Miles Davis

Birth Name:

Miles Dewey Davis

Birth Place:

Alton, Illinois, United States

Profession

Soundtrack, Music department, Actor

His 1959 album "Kind of Blue" became the best-selling jazz album of all time
Was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006
Studied at the Juilliard School of Music for one year before dropping out to join Charlie Parker's quintet, which later produced the first be-bop singles "Now's the Time" and "Koko․"
Got married to actress Cicely Tyson in 1981 at the home of comedian Bill Cosby
Got his first trumpet at the age of 13 and got his musicians' union card two years later so he could perform in St․ Louis with Eddie Randall's Blue Devils
Joined the Billy Eckstine band in 1944, which featured Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, and became part of the early be-bop movement
Quote: "(On exploring such a wide variety of jazz styles throughout his career): "I have to change․ It's like a curse․""
Best known as a jazz musician, composer, and band leader who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century
Has a street on the Upper West Side of New York City named after him

Fast Facts