George Coleman
A tenor saxophonist whose robust, blues-drenched sound provided a crucial bridge between hard bop and the avant-garde in Miles Davis's pivotal 1960s quintet.
Born 1935 (age 91)·American jazz saxophonist (b. 1935)·Birthday: March 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
Born in Memphis, George Coleman soaked up the city's rich musical gumbo before hitting the road with blues giant B.B. King. His move to New York in the late 1950s placed him at the epicenter of jazz evolution. Coleman's big, commanding tone and harmonic sophistication caught the ear of Miles Davis, who recruited him for a quintet that would redefine small-group jazz. Though his tenure with Miles was brief, it yielded classics like 'Seven Steps to Heaven' and established Coleman as a master of melodic invention. He later led his own acclaimed groups and became a revered elder statesman, his playing never losing its fiery, soulful core. In 2015, the National Endowment for the Arts formally recognized his lifetime of artistic excellence with the Jazz Masters fellowship.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
George was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 80
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2026Age 91 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played tenor saxophone on Miles Davis's landmark 1963 album 'Seven Steps to Heaven'.
- Recorded the classic album 'Maiden Voyage' with Herbie Hancock in 1965.
- Led the album 'Amsterdam After Dark' in 1979, showcasing his mature compositional style.
- Received the NEA Jazz Master award in 2015, the nation's highest honor in jazz.
Did You Know?
He was a childhood friend and musical contemporary of saxophonist Hank Crawford in Memphis.
Before joining Miles Davis, he played in organist Jimmy Smith's group.
He is the father of drummer George Coleman Jr.
Coleman is known for being a meticulous musician who often writes out complex solos in advance.
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