Jazz Musicians in the United States
by Kynzie Ashbaugh
Tom Turpin (1873-1922)
Jazz musician Tom Turpin is primarily known as the man who composed and performed the first song ever to be given the genre of rag. This piece of music was granted the name "Harlem Rag" and was the most influential piece of music written during Turpin's lifetime. It inspired other composers to start writing rag style music, which was vital to the success of jazz music. If there hadn't been any rag music to kick start the revolution of music, there would be no jazz. (12)
Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)
Charles Mingus (1922-1979)
Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)
Charlie Parker (1920-1955)
Charlie Parker, along with Thelonious Monk, was one of the founders of the style of music known as bop or bebop. Without bebop, just as well as rag, there would have been no other lead up to the style of music known as jazz. While touring with his band, he gained the nickname "Yardbird" for two reasons. 1: He was free as a bird & 2: He accidentally hit a chicken (a.k.a. yardbird) while driving on tour with the band. Parker won multiple Grammy awards for his pieces of music. (17)