John Coltrane

John Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer born in 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. He rose to prominence in the 1950s playing with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk before leading his own quartet. Coltrane became a defining figure in modal jazz and free jazz, releasing landmark albums such as A Love Supreme and Giant Steps. His technical mastery on tenor and soprano saxophone and spiritual approach to improvisation influenced generations of musicians. He recorded for Prestige, Atlantic, and Impulse! Records and collaborated with artists including McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Pharoah Sanders. Coltrane died in 1967 at age 40.