Miles Davis (Miles Dewey Davis III, Alton, Illinois, May 26, 1926 – Santa Monica, California, September 28, 1991) was an American
trumpeter,
bandleader and
composer. Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz after World War II. He was one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century,
Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in
jazz music, including
bebop,
cool jazz,
hard bop,
modal jazz, and
jazz fusion.