Johannes in retroland

He was born Arthur Blakey, 11 October 1919, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Blakey was a pianist first; the move to drums has been variously attributed to Erroll Garner appearing on the scene, the regular drummer being off sick and (Blakey’s favourite) a gangster’s unarguable directive. Whatever, Art Blakey drummed for Mary Lou Williams on her New York debut in 1942, Fletcher Henderson’s mighty swing orchestra (1943-4) and the legendary Billy Eckstine band that included Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davisand Thelonious Monk (1944-7).

Bron: duke.edu