MILES DAVIS

A BiographyBy James Bauman#

1

BACKGROUND

Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois in May 26, 1926.

He grew up in East St. Louis, Missouri.

He took up trumpeting at the age of 13. Two years later, he started playing professionally.

EARLY CAREER

Miles Davis moved to New York in September 1944. He went there not only to enter the Institute of Musical Art but also to locate his idol, Charlie Parker.

He joined his idol in live appearances and recording sessions, and at the same time joining big bands and touring with different groups.

RISE TO STARDOM

In 1948, Miles began to lead his own bop groups.

He also participated in an experimental workshop centered on the arranger Gil Evans.

His collaborations with Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis and Johnny Carisi culminated in a series of recordings under Davis’ name.

Although he continued to record with famous bop musicians, he worked in clubs and with inferior accompanists infrequently.

THE GLORY DAYS

In the May of 1957, Miles recorded several remarkable solo recordings and established several quintets including several different famous jazz musicians.

Though these groups weren’t entirely faithful to Davis, they lasted significantly longer than the earlier groups Miles had created.

The fame of Miles’s sidemen increased his social status among jazz musicians.

LATER YEARS

Car accidents, pneumonia and other serious ailments forced Miles to retire.

However, he restarted his career in the early 1980’s with new young band members such as Branford Marsalis, Bob Berg, John Scofield and Bobby Irving III.

Described as a “living legend” in the world of jazz, Miles was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music in 1986.

RESOURCES

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/