Born Thelonious Sphere Monk on October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Thelonious Monk is a Jazz pianist and composer, arguably the greatest jazz musicians of all time, he is usually credited among the first creators of modern jazz and bebop.

He crafted his unique Jazz style and character during his time at Blue Note Records where he released a total of five recordings between 1947 and 1952. In 1952, Thelonious Monk signed to Prestige Records where he made a number of recordings including his first piano solo on Miles Davis' Bags' Groove.

Monk began receiving the acclaim he deserved with the album Brilliant Corners after signing to Riverside Records in 1955.

In 1957, the Thelonious Monk Quartet (with John Coltrane) enjoyed huge success among Jazz audiences in America and Europe, Monk then signed to a more mainstream label, Columbia records in 1962.

Many of Monk’s compositions have become jazz standards including famous ones like “‘Round Midnight”, “Evidence”, “Ruby My Dear”, “Epistrophy” etc.

In 1964, Monk was one of only four Jazz musicians to ever be on the cover of Time Magazine.