There are very few musicians who, with their music, can impact our lives for the
better. There are even less that can do it over their entire career. Such is the
case of Mile Davis. A jazz-trumpeter who’s sound transcended American culture
for over 40 years. In this report I will be reviewing his great life which
touched so many people. Miles Dewey Davis was born May 25, 1926, in Alton
Illinois. (J S. Bowmen). He was born to a prosperous African-American family
near St. Louis Missouri. At the age of ten he took up the trumpet in school. (J
S. Bowmen). He of course learned very quickly, and soon he was playing with
local jazz band. At the age of 17 he dropped out of school and headed out for
New York to be part of the great New York jazz scene. (J S. Bowmen). It was in
New York that he would meet his idol, saxophonist, Charlie Parker. Miles became
part of Charlie’s bebop quartet for several years. This was just a stepping
stone however, for in 1948 he started his own 9-piece band. (J S. Bowmen). This
band created a new sound “cool jazz”. They released “The Birth of Cool”
an album that to this day is considered one of the most influential jazz albums
ever. He later left the band to pursue other projects. For the next five or six
years he face a very serious heroin problem. (J S. Bowmen). He released a series
of what he called “uneven albums”. But in 1955 he would kick the habit for
good and began a legendary come back. He formed a new band with other great jazz
musicians such as saxophonist John Coltrane and pianist Bill Evans.