Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely
considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront
of several major developments in jazz music, including cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion.
Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971) nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer
from New Orleans, Louisiana. Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an "inventive" cornet and trumpet player, Armstrong was
a foundational influence on jazz, shifting the music's focus from collective improvisation to solo performers.
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist and composer. He is regarded not only as one
of the greatest living jazz musicians, but also as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century. His music
embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz.
John William Coltrane (sometimes abbreviated to "Trane"; September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist
and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz
and later was at the forefront of free jazz. He was prolific, making about fifty recordings as a leader during his recording
career, and appeared as a sideman on many other albums, notably with trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk.
Billie Holiday (born Elinore Harris; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed
Lady Day by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday was a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her vocal
style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Above all, she
was admired all over the world for her deeply personal and intimate approach to singing.
Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto; August 3, 1926) is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes,
and jazz. Raised in New York City, Bennett began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as
an infantryman with the U.S. Army in the European Theatre. Afterwards, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia
Records, and had his first number one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951.
