Joséphine Baker
Freda Josephine Baker (née McDonald; June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), naturalised as Joséphine Baker, was an American-born French dancer, singer and actress. Her…
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk (born Ronald Theodore Kirk; August 7, 1935 – December 5, 1977), known earlier in his career simply as Roland Kirk, was an…
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone, was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist.…
Grant Green
Grant Green (June 6, 1935 – January 31, 1979) was an African-American jazz guitarist and composer. Recording prolifically for Blue Note Records as both leader…
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an African-American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John…
Sonny Stitt
Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop…
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington (born Ruth Lee Jones; August 29, 1924 – December 14, 1963) was an African-American singer and pianist, one of the most popular black…
Bud Powell
Earl Rudolph “Bud” Powell (September 27, 1924 – July 31, 1966) was an African-American jazz pianist and composer. Along with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Kenny…
Billie Holiday
Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing.
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed “Hawk” and sometimes “Bean”, was an African-American jazz tenor saxophonist. One of the first…