On this day in 1917, jazz pianist Thelonius Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Thelonius began playing the piano at the ago of six and would become famous for his unique style that involved percussive attack, hesitation notes, and the use of silence, where the rest notes were just as important as the notes that were played. Monk performed with many of the jazz greats including John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Griffin, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt and Art Blakey. Sadly, Thelonius died of a stroke at the Baroness Nica de Koenigswarter's New Jersey home on February 17, 1982. The Baroness was a famous patron of Jazz and used her considerably wealth (Rothschild family money) to help musicians. Coincidentally, Charlie Parker passed away while under her care as well. Here is Thelonius Monk performing one of his most famous songs, "Blue Monk" in 1958:
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