The jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk is usually remembered as a hip New Yorker. He was a pioneer of Bebop who lived most of his life on Manhattan's West Side. But Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and raised by his mother, a native of that tobacco and railroad town. Monk's son and the writer Alan Gurganus, among others, reflect on Monk's often-neglected Southern roots -- and, by extension, those of many other jazz greats.
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Piece Description
The jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk is usually remembered as a hip New Yorker. He was a pioneer of Bebop who lived most of his life on Manhattan's West Side. But Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and raised by his mother, a native of that tobacco and railroad town. Monk's son and the writer Alan Gurganus, among others, reflect on Monk's often-neglected Southern roots -- and, by extension, those of many other jazz greats.
Broadcast History
Aired on All Things Considered, October 10, 2007
Timing and Cues
Host intro:
The jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk would have been ninety years old this fall. Besides his penchant for odd hats and other eccentricities...Monk...who died in 1982...is usually remembered as a hip New Yorker. He was a pioneer of Bebop who lived most of his life on Manhattan?s West Side. But Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina...and raised by his mother...a native of that tobacco and railroad town. Some scholars and fellow musicians say Monk?s Southern roots had an overlooked but important influence on the man and his music. Our story was produced by John Biewen of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.
Suggest back-announce:
Sam Stephenson directs the Jazz Loft project at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. John Biewen produced our story.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rootie Tootie | Thelonious Monk | Thelonious Monk: The Complete Prestige REcordings. | Prestige | 1992 | 00:00 |
| Straight No Chaser | Thelonious Monk | Straight, No Chaser. | Blue Note | 1998 | 00:00 |
| Abide With Me | Thelonious Monk | Monk's Music. | Riverside | 1957 | 00:00 |
| Blue Monk | Thelonious Monk | Monk's Blues. | Riverside | 1968 | 00:00 |
| Carolina Moon | Thelonious Monk | Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2. | Blue Note | 2001 | 00:00 |
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