Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy extends far beyond his pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. His profound admiration for jazz music and its power to unite people across racial divides had a significant impact on the jazz musicians of his day and the evolution of jazz music itself.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
“Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life’s difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph. This is triumphant music.”
King wrote those words in 1964 as part of an essay included in the printed program for the first Berlin Jazz Festival. Though often cited as a speech, King did not actually attend the festival. He was asked by the organizers to write the forward after gaining international notoriety. That year, King had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and was named “Man of the Year” by Time Magazine.
Essay King wrote for the printed program that introduced the first Berlin Jazz Festival in 1964
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr On The Importance Of Jazz
INSPIRED
King inspired many jazz musicians to use their music as a platform for social change and to advocate for civil rights. Musicians like John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Oscar Peterson and Max Roach were profoundly influenced by Dr. King’s message of equality and justice. Nina Simone’s powerful anthems, such as “Mississippi Goddam” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” directly addressed the injustices faced by African Americans and became rallying cries for the movement. Max Roach’s “We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite” was a direct tribute to Dr. King and the fight for civil rights.
Coltrane composed and recorded “Alabama” two months after funerals were held for four black girls who died in the bombing of the16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. King delivered the eulogy at the service for three of the victims. The instrumental piece Coltrane recorded is as engrained with soul-searing grief as King’s words and in places mirrors the cadence of Rev. King’s verbal phrasing.
MOVING INSPIRATION
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s admiration for jazz music and his message of unity and justice had a profound impact on the jazz musicians of his day and the evolution of jazz music. His legacy lives on in the powerful and transformative music that continues to inspire and unite people around the world.
