History Music / CharlesMingus

'''Charles Mingus, Jr''' (1922–1979) was a {{Jazz}} bassist, pianist and composer. Dubbed "The Angry Man of Jazz" for good reason, he was very hot-headed and outspoken about racism and civil rights, but also one of the most influential musicians and composers of jazz, covering the whole spectrum from 1940's big band music (he briefly played with, and was one of very few musicians to ever be fired by, Music/DukeEllington) through bebop up to free jazz and beyond, while still always keeping one foot grounded in blues and gospel traditions. Starting out as a classically trained cello player, and then discovering that there was no demand for a black cello player in TheForties, Mingus switched to bass and ended up becoming one of the most iconic bandleaders of the 1950's and 1960's alongside the likes of Music/MilesDavis, Music/JohnColtrane and Music/CharlieParker, as well as one of the most ambitious composers. He's the first -- and only, so far -- jazz musician to have his entire (gigantic) catalog acquired by the Library of Congress.

* [[RockersSmashGuitars Jazz Musicians Smash Basses]]: See the $20,000 bass example above.

* HairTriggerTemper: He was prone to rage-filled outbursts, often during live performances and directed at both audience members and his own band, and he was justly known as "The Angry Man of Jazz." One of the most memorable instances occurred in October 1962, when he punched his trombonist in the mouth; the man lost a tooth and a full octave off the top of his range.

* [[RockersSmashGuitars Jazz Musicians Smash Basses]]: Once smashed a $20,000 bass after being heckled by the audience.

* HairTriggerTemper: He was prone to angry outbursts, often during live performances and directed at both audience members and his own band, and he was justly known as "The Angry Man of Jazz." One of the most memorable instances occurred in October 1962, when he punched his trombonist in the mouth; the man lost a tooth and a full octave off the top of his range.

** Music/JoniMitchell called her last album "Mingus". He collaborated with her on it too. It would be his last work before his sudden death.

* ButNotTooBlack: Before becoming famous, Mingus -- a mixture of African, Asian, Native American, and Northern European ancestries -- got fired from a non-integrated "white" musicians' union after initially passing for Mexican.

* DeadArtistsAreBetter: Although he was a respected musician, his reputation as a genius really didn't take hold until after his death.
* DoNotCallMePaul: He wasn't fond of "Charles", but he ''hated'' being called "Charlie."

* GeniusBruiser / HairTriggerTemper: Mingus infamously got into fights with both musicians and others throughout his career. He was bullied as a kid and learned to fight back. In one incident, Mingus punched his trombonist in the mouth, breaking a tooth and permanently affecting his range and style. In another, he injured his pianist by slamming down the keyboard cover of her piano on her fingers.

* Music/JoniMitchell: His last project was a collaboration with her on the album ''Mingus'' (1979).

* SexGod: According to himself, at least. In his autobiography, he claims to have had sex with 28 women in one night.

* SpokenWordInMusic: "The Clown," featuring Creator/JeanShepherd (the narrator of the film ''Film/AChristmasStory'').