Born in Alton, Ill., in 1926, Miles Dewy Davis was the product of a solid middle-class family. He began playing trumpet at 13, and by the age of 15, was performing professionally around his hometown of St. Louis.

His big break came in 1944 in St. Louis, where the Billy Eckstine band was booked for an engagement. Davis arrived early at the concert hall with his trumpet in hand, and was approached by a man who asked if he was a trumpet player. When Davis said he could play, his questioner, who turned out to be Dizzy Gillespie, asked if he had a union card. "Come on," Dizzy said, "we need a trumpet player."

From that point on, Miles was hooked on bebop.

In 1945 he went to New York City, to study music at the Julliard School, but spent most of his time performing with jazz bands.

In the mid-40s he played with the likes of Charlie Parker, and in bands led by Billy Eckstine and Benny Carter. Soon he was leading his own group, and participating in experimental workshops with Gill Evans.

In 1949 and 1950, Davis, Evans, saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and others released the album "Birth of the Cool," ushering in the "cool" school of jazz.

During the 50s, many musicians gained recognition in Davis' bands including saxophonists John Coltrane, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Wayne Shorter; pianists Red Garland and Bill Evans, and Herbie Hancock; Bassists Paul Chambers and Ron Carter; and drummers Philly Joe Jones, Jimmy Cobb and Tony Williams.

Davis's phenomenally successful album "Kind of Blue" brought the so-called modal playing -- the absence of frequent chord changes -- into vogue.

In 1969, with the release of "Bitches Brew," Davis introduced another style change, a blending of jazz and rock, called fusion.

An inspiring leader, a consummate stylist and a tireless innovator, Davis continued to push the edges of the musical envelope.

During what was to be his final public appearance, at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, he passed his famous red trumpet to another young trumpeter sharing the stage with him. He died shortly thereafter, in 1991.