House of Miles East St. Louis (HOME) is a non-profit 501c3 that offers tours and educational programs. The House of Miles is located in the former home of the late Miles Dewey Davis III. Miles Davis is the most revered jazz trumpeter of all time, not to mention one of the most important musicians of the 20th century. The mission of the House of Miles Leadership is to nurture, empower and embrace the talents of upcoming generations by reclaiming, restoring and revitalizing our values, identity and Cool. House of Miles Leadership is the cultural epicenter impelled and dedicated to cultivate, connect and celebrate the community through music, heritage and art.

 

The Life of Miles

Davis performed in home talent shows as a child, joined East St. Louis Lincoln High School marching band, performed in music competitions, and joined local groups playing small venues in southwest Illinois and the greater St. Louis area in his late teens. In St. Louis in 1944, Davis met early jazz performers: Billy Eckstine, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. This meeting led Davis to New York where he auditioned and was accepted to the Julliard School of Performing Arts. In the big city, Davis met many more famous jazz musicians including J. J. Johnson, Kenny Clarke, Thelonious Monk, Fats Navarro, and Freddie Webster. Davis continued his education but was arguably more interested in following his idols, the foremost being Charlie Parker.

 

Over six decades, Davis developed his own unique sound and became a master of the trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, electric organ, and piano- playing jazz, hard bop, cool jazz, modal jazz, and jazz fusion. Davis collaborated with John Coltrane, Gil Evans, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Zawinul, Paul Chambers, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Keith Jarrett, Prince, and many, many others. Davis was and is the inspiration for hundreds, if not thousands, of artists across the world and is revered as "the best trumpeter of all time", "one of the most important musicians of the 20th century", and the "16th most important musician in history." Davis was signed under multiple record labels including: Prestige, Blue Note, Columbia Records, Capitol Records, Fontana, and Warner Brothers Records. Davis was a musician, bandleader, composer, and producer until his death in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65 on September, 28, 1991.

 

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