Charles Mingus facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Charles Mingus
Performance for the U.S. Bicentennial, New York City, July 4, 1976 Photo by Tom Marcello
Background information
Birth name	Charles Mingus Jr.
Born	(1922-04-22)April 22, 1922 Nogales, Arizona, U.S.
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	January 5, 1979(1979-01-05) (aged 56) Cuernavaca, Mexico
Genres	Jazz, hard bop, bebop, avant-garde jazz, post-bop, Third Stream, orchestral jazz, free jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician composer bandleader
Instruments	Double bass, piano
Years active	1943–1979
Labels	Atlantic, Candid, Columbia, Debut, Impulse!, Mercury, United Artists
Associated acts	Pepper Adams, Jaki Byard, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Knepper, Joni Mitchell, Charlie Parker, Don Pullen, Dannie Richmond, Max Roach, Jack Walrath

Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an amazing American jazz musician. He played the upright bass and piano, wrote music, and led his own bands. Many people think he was one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers ever. He worked with famous artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Parker.

Mingus created different styles of jazz, from fast-paced bebop to experimental big band music. Some of his most famous albums include Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956) and Mingus Ah Um (1959). Even today, his music is played by special bands like the Mingus Big Band. High school students also play his songs in competitions. In 1993, the Library of Congress collected his papers, including his music and photos. They called it the most important collection about jazz in their history.

About Charles Mingus

Growing Up and Starting Music

Charles Mingus was born in Nogales, Arizona. He grew up in the Watts area of Los Angeles. His family background was very mixed, including African American, German American, and Native American roots.

His mother only allowed church music at home. But Mingus loved other music, especially Duke Ellington's jazz. He first learned to play the trombone, then the cello. It was hard for Black musicians to play classical music back then. The cello also wasn't a common jazz instrument.

Even so, Mingus loved the cello. When he started learning the double bass in high school, his cello skills helped him a lot. He studied bass with Herman Reinshagen, a top bassist from the New York Philharmonic.

Early Career and Famous Friends

Mingus started writing complex music when he was a teenager. Many of his early pieces mixed classical music with jazz. Some of these were recorded in 1960 on an album called Pre-Bird. This name referred to Charlie Parker, a jazz legend who changed how many musicians thought about music.

Mingus quickly became known as a bass prodigy. His first big job was playing with Barney Bigard, a clarinetist from Duke Ellington's band. In 1943, he toured with Louis Armstrong. He also played with Lionel Hampton's band in the late 1940s.

A popular trio with Mingus, Red Norvo, and Tal Farlow gained fame in 1950-1951. However, Mingus faced problems because of his race, so he left the group. He even briefly joined Duke Ellington's band in 1953. But Mingus's strong personality led to him being one of the few musicians Ellington ever fired.

In the early 1950s, Mingus played many gigs with Charlie Parker. Parker's music greatly inspired him. Mingus thought Parker was the greatest jazz genius ever.

Starting Debut Records

In 1952, Mingus started Debut Records with Max Roach. He wanted to record young musicians who hadn't been discovered yet. The most famous recording from his label was a concert with jazz giants.

On May 15, 1953, Mingus played with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, and Max Roach. This concert, at Massey Hall in Toronto, was the last time Gillespie and Parker played together on record. Mingus later added his bass part to the recording in New York. These recordings are now seen as some of the best live jazz albums ever.

The Jazz Workshop

Mingus often worked with a group of 8-10 musicians called the Jazz Workshop. He encouraged his musicians to explore and create music on the spot. Musicians who joined the Workshop learned a lot. Some even called it a "university" for jazz.

This group included talented players like Pepper Adams, Jaki Byard, and Eric Dolphy. Mingus helped them become a strong team that could improvise together. This style of playing was a step towards free jazz.

Famous Albums and Music

Pithecanthropus Erectus and Other Works

The 1950s were a very busy time for Mingus. He recorded about 30 albums for different labels. In 1956, he released Pithecanthropus Erectus. This was a major album for him as both a bandleader and a composer.

The title song, "Pithecanthropus Erectus," is a ten-minute musical story. It shows the rise of humans from early ancestors to their eventual downfall. Part of the song was completely improvised, meaning the musicians made it up as they played.

Another important album was The Clown (1957). This album was the first to feature drummer Dannie Richmond. Richmond stayed Mingus's main drummer until Mingus passed away in 1979. They formed one of the best rhythm sections in jazz history.

Mingus Ah Um and More

In 1959, Mingus and his Jazz Workshop recorded Mingus Ah Um, one of his most famous albums. This album came out in a year with many other jazz masterpieces. It includes classic Mingus songs like "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" (a tribute to Lester Young) and "Fables of Faubus." "Fables of Faubus" was a protest song against a governor who supported segregation.

In 2003, Mingus Ah Um was added to the National Recording Registry because of its importance. Mingus also recorded Blues & Roots in 1959, which was released the next year. He said about this album, "I was born swinging... but blues can do more than just swing."

In 1960, Mingus formed a quartet with Dannie Richmond, Ted Curson, and Eric Dolphy. This group was similar to Ornette Coleman's quartet, which was creating a new, challenging jazz sound. Mingus's quartet recorded on Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus and Mingus. The first album has a version of "Fables of Faubus" with lyrics.

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

In 1963, Mingus released The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. This album is known as one of the greatest examples of musical arrangement in jazz. It was special because Mingus asked his therapist to write notes for the album.

He also released Mingus Plays Piano in 1963, an album where he played piano by himself. Another album from that year was Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus, which critics loved.

In 1964, Mingus put together another great group. It included Dannie Richmond, Jaki Byard, Eric Dolphy, and others. This group recorded many concerts during its short time together. Sadly, Eric Dolphy passed away in Europe in June 1964.

Later Years and Legacy

Later Career and Passing

In the mid-1970s, Mingus became ill with ALS. This disease made it hard for him to play the bass. But he kept writing music and oversaw new recordings.

Before he passed away, he worked with singer Joni Mitchell on an album called Mingus. Mitchell added lyrics to his songs, including "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat".

Mingus passed away on January 5, 1979, at age 56, in Mexico. His ashes were scattered in the Ganges River.

Musical Style and Influence

Mingus's music had a strong, soulful feel, like hard bop. It often used sounds from Black gospel music and blues. But it also included parts of Third Stream (mixing jazz and classical), free jazz, and classical music. He said Duke Ellington and church music were his biggest influences.

He believed in collective improvisation. This means all the musicians play together, listening and reacting to each other. He chose musicians not just for their skills but also for their personalities. Many musicians who played with Mingus went on to have great careers.

Because of his amazing writing for mid-sized groups, Mingus is often seen as the musical heir to Duke Ellington. Ellington himself once said Mingus reminded him of "a young Duke."

His Personality

Mingus was known for his strong personality and temper, which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz." He refused to compromise his music. This sometimes led to arguments with musicians or even the audience during performances. He was a big man and could be intimidating when he was angry.

Besides his temper, Mingus also dealt with clinical depression. He would have periods of intense creativity followed by times when he produced less music.

Lasting Legacy

Charles Mingus's music is still performed today by groups like the Mingus Big Band. These bands are managed by his widow, Sue Graham Mingus.

His piece Epitaph is considered one of his greatest works. It's over 4,000 measures long and takes two hours to perform. This huge piece was only fully found after Mingus's death. It was first performed by a 30-piece orchestra in 1989, ten years after he passed away.

Mingus also wrote a book called Beneath the Underdog: His World as Composed by Mingus. It was published in 1971 and tells his life story in a unique, flowing style. The book shares his thoughts on race and society, including his experiences with bullying and prejudice.

Many experts see Charles Mingus as one of the most important American composers. In 1988, his music was cataloged and given to the New York Public Library for everyone to study. In 1993, the Library of Congress acquired his papers, calling it a very important collection for jazz history.

Songs Covered by Other Artists

Even though Mingus wrote many songs, they haven't been covered as often as other jazz composers. His song "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is probably his most recorded piece. Many jazz and non-jazz artists, like Jeff Beck and Joni Mitchell, have covered it.

Other artists have also covered his songs. Elvis Costello recorded "Hora Decubitus." The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble covered "Haitian Fight Song." In 1992, an album called Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus featured popular musicians like Keith Richards playing his works.

In 1969, Duke Ellington performed Mingus's piece The Clown at a festival honoring Mingus. A recording of this performance was discovered and shared in 2013.

Awards and Honors

1971: Received a Guggenheim Fellowship for Music Composition.
1971: Inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.
1988: His works were cataloged and given to the New York Public Library for public study.
1993: The Library of Congress acquired his papers, calling it the most important jazz collection in their history.
1995: The United States Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor.
1997: Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award after his death.
1999: His album Mingus Dynasty (1959) was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
2005: Inducted into the Jazz at Lincoln Center, Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame.

Discography

Filmography

1959: Mingus provided most of the music for the film Shadows.
1961: He appeared as a bassist and actor in the British film All Night Long.
1968: The documentary Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968 was made about him.
1991: A documentary called Weird Nightmare included footage of Mingus and interviews with musicians.
1998: Charles Mingus: Triumph of the Underdog (78 minutes) is a documentary film about Charles Mingus.

Images for kids

Mingus in 1976 playing the double bass