. The most popular result of this trend to variety
In the 1960s as the genre became more popular icons such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis became overly remarkable successes.
Miles Davis loved the "new" Coltrane, and hired him back into his band for a third time. Davis came up with a new jazz concept, modal improvisation.
Thesis: Although Jazz music was first introduced over 80 years ago, the genre still influences artists and the new music they make to this day.