John Coltrane

Diagnoses

Personal

Vocation

Lifestyle

Notable

Traits

American musician, a jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, composer and recording artist. A popular performer of the early jazz era, he was a master of syncopation in music that is as fresh and delicious in the 21st as in the 20th century. Among his colleagues, he worked with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. John Coltrane's life-long search for spiritual truth took several detours. In the mid '50s he spent four years addicted to heroin, which he quit, along with alcohol, in 1957. He would later refer to 1957 as the year of his spiritual awakening. After his spiritual call, he became deeply involved in Christian work both in the U.S. and in Africa. A Catholic organization, "The John Coltrane Society" worked for his canonization after his death of cancer on 7/17/1967, Huntington, NY. The Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church in San Francisco, CA was created in 1971 after founder Bishop F.W. King experienced an epiphany while listening to Coltrane's music. Soon, other seekers came and listened and joined. Today St. John Coltrane's provides a haven for many folks who were left unfulfilled by traditional forms of organized religion. In addition, St. John's community outreach programs offer a variety of services to those in need. Link to Wikipedia biography