Ferdinand Morton, more popularly known as "Jelly Roll" Morton was a huge influence on the jazz scene in the 1920's.  He is known as one of the first serious composers of jazz. Morton was born in a small creol community in New Orelans, a place given the credit for the birth of jazz. So it is no wonder that this key player in the game of jazz would make his start here.

Early Life

At the young age of 14 Morton began playing jazz music in local brothels around lousiana. He had to be careful about it thought, because his grandmother was very religious, so, instead he told her that he was going out to work at the barrel factory. When she found out however he was kicked out of the house and told that he disgraced his family. Even with all this pressure to stop playing jazz, he couldn't stop. 

(Morton Hard at work)

Mortons Start

In the year 1903 Jelly Roll left the home he knew so well to wander around america. During this time he spent his day gambling and writting music. Also during this time he wrote perhaps one of his most well knows tunes "The Jelly Roll Blues" This song was the way in which he got his name. He Went around to newyork Making himself well known untill in 1914 he finally settled down in chicago. This is where he published His jelly roll blues, this was an extremly important step for jazz music, Because it was arguably the first piece of jazz music ever written down.

Morton Gains succsess

After Mortons three year stay in chicago he followed some of his fellow musicians to california. There, he wrote his work "The crave" A tango that made quite the impact on the people there. It was in the soundtrack of some of hollywoods earliest movies