By: Jaclyn Breeze
Art Blakey was an American jazz drummer. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and was a full-time musician by the time he was in 7th grade. He played piano at clubs and was learning to be a band leader. In his teens, he switched from piano to drums and soon found himself in New York City with Mary Lou Williams (read more about her in 2023-2024 #10!). He joined the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra and toured with them for a few years before joining Billy Eckstine’s band with several bebop musicians. After the band broke up, Blakey went to Africa for a few years to study religion and philosophy. When he returned to the States, he started playing again in New York. In the late 40s, he started Art Blakey’s Messengers, later called Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. He led this group for the rest of his life. The group featured many musicians who later became jazz stars on their own. Art Blakey died in 1990. At his funeral, a tribute group made up of past Jazz Messengers members played several of the band’s most popular tunes.
Listen to some of his work here:
Create your own drum at home here!