Jelly Roll Morton

286,024 plays (44,068 listeners)
In your library (0 plays)

30 shouts

Add to my Library Share

Get Ringtones

Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton (October 20, 1890 / July 10, 1941) was an American virtuoso pianist, a bandleader, and a composer who some call the first true composer of jazz music. Morton was a colorful character who liked to generate publicity for himself by bragging. His business card referred to him as the “Originator of Jazz”.

New Orleans
He was (along with Tony Jackson) one of the best regarded pianists in the Storyville District early in the 20th century. Tony Jackson was the main influence on his music; according to Morton, Jackson was the only pianist better than him.

The Library of Congress interviews
In May, 1938, Alan Lomax began recording interviews with Morton for the Library of Congress. The sessions, originally intended as a short interview with musical examples for use by music researchers in the Library of Congress, soon expanded to record more than eight hours of Morton talking and playing piano, in addition to longer interviews which Lomax took notes on but did not record. Despite the low fidelity of these non-commercial recordings, their musical and historical importance attracted jazz fans, and portions have repeatedly been issued commercially. These interviews helped assure Morton’s place in jazz history.

Legacy
Two Broadway shows have featured his music, Jelly Roll and Jelly’s Last Jam. The first draws heavily on Morton’s own words and stories from the Library of Congress interviews. The latter show has created considerable controversy with its very fictionalized and unsympathetic portrayal of Morton, and the creator has been sued by Morton’s family.

Tagged as:

jazz, new orleans, piano, ragtime, blues
See more…

Similar Artists

Top Albums

As Artist
Jelly Roll Morton
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Piano Rolls
Jelly Roll Morton
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $12.25
- eBay Search
Jelly Roll Blues
Jelly Roll Morton
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $20.95
- eBay Search
The Complete Library of Congress Recordings By…
Jelly Roll Morton
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search

Top Tracks

1	Black Bottom Stomp full track	148
2	Dead Man Blues full track	110
3	The Pearls full track	82
4	Wolverine Blues full track	76
5	King Porter Stomp full track	73
6	Doctor Jazz full track	71
7	Grandpa's Spells full track	70
8	The Chant full track	58
9	Original Jelly Roll Blues full track	56
10	Shreveport Stomp full track	48
11	Steamboat Stomp full track	45
12	Mr. Jelly Lord full track	40
13	The Crave full track	38
14	Wild Man Blues full track	35
15	Sidewalk Blues full track	33

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

chinneths wrote:
last month

he looks like jazz

View Profile | Leave chinneths a shout
mrgazbods wrote:
last month

Jelly roll, a slang term for a lover, intercourse, or the sex organs

View Profile | Leave mrgazbods a shout
MykeMinor wrote:
August 2009

Why would you name your cat Jelly Roll? Do you know what the term means?

View Profile | Leave MykeMinor a shout
koomooboolooka wrote:
April 2009

His works are challenging to learn, but sound so incredible (not when I play them mind xD)

View Profile | Leave koomooboolooka a shout
PopeDaniel wrote:
April 2009

How could you not love the music played by a guy named Jelly Roll?

View Profile | Leave PopeDaniel a shout
ajkc wrote:
March 2009

It stoned me!

View Profile | Leave ajkc a shout
borntohula94 wrote:
February 2009

make me a pallet on the floor! essence of gangsta rap. haha

View Profile | Leave borntohula94 a shout
Videro wrote:
February 2009

Legendary stuff! I love it so much! Can't stop smiling!

View Profile | Leave Videro a shout
AllyWonderland wrote:
January 2009

Murder Ballads

View Profile | Leave AllyWonderland a shout
neilbombd wrote:
November 2008

I named my cat Jelly after him.

View Profile | Leave neilbombd a shout
LillydelaMojito wrote:
November 2008

His character appears in a movie "The legend of 1900" - in brilliant duel of two pianists

View Profile | Leave LillydelaMojito a shout
SYL2Oh wrote:
July 2008

Doctor Jazz ! ! !

View Profile | Leave SYL2Oh a shout
SYL2Oh wrote:
April 2008

Original Orchestral Jazz,Stomp & Swing Creator ! World's greatest hot tune writer . . .

View Profile | Leave SYL2Oh a shout
blusardine wrote:
March 2008

sends me.

View Profile | Leave blusardine a shout
boruc1991 wrote:
February 2008

great man !

View Profile | Leave boruc1991 a shout
hk94 wrote:
October 2007

He was a character.

View Profile | Leave hk94 a shout
tbwngbkeith wrote:
August 2007

pretty cool stuff

View Profile | Leave tbwngbkeith a shout
neilbombd wrote:
April 2007

I fucking love Jelly Roll Morton.

View Profile | Leave neilbombd a shout
kastchei wrote:
April 2007

Hah, there should be a warning for explicit lyrics on the 'Library Of Congress' recordings!

View Profile | Leave kastchei a shout
neilbombd wrote:
April 2007

Man, take that goat outta here.

View Profile | Leave neilbombd a shout