Trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and one of the most important figures in jazz music history, and music history in general. Davis adopted a variety of musical directions in a five-decade career that kept him at the forefront of many major stylistic developments in jazz. Winner of eight Grammy awards. Born: 26 May 1926 in Alton, Illinois, USA. Died: 28 September 1991 in Santa Monica, California, USA (aged 65). Best known for his seminal modern jazz album "Kind Of Blue" (1959), the highest selling jazz album of all time with six million copies sold. Miles went to NYC to study at the academic school for musicians, where he met Charlie Parker. They started playing together from 1945.