Louis Armstrong came to fame in the 1920’s for his inventive trumpet and cornet playing. His biggest impact as a musician was on the world of jazz as he helped to shift the focus from collective improvisation to solo performance.
Miles Davis was a jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named him “one of the key figures in the development of jazz.” The music that Davis created and performed with his musical groups helped to shape jazz music variations including bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion.
Duke Ellington was a composer, pianist, and bandleader of jazz orchestras (big band). Ellington was a pivotal figure in the development of jazz and many believe that he helped to change the perception of jazz from something very basic into a true art form. Ellington collaborated with countless musicians and created over 1,500 compositions in all styles and forms.

Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s and earned herself the title “The Empress of the Blues.” She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and, along with Louis Armstrong, a major influence on other jazz vocalists.
Ella Fitzgerald gained fame for her interpretations of the “Great American Songbook,” singing the songs of Gershwin and Porter. She is known for singing jazz, blues, and for her ease with vocal improvisation. Fitzgerald was one of the most celebrated jazz vocalists of her generation and earned the nickname the “First Lady of Song.”