- Born
- Died
- Birth nameCharles Barron Mingus
- Nicknames
- The King of Jazz Bass
- The Angry Man of Jazz
- Baron
- Mingus Fingers
- Charlie Mingus
- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- Charles Mingus is an American jazz double bassist, pianist, composer and bandleader.
A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers in history, with a career spanning three decades and collaborations with other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dannie Richmond, and Herbie Hancock.
Mingus' compositions continue to be played by contemporary musicians ranging from the repertory bands Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, and Mingus Orchestra, to the high school students who play the charts and compete in the Charles Mingus High School Competition.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tango Papa
- SpousesSue Mingus(August 1975 - January 5, 1979) (his death)Celia Zaentz(April 2, 1951 - 1958) (divorced, 1 child)Canilla Jeanne Gross(January 3, 1944 - ?) (divorced, 2 children)Judy Starkey(? - 1970) (divorced, 2 children)
- Lengthy bass solos
- Ashes scattered in the Ganges River, India
- Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1982.
- Co-founded, with Sue Mingus and Max Roach, Debut Records (1952-57), Los Angeles, CA. He was one of the first African-American musicians to do so.
- Was of mixed ancestry, having British-born Chinese, Swedish and African-American grandparents.
- Virtuoso double bass player, inspired to play jazz by the music of Duke Ellington.
- [on The Beatles] For the Beatles to be able to come here and take all the millions of dollars away from this country by copying our own music and composers, selling it back to 'em and nobody even suing 'em yet! They came and took our own music and sold it to this country and took the money out and laughed.
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