Singer, dancer, actress, and civil rights activist Lena Horne was born on June 30, 1917 in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. Lena Horne joined the Cotton Club’s chorus line and entered the spotlight as a nightclub singer soon after. Despite being blackballed from Hollywood in the 1950s, she had many successful appearances on television, in movies […]
Bassist and composer Stanley Clarke was born on June 30, 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a child, he first picked up the bass because he was late to school on the day that instruments were handed out in music class. Bass was one of the few options left. As an adult, he moved to New […]
Pianist, arranger and composer Claudio “Lalo” Schifrin was born June 21, 1932 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Schifrin, whose father was a classical violinist, began extensive piano studies at the age of six. After studying sociology and law at the University of Buenos Aires, Schifrin turned his focus towards music, studying at the Paris Conservatoire when […]
Saxophonist and composer Theodore Walter “Sonny” Rollins was born on September 7, 1930 in New York City, New York. As a high schooler, Rollins played in bands with his friends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew, and Art Taylor, all of whom became legends in their own right. By the early ‘50s, Rollins was playing with Miles […]
Parkeriana (two versions) Alto saxophonist, flautist, and bass clarinetist Eric Allan Dolphy, Jr. was born on June 20, 1928 in Los Angeles, California. His parents were immigrants from Panama. Less than a month after picking up the clarinet at the age of six he was already playing in the school’s orchestra. Chico Hamilton gave him […]
Clarinetist Anthony Joseph Sciacca (Tony Scott) was born June 17, 1921 in Morristown, New Jersey. Scott studied at Juilliard during 1940-42, jammed at Minton’s Playhouse, and spent three years in the military. While the clarinet was primarily associated with swing and Dixieland, Scott was much more attracted to the music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy […]
Pianist Erroll Louis Garner was born June 15, 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Garner was best known for his ballads and his swing style. Garner was self-taught and began playing piano at the age of three. He never learned to read music, always playing by ear. By age seven, he was appearing on local radio playing […]
Pianist Geri Allen was born on June12, 1957 in Pontiac, Michigan and raised in Detroit. One of the great pianists of her generation, she’s one of a very small number of pianists who has ever recorded with Ornette Coleman. In addition to over twenty albums of her own, she’s appeared on recordings by Betty Carter, […]
Drummer Shelly Manne (born Sheldon Manne) was born on June 11, 1920 in New York City. Manne came from a family of drummers (his dad and his uncles). He embraced bebop and played with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker as well as Lennie Tristano and Lee Konitz. He played a starring role in Stan Kenton’s […]
Pianist Kenny Barron was born on June 9, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While still in high school he was gigging with Philly Joe Jones. At 19, he moved to New York where he freelanced with Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan and James Moody. In 1962, he joined Dizzy Gillespie’s band. After five years with Dizzy, Barron […]