John Philip Sousa (b. November 6, 1854; d. March 6, 1932) was a native Washingtonian who wrote the soundtrack to the American soldiers’ march. Born into a family of musicians—including a father who played trombone for the US Marine Band—he played, sang and studied music from a young age. When he attempted to run off with a circus band at age 13, his father…more»
Duke Ellington (b. April 29, 1899; d. May 24, 1974) was a DC native and internationally-celebrated composer and jazz musician. Born to musician parents at the turn of the century, he started tinkering with the piano at age seven. Though he spent time in many Northwest DC homes, he lived in this house, located at 1805 13th Street NW, as a teen. While here,…more»
Dave Grohl (b. January 14, 1969) is an American rock musician and songwriter who has won multiple Grammy Awards. He was lead drummer for the groundbreaking grunge band Nirvana in the early 1990s and went on to form the band Foo Fighters after Nirvana's Kurt Cobain apparently committed suicide. Grohl is still with Foo Fighters, but lends out his musical talents to a number…more»
Lena Horne (b. June 30, 1917; d. May 9, 2010) was an African-American singer and performer. She got her start early as a 16-year-old chorus dancer at the famed Cotton Club in Harlem. With a silky voice and a lot of determination, her career blossomed. She became an internationally successful recording artist and performer in the 1940s and 1950s, acted on stage in numerous…more»
Jim Morrison (b. December 8, 1943; d. July 3, 1971) was the lead singer of the rock band The Doors. To fans he was known as The Lizard King, a self-given title that came from his interest in Native American culture and referred to his alter ego. As an artist and as a man, Morrison was at once rebellious, brilliant and self-destructive. His struggle…more»
“Papa” John Phillips (b. August 18, 1935; d. March 18, 2001) was a musician best known as the leader of the band The Mamas & the Papas. He was also a lead organizer of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, a concert that sealed rock as a legitimate and recognized music form. Formed in the mid 1960s, The Mamas & the Papas had major hits…more»