Who is the Most Influential Jazz Musician of All Time?

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   6 String Veteranposted 13 years ago

   Ok, so Elvis was the King of Rock. Or was it Little Richard? Or Ike Turner? Bo Diddley? Beethoven? Jimi Hendrix? Or Run-DMC ("I'm the king of rock, there's nothing higher!..."), or were the Beatles the Kings?
   
   Well, that's for another post: http://hubpages.com/forum/category/737
   
   This, however, is about Jazz. Who, in YOUR opinion, was/is the King of Jazz? 'King' meaning the MOST INFLUENTIAL (not who sounds the best to you).
   
   -King Oliver? Louis Armstrong? Count Basie? Duke Ellington? Thomas Dorsey? Glenn Miller? Lester Young? Charlie Parker? John Coltrane? Miles Davis? Wynton Marsalis? Sting? (just kidding on that last 1)
   
   
   6SV

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2. 54

   leithfloodposted 13 years ago

   Duke Ellington wins going away.

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      6 String Veteranposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      For the sake of those less familiar with 'Duke', why?

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3. 54

   leithfloodposted 13 years ago

   Duke Ellington had a gift from God,playing the piano.He was a composer and arranger but also a musician.( Take the "A" Train,Satin Doll,Perdido )He could,and did,adapt to change.If you want to be great,and Ellington was,you surround yourself with the best people you can find,like Max Roach who set the beat.Back in the 40's we use to go to the Broadway Capital on Woodward in Detroit.Basie,Jacquet,all the big bands and singers played the Broadway. This was all before Motown and B.G.

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      6 String Veteranposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the insightful post. With all of the reasons you mentioned it's no Wonder Stevie called him Sir Duke.

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4. 54

   leithfloodposted 13 years ago

   How could I forget AL Hibbler sings at the Broadway in Detroit.Ellington said he was the best.

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5. 37

   Dale Nelsonposted 13 years ago

   Wasn't Glenn Miller more like a big band than Jazz.
   
   Joe Oliver was apparently great, but never heard his sound.
   
   Still a satchmo fan though.
   
   Good call on Duke.

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6. 54

   leithfloodposted 13 years ago

   Dale, You are correct sir.Glen Miller was called a jazz trombonist,in the swing era.His big band was the most popular from 1937 to 1944.Known mostly as a big dance band with great singers.He did play jazz to popular......Joe(King)Oliver was a trombonist/coronet player. Louis Armstrong was his protege.He played early creole jazz.Oliver turned down a very big gig at the Cotton Club which Ellington accepted.Oliver died in poverty April 1938.

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      6 String Veteranposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Great posts! The music history books have been opened...

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