Jazz Greats at The Woodlawn Cemetery -

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Lionel Hampton Memorial Fir Plot

BEGINNING at the time of the Harlem Renaissance, The Woodlawn Cemetery emerged as the chosen burial ground for many entertainers, specifically those associated with the New York Jazz Scene. For the past eight decades, musicians, writers and singers chose to be buried in a place where they could be at rest among the "jazz community." The following list provides locations and a brief biography of some of the notable individuals at rest in The Woodlawn Cemetery.

Miles Davis (1926-1991) Alpine Hill
The leader of the "Cool Jazz" movement came to New York to study at the Juilliard School of Music. He abandoned formal training for the jazz clubs and played with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1959 he released Kind Of Blue a monumental recording, which is the greatest selling jazz album of all time. On his black granite, highly polished sarcophagus, are the beginning notes of Solar recorded in 1954. Jesse Jackson delivered the eulogy at his funeral; Bill Cosby, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones also spoke at the service.

Ada "Bricktop" DuConge (1894-1984) Zinna Plot, R32 G74
She began her career as a singer, but went on to be the hostess to Europe's café society during the 1920's and 30's. Her jazz clubs in Paris, Rome, and Mexico City attracted such notables as Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, T.S. Eliot, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Also credited with helping Duke Ellington to get his start in New York, Bricktop supported the work of numerous jazz artists for over four decades.

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Wild Rose
In 1959, Ellington purchased a large family lot in The Woodlawn Cemetery and moved the remains to rest in his adopted city of New York. The prolific composer and orchestra leader received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. His compositions include: Satin Doll, Mood Indigo, and Solitude. Over 12,500 mourners attended his funeral at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Harlem. Among the performers that paid tribute to Ellington at his funeral were: Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Lou Rawls and McHenry Boatwright who is also buried in the Ellington Lot.

William "Sonny" Greer (1903-1982) Zinnia Plot, R 35 G 99
This innovative drummer came to New York from Washington, DC with his friend "Duke" Ellington at the age of nineteen. He played with the Duke Ellington orchestra for thirty years; in his autobiography Ellington wrote, "He was not the world's best reader of music, he was the world's best percussionist reactor." Greer was known for his experimental use of cymbals, bells, and chimes.

William Christopher "W.C." Handy (1873-1958) Cosmos Plot
"The Father of the Blues" was born in Florence, Alabama and rose to fame when his songs were published and played across America. His signature song, St. Louis Blues is inscribed on his grave; he is also know for writing the Beale Street Blues and the Memphis Blues, the theme song for the dance team of Irene and Vernon Castle. Louis Armstrong paid homage to Handy when he recorded his classic tribute album in 1954. Ed Sullivan spoke at his funeral and Cootie Williams played the trumpet. Honorary pallbearers included Governor Averell Harriman, Mayor Robert Wagner, and Dr. Channing Tobias, Chairman of the NAACP.

Lionel Hampton (1908-2002) Fir Plot
The "King of the Vibes" was a composer, bandleader, and great philanthropist. He broke racial barriers playing with the Benny Goodman band and went on to make groundbreaking performances with Benny Carter and Louis Armstrong. His recording, Flying Home is considered one of the most influential recordings in American musical history. A traditional jazz band led by Wynton Marsalis followed the hearse as the funeral procession went from the Cotton Club to Riverside Church in Harlem. Former President Bush gave the eulogy at the service.

Coleman Hawkins (1904-1969) Yew Plot
Credited as the jazz pioneer that turned a comic saxophone into a romantic horn, Hawkins played with the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, when he first came to New York. The Missouri native is best remembered for his classic 1939 recording Body and Soul. His funeral was held at the St. Peter's Lutheran Church, known as the "Jazz Church" to the music community.

Milt Jackson (1923-1999) Brookside Mausoleum Terrace #8
Milt Jackson was one of the co-founders of the famous Modern Jazz Quartet whose popularity Jackson attributed to "an uncanny ability to take classical music and improvise on it, integrating it with jazz and pop." An accomplished vibraphonist, Jackson played with many of the Jazz greats including: Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Coleman Hawkins.

Sam Lewis (1883-1959) Alpine Hill Plot
A large heart shaped memorial pays tribute to the man who wrote such classic songs as Mammy, In a Little Spanish Town, Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue and Sittin' On Top of the World. His composition Dinah became a signature song for vibraphonist Lionel Hampton.

Florence Mills (1895-1927) Arbutus Plot
The "Blackbird of Harlem" died in 1927 after complications with appendicitis. As an entertainer she was considered to be the first black female star to win international acclaim. She was a dancer, singer and a major performer the height of the Harlem Renaissance. More than 5,000 people attended her funeral; over 150,000 lined the streets in tribute as the procession went to Woodlawn. Duke Ellington wrote his classic Black Beauty as a tribute to Mills.

Harold Nicholas (1921-2000) Alpine Plot (unmarked)
One of the tap dancing Nicholas Brothers, he starred in vaudeville productions and went on to dance for Ziefeld on Broadway. Eventually the brothers went on to perform their dazzling dance routines in the classic movie musicals of the 1940's. As with many of the performers of the era, it was Nicholas' request to be buried close to the great Duke Ellington.

Joseph "King" Oliver (1885-1938) Salvia Plot R16 G66
The leader of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band served as a mentor to Louis Armstrong and is credited with giving the young musician his first coronet. He began his career in New Orleans, toured his band to Chicago and eventually traveled to New York. He recorded duets with pianist Jelly Roll Morton and is considered one of early pioneers of jazz music. In 1994 a New Jersey Jazz Society erected a marker on the grave of King Oliver.

Beverly Peer (1899-1983) Brookside Mausoleum Terrace #4
The longtime bass player for Bobby Short, grew up in Hamilton Heights. In 1937 he joined the Chick Webb Orchestra and played bass behind Ella Fitzgerald on all her early hits. Later he worked with Sarah Vaughan and Lena Horne and also played with the symphony at Radio City Music Hall.

Charles "Cootie" Williams (1908-1985) Alpine Plot
Considered one of the great jazz trumpet players, Williams was known for his "growling, muted horn", and played primarily with the Duke Ellington orchestra. When he came to New York he started out with the Chick Webb orchestra, then he took a job with Ellington. He moved on to join the Benny Goodman orchestra and was with that band at the time of the historic Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert. Williams wrote the jazz classic Round Midnight with Thelonious Monk.

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The Woodlawn Cemetery
Webster Avenue & E. 233rd Street • Bronx, NY 10470

Phone: (718) 920-0500 • Toll Free: (877) 496-6352
Fax: (718) 920-0512

Open Every Day: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.