Red Garland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Garland |
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Garland at Keystone Korner jazz club, San Francisco, California, May 1978
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William McKinley Garland, Jr. |
| Born | May 13, 1923 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | April 23, 1984 (aged 60) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, straight-ahead jazz, bebop, hard bop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1940s–1984 |
| Labels | Prestige |
| Associated acts | Miles Davis |
William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. (born May 13, 1923 – died April 23, 1984) was an American jazz pianist. He was famous for leading his own bands. He also played with the legendary musician Miles Davis in the 1950s. Red Garland helped make a piano playing style called "block chords" very popular in jazz music.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Red Garland was born in 1923 in Dallas, Texas. He started learning music with the clarinet and alto saxophone. But in 1941, he decided to switch to the piano.
Just a few years later, Garland joined a famous trumpet player named Hot Lips Page. They played together until a tour brought them to New York in 1946. Red Garland decided to stay in New York to find more music work. Another musician, Art Blakey, heard Garland playing in a small club. Blakey was so impressed that he brought his boss, Billy Eckstine, to hear him the next night.
Red Garland also had a short career as a boxer in the 1940s. He had over 35 fights! One of his fights was against the famous boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.
Becoming Famous with Miles Davis
Joining the Miles Davis Quintet
Red Garland became very well-known in 1954. This was when he joined the Miles Davis Quintet. This group included other amazing musicians like John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, and Paul Chambers. Miles Davis liked boxing, so he was impressed that Garland had been a boxer.
Together, this group made many famous albums for Prestige Records. Some of these albums were Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet, Workin', Steamin', Cookin', and Relaxin'.
Red Garland's unique piano style was a big part of these recordings. He used special ways of playing chords and gave great support to the other musicians. He also used ideas from another pianist, Ahmad Jamal. Some people thought Garland's style was too simple, but Miles Davis loved it. He even encouraged Garland to learn from Jamal's light and smooth touch.
Challenges and Later Recordings
Garland also played on 'Round About Midnight (1957), which was one of Miles Davis's first recordings for Columbia Records. Even though he kept playing with Miles, their friendship started to have problems. By 1958, Garland and Philly Joe Jones sometimes didn't show up for recordings or concerts. Miles eventually let Garland go from the band.
However, Red Garland later returned to play on another jazz classic album called Milestones. During one recording session for Milestones, Garland played a part that Miles Davis didn't like. Garland then left the session. Because of this, Miles Davis himself played the piano on one of the songs, "Sid's Ahead."
Leading His Own Band and Later Years
The Red Garland Trio
In 1958, Red Garland started his own group, called the Red Garland Trio. This trio recorded with many other talented musicians. Some of them were Pepper Adams, Nat Adderley, Kenny Burrell, and Philly Joe Jones. The trio also sometimes played as a quintet (a group of five) with John Coltrane and Donald Byrd.
Red Garland led 19 recording sessions for Prestige Records and 25 sessions for Fantasy Records. He stopped playing music professionally for several years in the 1960s. This was because rock music became very popular, and jazz music was not as popular then.
Returning to Texas
In the 1970s, Red Garland moved back to his home state of Texas. He went there to take care of his elderly mother. He started recording music again in 1977 with an album called Crossings. On this album, he played again with Philly Joe Jones and bassist Ron Carter. His music from this time sounded a bit more modern.
Red Garland continued to record music until he passed away from a heart attack on April 23, 1984. He was 60 years old.
Images for kids
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Garland at Keystone Korner jazz club, San Francisco, California, May 1978
See also
In Spanish: Red Garland para niños
