John Coltrane — Timeline
Key moments in the life of John Coltrane.
1926
Born John William Coltrane on September 23 in Hamlet, North Carolina
1943
Enlisted in the United States Navy and served until 1946
1945
Began professional musical career playing alto saxophone with various ensembles
1955
Joined Miles Davis's First Great Quintet as a tenor saxophonist
1959
Released 'Giant Steps,' a landmark album featuring his innovative harmonic approach
1960
Formed his own quartet and began leading sessions as bandleader and composer
1964
Released 'A Love Supreme,' his most commercially successful and critically acclaimed album
1965
Began exploring free jazz and avant-garde techniques with albums like 'Ascension'
1967
Released 'Expression,' exploring spiritual and experimental directions in his music
1967
Died on July 17 in Huntington Hospital, New York, from liver cancer at age 40