Stan Kenton

Stan Kenton was an American jazz pianist and leader of a highly influential jazz orchestra. He was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1911 and grew up in California. He began performing professionally in the 1930s and soon established himself as one of the most popular and influential jazz orchestra leaders of the era. He was known for his big band sound and adventurous approach to arranging, which often featured unconventional instrumentation and harmonic progressions.

Kenton's most well-known albums include Artistry in Rhythm (1946), Cuban Fire! (1956), and Adventures in Jazz (1960). Some of his most notable songs include "Artistry in Rhythm," "Eager Beaver," and "Peanut Vendor."

An interesting fact about Stan Kenton is that he was the first jazz musician to appear on the cover of Time magazine in 1947.