Ornette Coleman, in full Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman, (born March 9, 1930, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.—died June 11, 2015, New York, New York), American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader who was the principal initiator and leading exponent of free jazz in the late 1950s.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Coleman taught himself to play the saxophone when he was a teenager. He began his musical career playing in local R&B and bebop groups, and eventually formed his own group in Los Angeles featuring members such as Ed Blackwell, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Billy Higgins.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Coleman taught himself to play the saxophone when he was a teenager. He began his musical career playing in local R&B and bebop groups, and eventually formed his own group in Los Angeles featuring members such as Ed Blackwell, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Billy Higgins.