“By the age of 12, music had become the most important thing in my life.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and painter. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. In a career spanning nearly five decades, Davis was at the forefront of several major stylistic developments in jazz, including bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, third stream, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz, and jazz fusio…
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
entertainment · American jazz musician (1926–1991) · composer · trumpeter · bandleader · conductor · autobiographer · jazz musician · actor · songwriter · film score composer · musician · also Miles Davis, Miles Dewey Davis III, Miles Dewey Davis, III Davis, Miles Dewey Davis Jr, Davis
Born 26 May 1926 · Died 28 September 1991 · Q93341
182 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
14 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 27 entries
“I prefer a round sound with no attitude in it, like a round voice with not too much tremolo and not too much bass. Just right in the middle. If I can”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Published video “Bag's Groove (Live)”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Bye Bye Blackbird”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Four”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “All Of You (2)”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Two Bass Hit”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “All Of You”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Sid's Ahead (A.K.A Weirdo)”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Walkin'”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
- #corroborated
Published video “Straight No Chaser”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
eCoustics: Cookin’ With the Miles Davis Quintet Review: This OJC Reissue Gets the Heat Right
- #news
- #headline
Far Out Magazine: Miles Davis’ most beautiful work, according to Paul Weller: “It’s so controlled”
- #news
- #headline
Glide Magazine: ‘Cookin’, With The Miles Davis Quintet’ Remains a Timeless Showcase On New All-Analog (AAA) Mastering (ALBUM REVIEW)
- #news
- #headline
collider: The 10 Most Essential Miles Davis Albums
- #news
- #headline
Published video “Miles Davis Induction Intro The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame By Herbie Hancock (2006) #jazz #music”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Sketches of Spain Miles Documentary #jazz #jazzmasters #music #livemusic #jazzmusic #live #trumpet”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Sketches of Spain Miles Documentary #jazz #jazzmasters #music #jazzmusic”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “North Sea Jazz Festival #jazz #jazzmasters #music #livemusic #jazzmusic #trumpet #live”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “"You have to be very selfish to be original." #jazz #jazzmasters #music #jazzmusic #trumpet”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Miles Davis in Pori Jazz 1987 #jazz #jazzmasters #music #jazzmusic #livemusic #trumpet”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Miles Davis - Befriending Joe Zawinul #jazz #jazzmasters #music #jazzmusic #trumpet”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “National Sunglass Day #jazz #jazzmasters #music”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Miles 56: The Prestige Recordings - Complete Collection & More LIVESTREAM”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Miles Davis - When I Fall in Love (Official Visualizer) - From MILES '56”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Public attention spiked: 16,607 Wikipedia readers in one day, 5.5× the usual 3,045, with 2 article edits. Editors noted: Reverted edit by ~2026-32065-82 (talk) to last version by Kulajd
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
Public attention spiked: 29,999 Wikipedia readers in one day, 9.9× the usual 3,045, with 15 article edits. Editors noted: added "alone and 6.4 million copies worldwide" to "five million copies in the U.S."
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
2025· 1 entry
Reservoir Media acquired the rights to Davis's publishing catalog
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2019· 3 entries
Released album “Rubberband”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
The documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, directed by Stanley Nelson, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
The album achieved 5× platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of more than five million copies in the US, making it one of the most successful jazz albums in history
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2018· 1 entry
American rapper Q-Tip played Miles Davis in a theater production titled My Funny Valentine
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2016· 3 entries
Released album “Everything’s Beautiful”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Legrand Jazz”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Digital publication The Pudding, in an article examining Davis's legacy, found that 2,452 Wikipedia pages mention Davis, with over 286 citing him as an influence
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2009· 1 entry
The US House of Representatives passed a resolution that honored it as a national treasure
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2006· 3 entries
Awarded Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2006).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which recognized him as "one of the key figures in the history of jazz"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2005· 1 entry
The Davis biography, The Last Miles was published, and a London exhibition was held of his paintings, The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980–1991, was released detailing his final years and eight of his albums fr
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2001· 1 entry
The Miles Davis Story, a two-hour documentary film by Mike Dibb, won an International Emmy Award for arts documentary of the year
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1992· 1 entry
Released album “Doo‐Bop”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1991· 11 entries
Released album “The Essence of Miles Davis”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “All Blues”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Died 1991-09-28.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
Davis returned to performing material from his past at the 1991 Montreux Jazz Festival with a band and orchestra conducted by Quincy Jones
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
“Para mí, en la música y en la vida todo es estilo.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:es
“When they make records with all the mistakes in, as well as the rest, then they'll really make jazz records. If the mistakes aren't there too, it ain't none of you.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
“Coleman Hawkins told me never to play with someone older than me, and I never have. With older players, there's no force, no drive. With younger players, it's not that you know it all, or I know it all—it's I'm trying to learn it all.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
From the combined effects of a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure, aged 65
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
“The only thing I'm interested in is the music and the musicians. I don't acknowledge applause 'cause I'm giving them something. They're not giving me anything with their applause. Can I write that down?”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
“On being called a legend.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
“I know what the power of silence is. When I used to play in clubs, everybody was loud; there was a lot of noise. So I would take my mute off the microphone, and I would play something so soft that you could hardly hear it... and you talk about listening. Roy Eldridge did that. He's one of my favorites.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
1990· 13 entries
Awarded Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1990).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded American Book Awards (1990).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
That Miles reconsider playing the ballads and modal tunes of his Kind of Blue period, he said: "Nah, it hurts my lip
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Nonet 1948 / Jam 1949”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles Davis: Evolution of a Genius 1954–1956”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Evolution of a Genius: Miles Davis 1945 – 1958”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Writer Stanley Crouch, a prominent critic of jazz fusion, labeled Davis "the most brilliant sellout in the history of jazz
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Jazz Line”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles Davis Plays Classic Ballads”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Evolution of a Genius: Miles Davis 1957 – 1958”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Portrait”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1989· 7 entries
Released album “Compact Jazz: Miles Davis”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Aura”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Amandla”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “First Miles”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Story”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Real Birth of the Cool”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “10 Top Tracks”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1988· 10 entries
Awarded honorary doctorate of Paris Nanterre University (1988).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Released album “Bopping the Blues”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Davis had a small part as a street musician in the Christmas comedy film Scrooged starring Bill Murray
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “The Collection: A Retrospective”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Ballads”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Old Devil Moon”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Evolution of a Genius: Miles Davis 1945 – 1954”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Legendary Masters: Unissued or Rare: 1948–60”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Green Haze”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Columbia Years 1955–1985”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1987· 3 entries
Won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Davis contacted American journalist Quincy Troupe to work with him on his autobiography
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “The Miles Davis Collection - A Retrospective”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1986· 4 entries
Released album “Tutu”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “1 Hour With Miles Davis”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles Davis and the Jazz Giants”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
The New England Conservatory awarded Davis an honorary doctorate for his contributions to music
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1985· 3 entries
Released album “You’re Under Arrest”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
By 1985, Davis was diabetic and required daily injections of insulin.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
But those would remain unreleased until 2019
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1984· 3 entries
Awarded Léonie Sonning Music Prize (1984).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Released album “Decoy”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Davis met 34-year-old sculptor Jo Gelbard
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1983· 2 entries
Released album “Star People”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Greatest Jazz Recordings of All Time: Great Jazz Inventors”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1982· 1 entry
Released album “I giganti del jazz, vol. 100”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1981· 3 entries
Released album “Directions: Unreleased Recordings 1960–1970”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “I giganti del jazz, vol. 54”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Man With the Horn”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1980· 2 entries
Released album “Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings (1951–1956)”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “I giganti del jazz, vol. 2”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1979· 2 entries
Released album “1958 Miles”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Circle in the Round”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1978· 1 entry
Davis asked fusion guitarist Larry Coryell to participate in sessions with keyboardists Masabumi Kikuchi and George Pavlis, bassist T
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1977· 2 entries
Released album “Tune Up”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “3 géants du jazz”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1976· 2 entries
Released album “Water Babies”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
It was certified gold for selling more than 500,000 records
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1975· 1 entry
Released album “Dig”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1974· 4 entries
Released album “Big Fun”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles Davis with John Coltrane”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Get Up With It”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Workin’ and Steamin’”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1973· 2 entries
Released album “The Essential Miles Davis”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Basic Miles: The Classic Performances of Miles Davis”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1972· 4 entries
Released album “On the Corner”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
For In Concert, but Davis found it unsatisfactory, leading him to drop the tabla and sitar and play organ himself
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Composer-arranger Paul Buckmaster introduced Davis to the music of avant-garde composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, leading to a period of creative exploration
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Tallest Trees”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1970· 2 entries
Released album “Bitches Brew”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
The album demonstrated that Davis's ensemble had transformed into a funk-oriented group while retaining the exploratory imperative of Bitches Brew
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1969· 6 entries
Davis was shot at five times while in his Ferrari with Marguerite Eskridge, one of his lovers
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “In a Silent Way”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Filles de Kilimanjaro”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
After accusing her of having an affair with Hendrix
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Davis filed for divorce from Mabry in 1969, after accusing her of having an affair with Hendrix.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
Released album “Miles Davis’ Greatest Hits”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1968· 2 entries
Released album “Nefertiti”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles in the Sky”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1967· 2 entries
Released album “Sorcerer”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
The group began to play their concerts in continuous sets, each tune flowing into the next, with only the melody indicating any sort of change
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1966· 2 entries
His sales had declined to around 40,000–50,000 per album, compared to as many as 100,000 per release a few years before
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Mode Study”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1965· 2 entries
Released album “Plays for Lovers”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “E.S.P.”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1964· 2 entries
Davis led them on a series of more abstract recordings often composed by the band members, helping pioneer the post-bop genre with albums such as E
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Coleman was briefly replaced by saxophonist Sam Rivers (who recorded with Davis on Miles in Tokyo) until Wayne Shorter was persuaded to leave the Jazz Messengers
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1963· 4 entries
Released album “Quiet Nights”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Play Richard Rodgers”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Had increased his use of alcohol and cocaine to alleviate joint pain caused by sickle cell anemia
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Seven Steps to Heaven”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1960· 1 entry
Released album “Sketches of Spain”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1959· 2 entries
Released album “Kind of Blue”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1958· 4 entries
Released album “Milestones”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
“Miles Davis asking Blue Note producer Alfred Lion's approval of a recorded performance in Rudy Van Gelder's studio. Miles' was included at the end of "One For Daddy-O" on the Cannonball Adderley album Somethin' Else (March 9, 1958).”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #lang:en
Released album “Porgy and Bess”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Jazz Track”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1957· 5 entries
Released album “’Round About Midnight”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Birth of the Cool”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Bags’ Groove”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Davis began a relationship with Frances Taylor, a dancer he had met in 1953 at Ciro's in Los Angeles
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Miles Ahead”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1956· 7 entries
Released album “Miles Davis, Volume 2”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles Davis and Horns”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
“Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
Released album “Collectors’ Items”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Blue Haze”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Conception”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Left his quintet temporarily to tour Europe as part of the Birdland All-Stars, which included the Modern Jazz Quartet and French and German musicians
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1955· 3 entries
Released album “Miles Davis, Volume 1”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Blue Moods”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet / Sextet”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1954· 3 entries
Released album “Miles Davis With Sonny Rollins”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Vol. 3”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Sugar Ray Robinson "was the most important thing in my life besides music", and he adopted Robinson's "arrogant attitude"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1953· 3 entries
Released album “Miles Davis, Vol. 2”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Blue Period”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Compositions of Al Cohn”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1952· 2 entries
Released album “Young Man With a Horn”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Dizzy Gillespie and Modern Trumpets”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1951· 3 entries
Released album “The New Sounds”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
And began to transcribe scores for record labels to fund his heroin addiction
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Modern Jazz Trumpets”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1945· 2 entries
When he entered the studio as a sideman for Herbie Fields's band
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Davis replaced Dizzy Gillespie in Charlie Parker's quintet
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1935· 1 entry
Davis received his first trumpet as a gift from John Eubanks, a friend of his father
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1926· 2 entries
Born 1926-05-26.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth
To an affluent African-American family in Alton, Illinois, 18 miles (29 kilometers) north of St
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event