MILES DAVIS:

Miles Davis was born in 1926 into a very wealthy African-American family living in Illinois.  His father was a doctor.  Despite this, Davis suffered extreme racism during his childhood.   As a child, Davis loved music and began playing instruments.  He would accept a scholarship to Juilliard School of Music in 1944.

Davis would become one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century.  He recorded masterpieces, which include “Bitches Brew,” and “In A Silent Way.”  He was often compared to Duke Ellington as a music innovator.  Davis was huge in Europe and was paid astronomical amounts to perform overseas.

A New Orleans native said he was walking in the ‘French Quarter’ when he heard a trumpeter; the sound had so much passion and was so unique, the man turned around and walked in the direction of the distinctive sound, Miles Davis was on stage blowing his horn.

Davis was a trumpeter, bandleader and composer and he was also addicted to heroin. Davis returned to St. Louis in the winter of 1954. With the help of his father, he kicked heroin.

In 1959, several white cops saw Davis get out of his yellow Ferrari (in front of the famous Birdland night club) and allegedly beat him because they thought he stole the car.   He filed a lawsuit but eventually dropped the case.

Davis became known as aloof and arrogant and he often turned his back on fans (during the whole set) when he performed live.  When he received awards, he would grab the award without mumbling a word, he hardly ever made an acceptance speech.

In later years, his health began to decline. Due to years of heroin abuse, he had severe kidney problems and he also had diabetes.

In 1981, Davis married actress Cicely Tyson (co-founder of the Dance Theater Of Harlem). They divorced in 1988 because Davis never got over his first wife Frances, a professional dancer.  Davis was allegedly too strong-willed and stubborn for Tyson.  In past interviews, Tyson once mentioned a daughter (not with Davis) but there is no evidence of her ever having children.

Before his death in 1991, Davis told a magazine, “If somebody told me I had only one hour to live, I’d spend it choking a white man. I’d do it nice and slow.”

*There was a coverup regarding the death of Miles Davis, hopefully one day, those details will come to light.

To watch a performance of Miles Davis & John Coltrane, click the following link, Miles & Coltrane perform!