This week, jazz legend Dave Brubeck died on December 5th, 2012, one day before his 92nd birthday. Brubeck was born on December 6th, 1920 in Concord, California. His father, Peter, was a cattle rancher and his mother, Elizabeth, was a piano teacher. His mother taught him piano, but he could not read music and faked his way through. He entered College of the Pacific with the intention of studying zoology, but he switched over to study music. He was almost thrown out of the conservatory when his professor found out he could not read music but his understanding of harmony and counterpoint saved him. After graduating, Brubeck was drafted in to the army. He volunteered to play piano and was so popular that he was ordered to form a band. Brubeck then made one of the first integrated military bands. He returned to school after his service. His long musical career took off from there.
Brubeck's contributions to jazz are beyond the music. He has stood to fight racism in the music industry. His quartet's bass player was black and he was sometimes declined performances because they wouldn't let his bass player play. In 1958, Brubeck turned down a $17,000 deal to tour South Africa because of ordinances that prohibited a black person from being on stage into the country.
Dave Brubeck is not only inspiration through his music but through his actions against racism.
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