Charles Mingus

(1922 - 1979)

Charles Mingus played the trombone at the age of eight and the cello in junior high before settling on the string bass at the age of sixteen. In 1953, he organized a show with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach, and himself, the recording of which was called The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever and was released on the label he founded, Debut Records, one of the first musician-owned record companies.