Pianist and composer Thelonious Monk is born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
At a Glance
- Date
- 10 October 1917
- Location
- Rocky Mount, North Carolina
- Key people
- Thelonious Monk
- Category
- Music
- Source
- Recordings; biographical records · Britannica
What It Meant Then
His angular harmonies and compositions helped define modern jazz.
What It Means Now
Monk's music is among the most performed in the jazz repertoire.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Thelonious Monk Is Born.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/thelonious-monk-is-born/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Thelonious Monk Is Born. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/thelonious-monk-is-born/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Thelonious Monk Is Born.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/thelonious-monk-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.