Stanley Crouch

Date of Birth: December 14, 1945

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: September 16, 2020

Biography

Stanley Lawrence Crouch was an American cultural critic, syndicated columnist, novelist, and biographer. Born on December 14, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Crouch grew to prominence through his incisive essays and critiques on jazz, culture, and African American identity. He began his career as a poet and playwright in the 1960s and 1970s, before transitioning to journalism and criticism. Crouch was a regular columnist for the New York Daily News and a co-founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center. His works include the biography “Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker” and numerous essays, many of which were published in collections such as “Notes of a Hanging Judge” and “The All-American Skin Game, or, The Decoy of Race.” Known for his sharp wit and often controversial opinions, Crouch left an indelible mark on American culture until his death on September 16, 2020.

5 Interesting Facts about Stanley Crouch

1. Stanley Crouch was a self-taught intellectual who never completed his formal education after high school.

2. He was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant in 1993.

3. Crouch was a staunch critic of gangsta rap and often spoke out against its portrayal of African American life.

4. He served as a mentor to numerous young writers and musicians, helping to shape the careers of many.

5. Crouch was an accomplished drummer and played in a jazz band during his early years in Los Angeles.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Stanley Crouch

1. “The point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on.”

2. “The blues is an art of ambiguity, an assertion of the irrepressibly human over all circumstances, whether created by others or by one’s own human failings.”

3. “Art is so much about what is not perfect, about what is in the process of becoming something better.”

4. “We are all custodians of our culture, and it is our responsibility to ensure its richness is preserved and expanded.”

5. “Jazz is a very democratic musical form. It comes out of a communal experience. We take our respective instruments & collectively create a thing of beauty.”