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Jelly Roll Morton Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton was one of the greatest jazz pianists and composers of all time. He is mostly remembered for his music which successfully bridged the gap between blues, jazz, and ragtime. He even claimed in once that he invented jazz Born to Creole parents in 1890, he grew up in a poor neighborhood in New Orleans. After his father left, he took the surname Mouton from his stepfather because he didn’t like the French name he was born with. From banging on pots and pans he progressed to the guitar and ultimately to the piano at which he excelled. He made a living by playing at the local brothels and cabarets until his grandmother, whom he was living with after his mother passed away, found out and kicked him out of the house. He then traveled the South and made a living playing the piano, pimping, hustling pool, and playing cards. He began carrying a pistol and drinking whiskey and even did time on a Mississippi chain gang for allegedly robbing a mail truck. By the age of 20 had already written songs that were to become classics such as “New Orleans Blues,” “King Porter Stomp,” and “Jelly Roll Blues.” In 1917, at the age of 27, he arrived in Los Angeles and played at the many bars and clubs in the booming western town.
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