Oscar Pettiford

About

Bebop pioneer, composer, and one of the most often recorded jazz bassist bandleaders.

Before Fame

He started playing bass at the age of fourteen because he did not like how it was being played by other people and wanted to revolutionize it.

Trivia

He was also known for his use of cellos as a solo jazz instrument, due to an experiment he performed while trying to play with a broken arm.

Family Life

He was survived by his wife and three children.

Associated With

He and Dizzy Gillespie led a bebop group together in 1943.