Early Years
Thelonious Sphere Monk was born on October 10th, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He was the son of Barbara and Thelonious Monk, Sr., a laborer. His family moved to New York City when he was five years old. Monk was an exceptionally gifted musician from an early age and was able to play the piano by ear.
Personal Life
Monk was married twice. His first marriage was to Nellie Smith from 1935 to 1950. His second marriage was to Nellie's sister, Barbara, from 1954 to 1971. Monk had two sons, Thelonious Jr. and T.S., with Nellie.
Influences
Monk was heavily influenced by the music of Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and Willie "the Lion" Smith. He was also influenced by the styles of stride piano and swing.
- Duke Ellington
- Jelly Roll Morton
- Willie "the Lion" Smith
- Stride Piano
- Swing
Career
Monk began his professional career in the early 1940s and quickly gained recognition as an innovative jazz composer and pianist. His compositions, such as "Round Midnight" and "Crepuscule with Nellie", are considered jazz standards. He worked extensively with the Blue Note record label in the 1950s and 1960s, releasing a number of critically acclaimed albums.
Accomplishments
Monk's many accomplishments include his composition of the jazz classic "'Round Midnight", his compositions for the musical Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall, his 1962 album Brilliant Corners, his 1964 album Monk's Dream, and his posthumous Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
