Charles Mingus was born on April 22, 1922 and was raised in the Watts area of Los Angeles. He was raised by his father who raised him with the notion that classical music was the only hope in establishing himself as an intelligent black man. After hearing the Duke Ellington Orchestra on the radio on one fateful afternoon, Mingus decided to change his pursuits in a new direction, jazz music.

A turning point in Mingus' musical journey can be first identified in The Charles Mingus Quintet & Max Roach, a live concert which features Max Roach on drums. This “new musical identity” that was established on this album was further explored on Mingus' breakthrough album Pithecanthropus Erectus. This album depicts the rise and fall of man through music. It can best be summed up in Mingus' own words

My conception of the modern counterpart of the first man to stand erect- how proud he was, considering himself the first to ascend from all fours, pounding his chest and preaching his superiority over the animals still in a prone position. Overcome with self esteem, he goes out to rule the world, if not the universe, but both his own failure to realize the inevitable emancipation of those he sought to enslave, and his greed in attempting to stand on a false security, deny him not only the right of ever being a man, but finally destroy him completely.

It is these words that defined Mingus not only as a person, but as an artist. His music sought to represent those without a voice. Through all the racism and disdain he faced toward his music at a young age, Mingus believed that music will always prevail. Mingus released amazing albums throughout the years from The Clown to The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, but every album spoke to one simple idea. The crazy notion that through music we are all human.