Jazz for aficionados

**** Its no coincidence that the golden age of jazz - 1935 through 1965 - was also the golden age of boxing. ****

Just as there were the most recognized and dominate pugilists during that period the same hold true for jazz wouldn't you agree?

You know the jazz greats who performed during that 30 year period frogman so I'll just name a few boxers as this is a jazz forum and though I would love to talk boxing for hours I have other avenues for that.

Archie Moore called the mongoose, was the greatest Light Heavyweight of all time had his first professional fight in 1935 and his last in 1963
Moore fought in 4 different decades compiling a record of and retired with 186 wins - 132 by knockout with just 23 losses. Archie loved jazz and was very good friends with Lucky Thompson who used to play his sax while Archie trained.

Joe Louis, arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time fought from 1934 - 1951  Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 until his temporary retirement in 1949. He was victorious in 25 consecutive title defenses, a record for all weight classes. Louis had the longest single reign as champion of any boxer in history.

Sugar Ray Robinson fought from 1940 - 1965. Ray had 174 wins - 109 by knockout with only 19 losses. Ray turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91-fight unbeaten streak, the third-longest in professional boxing history. Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and won the world middleweight title in the latter year. Ray was great friends with Miles Davis and it was  at Ray's urging that Davis kicked his heroin habit in 1953.

Rocky Marciano also fought during these years. Marciano became the Heavyweight Champion in 1952 and defended his belt until 1956 when he retired undefeated at 49 - 0 with 43 knockouts.

Thanks, pjw. But, why “not a coincidence”? I thought that your suggestion was that there were reasons why both disciplines coincided.  I was curious what those might be.

keegaim, if you want to dig deeper into Miles, among the many bios I might suggest "Miles, The Autobiography" with Quincy Troupe.  That is if you are looking for more than you'll find by sampling recordings from his various "periods".

Frogman I’M sure you are aware that the United States of America was very, very different back in those days compared to 1965 through 2021.

The 40’s generation was known as "The Greatest Generation". Numerous books have been written on the subject. The reasons given for why "The Greatest Generation" are the very same reasons that made artists the most creative, uplifting, courageous, sincere, unselfish, and most of all hard working and willing to sacrifice humans. I just named some and there is more. Don’t get me started on the Second World War - there is not enough space.

Its not a coincidence the artists - which musicians and boxers both are - share all of these words that define "The Greatest Generation"

pjw, I'm curious about defining the "golden age of jazz from 1935 through 1965"?  Is that your framework or someone else's?

I ask because I have a different perspective.  Perhaps not "golden age" but for me the real beginning of modern jazz begins in the late 1920s with Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings.  There was more foundation in the late 30s with Hawkins, Ellington, Basie, Goodman, etc.  But that was interrupted until after WW2 when Parker, Gillespie and BeBop emerged.  Any sort of "golden age" was not carried forward by Glen Miller and the like.  That term to me suggests a continuous time period of creative development.

With that I see the "golden age" for jazz running from 1946 or 7 to around 1965.  Or maybe I'm simply defining the period I like best and consider to be the most influential?  No offense if you see it differently.

Never having been a boxing fan I can't comment on that aspect.