Miles Davis Essay

The history of rock n’ roll music has a long and detailed history, that began with jazz, the blues, and country music. Its many famous composers have included Duke Ellington, Chuck Berry, Louie Armstrong, and Charlie Parker. Another famous musician, Miles Davis, argued was quoted saying that the history of jazz, the roots of rock and roll, could be told in four words: Louie Armstrong, Charlie Parker. However, it is important that the humble Miles Davis, arguably one of the best trumpet players of all time, is not overlooked. Miles has made a significant contribution to the history of rock, and his music has impacted music as much as any all-time great singer or musician. Unlike many other famous artists, he changed music many times with various different styles and techniques. Also, he was looked up to by many other famous musicians, many of whom were also very skilled and popular. And finally, he pioneered the use of electrically charged instruments that are defining components in most styles of music today, such as rock, pop, and rap. In the following paragraphs, I will explain these arguments to help solidify Miles Davis’s well-deserved spot among the all-time greats in music history.

After being invited to an awards dinner at the Reagan White House in 1987 by Cecil Tyson, Miles Davis was sitting at the same table as a woman he had later described as a politician's wife, who began bombarding him with questions. She asked him, “What have you done that’s so important?” Miles Davis answered, “Well, I’ve changed music five or six times.” According to the Rolling Stones magazine, this was no exaggeration. Miles began his career as a member of Charlie Parker’s band, which played a style known as “bebop.” After discovering that this w...

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... jazz and rock, but they have bled into pop, hip hop and, most recognizably, heavy metal. Although not only Miles Davis should be credited with the creation of music with sonic sounds, he deserves recognition for bringing lots of attention to electrical line-ups in jazz. Without Miles Davis, electric guitars, electric basses, and electric pianos would likely not be a part of jazz today. He can also be argued to be the cause of all the sonic sounds in current music, since he brought the most attention to sonic sounds with Bitches Brew. This proves that his impacts on music were not only confined to jazz and rock; they are still easily noticeable today. There have been many artists that have changed music. Some have even done it multiple times, like Ornette Coleman. But none have done it with the same flair, as often, or with the same long-felt impact, as Miles Davis.