American jazz saxophonist and composer who established free jazz, an unrestrained improvisational style of jazz. Coleman Randolph Denard Ornette Hawkins Coleman Randolph Young Coleman
{i} family name; Gary Coleman (born 1968), American television actor (known for his role in the sitcom "Different Strokes")
born Nov. 21, 1904, St. Joseph, Mo., U.S. died May 19, 1969, New York, N.Y. U.S. jazz musician. Hawkins came to prominence as a member of Fletcher Henderson's big band (1924-34), with which he absorbed the style of Louis Armstrong and developed the smooth legato phrasing and robust tone that set the technical standard for all tenor players. He worked in Europe (1934-39) and soon after his return recorded "Body and Soul," which became a commercial success and one of the masterpieces of improvised jazz. Hawkins was the first important tenor saxophone soloist in jazz. He was receptive to the harmonic advances made by younger players, who widely acknowledged his influence
born Nov. 21, 1904, St. Joseph, Mo., U.S. died May 19, 1969, New York, N.Y. U.S. jazz musician. Hawkins came to prominence as a member of Fletcher Henderson's big band (1924-34), with which he absorbed the style of Louis Armstrong and developed the smooth legato phrasing and robust tone that set the technical standard for all tenor players. He worked in Europe (1934-39) and soon after his return recorded "Body and Soul," which became a commercial success and one of the masterpieces of improvised jazz. Hawkins was the first important tenor saxophone soloist in jazz. He was receptive to the harmonic advances made by younger players, who widely acknowledged his influence
born May 24, 1918, Tuscaloosa, Ala., U.S. died Nov. 29, 1997, Detroit, Mich. U.S. politician. He moved with his family to Detroit in 1923. At Ford Motor Co. he became involved in union activities and civil rights activism. In World War II, he served with the Tuskegee Airmen. He later cofounded the National Negro Labor Council, which he disbanded in the 1950s to avoid turning over its membership list during an investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was elected to the Michigan senate in 1964, and in 1968 he became the Democratic National Committee's first African American member. As mayor of Detroit (1973-93), he focused on revitalizing the crime-ridden city by attracting new businesses and reinforcing the police department. He retired after an unprecedented five terms
born March 9, 1930, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. U.S. saxophonist and composer, the principal initiator and leading exponent of free jazz. Coleman began playing the saxophone as a teenager and soon became a working musician in dance bands and rhythm-and-blues groups. He abandoned harmonic patterns in order to improvise more directly upon melodic and expressive elements; because the tonal centres of such music changed at the improviser's will, it became known as "free jazz." His organized collective improvisation in such recordings as Free Jazz (1960) placed him firmly in the jazz avant-garde. In the 1970s he began composing orchestral music and also formed an electric band called Prime Time, with which he was active until the 1990s
born March 9, 1930, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. U.S. saxophonist and composer, the principal initiator and leading exponent of free jazz. Coleman began playing the saxophone as a teenager and soon became a working musician in dance bands and rhythm-and-blues groups. He abandoned harmonic patterns in order to improvise more directly upon melodic and expressive elements; because the tonal centres of such music changed at the improviser's will, it became known as "free jazz." His organized collective improvisation in such recordings as Free Jazz (1960) placed him firmly in the jazz avant-garde. In the 1970s he began composing orchestral music and also formed an electric band called Prime Time, with which he was active until the 1990s