Ornette Coleman

Date of Birth: March 9, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: June 11, 2015

Biography

Ornette Coleman, born Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman on March 9, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas, was a pioneering American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s, a style characterized by its departure from traditional harmony and rhythm. Coleman began playing alto saxophone at the age of 14 and later moved to Los Angeles, where he struggled to find work due to his unconventional playing style. In 1959, Coleman released the album “The Shape of Jazz to Come,” which was a radical departure from existing jazz forms and cemented his place in music history. His work challenged the norms of jazz, focusing on emotive expression and improvisational freedom. Over his career, he collaborated with numerous prominent musicians and won several prestigious awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2007 for his album “Sound Grammar.” Coleman’s contributions to music were not limited to his recordings; he also developed a theory of music he called “Harmolodics,” which emphasized the equality of harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic elements. His influence extended beyond jazz, impacting rock, classical, and avant-garde music.

5 Interesting Facts about Ornette Coleman

1. Ornette Coleman’s album “Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation” gave the name to the genre of free jazz.

2. He was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2007, becoming the second jazz musician to receive this honor.

3. Coleman was largely self-taught and faced significant resistance from the jazz establishment early in his career.

4. He played not only the saxophone but also the violin and trumpet, often employing unconventional techniques.

5. Ornette Coleman’s “The Shape of Jazz to Come” is considered one of the most influential jazz albums ever recorded.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ornette Coleman

1. “Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time.”

2. “I want to play music that can grow, that can reflect changes in the times.”

3. “Music is a language, and musicians are the speakers and writers of that language.”

4. “I think people are trying to put themselves in a position to do something, but they don’t know how to do it.”

5. “The idea is more important than the style you’re playing in.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Ornette Coleman’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million.

Children

Ornette Coleman had one son, Denardo Coleman, who is a drummer and often collaborated with his father. Denardo began playing with Ornette at the age of ten and continued to be a significant part of his musical projects throughout his career.