Throwback: Happy 107th Birthday, Thelonious Monk!

October is a busy month in music history. 

• The Police’s legendary frontman Sting celebrated his 73rd birthday on October 2 
• Stevie Ray Vaughan was born 70 years ago on October 3
• The Roots‘ Black Thought, arguably one of the greatest living emcees celebrates his 51st birthday on October 3
• Chubby Checker, one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll and R&B celebrated his 83rd birthday today on October 3
• AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson celebrates his 77th birthday on October 5
• Steve Miller Band‘s Steve Miller celebrated his 81st on October 5
• John Mellencamp celebrated his 73rd on October 7
• Thom Yorke celebrated his 56th birthday on October 7
• Pete Rock and CL Smooth‘s CL Smooth celebrated his 56th birthday on October 8 
• The legendary John Lennon was born 84 years ago on October 9
• PJ Harvey celebrated her 55th birthday on October 9

Thelonious Monk was one of the most dynamic and eccentric figures in jazz — and perhaps in al of recorded music history. But along with that, his compositions often had an infectious, mischievous wit to them — just underneath their gorgeous exterior. 

So let’s celebrate Monk’s life and music on the 107th anniversary of his birth. Happy birthday, Mr. Monk. Happy birthday, wherever you are!