Famous Jazz Musicians

Famous jazz musicians originated at the beginning of the twentieth century among the African American communities in the Southern United States. Jazz has managed to create subgenres such as New Orleans Dixieland, big band-style swing, bebop, Latin jazz, free jazz, jazz fusion, acid jazz (which included funk and hip hop), and nu jazz. As jazz spread around the world it drew local, national, and regional musical cultures and its aesthetics being adapted to its varied environments gave rise to many distinctive styles.

1. Wynton Marsalis is not only a famous Jazz musician, he is also an accomplished composer, bandleader, educator, and a leading advocate of American culture. Mr. Marsalis has performed and composed jazz from its original New Orleans roots to bebop to modern jazz by creating and performing an expansive range of music for quartets to big bands, chamber music ensembles to symphony orchestras, and tap to ballet. He has been coined one of the world’s finest musicians and composers.
2. Louis Armstrong was the first jazz musician to receive world-wide acclaim as a trumpeter. Throughout his career, Louis was a stronger promoter of spreading jazz. With his trumpet solos and vocal interpretations, jazz fans admired him. Well known for his throaty and charming jazz vocals, his pop music genre is well recognized.Louis learned at a very young age that music could lead to fame and money.
3. Miles Davis was a famous jazz musician of the 20^thcentury, who has spearheaded some of the styles of jazz, namely be-bop, hard bop, cool jazz, free jazz, fusion, funk and techno music. Based on his success, Miles Davis spurred other artists, such as Herbie Hancock and John Coltrane to reach for their success and fame. Davis received eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
4. Herbie Hancock is one of the most famous jazz musicians in history. Born on April 12^th, 1940 in Chicago, he was a child prodigy and began studying classical piano at the age of seven. Hancock developed a unique style that blends gospel, bebop, and blues. He recorded his first record in May of 1962. His song "Watermelon Man" became something of a hit. In 1973, he formed The Headhunters, a group that merged funk, rock, and instrumental pop. They scored a very successful crossover with the album "Headhunters." During the 1980s, Hancock alternated between electronic and acoustic music. He scored another big hit in 1983 with the song "Rockit,” which utilized hip-hop and heavy scratching.