He later added players including Eric Dolphy and Pharoah Sanders. In 1960 Coltrane formed his own quartet which included pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Jimmy Garrison.

During this period, he developed the three-on-one chord approach, and a method that has been dubbed 'sheets of sound,' which had him playing multiple notes at a time.ħ. 'Miles' music gave me plenty of freedom,' he later remembered. Coltrane's work with the Miles Davis Quintet led to his own musical evolution. 'The first time I heard Bird play,' he told DownBeat magazine, 'it hit me right between the eyes.'Ħ. Everything changed for Coltrane when he saw Charlie Parker perform live for the first time. Soprano sax legend Sidney Bechet was one of his heroes.ĥ. When he first got started, Coltrane mostly emulated old-time New Orleans musicians. His first professional gig was in 1945 at the age of 19, performing in a cocktail lounge trio with piano and guitar.Ĥ. His influences included Lester Young and Johnny Hodges.ģ. Coltrane played several instruments in his high school band, including alto sax, clarinet and tenor sax. In December 1938, Coltrane's aunt, grandparents and father died within a few months of each other, and he was raised by his mother and a close cousin.Ģ. He also loved music and played several instruments. His father, John William Coltrane Sr., was a tailor. John Coltrane was born on Septemin Hamlet, North Carolina. But how much do you know about the person? Here are 12 fascinating facts:ġ. If you're a jazz fan, chances are you know his music. Widely considered one of the greatest musicians of the modern era, Coltrane played with greats including Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, then went on to a groundbreaking solo career that led to some of jazz's most unforgettable albums: My Favorite Things, Blue Train, Giant Steps, Impressions, and his monumental work, A Love Supreme. It was 50 years ago this week that jazz icon John Coltrane died of liver cancer on July 17, 1967.

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