On May 25, 1926, Miles Dewey Davis was born in Alton, Illinois. Growing up in East St.Louis, Davis collected record albums. He began playing at the young age of 13 when he received his first trumpet and within two years he was already playing professionally. In September 1944, after finishing high school, Davis enrolled in the Institute of Musical Art (now the Julliard School) in New York. While there he had the opportunity to room and play with his idol Charlie Parker. Davis said "I roomed with Parker for a year and followed him around down to 52nd street. Every night I'd write down chords, on matchbook covers. Next day, I'd play these chords, all day in the practice rooms at Juilliard, instead of going to classes." In 1947, Davis left school to play with the Parker Quintet and quickly gained notoriety with his great performances. After a short time, it was obvious that he was ready to lead and in 1949 recorded his highly influential Birth of Cool album. Shortly afterward, however, his playing career was put on hold for more than five years as he battled with a heroin addiction.

In 1955, Davis appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival and soon afterward formed a quintet with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, and Sonny Rollins. Then in 1957, in collaboration with Gil Evans, Davis released the Miles Ahead album, culminating the "cool jazz" sound that he had pioneered. Later that same year, Davis traveled to Paris where he performed the music for the Louis Malle film, "Ascenseur pour l'echafaud."

After returning to America in 1958, Davis released Porgy & Bess. Then in 1960, he released two albums, Sketches of Spain and Kind of Blue. Kind of Blue, which Davis recorded with John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and others, is probably Davis' most famous album.

Throughout the 60's and 70's, Davis continued releasing albums as he led a series of small bands. Some of the artists Davis worked with during this time were Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland, Jimmy Cobbs, and Sonny Stitt. Then in 1975, the combination of severe pneumonia and a horrible car accident forced Davis into retirement. This retirement was only temporary, however, as Davis made a comeback in 1981 with the record The Man with the Horn. He also began to tour with a new band which included such artists as Bill Evans, Branford Marsalis, Bob Berg, John Scofield, and Bobby Irving III.

During the 1980's many people began using the title of "living legend" when talking about Davis. While always meant as a complement, Davis disliked to be referred to in this way, as he believed it went against his continuing pursuit to be a part of the new style of jazz. In 1986, Davis received an honorary Doctorate of Music from the New England Conservatory in honor of his longstanding achievements in jazz, and he continued making records, the last of which being Dingo released in 1990, until his death on Sept. 28, 1991.

Biography by Sol Oster-Katz. Edited and formatted by James Clark.