Thelonious Monk was born on this day in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in 1917. He was a jazz pianist and composer. Monk studied piano privately from an early age, played the organ in church, and traveled with a woman evangelist and faith healer before he was 17.
Monk had an unorthodox approach to the piano, playing it sometimes like it was a drum, attacking and pounding the keys . His style of improvisation was unique, too, filled with abrupt silences, hesitations and off-beat melodic twists.
Monk recorded his first sessions as a leader in 1947 with Blue Note Records, where he showcased his talents as a composer of original melodies for improvisations.
Monk has listed the legendary composer and arranger Duke Ellington as one of his major influences in playing the piano. He is the second most recorded jazz composer of all time behind who else, Duke Ellington.
Monk is considered one of the giants in American music. He is the father of jazz drummer, T.S. Monk.
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To read a comprehensive bio of Monk's life, Google his name and read all the related entries
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