“Don't play what's there, play what's not there” - Miles Davis
(Miles Davis)
Miles Davis was born on May 26th, 1926 in Alton, Illinois, USA. In 1927 Davis’ family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois. When he was 13 he started playing trumpet.
(Davis as a child)
At 16 Davis was a member of the music society and, when not at school, playing professionally first at the local Elks Club. At 17 he spent a year playing in Eddie Randle's band, the Blue Devils. In 1944 Davis graduated high school. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker invited Davis to play third trumpet for a couple of weeks for their band. Also in 1944 Davis moved to New York City, NY to study at the Juilliard School of Music. Davis then dropped out of school due to the Juilliard classes for centering too much on the classical European and white repertoire. Davis began playing professionally, performing in several 52nd Street clubs with Coleman Hawkins and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. In 1945 he entered a recording studio for the first time, as a member of Herbie Fields's group.
(Davis in 1945)
In 1946 he finally got the chance to record as a leader. In 1948 Davis was not being paid while in the band. Davis then left Charlie Parker’s band.
(Charlie Parker (Left) and Davis (Right))
In 1949 Davis got a record contract with Capitol Records. Also in 1949 while in Paris, France Davis began a relationship with French actress and singer Juliette Gréco. In 1950 Davis started doing heroin. In 1951 Davis signed to Prestige Records.
(Davis in 1951)
In 1953 his drug addiction began to impair his playing ability. While in Los Angeles, CA he had been arrested for drug possession. In 1954 he beat his drug addiction. He then started to play in Detroit, MI. In 1955 Davis had an operation to remove polyps from his larynx. Even though he was not supposed to speak at all, he had an argument with somebody and raised his voice. This outburst damaged his vocal cords forever. Also in 1955 Davis attended the Newport Jazz Festival At the same time, Davis recruited the players for a formation that became known as his "first great quintet": John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Davis then signed with Columbia Records.
(Davis (Center) performing at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955)
In 1957 the band disbanded. In 1958 Davis returned to New York City, NY. The band then came back together. Also in 1958 he married his 1st wife. In 1959 Davis released “Kind of Blue”. While performing at a nightclub in New York City, NY Davis stepped out in between sets and while he was outside he escorted a White woman to her taxi and a police officer told Davis to move along and after Davis told him that he worked as a performer at the nightclub the officer attacked Davis. Davis was then arrested. Davis was acquitted of disorderly conduct charges and he tried sue the NYPD but he eventually dropped the charges.
(Davis after the incident in New York City)
In 1963 Davis formed a new group. Herbie Hancock was one of the members to Davis’ new band. In 1966 he released “Miles Smiles”. Davis’ sound began to change with the inclusion of electric bass, electric piano, and electric guitar. In 1968 Davis remarried.
(Davis performing in 1968)
In 1970 Davis released “Bitches Brew”. Davis then started to use effects on his trumpet to alter the sound. Davis did the soundtrack to the documentary of boxer Jack Johnson. In 1972 Davis released “On the Corner”.
(Davis performing in 1972)
Davis then formed a new group. In 1974 Davis released “Big Fun”. In 1975 Davis was hospitalized. In 1976 Davis had a hip replacement. Davis then became addicted to alcohol and cocaine. Davis began to open for former band member Herbie Hancock. In 1979 Davis overcame his cocaine addiction.
(Davis in 1976)
Davis then brought together another band with Marcus Miller as the bass player. In 1981 Davis married Cicely Tyson.
(Davis (Left) with Cicely Tyson (Right))
In 1985 Davis released “You’re Under Arrest”. Davis also guest starred on “Miami Vice”.
(Davis in “Miami Vice”)
In 1986 Davis signed with Warner Records. Davis also participated in the “Artists United Against Apartheid” recording. Also in 1986 Davis released “Tutu”. In 1987 Davis won a Grammy for “Sketches in Spain”.
(Davis in 1987)
In 1990 Davis received a Grammy lifetime achievement award.
(Davis (Left) with Herbie Hancock (Right) receiving the Grammy Lifetime achievement award)
In 1991 Davis starred in the movie Dingo. On September 28th, 1991 Miles Davis died of a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure in Santa Monica, California, USA. He was 65 years old.
(Davis’ grave)
Today is his 91st birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Miles Davis.
Albums by Miles Davis
“The New Sounds” (1951)
“Young Man with a Horn” (1952)
“Blue Period” (1953)
“The Compositions of Al Cohn” (1953)
“Miles Davis Volume 2” (1953)
“Miles Davis Volume 3” (1954)
“Miles Davis Quartet” (1954)
“Miles Davis All Star Sextet” (1954)
“Miles Davis Quintet” (1954)
“Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins” (1954)
“Miles Davis All Stars Volume 1” (1955)
“Miles Davis All Stars Volume 2” (1955)
“Musings of Miles” (1955)
“Blue Moods” (1955)
“Dig” (1956)
“Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet” (1956)
“Miles Davis and Horns” (1956)
“Quintet/Sextet” (1956)
“Collectors’ Items” (1956)
“Blue Haze” (1956)
“Walkin’” (1957)
“Cookin’” (1957)
“Bags’ Groove” (1957)
“‘Round About Midnight” (1957)
“Miles Ahead” (1957)
“Relaxin’” (1958)
“Milesstones” (1958)
“Jazz Track” (1958)
“Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants” (1959)
“Workin’” (1959)
“Porgy and Bess” (1959)
“Kind of Blue” (1959)
“Sketches of Spain” (1960)
“Steamin’” (1961)
“Someday My Prince Will Come” (1961)
“Seven Steps to Heaven” (1963)
“Quiet Nights” (1964)
“E.S.P.” (1965)
“Miles Smiles” (1967)
“Sorcerer” (1967)
“Nefertiti” (1967)
“Miles in the Sky” (1968)
“Filles de Kilimanjaro” (1968)
“In a Silent Way” (1969)
“Bitches Brew” (1970)
“Jack Johnson” (1971)
“Live-Evil” (1971)
“On the Corner” (1972)
“Big Fun” (1974)
“Get Up with it” (1974)
“Water Babies” (1976)
“The Man with the Horn” (1981)
“Star People” (1983)
“Decoy” (1984)
“You’re Under Arrest” (1985)
“Tutu” (1986)
“Amandla” (1989)
“Aura” (1989)
“Doo-Bop” (1992)
Videos of Miles Davis
(George Jackson)
(Jackson in 1966)
(Jackson in 1970)
(Jackson in 1971)
(Jackson’s Funeral)
