This Day in History

Sept. 23, 1926: John Coltrane Born

Time Periods: 1920
Themes: African American, Art & Music
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John Coltrane | Zinn Education Project

Coltrane at Blue Train session, 1957. By Francis Wolff.

John Coltrane, born Sept. 23, 1926, was an innovator in the bebop and free jazz styles and icon of creative expression.

In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Coltrane on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans.

In response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963, Coltrane wrote “Alabama.”

In 1965, he married Alice Coltrane, a jazz pianist, organist, harpist, singer, composer, and swamini. They had four children.

Photo by Francis Wolff from John Coltrane Blue Train Session.

Also born #tdih Mary Church Terrell (1863), Ray Charles (1930), and Bruce Springsteen (1949).

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This Day in History

Sept. 15, 1963: 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing

The 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed in an act of terrorism in Birmingham, Alabama.