Story By: St. Louis Black Heritage Network Young Miles Davis, known as “Little Doc Davis” by his classmates, had a talent for learning music. Like many musically inclined children, at 13 he was faced with his first major decision – band or orchestra? Although his mother wanted him to play the violin, Dr. Davis got him a trumpet in 1935. It has been alleged that his…
Author: Eric Berger This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. For more stories about the effect of COVID-19 on museums, please visit the Prairie State Museums Project at PrairieStateMuseumsProject.org. When you cross the Mississippi River and enter East St. Louis from Interstate 55, the streets are filled with potholes until you reach Kansas Avenue, a portion of which is known as Miles Davis Way and…
By Jeannette Cooperman AUGUST 8, 2021 Miles Davis was still in diapers (what a ludicrous thought, that burning, old-before-his-time genius bowlegged with a saggy diaper) when his family moved to East St. Louis. His dad—as brilliant, ambitious, and easily angered as his son would be—built a dentistry practice there (and owned a pig farm in nearby Milstadt). Miles grew up in a gable-roofed house on Kansas Street…
St. Louis Public Radio | By Chad Davis Published July 29, 2026 at 5:00 a.m. CDT A museum dedicated to Miles Davis is collecting stories, photos and artifacts of people with memories of the musician to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. House of Miles East St. Louis launched its storytelling initiative earlier this year. Museum curators want to memorialize the artist by collecting memorabilia owned by…
https://www.youtube.com/live/lWbm_0mxhp0?si=tqIaZMRSmtIi8kX8
Decades after Miles Davis redefined the sound of jazz and became one of the most influential musicians in history, the East St. Louis house where he grew up sat vacant and in disrepair. The property where Davis learned to play trumpet had suffered a fire and had been vandalized. It was set for demolition when East St. Louis Jazz Hero Lauren Parks made a difference. Alongside…
Before setting jazz on fire and a legend of American music, Miles Davis was learning the trumpet in East St. Louis By Avery Martinez Published: Apr. 13, 2026 ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – On May 26, 1926, a titan of American music was born in Alton, Illinois. Only a few short years later, his family would move to East St. Louis. It was there, in a…
https://youtu.be/QB9c_8gyPvg?si=DgLR8_2VxRu5Q_N2
Miles Davis: Hear about his legacy in his hometown and the connection the House Of Miles ESTL has to the community. https://youtu.be/LjPZE6xKjCE?si=Jqg0o7y6JHbBBuco https://youtu.be/LjPZE6xKjCE?si=RiXnwEhZL8wRGZ-d
Did you know that one of the most influential musicians of all time is from the Metro East! Miles Davis grew up in East St. Louis and the House of Miles East St. Louis is a wonderful place to learn more about the jazz legend.