15 Facts About Alice Coltrane

Alice Coltrane's career slowed from the mid-1970s as she became more dedicated to her religious education.

Alice Coltrane founded the Vedantic Center in 1975 and the Shanti Anantam ashram in California in 1983, where she served as spiritual director.

Alice Coltrane's mother, Anna McLeod, was a member of the choir at her church; her half-brother, Ernest Farrow, became a jazz bassist; and her younger sister, Marilyn McLeod, became a songwriter at Motown.

Alice Coltrane studied classical music, and jazz with Bud Powell in Paris, where she worked as the intermission pianist at the Blue Note Jazz Club in 1960.

Alice Coltrane married Kenny "Pancho" Hagood in 1960 and had a daughter, Michelle, with him.

Alice Coltrane continued playing jazz as a professional in Detroit, with her own trio and as a duo with vibraphonist Terry Pollard.

In January 1966, Alice Coltrane replaced McCoy Tyner as pianist with John Coltrane's group.

Alice Coltrane subsequently recorded with him and continued playing with the band until John's death on July 17,1967.

Alice Coltrane suffered from severe weight loss and sleepless nights, as well as hallucinations, which she would later describe as her undergoing tapas.

Alice Coltrane would perform formal and informal Vedic ceremonies at the ashram and lead them in congregational chanting or kirtan.

Alice Coltrane developed original melodies from the traditional chants and started to experiment by including synthesizers, sophisticated song structures and aspects of Gospel music in her compositions.

Alice Coltrane would go on to release three more cassettes, Divine Songs in 1987, Infinite Chants in 1990, and Glorious Chants in 1995, alongside the books Divine Revelations in 1995 and Endless Wisdom II in 1999.

Alice Coltrane died of respiratory failure at West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in suburban Los Angeles in 2007, aged 69.

Alice Coltrane is buried alongside John Coltrane in Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.

Alice Coltrane is an influence on the English rock band Radiohead, such as on the song "Dollars and Cents", from their 2001 album Amnesiac.