Facts about Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk died at 64 years old
Born: October 10, 1917
Died: February 17, 1982
Birthplace: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, United States
Best known as: Influential and idiosyncratic bop jazz pianist
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Thelonious Monk Biography
Name at birth: Thellous Junior Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk is considered one of the most important (and eccentric) jazz composers of the century. One of the early practitioners of bebop during the 1940s and ’50s, his complex compositions featured irregular rhythms, dissonant sounds and a quirky sense of humor. He was the composer of such jazz standards as "’Round Midnight" and "Straight No Chaser."
Extra credit
His son is noted jazz drummer T. S. Monk.