Johnny Griffin
1928 – 2008

Johnny Griffin

American musician (1928–2008)

jazz musiciansaxophonistmusiciancomposer
Born
1928-04-23, Chicago
Died
2008-07-25
Birthplace state
Illinois

Biography

Johnny Griffin was born in Chicago in 1928 and worked as a jazz saxophonist and composer until his death in 2008. Known as "the Little Giant," he began his career in the mid-1940s and recorded as a bandleader alongside performances with pianist Thelonious Monk, drummer Art Blakey, tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band after relocating to Europe in the 1960s. Berklee College of Music awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Music in 1995.

Occupation

Johnny Griffin is recorded as a jazz musician, a saxophonist, a musician and a composer, born in Illinois (1928–2008).

Connections to Illinois

Johnny Griffin was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1928. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›
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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

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Ronald Reagan
president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)
Walt Disney
Walt Disney
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Ernest Hemingway
American author and journalist (1899–1961)
Robin Williams
Robin Williams
American actor and comedian (1951–2014)
Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)
Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
American chess player (1943–2008)
James Watson
James Watson
American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Johnny Griffin

Who was Johnny Griffin?
Johnny Griffin was American musician (1928–2008), born in Illinois (1928 – 2008).
When and where was Johnny Griffin born?
Johnny Griffin was born on 1928-04-23 in Chicago.
When did Johnny Griffin die?
Johnny died on 2008-07-25.
What was Johnny Griffin known for?
Johnny Griffin is recorded as a jazz musician, a saxophonist, a musician and a composer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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