John Coltrane

John Coltrane
Coltrane in 1963
Background information
Birth nameJohn William Coltrane
Also known asTrane
Born(1926-09-23)September 23, 1926
Hamlet, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedJuly 17, 1967(1967-07-17) (aged 40)
Huntington, New York, U.S.
Genres
  • Jazz
  • hard bop
  • spiritual jazz
  • post-bop
  • modal jazz
  • avant-garde jazz
  • free jazz
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • bandleader
Instruments
Years active1945–1967
Labels
Spouse
    Juanita Naima Coltrane
    (m. 1953; div. 1966)
      Alice Coltrane
      (m. 1966)
    Websitejohncoltrane.com
    Military career
    AllegianceUnited States
    BranchUnited States Navy
    Years of service1945–1946
    RankSeaman first class
    Unit
    • Naval Station Pearl Harbor
    • Pacific Fleet Ceremonial Band
    Battles / wars
    Awards
    • American Campaign Medal
    • Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal
    • World War II Victory Medal

    John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music.

    Born and raised in North Carolina, after graduating from high school Coltrane moved to Philadelphia, where he studied music. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes and was one of the players at the forefront of free jazz. He led at least fifty recording sessions and appeared on many albums by other musicians, including trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk. Over the course of his career, Coltrane's music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension, as exemplified on his most acclaimed album A Love Supreme (1965) and others.[1] Decades after his death, Coltrane remains influential, and he has received numerous posthumous awards, including a special Pulitzer Prize,[2] and was even canonized by the African Orthodox Church.

    His second wife was pianist and harpist Alice Coltrane. The couple had three children: John Jr.[3] (1964–1982), a bassist; Ravi (born 1965), a saxophonist; and Oran (born 1967), a saxophonist, guitarist, drummer and singer.[4][5][6]

    1. ^ "John Coltrane A Love Supreme". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
    2. ^ "The 2007 Pulitzer Prize Winners: Special Awards and Citations". The Pulitzer Prizes. Archived from the original on January 2, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2009. With reprint of short biography.
    3. ^ "Son of jazz great Coltrane dies in car crash". United Press International. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
    4. ^ Porter, Lewis (1999). John Coltrane: His Life and Music. The University of Michigan Press. p. 272.
    5. ^ Porter, Lewis (1999). John Coltrane: His Life and Music. The University of Michigan Press. p. 294.
    6. ^ Berkman, Franya (2010). Monument Eternal: The Music of Alice Coltrane. Wesleyan University Press. p. 47.