HOME
MASTER CLASS
CONCERTS
JAZZ's NORTH CAROLINA ROOTS
GALLERY
ABOUT US
MORE
Jazz's North Carolina Roots
Thelonious Sphere Monk
Rocky Mount, NC
October 10, 1917 - February 17, 1982
Pianist, Composer, Band Leader
John Coltrane
Hamlet, NC; raised in High Point, NC
"Trane"
September 23, 1926 - July 17, 1967
Saxophonist, Composer, Band Leader
Lou Donaldson, The Dean
Badin, NC
November 1, 1926
Alto Saxophonist
Performed at NC A&T State University following WWII as part of "The Rhythm Vets"
Nina Simone
Tryon, NC
"The High Priestess of Soul"
February 21, 1933 - April 21, 2003
Singer, Pianist, Composer, Songwriter, Arranger, Civil Rights Activist
Frank Kimbrough
Roxboro, NC
November 2
Jazz Pianist/Composer
Talmadge "Tab" Smith
Kinston, NC
January 11, 1909 - August 17, 1971
Swing and R&B Alto Saxophonist
Freddie Moore
Washington, NC
August 20, 1900 - November 3, 1992
Played with King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Roy Eldridge, Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rufus Harley
Raleigh, NC
May 20, 1936 - August 1, 2006
First Jazz Bagpiper
Linton Garner
Greensboro, NC
March 25, 1915 - March 6, 2003
Pianist
Roberta Flack
Asheville, NC
February 10
Singer, Pianist, Songwriter
Grady Tate
Durham, NC
January 14, 1932 - October 8, 2017
Drummer, Percussionist, Vocalist
Loonis McGlohon
Ayden, NC
September 29, 1921 - January 26, 2002
Jazz Pianist & Songwriter
Ernest Turner
Durham, NC
Jazz Pianist/Composer/Band Leader
Dannie Richmond
Greensboro, NC
December 15, 1935 - March 15, 1988
Harold Vick
Rocky Mount, NC
April 3, 1936 - November 13, 1987
Saxophonist
Numa S. "Pee Wee" Moore
Raleigh, NC
March 5, 1928 - April 13, 2009
Photo: Duke University
Chip Crawford
Raleigh, NC
Pianist
December 3
Gregory Porter's band
Percy Heath
Wilmington, NC
April 30, 1923 - April 28, 2005
Bassist
Modern Jazz Quartet
Photo: allaboutjazz.com
Johnny Best
Shelby, NC
October 20, 1913 - September 19, 2003
Max Roach
Newland, NC
January 10, 1924 - August 16, 2007
Drummer, Percussionist, Composer, Civil Rights Activist, Band Leader
Tal Farlow
Greensboro, NC
June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998
Guitarist
Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tal_Farlow_5.jpg#/media/File:Tal_Farlow_5.jpg
Waymon Reed
Fayetteville, NC
January 10, 1940 - November 25, 1983
Jazz Trumpeter
Dr. Billy Taylor
Greenville, NC
July 24, 1921 - December 28, 2010
Jazz Pianist, Composer, Jazz Educator and Broadcaster
Maceo Parker
Kinston, NC
February 14
Soul and Jazz Saxophonist
Woody Shaw
Laurinburg, NC
December 24, 1944-May 10, 1989
Virtuoso Trumpeter, Flugelhornist, Cornetist, Composer, Band Leader
Thelonious Sphere Monk
Rocky Mount, NC
October 10, 1917 - February 17, 1982
Pianist, Composer, Band Leader
John Coltrane
Hamlet, NC; raised in High Point, NC
"Trane"
September 23, 1926 - July 17, 1967
Saxophonist, Composer, Band Leader
Lou Donaldson, The Dean
Badin, NC
November 1, 1926
Alto Saxophonist
Performed at NC A&T State University following WWII as part of "The Rhythm Vets"
Nina Simone
Tryon, NC
"The High Priestess of Soul"
February 21, 1933 - April 21, 2003
Singer, Pianist, Composer, Songwriter, Arranger, Civil Rights Activist
Frank Kimbrough
Roxboro, NC
November 2
Jazz Pianist/Composer
Talmadge "Tab" Smith
Kinston, NC
January 11, 1909 - August 17, 1971
Swing and R&B Alto Saxophonist
Freddie Moore
Washington, NC
August 20, 1900 - November 3, 1992
Played with King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Roy Eldridge, Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rufus Harley
Raleigh, NC
May 20, 1936 - August 1, 2006
First Jazz Bagpiper
Linton Garner
Greensboro, NC
March 25, 1915 - March 6, 2003
Pianist
Roberta Flack
Asheville, NC
February 10
Singer, Pianist, Songwriter
Grady Tate
Durham, NC
January 14, 1932 - October 8, 2017
Drummer, Percussionist, Vocalist
Loonis McGlohon
Ayden, NC
September 29, 1921 - January 26, 2002
Jazz Pianist & Songwriter
Ernest Turner
Durham, NC
Jazz Pianist/Composer/Band Leader
Dannie Richmond
Greensboro, NC
December 15, 1935 - March 15, 1988
Harold Vick
Rocky Mount, NC
April 3, 1936 - November 13, 1987
Saxophonist
Numa S. "Pee Wee" Moore
Raleigh, NC
March 5, 1928 - April 13, 2009
Photo: Duke University
Chip Crawford
Raleigh, NC
Pianist
December 3
Gregory Porter's band
Percy Heath
Wilmington, NC
April 30, 1923 - April 28, 2005
Bassist
Modern Jazz Quartet
Photo: allaboutjazz.com
Johnny Best
Shelby, NC
October 20, 1913 - September 19, 2003
Max Roach
Newland, NC
January 10, 1924 - August 16, 2007
Drummer, Percussionist, Composer, Civil Rights Activist, Band Leader
Tal Farlow
Greensboro, NC
June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998
Guitarist
Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tal_Farlow_5.jpg#/media/File:Tal_Farlow_5.jpg
Waymon Reed
Fayetteville, NC
January 10, 1940 - November 25, 1983
Jazz Trumpeter
Dr. Billy Taylor
Greenville, NC
July 24, 1921 - December 28, 2010
Jazz Pianist, Composer, Jazz Educator and Broadcaster
Maceo Parker
Kinston, NC
February 14
Soul and Jazz Saxophonist
Woody Shaw
Laurinburg, NC
December 24, 1944-May 10, 1989
Virtuoso Trumpeter, Flugelhornist, Cornetist, Composer, Band Leader