Fun Facts

• Davis' mother originally wanted him to learn the violin. His trumpeting—his premier claim to fame—came at the cost of his mother's initial disapproval. Who knows how it could have turned out if he learned violin instead?
• He lived on a large pig farm. As well as learning how to touch peoples' hearts through music, he also learned how to fish, hunt, and ride horses.
• He was roommates with Charlie Parker, another famous jazz musician, for a year. This was despite receiving warnings from others.
• His ignoring of medical advice caused him to develop a permanent rasp in his voice later in life.
• One of Davis' pre-performance rituals involved refusing to shake hands with people. Perhaps others' hands would have tarnished his instrument (and playing ability)?