Albert Ayler

July 13, 1936 – Albert Ayler is born in Cleveland Heights, learns to play oboe in high school, switches to saxophone, jams with harmonica player Little Walter and ends up in Sweden with a radio show. Wow. He returns to New York City where his sax style brings him cult status as a jazzman for the ages. He died in the icy waters of the East River, where he was found floating in 1970 after he jumped from the Statue of Liberty ferry.
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