James Harrell McGriff was born on April 3, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, birthplace of many of jazz’s greatest organists. He started playing piano…

Machito was born February 16, 1912 in Tampa, Florida and died April 15, 1984 in London, England. He was the King of Afro-Cuban…

Frederick Dewayne Hubbard was born April 7, 1938 and died December 29, 2008. He was an American jazz trumpeter and was known primarily…

Phil Upchurch was born on July 19, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois. A prolific guitarist who is comfortable playing blues, soul, R&B, and jazz,…

Marlena Shaw was born Marlina Burgess, September 22, 1944, in New Rochelle, New York. Marlena Shaw is among the most versatile and charismatic…

Oscar Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the “Maharaja of the keyboard” by Duke Ellington, “O.P.” by his…

Joseph Arthur Chambers was born June 25, 1942 in Stoneacre, Virginia. Chambers studied music theory at the Philadelphia Conservatory and the American University…

Born in Oakland, CA, on July 24, 1953, Jon Faddis began playing trumpet at age eight, inspired by an appearance of Louis Armstrong…

Lou Donaldson, alto saxophonist, recording star and entertainer extraordinaire was born in Badin, North Carolina on November 1, 1926. He is the child…

Guitarist Russell Malone was born on November 8, 1963 in Albany, Georgia. His first exposure to music was through his church. As guitars…