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Ascension-The Journey of John Coltrane

Ascension Composite

Hamlet N.C. Coltranes Birthplace

Building Where Coltrane Was Born 92326 Now the Local NAACP

Rear of Building-Now-a Nightclub

At 6 months old family moved to High Point, N.C. to live with cousin Mary and her father, Rev. William Blair. Current owner (shown here) had moved from Billie Holiday's house in Baltimore. Not a jazz fan, he had never heard of her

Leonard Elementary School for black students founded by Rev. Blai

Wm. Penn H.S. opened for 1st time in decades for photographer where Coltrane often took center stage

John Hammond reminisces about Coltrane with 103 yr old William Hoover at latters funeral home

After h.s. moves to Philadelphia to study classical music and partake in burgeoning music scene

Famous clubs Coltrane first made his name in

Famous Gerts in Philly

His mother Cousin Mary join him in sharing apt

With savings G.I. loan they purchase 3-story building in Strawberry Hill former Jewish neighborhood overlooking park

Plays with Charlie. "Bird" Parker in famous Academy of Music

Though Methodist, became intrigued with Islam and met wife-to-be Naima, a Muslim who was a jazz fan and was into astrology

In '55 often traveled to NYC to play in Miles Davis Quintet. Became dependent on drugs and alcohol

Played famous year-long stint at The Five Spot with Thelonious Monk

In one week in Philly, through meditation, prayer, and fasting, quit smoking, drinking, and drugs

Practiced constantly everywhere, here in basement so as not to wake sleeping family, developing his "sheets of sound" and cutting 1st record, "Giant Steps," for Atlantic, with 2nd cut devoted to "Cousin Mary"

He introduced Eastern music, modal harmony, and "sheets of sound" in famous NYC clubs and in 1 pathbreaking album after another

With his 2nd wife, harpist Alice McLeod, who adopted Coltrane's name, he moved his family to Long Island where his 3rd son Ravi was born, and, a year before he died, at age 46 of liver cancer, composed and recorded "A Love Supreme." jpg

San Francisco's Church of John Coltrane venerates Coltrane and devoted themselves to playing his music

Ravi Coltrane, the 3rd of 3 musician sons, absorbed his father's music while, with his own distinctive voice, has become a highly regarded jazz artist today

"Cousin Mary" continues living in the house she had shared with Coltrane, promoting the legacy of, still, the world's most influential & largest selling jazz artist

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