Title Page | Collection Summary | History of the Collection | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Sketch
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1922 April 22 | Born in Nogales, Arizona, the third child of Harriett Sophia Mingus and Sergeant Charles Mingus Sr. |
| 1922 August 31 | Sergeant Charles Mingus Sr. retired from the U.S. Army |
| 1922 Fall | Family moved to California Harriett Mingus died |
| 1928 | Given first musical instrument, the trombone, by his father |
| circa 1934 | Persuaded by fellow trombonist and friend Britt Woodman to study cello |
| 1937 | Switched to bass at suggestion of high school musician Buddy Collette |
| 1938 | Began studying bass with Red Callender after introduction by Buddy Collette Began arranging pieces for his high school jazz ensemble |
| 1939 | Began composition study with Lloyd Reese Composed What Love and Half Mast Inhibition |
| 1940 | Started playing with drummer Lee Young |
| 1942 | Began touring with Louis Armstrong's big band Played with Barney Bigard's ensemble featuring trombonist Kid Ory |
| 1943 | Studied symphonic form and technique with former New York Philharmonic bassist Herman Rheinshagen |
| 1944 | Met saxophonist Eric Dolphy Began performing on Jazz at the Philharmonic Hall concerts |
| 1944 January 3 | Married Camilla Jeanne Gross |
| 1945 | Started recording albums under his own name; had previously recorded under the name "Baron Mingus" |
| 1946 | Began touring with Lionel Hampton's big band Separated from wife Jeanne |
| 1950 | Gained national attention as a member of Red Norvo's trio |
| 1951 | Moved to New York City |
| 1951 April 2 | Married Lucille "Celia" Gemanis Nielsen |
| 1952 April 12 | Recorded saxophonist Lee Konitz, the first session for Mingus and Max Roach's new label, Debut Records |
| 1953 | Briefly toured with Duke Ellington's band Joined Bud Powell's trio |
| 1954-1955 | Toured with Art Tatum's Trio |
| 1955 | Founded Jazz Composers Workshop, Inc., later known simply as Jazz Workshop |
| 1956 September | Released Pithecanthropus Erectus; established as an innovative jazz composer |
| 1957 | Released The Clown, first album recorded with drummer Dannie Richmond Commissioned to write Revelations by Gunther Schuller for Brandeis University Arts Festival Debut Records closed |
| 1958 | Mingus and Celia divorced |
| 1959 | Recorded Half Mast Inhibition with 22-piece orchestra conducted by Gunther Schuller |
| 1960 March 25 | Married Judy Starkey |
| 1962 | Began search for a publisher for autobiography Beneath the Underdog |
| 1964 | Played concert at Monterey Started Charles Mingus Enterprises, Inc. Elected Jazz Man of the Year by DownBeat magazine |
| 1964 June 29 | Eric Dolphy died in Berlin |
| 1964 July | Met Susan "Sue" Ungaro |
| 1966 | Began self-imposed exile due to psychological and financial problems |
| 1968 | Mingus documentary by Tom Reichman premiered in theaters |
| 1969 June | Resumed performing |
| 1971 | Granted composition fellowship from Guggenheim Foundation Taught composition at State University of New York at Buffalo for one semester Toured Japan |
| 1971 May | Beneath the Underdog published by Knopf |
| 1971 October 13 | Mingus Dances choreographed by Alvin Ailey for the Robert Joffrey Ballet Company premiered in New York City |
| 1972 February 4 | Performed for sold-out audience at Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City; later released as album Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert |
| 1972 October | Received Ellington Medal from Yale University |
| 1975 August | Married Sue Ungaro |
| 1976 | Collaborated on album Mingus (1979) with singer Joni Mitchell |
| 1977 November | Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) |
| 1978 June | Recognized at White House event honoring the Newport Jazz Festival |
| 1979 January 5 | Died in Mexico |
| 1979 | Sue Mingus organized the band Mingus Dynasty to carry on the legacy of Charles Mingus's music |
| 1989 June 3 | Epitaph premiered at Lincoln Center conducted by Gunther Schuller |