Jelly Roll Morton

Jelly Roll Morton was an influential early jazz pianist and composer from New Orleans, active in the early 20th century. He is credited with helping to shape jazz's early development by blending blues, ragtime, and marching band music into a lively, improvisational style. Morton was one of the first to write down jazz music, capturing the complexity and energy of the genre. His inventive approach and performances played a key role in establishing jazz as a unique American art form, making him a foundational figure in the history of jazz music.