Of all music genres, Jazz seems to be one of the more... if not homophobic, then least willing to acknowledge its gay pioneers. Are there any who are universally accepted to have been gay? The two that spring immediately to mind, for me, are Billie Holiday and Lester Young, but I think both of those are questioned.
Billy Strayhorn, the longtime collaborator with Duke Ellington, was openly gay. He is by far the greatest of the gay jazz musicians, IMO.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | June 24, 2018 11:25 AM |
OP, that's not Lester Young. That's Coleman Hawkins in the pic. I'm sure there were plenty of same-sex couplings among Jazz musicians just as there are in any other walk of life. Heroin and pot were also part of the life. Why should anyone care?
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | June 24, 2018 12:31 PM |
[quote]Why should anyone care?
Everyone cares about who fucks who. It's human nature.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | June 24, 2018 2:21 PM |
I've read that Billie had relationships with women, but usually preferred men. I've always thought that her BFF Lester Young was gay.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | June 24, 2018 2:29 PM |
Fred Hirsch (or Hersch)--great jazz pianist and openly HIV+, as well as gay.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | June 24, 2018 2:43 PM |
Could Johnnie Ray be considered a jazz singer? Did his repertoire extend that far? He was bi although most people think he was gay.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | June 24, 2018 2:47 PM |
Not a musician per se, but Cole Porter who was very influential in jazz's early years, was gay.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | June 24, 2018 3:10 PM |
Also, weren't there rumors of Miles Davis being into the homosex?
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | June 24, 2018 3:12 PM |
r9 And rumors he died from AIDS complications, too.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | June 24, 2018 3:13 PM |
In the Macho World of Jazz, Don't Ask Don't Tell....
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | June 24, 2018 3:14 PM |
Cecil Taylor
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | June 24, 2018 3:15 PM |