Jazz music biography writers

This is a list of English language book-length biographies and autobiographies of notable jazz musicians. The list is alphabetical by subject. Within subject, books are listed alphabetically by author. A list of related works contains books of related interest that do not meet the criteria for the main list: biographical collections, interview collections, and so on.

This list is alphabetical by author.

Main list

Allen, Red (/08–)

• Chilton, John. Ride, Red, Ride: The Life of Henry "Red" Allen. New York: Cassell,

Armstrong, Louis (–)

• Armstrong, Louis. Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans.

  New York: Da Capo Press,

• Bergreen, Laurence. Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life. New York: Broadway Books,
• Teachout, Terry. Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,

Baker, Chet (–)

• Gavin, James. Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker.

  New York: Alfred A. Knopf,

Barber, Chris ()

• Barber, Chris and Alyn Shipton. Jazz Me Blues. Equinox Publishing Ltd,

Barker, Danny (–)

• Barker, Danny and Alyn Shipton. A Life in Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press,

Basie, Count (–)

• Basie, Count.

  Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie as Told to Albert Murray. London: Paladin Books,

Bechet, Sidney (–)

• Bechet, Sidney. Treat it Gentle. New York: Hill and Wang,
• Chilton, John. Sidney Bechet: The Wizard of Jazz.

  Jazz music biography writers and artists: Kirk, Rahsaan Roland — His text is not only serious scholarship, but informal, conversational and full of surprises. From his emergence in the s — when an uncannily beautiful young man from Oklahoma appeared on the West Coast and became, seemingly overnight, the prince of cool jazz. While unable to talk with Fitzgerald directly, Nicholson went about creating as true an image of the great jazz singer as possible through written accounts and exhaustive interviews of childhood and professional associates.

  New York: Oxford University Press,

Beiderbecke, Bix (–)

• Berton, Ralph. Remembering Bix. New York: Harper & Row,
• Evans, Philip R. and Linda K. Bix: The Leon Bix Beiderbecke Story. Bakersfield, California: Prelike Press,
• Lion, Jean Pierre, translated by Gabriella Page-Fort.

  Bix: The Definitive Biography Of A Jazz Legend. New York: Continuum Publishers,

• Sudhalter, Richard M., Philip R. Evans and William Dean-Myatt. Bix: Man and Legend. New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House,

Berigan, Bunny (–)

• Dupuis, Robert.

  Bunny Berigan: Elusive Legend of Jazz. Baton Rouge: Louisiana University Press,

• Zirpolo, Michael P. Mr. Trumpet: The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumph of Bunny Berigan. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press,

Blake, Eubie (–)

• Rose, Al. Eubie Blake.
  Jazz music biography writers Read Edit View history. It uses his life story to describe the history of early jazz--from his childhood on the streets of New Orleans, his move to Chicago where he made his famous recordings with the Hot Five and Hot Seven, and on to New York and Europe. Sign in with Facebook Sign in options. David Hajdu.

  New York: Schirmer Books,

Bolden, Buddy (–)

• Marquis, Donald M. In Search of Buddy Bolden: First Man of Jazz. Baton Rouge: Louisiana University Press,

Breau, Lenny (–)

• Forbes-Roberts, Ron. One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau.

  Denton: University of North Texas Press,

Burton, Gary (born )

• Burton, Gary. Learning to Listen. Boston: Berklee Press,

Brown, Clifford (–)

• Catalano, Nick. Clifford Brown: The Life and Art of the Legendary Jazz Trumpeter.

  Oxford: Cambridge University Press,

Bushell, Garvin (–)

• Bushell, Garvin as told to Mark Tucker. Jazz from the Beginning. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Christian, Charlie (–)

• Broadbent, Peter. Charlie Christian: Solo Flight&#;– The Seminal Electric Guitarist, Second Edition.

  Blaydon on Tyne: Ashley Mark,

Coleman, Ornette (born )

• Litweiler, John. Ornette Coleman: A Harmolodic Life. London: Quartet Books,

Coltrane, John (–)

• Porter, Lewis. John Coltrane: His Life and Music. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Condon, Eddie (–)

• Condon, Eddie, with Thomas Sugrue.

  We Called It Music: A Generation of Jazz. New York: Da Capo Press,

Davis, Miles (–)

• Davis, Miles and Quincy Troupe. Miles: The Autobiography. New York: Simon and Schuster,

Desmond, Paul (–)

• Ramsey, Doug, Dave Brubeck, Iola Brubeck, and Paul Caulfield.

  Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond. Seattle: Parkside Publications,

Dodds, Baby (–)

• Dodds, Baby and Larry Gara. The Baby Dodds Story (Revised Edition). Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press,

Dorsey, Tommy (–)

• Levinson, Peter J.

  Tommy Dorsey: Living in a Great Big Way. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press,

Eldridge, Roy (–)

• Chilton, John. Roy Eldridge: Little Jazz Giant. New York: Continuum,

Ellington, Duke (–)

• Ellington, Duke.

  Music is My Mistress. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday,

Evans, Bill (–)

• Pettinger, Peter. Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings. New Haven: Yale University Press,

Freeman, Bud (–)

• Freeman, Bud. You Don't Look Like a Musician.

  Detroit: Belamp Publications,

• Freeman, Bud. If You Know of a Better Life Please Tell Me. Dublin: B. Eaves,
• Freeman, Bud and Robert Wolf. Crazeology: The Autobiography of a Chicago Jazzman. Urbana: University of Illinois Press,

Getz, Stan (–)

• Gelly, Dave.

  Stan Getz: Nobody Else But Me. San Francisco: Backbeat Books,

• Maggin, Donald L. Stan Getz: A Life in Jazz. New York: W. Morrow and Co.,

Gillespie, Dizzy (–)

• Gillespie, Dizzy. To Be, Or Not To Bop: Memoirs. Garden City, NY: Doubleday,
• Maggin, Donald L.

  Dizzy: The Life and Times of John Birks Gillespie. New York: HarperEntertainment,

• Shipton, Alyn. Groovin' High: The Life of Dizzy Gillespie. New York: Chelsea House Publishers,

Goodman, Benny (–)

• Collier, James Lincoln. Benny Goodman and the Swing Era. New York: Oxford University Press,
• Firestone, Ross.

  Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life and Times of Benny Goodman. New York: W. W. Norton and Co.,

Gordon, Dexter (–)

• Britt, Stan. Dexter Gordon: A Musical Biography. New York: Da Capo Press,

Green Grant (–)

• Andrews Green Sharony.

  Grant Green: Rediscovering the Forgotten Genius of Jazz Guitar. New York: Backbeat Books,

Hampton, Lionel (–)

• Hampton, Lionel and James Haskins. Hamp: An Autobiography. New York: Warner Books,

Hawes, Hampton (–)

• Hawes, Hampton and Don Asher.

  Raise Up Off Me: A Portrait of Hampton Hawes. New York: Da Capo Press,

Hawkins, Coleman (–)

• Chilton, John. The Song of the Hawk: The Life and Recordings of Coleman Hawkins. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Heath, Jimmy (born )

• Heath, Jimmy and Joseph McLaren.

  I Walked with Giants: The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath. Philadelphia: Temple University Press,

Henderson, Fletcher (–)

• Magee, Jeffrey. The Uncrowned King of Swing: Fletcher Henderson and Big Band Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press,

Hendricks, Jon ()

• Jones, Peter.
  Music biography examples Cary Ginell. Miles continues his winning streak of engaging the audience by offering a fascinating and often riveting read about into his life as a jazz trumpet great. Queen of Bebop models a way of understanding the lives and artistry of jazz musicians — one that establishes their importance and centrality in creating the best that America has offered the world. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.

  This is Bop: Jon Hendricks and the Art of Vocal Jazz. Sheffield: Equinox Publishing,

Herman, Woody (–)

• Lees, Gene. Leader of the Band: The Life of Woody Herman. New York: Oxford University Press,

Hersch, Fred (born )

• Hersch, Fred.

  Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz. New York: Crown Archetype,

Hines, Earl (–)

• Dance, Stanley. The World of Earl Hines. New York: Scribner,

Hinton, Milt (–)

• Hinton, Milt, David G. Berger, and Holly Maxson.

  Playing the Changes: Milt Hinton's Life in Stories and Photographs. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press,

Holiday, Billie (–)

• Nicholson, Stuart. Billie Holiday. Boston: Northeastern University Press,

James, Harry (–)

• Levinson, Peter J.

  Trumpet Blues: The Life of Harry James. New York: Oxford University Press,

Jarrett, Keith ()

• Carr, Ian. Keith Jarrett: The Man and His Music. London: Grafton,

Johnson, Bunk (ca. to –)

• Hazeldine, Mike and Barry Martin.

  Bunk Johnson: Song of the Wanderer. New Orleans: Jazzology Press,

• Hillman, Christopher. Bunk Johnson: His Life and Times. New York: Universe Books,

Johnson, J. J. (–)

• Berrett, Joshua and Louis G. Bourgois. The Musical World of J. J. Johnson. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press,

Johnson, James P. (–)

• Brown, Scott E.

  and Robert Hilbert. James P. Johnson: A Case of Mistaken Identity. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press and the Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University,

Kessel, Barney

• Kessel, Jo. Barney Kessel: A Jazz Legend. Oklahoma Heritage Association,
• Summerfield, Maurice J.

  Barney Kessel: A Jazz Legend. Ashley Mark,

Kirk, Andy (–)

• Kirk, Andy and Amy Lee. Twenty Years on Wheels. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Kirk, Rahsaan Roland (–)

• Kruth, John. Bright Moments: The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

  New York: Welcome Rain Publishers,

Konitz, Lee (born )

• Hamilton, Andy and Lee Konitz. Lee Konitz: Conversations on the Improviser's Art. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

LaFaro, Scott (–)

• LaFaro-Fernández, Helene. Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro.

  Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press,

Lunceford, Jimmie (–)

• Determeyer, Eddy. Rhythm is our Business: Jimmie Lunceford and the Harlem Express. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Marsh, Warne (–)

• Chamberlain, Safford.

  An Unsung Cat: The Life and Music of Warne Marsh. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press,

Mehldau, Brad

• Mehldau, Brad. Formation. Sheffield: Equinox,

Metheny, Pat

• Niles, Richard. The Pat Metheny Interviews.

• Biographies of jazz musicians
• Best jazz books
• Jazz Biographies - The Jazz Resource
• Countdown: The Best Jazz Books of All Time - Jazzfuel
• Countdown: The Best Jazz Books of All Time - Jazzfuel

Hal Leonard,

Mezzrow, Mezz (–)

• Mezzrow, Mezz and Bernard Wolfe. Really the Blues. New York: Random House,

Mingus, Charles (–)

Monk, Thelonious (–)

• Kelley, Robin D. G. Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original.

  New York: Free Press,

• Fitterling, Thomas. Thelonious Monk: His Life and Music (Revised Edition). Berkeley: Berkeley Hills Books,

Morgan, Lee (–)

• McMillan, Jeff. Delightfulee: The Life and Music of Lee Morgan. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Morton, Jelly Roll (s–)

• Reich, Howard and William Gaines.

  Jelly's Blues: The Life, Music, and Redemption of Jelly Roll Morton. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press,

Murphy, Mark ()

• Jones, Peter. This is Hip: the Life of Mark Murphy. Sheffield: Equinox Publishing,

Nichols, Herbie (–)

• Miller, Mark.

  Herbie Nichols: A Jazzist's Life. Toronto: Mercury Press Publishers,

Oliver, King (–)

• Williams, Martin T. King Oliver. New York: Barnes,

Ory, Edward "Kid" (–)

• McCusker, John. Creole Trombone: Kid Ory and the Early Years of Jazz.

  Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi,

Parker, Charlie (–)

• Giddens, Gary. Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker. New York: Beech Tree Books,
• Harrison, Max. Charlie Parker. New York: Barnes,
• Priestley, Brian.

  Chasin' the Bird: The Life and Legacy of Charlie Parker. New York: Oxford University Press,

• Russell, Ross. Bird Lives: The High Life and Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker. New York: Charterhouse,
• Woideck, Carl. Charlie Parker: His Music and Life. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Pastorius, Jaco

• Milkowski, Bill.

  Jaco. Backbeat,

Pepper, Art (–)

Peterson, Oscar (–)

• Barris, Alex. Oscar Peterson: A Musical Biography. Toronto: HarperCollins,
• Lees, Gene. Oscar Peterson: The Will to Swing. Rocklin, Cal.: Prima Publishing,
• Peterson, Oscar.

  A Jazz Odyssey: The Life of Oscar Peterson. New York: Continuum Books,

Pizzarelli, John

• Pizzarelli, John. World on a String. Wiley,

Powell, Bud (–)

• Paudras, Francis. Dance of the Infidels: A Portrait of Bud Powell. New York: Da Capo Press,

Rich, Buddy (–)

• Tormé, Mel.

  Traps, The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich. New York: Oxford University Press,

Rollins, Sonny (born )

• Nisenson, Eric. Open Sky: Sonny Rollins and His World of Improvisation. New York: St. Martin's Press,

Russell, George (–)

• Heining, Duncan.

  George Russell: The Story of An American Composer. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press,

Russell, Pee Wee (–)

• Hilbert, Robert. Pee Wee Russell: The Life of a Jazzman.

• Jazz music biography writers and artists
• How to write a music biography
• Jazz music biography writers association

New York: Oxford University Press,

Scott, Hazel (–)

• Chilton, Karen. Hazel Scott: The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist, from Cafe Society to Hollywood to HUAC. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Shaw, Artie (–)

• Shaw, Artie.

  The Trouble with Cinderella: An Outline of Identity. New York: Farrar, Straus and Young,

Shorter, Wayne (born )

• Mercer, Michelle. Footprints: The Life and Work of Wayne Shorter. New York: J.P. Tarcher/Penguin,

Silver, Horace (–)

• Silver, Horace.
  Jazz music biography writers and authors Called the greatest alto saxophonist of the post-Parker generation. Anita O'Day. Reid Badger. A list of related works contains books of related interest that do not meet the criteria for the main list: biographical collections, interview collections, and so on.

  Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty: The Autobiography of Horace Silver. Berkeley: University of California Press,

Smith, Johnny

• Flanagan, Lin. Moonlight in Vermont: The Official Biography of Johnny Smith. Centerstream,

Snow, Valaida (–)

• Miller, Mark.

  High Hat, Trumpet, and Rhythm: The Life and Music of Valaida Snow. Toronto: Mercury Press,

Strayhorn, Billy (–)

• Hajdu, David. Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux,

Sun Ra (–)

• Szwed, John F.

  Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra. New York, Pantheon Books,

Tapscott, Horace (–)

• Tapscott, Horace and Steven Louis Isoardi. Songs of the Unsung: The Musical and Social Journey of Horace Tapscott. Durham: Duke University Press,

Tatum, Art (–)

• Lester, James.

  Too Marvelous for Words: The Life and Genius of Art Tatum. New York: Oxford University Press,

Tristano, Lennie (–)

• Ind, Peter. Jazz Visions: Lennie Tristano and His Legacy. Oakville, Conn.: Equinox Publishing,
• Shim, Eunmi. Lennie Tristano: His Life in Music.

  Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,

Twardzik, Dick (–)

• Chambers, Jack. Bouncin' With Bartok: The Incomplete Works of Richard Twardzik. Toronto: Mercury Press Publishers,

Waller, Fats (–)

• Shipton, Alyn. Fats Waller: The Cheerful Little Earful.

  New York: Continuum,

• Waller, Maurice and Anthony Calabrese. Fats Waller. New York: Schirmer Books,

Webster, Ben (–)

• Büchmann-Møller, Frank. Someone to Watch Over Me: The Life and Music of Ben Webster. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,
• de Valk, Jeroen.

  Ben Webster: His Life and Music. Berkeley: Berkeley Hills Books,

Wilber, Bob (born )

• Wilber, Bob and Derek Webster. Music Was Not Enough. New York: Oxford University Press,

Williams, Mary Lou (–)

• Dahl, Linda. Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams.

  New York: Pantheon Books,

Young, Lester (–)

• Büchmann-Møller, Frank. You Just Fight for Your Life: The Story of Lester Young. New York: Praeger,
• Gelly, Dave. Being Prez: The Life and Music of Lester Young.
  Jazz music biography writers list Anita O'Day. Article Talk. Jack Batten. The book is based around the idea that every great artist has a muse that propels them.

  New York: Oxford University Press,

Related works

• Barker, Danny and Alan Shipton. Buddy Bolden and the Last Days of Storyville. New York: Cassell,
• Gitler, Ira. Jazz Masters of the Forties. New York: McMillan Co.,
• Goldberg, Joe. Jazz Masters of the Fifties. New York: McMillan Co.,
• Gourse, Leslie.

  Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists. New York: Oxford University Press,

• Hadlock, Richard. Jazz Masters of the Twenties. New York: McMillan Co.,
• Lees, Gene. Waiting for Dizzy: Fourteen Jazz Portraits. New York: Cooper Square Press,
• McPartland, Marian. Marian McPartland's Jazz World: All In Good Time.

  Champaign: University of Illinois Press,

• Parker, Chan. My Life in E Flat. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press,

Parker was the former wife of Charlie Parker and Phil Woods. Her autobiography was originally published in French.

• Reisner, Robert George. Bird: The Legend of Charlie Parker.

  New York: Da Capo Press,

• Spellman, A. B. Four Lives in the Bebop Business. New York: Pantheon Books,

This book contains chapters on Cecil Taylor, Herbie Nichols, Jackie McLean, and Ornette Coleman. It has been reprinted under various titles: Black Music: Four Lives, Four Jazz Lives, etc.

• Stewart, Rex William.

  Jazz Masters of the Thirties. New York: McMillan Co.,

• Taylor, Art. Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews. New York: Perigree,
• Williams, Martin T. Jazz Masters in Transition: –69. New York: McMillan Co.,
• Williams, Martin T. Jazz Masters of New Orleans. New York: McMillan Co.,

References

External links

• contains biographical sketches and recording lists of jazz and other musicians.