All of us have people in our lives who have influenced us positively, and most of the time these people are our own parents. Many composers, musicians, songwriters and vocalists reached the pinnacle of their careers through the love, support and guidance of their parents. To celebrate Fathers' Day, let's get to know other notable names in music who were directly (or indirectly) influenced by their fathers.
1. Dizzy Gillespie
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He was a jazz trumpeter known for his trademark puffed cheeks while playing the trumpet. He earned the nickname "Dizzy" due to his amusing antics onstage but his music is certainly not a laughing matter. He was one of the founding fathers of jazz and one of the inventors of bebop. James, Gillespie's father, was a bandleader
2. Sarah Vaughan
Nicknamed "Sassy" and "The Divine One," Sarah Vaughan was one of the greatest jazz vocalists in history whose career spanned almost 50 years. Her wide vocal range and her willingness to try out other music genres earned her numerous fans and the staying power every artist strives for. She was clearly influenced by her parents; her father, who was a carpenter, was also a guitarist and her mother was a church vocalist.3. Karl Lawrence King
Public Domain Image from the Karl King web site (Wikimedia Commons)
He was an American bandmaster, conductor, composer of marches, baritone player in circus bands earlier in his career and shares the title "March King" with John Philip Sousa. His most famous work is "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite." King's father played the tuba.
4. John Philip Sousa
Popularly called "The March King," John Philip Sousa's patriotism resonates from the numerous marches he wrote throughout his life. He was an American composer of marches, conductor, performer and bandleader. His most famous work is the "Stars and Stripes Forever," known as the official march of the United States. His father, John Antonio Sousa, was in the U.S. Marine Band and played the trombone. Sousa was very much influenced by his father; he grew up and was exposed to military band music during his formative years.5. Doris Day
She started out as a big-band vocalist during the 1940's, with hits like "Secret Love" and "Que Sera Sera." She later transitioned to movies, making more than 30 films. Day's father was a music teacher.6. Luciano Pavarotti
He earned the title “King of the High Cs,” he was one of the greatest operatic tenors of our time. Pavarotti was one of The Three Tenors including Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. His father; who was an amateur singer, was a huge influence on Pavarotti. He had several recordings of operatic tenors which the young Pavarotti listened to, including his favorite Giuseppe Di Stefano.7. Nadia Boulanger
She was a respected teacher of musical composition, an organist and conductor of the 20th century. In 1937, she became the first woman to conduct a program in its entirety with London's Royal Philharmonic. She was very supportive of her sister, Lili, a celebrated composer. Boulanger taught privately too, maintaining what is known among her students as the "Wednesday sessions. Her father, Ernest Boulanger, was one of her main influences.8. Teresa Carreño
She was a piano prodigy, celebrated concert pianist, composer, conductor, mezzo-soprano and director of an opera company. Her gift as a pianist and composer was evident early on; she started composing short piano pieces when she was only 6 years old. Carreño's politician father, Manuel Antonio Carreño, was her first piano teacher.9. Eric Clapton
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A multi-awarded guitarist and singer/songwriter, Eric Clapton's music has been heavily influenced by the blues and the many struggles he had to overcome in his personal life. Considered by many as their guitar hero, Clapton is a triple inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eric was raised in a family who appreciated music; his biological father and grandmother both played the piano.
