Trumpeter and bandleader Miles Davis is born in Alton, Illinois.
At a Glance
- Date
- 26 May 1926
- Location
- Alton, Illinois
- Key people
- Miles Davis
- Category
- Music
- Source
- Recordings; biographical records · Britannica
What It Meant Then
He stood at the center of nearly every major development in modern jazz.
What It Means Now
Davis's albums, including 'Kind of Blue,' are among the most influential ever recorded.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Miles Davis Is Born.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/miles-davis-is-born/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Miles Davis Is Born. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/miles-davis-is-born/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Miles Davis Is Born.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/miles-davis-is-born/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.