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Jelly Roll Morton, ragtime, jazz pianist, composer and a master musician born in America on 20th September 1885. Morton (real name Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe) was born in a Creole Faubourg Marigny neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Morton said that he has invented jazz in 1902, and many agree with this statement. He had a reputation as a hard self-promoter and some say he was an arrogant man. However, all agree that he was an excellent musician. Morton’s piano playing takes it roots from early ragtime and ‘shout’ style, as well as ‘barrelhouse’ predecessor of boogie woogie. He used left and right hand interchangeably when playing swing rhythms.
Some of the songs written and performed by Morton:
Red Hot Pepper
Big Foot Ham
Wolverine Blues
Black Bottom Stomp
Grandpa’s Spells
Finger Buster
Burnin’ the Iceberg
The Crave