John Coltrane

John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer.

Early life and career

Born in Hamlet, North Carolina, Coltrane grew up in High Point in an era of racial segregation. During his seventh-grade school year, Coltrane experienced three deaths in his close-knit family: he lost his aunt, his grandfather, and his father. Coltrane began playing music and practicing obsessively at about this time.

Related Topics:
Hamlet, North Carolina - High Point - Racial segregation

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Coltrane moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in June 1943.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia - Pennsylvania - 1943

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His early life was influenced by a traditional Southern upbringing; the heavy emphasis on religion especially affected his later musical career. Coltrane began playing clarinet early on, but became interested in jazz and soon switched to alto saxophone. He was inducted into the Navy in 1945 and returned to civilian life in 1946.

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Coltrane worked a variety of jobs through the late forties until he joined Dizzy Gillespie's big band in 1949 as an alto saxophonist. He stayed with Gillespie through the big band's breakup in May 1950 and switched to tenor saxophone with Gillespie's small group until April 1951, when he returned to Philadelphia to go to school.

Related Topics:
Dizzy Gillespie - 1949 - 1950 - 1951

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In early 1952, Coltrane joined Earl Bostic's band. In 1953, after a stint with Eddie Vinson, he joined Johnny Hodges's small group (during Hodges's short sabbatical from Duke Ellington's orchestra), staying until mid 1954.

Related Topics:
1952 - Earl Bostic - 1953 - Eddie Vinson - Johnny Hodges - Duke Ellington - 1954

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