MUSICIAN

Johnny Griffin

1928 - 2008

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John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin began his career in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of his death. A pioneering figure in hard bop, Griffin recorded prolifically as a bandleader in addition to stints with the pianist Thelonious Monk and the drummer Art Blakey, in partnership with his fellow tenor Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and as a member of the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band after he moved to Europe in the 1960s. In 1995, Griffin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 21 different languages on Wikipedia. Johnny Griffin is the 1,562nd most popular musician (down from 1,310th in 2024), the 8,183rd most popular biography from United States (down from 6,501st in 2019) and the 582nd most popular American Musician.

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Among MUSICIANS

Among musicians, Johnny Griffin ranks 1,562 out of 3,175. Before him are Memphis Minnie, Joshua Bell, Laurent Voulzy, Nujabes, Daniel Lanois, and Zoot Sims. After him are Neal Schon, Johnny Mercer, Kiko Loureiro, Tony Carey, Jeff Mills, and Trevor Rabin.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1928, Johnny Griffin ranks 443. Before him are Dick Van Patten, Ardico Magnini, Santiago Vernazza, Eduardo Guerrero, Raymond E. Brown, and Giovanni Giacomazzi. After him are Raúl Cárdenas, Vic Damone, Serge Blusson, Ruth Brown, Kiyonori Kikutake, and Marceline Loridan-Ivens. Among people deceased in 2008, Johnny Griffin ranks 271. Before him are Ernesto Corripio y Ahumada, Béatrix Beck, Dingiri Banda Wijetunga, Neil Aspinall, Tsvetanka Khristova, and Brad Renfro. After him are Gustaw Holoubek, Elizabeth Spriggs, Annemarie Renger, Cachao, Miroslav Koranda, and Norman Smith.

Others Born in 1928

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Others Deceased in 2008

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In United States

Among people born in United States, Johnny Griffin ranks 8,184 out of 20,380. Before him are Gayle Hunnicutt (1943), Dennis Frederiksen (1951), Zoot Sims (1925), Gavin MacLeod (1931), and Helen Gallagher (1926). After him are Joseph Dempsey (1875), Kevin Conroy (1955), Richard Olney (1835), Neal Schon (1954), Arthur Dove (1880), Joe Seneca (1919), and Isaiah Thomas (1989).

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Among MUSICIANS In United States

Among musicians born in United States, Johnny Griffin ranks 582. Before him are Bernard Edwards (1952), Travis Barker (1975), Kenny Barron (1943), Memphis Minnie (1897), Joshua Bell (1967), and Zoot Sims (1925). After him are Neal Schon (1954), Johnny Mercer (1909), Tony Carey (1953), Jeff Mills (1963), John Legend (1978), and Michael Tilson Thomas (1944).

American born Musicians

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