Billie Holiday 1915 – 1959 Billie Holiday, affectionately known as “Lady Day,” lent a life of suffering to her art, and created...
Charles Mingus 1922-1979 Charles Mingus fused musical styles drawn from classical, swing, bop, Latin, and avant-garde genres to develop a wholly original...
Coleman Hawkins 1904-1969 Coleman Hawkins was perhaps the most influential saxophone player of all time and was responsible for the instrument’s importance...
Duke Ellington 1899 – 1974 Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington is recognized as one of the greatest jazz composers and performers who ever...
Louis Jordan 1908-1975 Louis Jordan was one of the most successful African American musicians of his era, achieving success and popularity across...