Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk (1917–1982) was a jazz pianist and composer whose music lives on through archival releases, reissues and his family’s estate.
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Latest
Thelonious’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Columbia
RiversideOverview
- Full name
- Thelonious Sphere Monk
- Born
- October 10, 1917 · Rocky Mount, North Carolina
- Died
- February 17, 1982
- Work
- Jazz pianist and composer
- Breakthrough
- 1957 · Five Spot engagement with John Coltrane
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Monk grew up in New York’s San Juan Hill neighborhood. He toured with an evangelist as a teenager, then developed his musical ideas in the house band at Minton’s Playhouse.
Finding his audience.
His first Blue Note sessions as a leader came in 1947. Wider recognition followed his Riverside albums and his 1957 Five Spot engagement with John Coltrane, after years of limited opportunities to perform.
A lasting voice.
Monk’s playing made room for silence, unexpected accents and melodies that reward another listen. He died in 1982. Today, his estate and record labels continue sharing his recorded work with new listeners.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 1963Monk’s DreamPianist and bandleader
- 1957Thelonious HimselfPianist; joined by John Coltrane and Wilbur Ware on “Monk’s Mood”
- 1957Brilliant CornersPianist and composer
- 1957Mulligan Meets MonkPianist, with Gerry Mulligan
Awards
Quotes
Everything I play is different, different melody, different harmony, different structure.Thelonious Monk, quoted in Robin D. G. Kelley’s official biography
Discussing how he approached composing individual pieces.
Trivia
- He wrote “Little Rootie Tootie” for his son and “Boo Boo’s Birthday” for his daughter.
- He appeared on the cover of Time in February 1964.
- “Crepuscule with Nellie” was written for his wife.
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Explore his recordings and follow updates from his estate.
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