Miles DavisBy: Jane R., Amillio T., Maria S.

Miles Davis-Miles Davis is a world renowned Jazz trumpet

player and composer, who is considered an

influential musician within the genre of Jazz in

the 20th century.

-Miles is African American.

-His new sound and innovation made

advancements and brought new ideas into the

world of Jazz music, which helped him stand

apart from others, as well as succeed in his field.

Life and Family-Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in East St.Louis Illinois and

lived with his father Miles, mother Cleota Mae, older sister

Dorothy Mae, and younger brother Vernon.

-His father was a dentist and his mother a music teacher and

violinist. His father introduced him to a trumpet when he was 13

years old and despite his mother’s disapproval, continued to play,

and grew into a world renowned musician on this instrument.

-Davis lived to 65 years of age, and passed away on September

28th, 1991, in Santa Monica, California.

Where He Has Lived:- Miles was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois.

- At the age of 13, in 1939, his family moved to East St.

Louis, Illinois where he lived out the rest of his

childhood.

- Davis was accepted into Juilliard for college and moved

to New York City to attend school. He loved the Jazz

scene in New York and lived most of his life here. (25

years)

- He also traveled to Paris for a small amount of time, and

loved the people and open mindedness of the city.

Education- Miles Davis was first taught by

a man named Elwood

Buchanan as a teenager.

- Then when he was 18, he left

for a very highly held and

renowned music school,

Juilliard, in Manhattan.

- However, a year later he left

school to pursue being a full

time jazz performer.

His Music Career -Miles Davis became famous as a Jazz trumpet

player when he was young, and left Juilliard to play

in Charlie Parker’s quintet for about 4 years.

-When he was still young, he signed with Columbia

Records which helped boost his rise to fame.

-He went on to release around 51 studio albums

throughout his career, and used new sounds within

his music that challenged traditional Jazz standards.

This is especially shown in his gold record, Bitches

Brew which featured a new type of sound using

electric guitar and pianos.

Later Career- Around the time of the mid 70’s, Miles took a personal break

from his booming music career due to many things including

health complications, addiction to drugs and alcohol.

- This hiatus led to a few complications in his personal life, his

work association with Columbia among other things.

- After 5 years of hiding, and 3 of not playing, it took him a little

while to regain his skills and embouchure. He finally

reemerged in May 1980, but was hospitalized the next day.

- After another month of illness, he came out with a new album

called The Man With the Horn. This was the start of the final

stretch of his career.

-Throughout his lengthy career, Miles

Davis collaborated and worked with many

musicians and bands. Some include,

-The Charlie Parker Quintet, led by Charlie

Parker, who was also his roomate.

-Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Tommy

Potter

-Howard Mcghee and Brick Fleagle

-Many others!!!

Collaborations- Davis was also a part of many small,

yet influential jazz groups including

his own nonet, which helped to

develop the “Cool Jazz” movement.

-This group helped put new ideas out

into the world about “Cool Jazz” and

most of it’s music went into this

direction.

Why is he famous?- Miles Davis is overall famous because of his great talent in writing and

performing jazz.

- He helped pioneer new sounds within Jazz music to influence later

generations.

- More specifically, his career was boosted from early on because of his

early start playing with other great jazz musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie

and Charlie Parker

- Whether they were well known or not, people he chose to play with were

always very talented as well, that went well with his sound, and those

people often went on to be quite famous as well

Accomplishments- Some of his most famous works are:

the collection “Birth of the Cool” in

‘56, the “Kind of Blue” album in ‘59,

and 1970’s “Bitches Brew”.

- Throughout his career, Miles Davis

was awarded 8 Grammys, and

nominated for 32 in total.

- On March 13 2006, he was inducted

into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

- He was signed as a young adult with

the large record company, Columbia

Records.

Super Duper Fun Facts!!:- Miles was addicted to Heroin for about 5 years

due to depression, and according to him he was

able to just quit because he was “sick of it”.

- The record Kind of Blues has been sold more

times than another Jazz album ever!

- Miles Davis had 4 children

- He recorded and played jazz trumpet music for

around 40 years!

Miles’ Children, Gregory, Cheryl, Erin and Miles IV

Legacy -Mile’s influence and his own twists on traditional Jazz music helped

shape the sound of modern Jazz music which you hear today!

- His style included playing without vibrato, which he learned from his

lessons as a teen, and using a harmon mute.

- Although Miles recognized his talent and contribution to the Jazz

world, he once said,

“I know what i’ve done for music, but don’t call me a legend.”*

*oops, we will stop here.

A Couple of His Most Famous RecordingsHis album “Kind of Blue” featuring songs So What, Freddie Freeloader, Blue in Green,

All Blues, and Flamenco Sketches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiL0jDqjlcA

His album “Birth of the Cool” featuring songs Move, Jeru, Moon Dreams, Venus de

Milo, Budo, Deception, Godchild, Boplicity, Rocker, Israel, and Rouge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8kjOpfMBbM

Bibliography● http://www.milesdavis.com

● https://www.biography.com

● http://www.jazzhouse.org