Thelonious Monk was born on October 10, 1917 in North Carolina to Thelonious and Barbara Monk. The family moved to Manhattan, New York City, when Monk was only 4 years old - he lived there for almost 50 years of his life. Monk started to play piano from the age of six, learning just by observing his sister playing the instrument.Nellie, Nica, and various friends and family sustained Monk during the long periods of joblessness, bipolar episodes, incarceration, health crises, and other tragic and difficult moments. Above all, Thelonious Monk is the gripping saga of an artist’s struggle to “make it” without compromising his musical vision.Nov 26, 2013 · The Thelonious Monk concert film "Paris 1969" features the legendary pianist & composer in a triumphant performance with his Quartet at the Salle Pleyel conc... Thelonious Monk. (1917–82). “The high priest of bebop ,” Thelonious Monk composed dozens of enduring songs and was one of the greatest jazz pianists. His music is marked by sudden chords, surprising rhythms, subtle melodies, and, mostly, by its swing. Thelonious Sphere Monk was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.live in denmark, 1966-04-17Recording and production. Monk recorded six sessions for Blue Note, all produced by Alfred Lion: October 15 and 24, 1947, November 21, 1947, July 2, 1948, July 23, 1951, and May 30, 1952. All sessions were recorded by Doug Hawkins at WOR Studios, except July 2, 1948, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his home studio.. Release history. Two 10"s were …Thelonious Monk - Bolivar Blues.....Thelonious Monk - Piano....Charlie Rouse - Tenor Sax....Frankie Dunlop - D...Misterioso. (Thelonious Monk album) Misterioso is a 1958 live album by American jazz ensemble the Thelonious Monk Quartet. By the time of its recording, the pianist and bandleader Thelonious Monk had overcome an extended period of career difficulties and achieved stardom with his residency at New York's Five Spot Café, beginning in 1957.Thelonious Monk performing "Blue Monk" with Charlie Rouse on tenor saxophone, Larry Gales on bass and Ben Riley on drums live at the University Aula in Oslo,...Consequently, Monk has become perhaps the most talked about and least understood artist in the history of jazz. Barbara Monk ca. 1922. Born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Thelonious was only four when his mother Barbara, big sister Marion, and baby brother Thomas, moved to New York City. …That is why "Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser" is vaguely disturbing right from the opening scenes. We can sense there is something wrong here, and unless we know the life history of Monk we don't know what it is. The music is great, free-spirited and liberating, but in the person of Monk there is a shadow of some kind, a vagueness, a ...$17.99. Paperback. $12.34. Other Used, New, Collectible from $1.25. Buy new: $17.99. List Price: $26.99 Details. Save: $9.00 (33%) Get Fast, Free Shipping with …Apr 29, 2010 · Monk emerged in the 1940s as one of the high priests of bebop, and was the house pianist at Minton's Playhouse, bop's after-hours laboratory. He learned piano while accompanying his mother's ... Award-winning and bestselling author William Kotzwinkle is back with the second in the darkly comedic Felonious Monk series featuring Tommy Martini, a Benedictine monk with an anger management problem. Felonious Monk was praised as " amiably satirical" (Washington Post) and "a whiplash adventure" (Wall Street Journal).Nov 1, 2023 · Monk’s big break came in 1941 when the drummer Kenny Clarke hired him to be the house pianist at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. It’s been said that’s where bebop was born: Charlie Parker ... A previously unreleased concert recording of Thelonious Monk from 1968 will be released next month as the album Palo Alto . The summer of 1968 looked like the summer of 2020. Americans were in the ...February 17, 1982 at 7:00 p.m. EST. Thelonious Sphere Monk, 63, the enigmatic composer, pianist and innovator who was one of the seminal figures of modern jazz, died yesterday at Englewood ...The pianist's first visit to France and the 3,000-seat Salle Pleyel concert hall ended in disaster. Fifteen years later, after he became an international star, Monk returned to the same stage with ...And pick it up they did: Round Midnight is widely credited as being the most-recorded song written by a jazz musician. Monk was, at the time, regarded as an idiosyncratic performer whose style at the piano was angular and seemingly disjointed. With his percussive style and unusual phrasing, some even questioned his technique as a …Jun 2, 2022 · Written by Guercio, Felonious Monk, based on the novel, is about a disgraced cop with anger issues-turned-monk who returns to his hometown to take care of his dead uncle’s outstanding business ... During the Civil Rights Movement, Thelonious Monk became an active advocate for rights while also reaching peak popularity in his jazz career. Not only did he use his career platform to help advocate for change, but he also became well known for his views within the movement. However, historical discussions often stop at stating the actions jazz musicians did …Nellie, Nica, and various friends and family sustained Monk during the long periods of joblessness, bipolar episodes, incarceration, health crises, and other tragic and difficult moments. Above all, Thelonious Monk is the gripping saga of an artist’s struggle to “make it” without compromising his musical vision.May 4, 2020 · Thelonious Monk. Thelonious Monk was one of the most revered pianists in jazz, with a peerless career that showcased his improvisational style. Thelonious Monk was born October 10, 1917, in Rocky ... Thoughtful attention is given to Monk's coexistent relationships with his spouse, Nellie – "wife, road manager, business manager, mother, caregiver and accountant" – and his friend and ...Learn Thelonious Monk facts for kids. Biography 1917–1933: Early life. Thelonious Sphere Monk was born two years after his sister Marion on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and was the son of Thelonious and Barbara Monk.His poorly written birth certificate misspelled his first name as "Thelious" or "Thelius".Nov 1, 2023 · Monk’s big break came in 1941 when the drummer Kenny Clarke hired him to be the house pianist at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. It’s been said that’s where bebop was born: Charlie Parker ... Thelonious Monk. Soundtrack: The Omega Man. Thelonious Monk was born on 10 October 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for The Omega Man (1971), La La Land (2016) and Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995). Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk, Henry Grimes, Roy Haynes perform "Blue Monk" at the Newport Jazz Festival, 1958. Clip taken from the film Jazz On A Su...Lowest Rated: 97% Jazz on a Summer's Day (1959) Birthday: Oct 10, 1917. Birthplace: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA. A brilliant and often underappreciated pianist and composer during his ...Ain’t that a bitch?”. “Monk's reasons for dancing during a performance: "I get tired sitting down at the piano! That way I can dig the rhythm better.”. “The loudest noise in the world is silence.”. 14 quotes from Thelonious Monk: 'The piano ain't got no wrong notes.', 'A genius is the one most like himself.', and 'Writing about ...Thelonious Monk - Bolivar Blues.....Thelonious Monk - Piano....Charlie Rouse - Tenor Sax....Frankie Dunlop - D...A tune Monk wrote with Denzil Best and was first recorded on December 18, 1952, for the album Thelonious Monk Trio. The tune is also known as "Bimsha Swing", because the word Bemsha is a re …Listen to Thelonious Monk on Spotify. Artist · 899.7K monthly listeners. Artist · 899.7K monthly listeners. Home; Search; Resize main navigation. Preview of Spotify. Sign up to get unlimited songs and podcasts with occasional ads. No credit card needed. Sign up free. 0:00. Change progress-:--THELONIOUS MONK is the critically acclaimed, gripping saga of an artist’s struggle to “make it” without compromising his musical vision. It is a story that, like its subject, reflects the tidal ebbs and flows of American history in the twentieth century. To his fans, he was the ultimate hipster; to his detractors, he was temperamental ...Feb 17, 2013 · live in denmark, 1966-04-17 May 20, 2015 · The drummer Shelly Manne was the nominal co-leader with Monk, but Manne’s sense of percussive melody didn’t quite mesh with Monk’s: Manne, a fine musician (as on Rollins’s “Way Out West ... The drummer Shelly Manne was the nominal co-leader with Monk, but Manne’s sense of percussive melody didn’t quite mesh with Monk’s: Manne, a fine musician (as on Rollins’s “Way Out West ...Maintained by: Find a Grave. Added: Apr 25, 1998. Find a Grave Memorial ID: 723. Source citation. Jazz Composer, Pianist and Bandleader. Throughout his career, Thelonious Monk gained recognition as one of the most adventurous and influential musicians in jazz. Wearing dark glasses and a variety of distinctive hats and given …First, there's his mother, Barbara Monk, who moved to New York City with Thelonious Monk Sr., and their three children: Thomas, the eldest; his sister Marion, and Thelonious Jr., the youngest child.The pianist's son, T.S. Monk, recalls the presence of his grandmother in the Monk household. "Now Thelonious was a mama's boy," T.S. Monk says. "I mean, for real. And his mother lived with us, and ...J ust for his name alone, the presence of Thelonious Monk on the planet between 1917 and 1982 has probably registered with more people who know little and care less about jazz than almost any ...English: Thelonious Sphere Monk (October 10, 1917–February 17, 1982) was a jazz pianist known for his unique improvisational style and many contributions to the standard jazz repertoire. Thelonious Monk. American jazz pianist and composer (1917–1982) Thelonious Monk i Minton's Playhouse, New York, ca. september 1947. …Monk. (1964) is the fourth studio album Thelonious Monk released on Columbia Records, and his seventh album overall for that label. It features two original compositions and several jazz standards . The track "Pannonica" is a tribute to the jazz patron Pannonica de Koenigswarter . The track "Teo" is a tribute to the …Listen to the best of Thelonious Monk on Apple Music and Spotify. Blue Note Foundations (Round Midnight; Ruby, My Dear; Well, You Needn’t; Epistrophy; Criss …Bass – Larry GalesDrums – Ben RileyPiano – Thelonious MonkTenor Saxophone – Charlie RouseRecorded: 1966-1967Artwork (Cover Assemblage) – Laszlo KubinyiProduc...Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupBlue Monk (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster) · Thelonious Monk TrioThelonious Monk Trio (RVG Remaster)℗ 1954 Fantasy, Inc...One of the greatest Thelonious Monk songs to come out of this time was Monk’s Dream, released in 1952. Hearing the original recording is a wonderful way to hear Monk and his music at this stage; the trio suits him perfectly and we can hear clearly the structure of his melodies. Monk’s Dream is relatively conventional …Recording and production. Monk recorded six sessions for Blue Note, all produced by Alfred Lion: October 15 and 24, 1947, November 21, 1947, July 2, 1948, July 23, 1951, and May 30, 1952. All sessions were recorded by Doug Hawkins at WOR Studios, except July 2, 1948, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his home studio.. Release history. Two 10"s were …1.Satin Doll2.Sophisticated Lady3.Caravan4.Solitude5.Unknown Monk Tune6.Blues For Duke7.And I Love Her (Bonus)Live At The Berlin Jazz Festival … Thelonious Monk – Body and Soul (Official Audio) front-page-featured. Store View All . Latest news View All A tune Monk wrote with Denzil Best and was first recorded on December 18, 1952, for the album Thelonious Monk Trio. The tune is also known as "Bimsha Swing", because the word Bemsha is a re …Thelonious Monk, the pianist and composer, created wry, angular melodies and unusual harmonic progressions that are among the most striking contributions to the jazz repertory. Although Mr. Monk's ...Oct 11, 2023 · 2 – Monk’s Music (1957) Imagine Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Art Blakey and Coleman Hawkins together in a room. When Monk’s Music was released, we no longer had to conjure up such a fantasy. For the album, the foursome formed a unique Monk septet with altoist Gigi Gryce, trumpeter Ray Copeland and bassist Wilbur Ware. stop it b tees http://stopitb.comFelonious Munk speaks on the economic state of America and why we shouldn't pay our bills.For booking Info: [email protected] is the absolute first pressing of PRLP 7053 with 1954 Monk cover photo. Best known for the second issue, with the Andy Warhol & Reid Miles cover. It's important to note, especially for collectors, that an absolute first pressing like this one has the RVG initials hand etched in the dead wax on both sides with a capital letter "A" 90 ...Monk is the second-most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington. Monk's compositions and improvisations feature dissonances and angular melodic twists and are consistent with his unorthodox approach to the piano, which combined a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of switched key releases, silences, and hesitations. ...Mingus, Monk and Bird are all dead, and their brief intersection was marked only by a few people, an otherwise unremarkable night in the city captured on film. Even the Open Door is a memory, torn ...🎵 Buy the mp3 album on the Official Halidon Music Store: http://bit.ly/2QnxRnM🎵 Buy the LP on Amazon: • ES https://amzn.to/2TwzlQS • UK https://amzn.to/2Tz...713 views 4 months ago. Read more. Videos. Play all. Felonious Munk full @standup set! Fox News/Dating/Meds. 713 views4 months ago. Felonious Munk Birth Control. 225 …Felonious Munk describes a date he wasn’t ready for and discusses his use of weed. (Contains strong language.)About Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring:Whether...Thelonious Monk Plays the Music of Duke Ellington (1955)Personnel:Thelonious Monk (Piano)Oscar Pettiford (Bass)Kenny Clarke (Drums)--Orrin Keepnews (Producer)Besides Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, Kelley has authored several prize-winning books, including Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists During the Great Depression (University of North Carolina Press, 1990); Race Rebels: Culture Politics and the Black Working Class (The Free Press, 1994); Yo' …Monk’s Music (1957; Riverside) Not the start of Thelonious Monk’s career, but the restart. Nine years after releasing his first single, the immortal “Round Midnight”—a standard that has also been recorded by Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sun Ra Dizzy Gillespie (just about every big name in jazz)—Monk had found himself on the other side …Lowest Rated: 97% Jazz on a Summer's Day (1959) Birthday: Oct 10, 1917. Birthplace: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA. A brilliant and often underappreciated pianist and composer during his ...Robin D.G. Kelley's newest book is Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original. In focusing on the career of the eccentric jazz pianist and composer, Kelley reveals new details ...Thelonious Monk: So Plain Only the Deaf Can Hear. How the jazz icon cracked apart the rusted shell of the piano and opened a portal into the breathless, off-tempo grind of being black in America ...Underground is the seventh studio album that Thelonious Monk recorded for Columbia Records. It features Monk on piano, Larry Gales on bass, Charlie Rouse on tenor sax, and Ben Riley on drums. [2] This is the last Monk album featuring the Thelonious Monk Quartet. [2] Its cover image depicts Monk as a French Resistance fighter in the Second World ... Consequently, Monk has become perhaps the most talked about and least understood artists in the history of jazz. Born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Thelonious was only four when his mother and his two siblings, Marion and Thomas, moved to New York City. Unlike other Southern migrants who headed straight to Harlem, the ... Thelonious Monk – Body and Soul (Official Audio) front-page-featured. Store View All . Latest news View All Often eclipsed by Brilliant Corners, Thelonious Himself was Monk's second album for Riverside Records.Another New York-based bastion of connoisseurship, the label was headed by Orrin Keepnews, a self-described "catalyst" who wrote the first profile of Monk in 1948 and blissfully shied away from the technical rigors of the recording process. Felonious Monk is the seventeenth episode in Season Two of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Grissom, Nick and Sara investigate the deaths of four Buddhist monks who were shot to death in their monastery near Vegas. Meanwhile, Catherine reopens the murder of an old friend during her dancing days when the man who was convicted of it dies in prison, maintaining that he was …Aug 1, 2001 · Whether it's his dissonant chords or his uncanny sense of space and syncopation, pianist and composer Thelonious Monk's sound is easily recognizable. He left behind a legacy that has had a lasting ... Jun 2, 2022 · Felonious Monk marks Cerf’s first exec producing credit since he made the move from agent in WME’s TV scripted department to Mosaic in 2020. Kotzwinkle, for his part, is a celebrated author ... Thelonious Monk 's position in cultural history grows in stature with each passing year and every new generation. Lionised by jazz fans and a continuing influence on musicians, Monk in 2020 is also held to be a hero by the hip hop movement. While his music no longer has the power to shock that it once possessed, it still comes across as …We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us.The documentary “Rewind & Play” makes damning use of a 1969 interview Thelonious Monk did with Henri Renaud for the French television program “Jazz Portrait.” Monk’s European tour was ...Monk is a world. “Introspection,” from the album “Solo Monk,” is borderline atonal while still distinctively melody-rich. The melody is akin to a nursery rhyme in its …The live album Palo Alto is a grainy snapshot of Monk and his classic quartet taking a break from their two-week stand at San Francisco’s Jazz Workshop to cut loose and get paid. But just as ...Maintained by: Find a Grave. Added: Apr 25, 1998. Find a Grave Memorial ID: 723. Source citation. Jazz Composer, Pianist and Bandleader. Throughout his career, Thelonious Monk gained recognition as one of the most adventurous and influential musicians in jazz. Wearing dark glasses and a variety of distinctive hats and given …Arif Bilal Shahid (born August 4, 1972) better known by his stage name Felonious Munk is an Ethiopian-American comedian, writer, actor, playwright, and social commentator. He is best known as Hassan on the ABC show For Life.… See moreNothing to Lose (but Our Chains) written by Felonius Munk. Directed by Anthony LeBlanc. Lights, Colin K. Bills; sound design and original music, Jesse Case. About two hours. Through Dec. 31 at ...Monk In France (1961) The last Riverside release; Rouse and the leader are joined by bassist John Ore and drummer Frankie Dunlop, a quartet which would remain in place for some time. (DBW) Monk's Dream (1962) Monk's fame was finally starting to catch up with his ability, and this was the first record under a shiny new contract with Columbia.Monk's Dream is an album by jazz pianist Thelonious Monk that was released by Columbia Records in March 1963. It was Monk's first album for Columbia followin... Felonious Munk. Actor: For Life. Felonious Munk is known for For Life (2020), The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (2015) and Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring (2019). Thelonious Sphere Monk (October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numer...Thelonious Monk chooses to improvise the bridge. After the first chorus, Thelonious Monk takes 8 bars of pure improvisation on the A section and another 8 bars that edge back into the melody with horn accompaniment. Only Thelonious Monk’s solo piano renderings in ‘54, ‘57 and ‘68, and the 1971 Giants Of Jazz …Arif Bilal Shahid (born August 4, 1972) better known by his stage name Felonious Munk is an Ethiopian-American comedian, writer, actor, playwright, and social commentator. He is best known as Hassan on the ABC show For Life.… See moreMonk In France (1961) The last Riverside release; Rouse and the leader are joined by bassist John Ore and drummer Frankie Dunlop, a quartet which would remain in place for some time. (DBW) Monk's Dream (1962) Monk's fame was finally starting to catch up with his ability, and this was the first record under a shiny new contract with Columbia.Ain’t that a bitch?”. “Monk's reasons for dancing during a performance: "I get tired sitting down at the piano! That way I can dig the rhythm better.”. “The loudest noise in the world is silence.”. 14 quotes from Thelonious Monk: 'The piano ain't got no wrong notes.', 'A genius is the one most like himself.', and 'Writing about ...Jun 2, 2022 · Written by Guercio, Felonious Monk, based on the novel, is about a disgraced cop with anger issues-turned-monk who returns to his hometown to take care of his dead uncle’s outstanding business ... Sep 18, 2020 · A Previously Unreleased Thelonious Monk Concert Is Coming Next Month. June 19, 2020 • In 1968, a teenager convinced Thelonious Monk to play a concert at his high school to ease racial tensions ...
There's an issue and the page could not be loaded. Reload page. 29K Followers, 2,990 Following, 924 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Felonious Munk 🇪🇹 (@felonious_munk). Shueke
This is the absolute first pressing of PRLP 7053 with 1954 Monk cover photo. Best known for the second issue, with the Andy Warhol & Reid Miles cover. It's important to note, especially for collectors, that an absolute first pressing like this one has the RVG initials hand etched in the dead wax on both sides with a capital letter "A" 90 ...See a transcription of Monk’s list of advice for musicians below. Just because you’re not a drummer, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to keep time. Pat your foot and sing the melody in your head when you play. Stop playing all that bullshit, those weird notes, play the melody! Make the drummer sound good.Misterioso. (Thelonious Monk album) Misterioso is a 1958 live album by American jazz ensemble the Thelonious Monk Quartet. By the time of its recording, the pianist and bandleader Thelonious Monk had overcome an extended period of career difficulties and achieved stardom with his residency at New York's Five Spot Café, beginning in 1957.Solo Monk (1965) is the fifth studio album Thelonious Monk recorded for Columbia Records, and his eighth overall for that label.The album is composed entirely of solo piano work by Monk. The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek states "This is perhaps the solo piano record to have by Monk". In addition to various vinyl and CD issues, Sony Music Enterprises issued an SACD (SRGS …Felonious Monk marks Cerf’s first exec producing credit since he made the move from agent in WME’s TV scripted department to Mosaic in 2020. Kotzwinkle, for his part, is a celebrated author ...Hardcover $26.99 ( 275pp) 978-1-09-400925-4. A monk with anger management problems leads William Kotzwinkle’s novel Felonious Monk, which is a wild ride of double-crossing crimes. Tommy Martini was born into a crime family, but removed himself to a monastery after killing a man in a bar fight. He deals with his anger through meditation and ...Thelonious Monk Trio (1954) A short but utterly convincing album, Monk’s first for the Prestige label features, despite its title, a rolling cast of collaborators, including the underrated Gary Mapp on bass and drummers Art Blakey and Max Roach.. The slightly out-of-tune piano only seems to highlight the intensity and muscularity of the playing, especially on the virtuosic …In 2009, Robin D. G. Kelley published “Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original,” a hefty, family-authorized, and definitive factual biography, …Bass – Larry GalesDrums – Ben RileyPiano – Thelonious MonkTenor Saxophone – Charlie RouseRecorded: 1966-1967Artwork (Cover Assemblage) – Laszlo KubinyiProduc...See a transcription of Monk’s list of advice for musicians below. Just because you’re not a drummer, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to keep time. Pat your foot and sing the melody in your head when you play. Stop playing all that bullshit, those weird notes, play the melody! Make the drummer sound good.Thelonious Monk: Celebrating 75 years of his first recordings revisited (1947-52, ezz-thetics) 1. Thelonious 3:01 2. 'Round Midnight 3:12 3. Well You Needn't 2:59Written by Guercio, Felonious Monk, based on the novel, is about a disgraced cop with anger issues-turned-monk who returns to his hometown to take care of his dead uncle’s outstanding business ...Thelonious Monk's Quiet, Slow Conquest of the World. For decades a respected but somewhat eccentric figure even within the jazz scene, the pianist and …For Monk's posthumous label debut, Impulse Records in a five year partnership with Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment, Monk's estate led by his son drummer T.S. Monk, Palo Alto, recorded by Scher and forgotten for many years, is a cool head bopper from Monk and Rouse's delightfully swaying, playful big easy on "Ruby, My Dear" through a particularly ...February 17, 1982 at 7:00 p.m. EST. Thelonious Sphere Monk, 63, the enigmatic composer, pianist and innovator who was one of the seminal figures of modern jazz, died yesterday at Englewood ...Thelonious Monk’s music is instantly recognisable, sounding as if the modernist Schoenberg had inherited the jazz tradition of Fats Waller: angular music, jangling with discordant note clusters, set over jerking rhythms which nevertheless seem to “swing.”. It is redolent of his beloved New York and expressive of a singular world view.Feb 3, 2024 · Bemsha Swing (feat. Sonny Rollins & Clark Terry) Brilliant Corners · 1957. I Want to Be Happy. Thelonious Monk & Sonny Rollins (Remastered) · 1954. Ruby, My Dear. Solo Monk (Expanded Edition) · 1963. Bags' Groove (Take 1) Prestige Records: Jazz Blues Classics · 1955. Thelonious Monk: So Plain Only the Deaf Can Hear. How the jazz icon cracked apart the rusted shell of the piano and opened a portal into the breathless, off-tempo grind of being black in America ...Jun 7, 2009 · Thelonious Monk - Thelonious. Feb. 14, 1968. From 'Underground'. Monk (p), Larry Gales (b), Ben Riley (d). Biography. Born in New York City, Monk began his music career early in his life, honing his skills throughout the 1970s. Monk's destiny was sealed when Art Blakey gave him his first drum set at the age of 15, and began lessons with Max Roach. After earning a reputation in school as a rabble-rouser (and graduating), the young Monk joined his father's trio and toured with his dad …Besides Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, Kelley has authored several prize-winning books, including Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists During the Great Depression (University of North Carolina Press, 1990); Race Rebels: Culture Politics and the Black Working Class (The Free Press, 1994); Yo' ….