Before setting jazz on fire and a legend of American music, Miles Davis was learning the trumpet in East St. Louis
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 small house on the corner of Kansas Avenue, that a young trumpeter named Miles Davis blew his first few notes.
“From the age of six on, I remember, listening to Miles and wanting to be like Miles,” a visitor to the house told First Alert 4.
The rest, they say, is history. But the history of this son of East St. Louis is alive and well, approaching the 100th anniversary of his birth. The house, preserved as a museum and community center, offers tours and connections to Davis’s legacy in southern Illinois.
The House of Miles, which is located on Kansas Street, was his childhood home. Earlier this year, First Alert 4 dug into Davis’ rootsin the Metro East and the impact on the community that the House of Miles has become.
Lauren Parks, who founded the House of Miles, tells a story about the influence of East St. Louis on Davis’ career. Mr. Elwood Buchanan, his school band teacher, told Miles to stop trying to sound like everybody else.
“You’re good enough to be your own trumpet man,” she said, quoting the teacher. “So apparently that stuck.”
To celebrate his 100th birthday, the House of Miles has announced a number of shows and events to celebrate his legacy and impact on American music.
Parks said that members of the Davis family lived in the home until the 1990s, and the connections between the community and Davis’ relatives are still felt.
Many relatives, friends and neighbors drop in from time to time to visit, like Vince Wilburn, Jr., an alumnus who played with Davis and his nephew, who stopped by to visit old friends and his “second home” while playing at Jazz St. Louis.
An award-winning musician in his own right and part of M.E.B. (Miles Electric Band), he told First Alert 4 that he’s blessed to be a part of the legacy of the house. He says he spent many summers here.
“Yeah, this is very personal,” he said, looking around one of the rooms on the first floor. “You know, this is my blood. When I was younger, I didn’t know the impact and the presence. ”
The M.E.B. describes themselves as “a progressive All-Star ensemble featuring Miles Davis alumni revises the framework for modern jazz improvisation” on their website.
“The avant-garde collective revisits repertoire from Davis’ electric period to pay homage to The Chief,” the website states. “The band represents two generations of players: Davis’ contemporaries and the next generation of music all-stars. This is a rotating ensemble of master musicians.”
For trumpeter and fellow band member Keyon Harold, being able to play in Davis’ childhood practice room was an astounding moment. He grew up in Ferguson, and it was his first visit to the House of Miles.
“But coming to the house, just seeing where Miles grew up is special,” Harold said. “And I can understand why he heard so well, because just practicing in that room, you can really hear everything. You can hear all the nuances.”
Today, the House of Miles functions as both a museum and a community center. Visitors can see the original walls, ceilings, and floors, as well as personal artifacts — including a tapestry from Davis’ New York apartment brought to East St. Louis by Davis and his then-wife, actress Cicely Tyson. Upstairs, a room where Davis once practiced remains intact.
“The structure of a home suggests a safe environment to learn, innovate, and create. We provide that atmosphere here at House of Miles,” Parks said.
“East St. Louis is known as the city of champions, and certainly Miles Davis qualifies as an artistic champion,” Parks told First Alert 4.