Charlie Parker was an American composer and jazz saxophonist. A highly influential soloist, Parker played a significant role in the development of a form of jazz called bebop. He is also credited with introducing harmonic ideas into jazz, such as chord substitutions and rapid passing chords. His contribution to jazz and bebop made him an icon of the hipster subculture.
![Jon Batiste Jon Batiste](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jon-batiste-1.jpg)
Chet Baker was an American vocalist and jazz trumpeter. He achieved recognition during the 1950s and his innovations within cool jazz, a style of modern jazz music, earned him the nickname prince of cool. However, his drug addiction overshadowed much of his professional achievements. His life and work inspired the 2015 drama film Born to Be Blue.
![Herbie Hancock Herbie Hancock](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/herbie-hancock-8372-1.jpg)
![Buddy Rich Buddy Rich](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/buddy-rich-49306-1.jpg)
Thelonious Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer who was noted for his unorthodox approach and idiosyncrasy during his performance. Mentored by Mary Lou Williams, Thelonious Monk contributed to bebop and was associated with Columbia and Riverside labels. His run-in with the police affected his performance after his New York City Cabaret Card was confiscated following the discovery of narcotics in a car.
![Chick Corea Chick Corea](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/chick-corea-1.jpg)
![Eva Cassidy Eva Cassidy](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/eva-cassidy-8759-1.jpg)
![Jaco Pastorius Jaco Pastorius](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jaco-pastorius-1.jpg)
Jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and singer Dizzy Gillespie developed the virtuoso style of Roy Eldridge, modifying it with innovative harmony and rhythm. He popularized the bebop style of music and was famous for his signature horn-rimmed spectacles. His contribution to modern jazz earned him the title of the Ambassador of Jazz.
![Walter Becker Walter Becker](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/walter-becker-10773-1.jpg)
![Scatman John Scatman John](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/scatman-john-1.jpg)
![Louis Prima Louis Prima](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/louis-prima-31253-1.jpg)
![Thundercat Thundercat](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/thundercat-1.jpg)
![Jonathan Cain Jonathan Cain](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jonathan-cain-1.jpg)
Jonathan Cain is a singer-songwriter and musician. He is a keyboardist for the rock band Journey. Interested in music from a young age, he attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He began his professional music career in the mid-1970s and played with numerous bands before joining Journey. He is also a solo artist and owns a recording studio.
Louis Armstrong was an American trumpeter and singer who played an important role in the development of jazz. Thanks to his playing, trumpet became known as a solo instrument and jazz, which was previously known as a collectively improvised folk music, became a soloist's art form. Not surprisingly, Louis Armstrong is widely accepted as the embodiment of jazz.
![Wendy Carlos Wendy Carlos](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/wendy-carlos-46440-1.jpg)
![Chet Atkins Chet Atkins](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/chet-atkins-8090-1.jpg)
![Wynton Marsalis Wynton Marsalis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/wynton-marsalis.jpg)
![Chuck Mangione Chuck Mangione](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/chuck-mangione-48619-1.jpg)
![Doc Severinsen Doc Severinsen](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/doc-severinsen-49643-1.jpg)
![Sarah Vaughan Sarah Vaughan](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sarah-vaughan-1.jpg)
![Esperanza Spalding Esperanza Spalding](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/esperanza-spalding-1.jpg)
![Danny Carey Danny Carey](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/danny-carey.jpg)
![John Densmore John Densmore](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-densmore-1.jpg)
![Kyle Eastwood Kyle Eastwood](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kyle-eastwood-13192-1.jpg)
![Tito Puente Tito Puente](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/tito-puente-1.jpg)
![Keith Jarrett Keith Jarrett](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/keith-jarrett-2063-1.jpg)
![Bobby Caldwell Bobby Caldwell](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/bobby-caldwell-1.jpg)
![Jeff Porcaro Jeff Porcaro](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jeff-porcaro-1.jpg)
![Montell Jordan Montell Jordan](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/montell-jordan-1.jpg)
![Bobby Troup Bobby Troup](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/bobby-troup-11675-1.jpg)
![Alice Coltrane Alice Coltrane](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alice-coltrane-104839-1.jpg)
![Tommy Bolin Tommy Bolin](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/tommy-bolin-1.jpg)
![Leon Redbone Leon Redbone](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/leon-redbone-1.jpg)
![Tevin Campbell Tevin Campbell](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/tevin-campbell.jpg)
![Melody Gardot Melody Gardot](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/melody-gardot-13608-1.jpg)
![Vince Guaraldi Vince Guaraldi](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/vince-guaraldi.jpg)
![Yehudi Menuhin Yehudi Menuhin](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/yehudi-menuhin-8536-1.jpg)
Grammy Award-winning legendary 20th-century violinist Yehudi Menuhin was born to Lithuanian Jews in the US. Starting his training in the violin at age 4, he later studied music in Paris. He also experimented with fusion, collaborating with jazz and Indian classical musicians. He later launched the Yehudi Menuhin School.
![Madlib Madlib](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/madlib-1.jpg)
![Jelly Roll Morton Jelly Roll Morton](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jelly-roll-morton-8415-1.jpg)