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Iconic American jazz pianist and composer, renowned as a founding father of bebop and one of the most unique and influential figures in jazz history. Monk developed his highly idiosyncratic style in the 1940s New York jazz scene, pioneering bebop alongside figures like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Known for his dissonant harmonies, complex rhythms, percussive attack, and unpredictable improvisations, he composed enduring jazz standards. Despite initial critical misunderstanding and periods of obscurity, his genius was eventually widely recognized, leading to major awards and lasting influence.

• Monk struggled with mental health issues throughout his life. In 1951, he was arrested on dubious drug possession charges (taking the fall for his friend, pianist Bud Powell). This led to the revocation of his crucial New York City "cabaret card," preventing him from performing in NYC clubs for six years during a vital creative period, severely impacting his income and visibility.
• His unconventional behavior, including spontaneous dancing on stage and long periods of silence, was often misinterpreted. Some critics and club owners labeled him difficult or unstable.
• In the early 1970s, Monk essentially stopped performing and recording. He spent his final years in seclusion at the home of his lifelong friend and patron, Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, rarely playing piano or speaking. The exact reasons for this withdrawal remain debated but likely involved mental exhaustion, side effects of medication, and a desire for peace.
• Monk died from a stroke on February 17, 1982.
• Posthumously, Monk received numerous honors: a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1993), a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation (2006) for "a body of distinguished and innovative musical composition," and appearing on a US postage stamp (1995).