Miles Davis Biography

Introduction: Miles Davis was a leading American Jazz musician and performer of the mid- twentieth century.

Background Information of Miles Davis:

Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 at Alton, Illinois.
Davis father was a dentist and mother, a pianist.
Miles died at the age of 65 following a bout of pneumonia in Santa Monica, California.

Career of Miles Davis:

Davis started his musical lessons in his early teens with immense support from his family.
At seventeen, he was a member of a musical band called “Blue Devils”.
In 1944, Miles Davis got into Julliard School of Music, New York on a scholarship.
In 1945, Miles Davis began recording with Charlie Parker’s quintet for Savoy Records.
Miles Davis solo career as a trumpeter began in 1948 when he performed at a jazz club in New York.
In 1949, Miles Davis nonet recorded with Capitol Records and the musical pieces were compiled as an album in “The Birth of the Cool”.
Davis career suffered a setback due to drug abuse during the early 1950’s.
Miles hit back in 1955 with his dynamic performance at the Newport Jazz Festival which lead to a ontract with Columbia Records.
Miles Davis liaison with Columbia Records lasted for thirty long years.

Here is a list of some of Miles Davis chart topping albums that he released with Columbia Records:

In 1986, Miles Davis released an album under Warner Bros label titled “Tutu”.
Davis recordings with Columbia Records is archived and compiled in “Miles Davis: The Columbia Years 1955-1985” released in 1988.
In 1992, his last studio recording “Doo-Bop” was released posthumously.

Awards and Honors for Miles Davis:

1961- Grammy Award for “Sketches of Spain” in the “Jazz Composition of More than Five Minutes Duration” Category.
1971- Grammy Award for “Bitches Brew” in the “Best Jazz Performance, Large Group or Soloist with Large Group” category.
1983- Grammy for “We Want Miles” in the “Best Jazz Instrumental Performance” category.
1983- “Miles Ahead: A Tribute to an American Music Legend” is held at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
1984- Miles’ artwork is put up on a high profile exhibition held in New York’s Tower Gallery.
1984- Awarded the coveted Sonning Award.
1986- Grammy Award for his album “Tutu”.
1993- Grammy Award (posthumous) for “Doo-Bop” in the “Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance” category.
2002- Miles Davis’ album “Kind of Blue” receives its third platinum certification.
2003- Miles Davis’ album “Bitches Brew” receives platinum certification.
2006- Miles Davis is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1990- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Miles Davis won eight Grammy’s in all in different categories.

Society