05/26/2026
In celebration of his centennial, today we’re taking a look at the life, career, and legacy of legendary trumpeter Miles Davis.
Quick Facts:
Over a four‑decade career, he repeatedly reshaped jazz, with key albums including Birth of the Cool (1949), Kind of Blue (1959), and Bi***es Brew (1970).
He grew up in an upper‑middle‑class family in Alton, Illinois and St. Louis; his father was a dentist and his mother a music teacher.
Miles moved to New York, briefly attended Juilliard, then left to focus on the 52nd Street jazz scene and play with Charlie Parker.
After vocal surgery, he ignored doctor’s orders to stay silent and yelled, which damaged his voice and giving it a raspy tone.
Though initially resistant to drug use, he became addicted—quitting he**in in 1953 but continuing to drink and use other substances.
Reports of Davis’ domestic violence and sexual assault contributed to the breakdown of his relationships, including marriages to Cicely Tyson and Betty Mabry.
He won his first career Grammy Award in 1961 for his acclaimed 1960 album Sketches of Spain.
His 1970 album Bi***es Brew sparked controversy, which leads to the infamous CBS memo.
Two tracks on Doo-Bop, “Fantasy” and “High Speed Chase” were recorded after Miles’s death by using trumpet recordings made in 1985.
Davis earned the nickname “Prince of Darkness” due to his serious, aloof nature, the brooding tone of his trumpet, and his habit of turning his back to the audience when he performed.
“Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.”
