22 Facts About Milford Graves

Milford Graves was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, on August 20,1941.

Milford Graves began playing drums when he was three years old, and was introduced to the congas at age eight.

Milford Graves studied timbales and African hand drumming at an early age.

In 1962, Milford Graves heard the John Coltrane quartet with Elvin Jones, whose drumming made a strong impression.

Milford Graves briefly played with Albert Ayler's trio, which included bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray, as a second drummer.

Milford Graves recorded and released a percussion album titled Percussion Ensemble, which featured drummer Sonny Morgan.

Milford Graves joined Albert Ayler's band in 1967, replacing Beaver Harris.

In 1973, Bill Dixon helped secure Milford Graves a teaching position at Bennington College, where Milford Graves taught until 2012.

Milford Graves recorded two solo albums, Grand Unification and Stories, as well as albums with John Zorn, Anthony Braxton, William Parker, and Bill Laswell.

In 2017, Milford Graves played on Sam Amidon's album The Following Mountain.

In 2019, Milford Graves played in a duo setting with pianist Jason Moran.

Milford Graves was diagnosed with amyloid cardiomyopathy in 2018, and was informed he had half a year more to live.

Milford Graves was 79, and suffered from congestive heart failure prior to his death.

Milford Graves was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition in 2000, and in 2015 he received a Doris Duke Foundation Impact Award.

Milford Graves moved around his drumset with astonishing speed, beating rapid two-handed tattoos on every surface.

Milford Graves used his cymbals in the way another drummer might use a gong or another drum.

Milford Graves was probably the first American drummer to remove all of his bottom heads because of their tendency to absorb sound.

Milford Graves was using matched grip before it became fashionable, and he has another unique grip which enables him to hold two sticks and play on two surfaces virtually simultaneously.

Milford Graves occasionally takes a small pair of tuned bongoes, places them in front of him on the skin of one tom-tom and hits them in that position.

Milford Graves recalled that his interest in maintaining a healthy lifestyle arose when, in his late teens, he began experiencing severe health problems as a result of regularly drinking cheap wine.

Milford Graves is right on the cutting edge of this stuff.

Milford Graves brings to it what doctors can't, because he approaches it as a musician.