Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, professionally known as Jelly Roll Morton, was an influential American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader born around September 20, 1890, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Of Louisiana Creole descent, Morton was a pioneering figure in jazz music, often claiming to have invented the genre in 1902. He was one of the first to demonstrate that jazz, a genre rooted in improvisation, could be effectively notated, thus becoming jazz's first arranger. His notable compositions include "Jelly Roll Blues," "King Porter Stomp," "Wolverine Blues," and "Black Bottom Stomp."
Morton began his musical career at the age of fourteen, playing piano in the bordellos of New Orleans' Storyville district. Despite his grandmother's disapproval, he continued to develop his unique style, which combined elements of ragtime, blues, and Dixieland. In 1915, he published "Jelly Roll Blues," one of the first published jazz compositions. His career took him to California in 1917, where he performed in nightclubs before making his recording debut in 1923. From 1926 to 1930, he recorded with his band, Morton’s Red Hot Peppers, gaining national recognition.
Despite his significant contributions to jazz, Morton's career waned in the 1930s as new artists like Louis Armstrong rose to prominence. Morton passed away on July 10, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. His legacy endures, with posthumous recognition, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. His innovative approach to jazz composition and performance left a lasting impact on the genre.
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