- published: 20 Oct 2013
- views: 2617929
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion.
Miles Dewey Davis was born on May 26, 1926, to an affluent African American family in Alton, Illinois. His father, Dr. Miles Henry Davis, was a dentist. In 1927 the family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois. They also owned a substantial ranch in northern Arkansas, where Davis learned to ride horses as a boy.
Davis' mother, Cleota Mae (Henry) Davis, wanted her son to learn the piano; she was a capable blues pianist but kept this fact hidden from her son. His musical studies began at 13, when his father gave him a trumpet and arranged lessons with local musician Elwood Buchanan. Davis later suggested that his father's instrument choice was made largely to irk his wife, who disliked the trumpet's sound. Against the fashion of the time, Buchanan stressed the importance of playing without vibrato; he was reported to have slapped Davis' knuckles every time he started using heavy vibrato. Davis would carry his clear signature tone throughout his career. He once remarked on its importance to him, saying, "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’t get that sound I can’t play anything."Clark Terry was another important early influence.[citation needed]
Baby, won't you make up your mind
What are you going to do
Why don't you say that we're through
Your actions are so unkind
Baby, won't you make up your mind
Just don't keep breaking my heart
It seems that you want to part
Baby, won't you make up your mind
You been tug, tug, tuggin' on my poor heartstrings
You been pound, pound, pounding on my brain
My resistance is low, so if you must go
Go and I will refrain, from
Asking you to make up your mind
I'm tired of playin' this game
I've suffered just enough pain
Baby, won't you make up your mind
Baby, won't you make up your mind
Baby, won't you make up your mind
I'm tired of playing this game
I've suffered just enough pain
Baby, won't you make up your mind
Baby, won't you make up...your mind