Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach (January 10, 1924 – August 16, 2007) was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history. He worked with many famous jazz musicians, including Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Billy Eckstine, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown, Eric Dolphy and Booker Little.Roach also led his own groups, and made numerous musical statements relating to the African American civil rights movement.
He was born in South Carolina, but raised in Brooklyn. His mother was a gospel singer.
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He took music lessons in public school. By the time he was 10 he was playing drums for several gospel groups. At 16 he was asked to fill in for three nights for Duke Ellington's drummer, who was ill.
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He was innovative in his use of cymbals, tom-toms, and bass drum to create solos.
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In addition to performing and recording, he was a teacher and composer of music for theatre.
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Is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.
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Among the first in jazz to perform works in times other than the standard 4/4 count.
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In 1988, he became the first jazz musician to receive a genius grant from the MacArthur Foundation.
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Survived by three daughters and two sons.
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One of the first jazz musicians to teach full-time at the University level.
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Music professor of percussion at the University of Masachusetts.
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Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
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Cited as a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France.
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Two-time recipient of the French Grand Prix du Disque.
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Recipient of eight honorary Doctorate degrees, including degrees awarded by the University of Bologna, Italy, and Columbia University.
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Inductee of both Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame (in 1982) and the Downbeat Magazine Hall of Fame.
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1952 graduate of Manhattan School of Music.
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Children: Maxine, Daryl, Raoul Jordu, Ayodele and Dara Rasheeda.
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Was one of the first drummers to play in the bebop style.
$15 Million
