Oscar Pettiford
September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960
Oscar Pettiford was a virtuoso jazz double bassist and cellist who made his mark during the ’40s and ’50s. With his mother being Choctaw and his father half Cherokee and half African American, Pettiford was likely the most famous Native American jazz musician in history. Although most never new of his Native American lineage. Pettiford grew up playing in the family band, first on piano, and then switching to double bass at the age of 14. Pettiford was one of the forefathers of the be bop movement and over the course of this career worked with the likes of Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Coleman Hawkins. He is also credited for having discovered Cannonball Adderley. Oscar Pettiford passed away on September 8, 1960.
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