- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMiles Dewey Davis III
- Nickname
- The Prince of Darkness
- Height5′ 6½″ (1.69 m)
- Miles Davis, famous jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, was born 26 May 1926 in Alton, Illinois. He moved to New York in 1944 and studied at Juilliard. He left school and entered the jazz society of New York, meeting such famous musicians as Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Charles Mingus. His record debut came in 1946. Miles soon became a major figure of jazz. He changed the directions of jazz several times, recording albums such as "Birth Of The Cool" (1949) which started the cool-jazz era, "Milestones" (1953), "Kind Of Blue" (1959) which was the beginning of modal jazz, orchestral jazz masterpieces such as "Porgy And Bess" (1958) and "Sketches Of Spain" (1961), "In A Silent Way" (1968) and "Bitches Brew" (1969) - the first jazz/rock fusion albums. He collaborated with famous jazz players such as: Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Zawinul, Paul Chambers, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Keith Jarrett and others. He retired from music in 1975 due to hip problems as well as his problems with drug addiction. He recovered and returned to music in 1980, collaborating with producer Marcus Miller and recording new, intriguing albums such as electronic-driven Tutu or Amandla, as well as Spanish-flavored music for Siesta (1987). Miles Davis is now arguably one of the greatest and most important jazz musicians of all time.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Piotr Strzyzowski 807@wp.pl
- SpousesCicely Tyson(November 26, 1981 - 1988) (divorced)Betty Mabry(September 30, 1968 - 1969) (divorced)Frances Taylor(1958 - February 1968) (divorced)
- ChildrenGregory DavisMiles Davis IV
- ParentsMiles Dewey Davis Jr.Cleeota Mae Henry
- RelativesDorothy Mae Davis(Sibling)Vernon Davis(Sibling)Vince Wilburn Jr.(Niece or Nephew)
- Duke Ellington called him "the Picasso of Jazz, the invisible art". British rock star Sting placed him with Johann Sebastian Bach as one of the "geniuses of music".
- He was married to Cicely Tyson by Andrew Young in the home of Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby was the best man, and gave away the bride.
- Once met Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman when Hoffman was working as a lifeguard at a public swimming pool.
- Miles Davis' recording, "Kind of Blue" (1959), is considered by some to be the best jazz recording of all time.
- Had four children: Cheryl Davis (born 1944), Gregory Davis, (born 1946), Miles Davis IV (born 1950) and Erin Davis (born 1970).
- I know what I've done for music, but don't call me "a legend".
- For me, music and life are all about style.
- A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I'm still doing it.
- [on Eric Dolphy] He plays like somebody is standing on his foot.
- [on Louis Armstrong] You can't play anything on a horn that Louis hasn't played.
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