On the 26th of May, 1926, the city of Alton, Illinois had the good fortune of seeing an infant boy delivered there, one that would grow up to be stunningly talented, charismatic and versatile. Miles Davis, son of Cleota and Miles Dewey Davis Junior, began his life in Illinois, but the average life in an average town had nothing for him. He played professionally even before he graduated high school, but the gig he found on his home turf simply were not enough. At 18, Miles Dewey Davis III left his middle-class home and comfortable life for an uncertain future in New York City. The Big Apple in the 1940’s was, as it is now, the place where aspiring musicians and vocalists went to try their hand at fame. Young Miles Davis was no different, even
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The Great Depression only came to a close in 1942 as World War II charged the economy with increased demands for those industries that had useful products for the war effort. Race relations were not smooth in this era either, and New York saw race riots in 1943, just one year before the young African American, Miles Davis moved to the city. Talent never guarantees success, but for a black man before the Civil Rights Movement, success could prove doubly elusive. Especially when outside influences make it even harder. The modern era did not invent the phenomena of illicit drug use. In Harlem, where Davis made his music in the 1950’s, poverty was rampant in the African American community, accompanied by a high crime rate. Drug use has always gone hand in hand with such situations, with heroin the most popular during this era, a fact Miles Davis discovered to his detriment in the early 1950’s. Luckily, the trumpet player was able to move past his addiction to heroin in 1954, avoiding the deadly side effects that take so many users of that …show more content…
Not only do critics and fans alike label it one of the best jazz records ever, its sale of over 2 million copies also makes it the largest selling. “Freddie Freeloader” offers a perfect example of why the album has earned such devotion. The melody and rhythm are simple, with Miles Davis setting up the first few measures, then followed by the improvised contributions of the other musicians. It is this improvisation, more than any other trait, that places this song, and album, in the jazz genre. Indeed, Miles Davis was noted throughout his career for his improvisational
The Great Depression only came to a close in 1942 as World War II charged the economy with increased demands for those industries that had useful products for the war effort. Race relations were not smooth in this era either, and New York saw race riots in 1943, just one year before the young African American, Miles Davis moved to the city. Talent never guarantees success, but for a black man before the Civil Rights Movement, success could prove doubly elusive. Especially when outside influences make it even harder. The modern era did not invent the phenomena of illicit drug use. In Harlem, where Davis made his music in the 1950’s, poverty was rampant in the African American community, accompanied by a high crime rate. Drug use has always gone hand in hand with such situations, with heroin the most popular during this era, a fact Miles Davis discovered to his detriment in the early 1950’s. Luckily, the trumpet player was able to move past his addiction to heroin in 1954, avoiding the deadly side effects that take so many users of that …show more content…
Not only do critics and fans alike label it one of the best jazz records ever, its sale of over 2 million copies also makes it the largest selling. “Freddie Freeloader” offers a perfect example of why the album has earned such devotion. The melody and rhythm are simple, with Miles Davis setting up the first few measures, then followed by the improvised contributions of the other musicians. It is this improvisation, more than any other trait, that places this song, and album, in the jazz genre. Indeed, Miles Davis was noted throughout his career for his improvisational