Kenny Clarke
1914–1985 (age 71)
Biography
Kenny Clarke was a pioneering jazz drummer whose innovative approach carved the rhythmic foundation for bebop. Born in 1914, he brought a lighter, more syncopated beat to the drums, influencing fellow musicians in America and later in Paris, where he became a beloved figure.
Clarke spent his later years mentoring a new generation of artists, bridging Atlantic jazz communities while maintaining an open, generous spirit. The Crématorium-columbarium du Père-Lachaise now holds the silence after his drumming, but his influence still swings across stages worldwide.