John Coltrane, A Legacy Supreme
- Details
- Sunday, September 11, 2011
- by Jonathan Martin
In the late summer of 1964 John Coltrane came home for a few days of rest after a rigorous touring schedule. He wanted to spend some time with his family, especially his newborn son, John Jr. Always musically restless, Coltrane went into his practice room above the garage of his four bedroom home in the Dix Hills subdivision of Long Island, NY.
A few days later he emerged with a finished song suite which he named "A Love Supreme".
He told his wife, Alice; "This is the first time that I have received all of the music for what I want to record, in a suite. This is the first time I have everything, everything ready." - A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album by Ashley Kahn
A Love Supreme
A few months later, in December of that year, he began recording the album A Love Supreme. His musical devotional of his love to God, and the reverent acceptance of God's love for him.
Easily one of the greatest American composers of the 20th Century, and a phenomenal Jazz improviser. John Coltrane left behind a legacy of excellence, talent, and deep musical thought that few can comprehend (even though many have tried). Even though understanding is really in feeling the music.
National Register of Historic Places
In June of 2011 the house in Dix Hills was listed as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites in the US by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This following a seven year struggle to save it from demolition.
Today, the Friends of the Coltrane Home, a non-profit organization, have taken responsibility for restoring the house, and creating a museum, archive, and education outreach program called The Coltrane Legacy Education Project.
An outgrowth of the Legacy Project is a program called Kids for Coltrane. It brings Jazz musicians from the city to elementary schools on Long Island. To use the music of John Coltrane to "encourage children to reach their full potential by following their bliss."
Saint John William Coltrane
John Coltrane, American composer, Jazz musician, and Saint was born September 23rd, 1926. He lived his life to bring the beautiful music inside of him to the world. He dearly wanted to make the world a better place. If this man has touched your life in some way, as he has done for so many, what better way to say "Happy Birthday" to him than to make a donation to the Friends of the Coltrane Home?
You can add your name to the growing list of benefactors who have formed an allegiance to save this historic home, and the musical heritage which it represents.
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Please wish Mr. Coltrane Happy Birthday in the Comments, and then go Donate to the Cause ...
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