Wadada Leo Smith

Composer

Birthday December 18, 1941

Birth Sign Sagittarius

Birthplace Leland, MS

Age 83 years old

#127,948 Most Popular

About

Avant-garde jazz trumpeter and composer who was nominated for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Before Fame

He began playing drums and French horn in his childhood, ultimately deciding to play only trumpet.

Trivia

He formed his own jazz group The Creative Construction Company and started his own label to give himself full creative freedom.

Family Life

He grew up in Leland, Mississippi. His family noticed his talent early on.

Associated With

His 1998 album "Yo, Miles!" was a tribute to Miles Davis' early-1970s "electric" period when Davis used powered instruments.