20 FAMOUS HISTORICAL AND CURRENT TRUMPETERS - ART - 2025

There are famous trumpeters who have stood out above the rest for the quality of their music and the technique they have managed to develop. They are the best there has ever been in the world.

Each and every one of them has discovered their passion for playing the trumpet, living, creating and feeling something as unique, magical and harmonious as music.

Many people think that it is a gift, others say that it requires study. There are also those who believe that it is something that is felt; others who consider music to be a manifestation of culture; those who think it is an expression of the spirit, a reflection of the self; or a way of expressing what cannot be said with words.

Perhaps it is complex to define it and it is more pleasant and simple to feel or hear it. The truth is that music is art. And as such it generates different sensations and emotions not only in those who listen to it, but also in those who generate it.

Music allows us to communicate with the other, thus being a way of bonding, sharing, relating, where in many cases words are not necessary, since music can be considered a universal language in itself.

They have found through and in it, a way of life that has led them to be the 20 most famous trumpeters in the history of music.

1- Arturo Sandoval

He was born in Havana, Cuba on November 6, 1949. He began to study trumpet at the age of 12 and soon became passionate about Jazz. In that country, he was part of the most important jazz group, called Irakere, after the success achieved with it, he went into exile to the United States, where he recorded his first album.

Sandoval has received many awards throughout his career, among them are 10 Grammy Awards, these being a recognition by American society, to a music artist.

Sandoval has also written the script for the film “For love or County”, a film intended to tell his biography for which he has also been awarded.

Its history is full of successes and participation in countless symphony orchestras throughout the world.

In his native country he met Dizzy Gillespie who has been a very important reference for him, immersing him in the wide universe of music.

According to his sayings in various interviews that have been carried out throughout his successful career, his goal is to share his gift with the world.

2- Richard Allen "Blue" Mitchell (1930-1979)

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He was born in Florida, United States. He was a prominent trumpeter in his country for his melodic style. In the course of his adolescence he had his first approach to the trumpet, at 17 years of age, when he was encouraged to participate in a school musical group. It is these same colleagues who have nicknamed him "Blue."

Blue Mitchell came from a family eager to have a musician in the family, which leads us to wonder whether she has lived a life around the fulfillment of her mother's wish, or has lived her own wish.

The truth is that his passion has developed for Jazz, and surrounded by renowned musicians he has been a member of different musical bands.

Clifford Brown, famous trumpeter from the United States of whom we will talk later, has been the inspiration for Blue Mitchell to perform his incredible solos on the trumpet, through which we can perceive his spirit and love for music.

Blue has been unable to cope with cancer, which ended her life early at 49 years of age.

3- Rowland Bernard Berigan (1908-1942)

Rowland Bernard Berigan, known as Bunny Berigan (1908-1942) born in the United States has been a trumpeter and jazz singer. Luis Amstrong was the inspiring muse for this artist, who was recognized in 1939 by a famous magazine in his country, as the best trumpeter of the year.

Bunny's study, dynamism and virtuosity have helped him join different musical groups, to which he brought wonderful value by blowing his trumpet.

This artist has formed a big band which due to financial problems and poor administration by Bunny, has not been able to perpetuate itself over time for more than a few years.

Even so, Bernard Berigan is recognized for his musical talent, and Michael P. Zirpolo, has written his biography which he has called “Mr. Trumpet. The trials, tribulations and triumph of Bunny Berigan ”.

4- Chesney Henry Baker, Jr (1929-1988)

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Chesney Henry Baker, Jr. known as Chet Baker (1929-1988) born in Ocklahoma, began by expressing his passion for music through the presentations he made singing in the church choir of the California city, where he had moved with his family at 11 years old.

His father, who was a guitarist at that time, has been the one who gave Chet his first trumpet. Influenced by his father's artistic gifts, Chet Baker began his musical studies, but it was his love and passion for music that has made him a professional jazz artist.

Throughout his musical career, Miles Davis's style has been influential in his love for this shared art. With a successful life, Chet Baker falls under the influence of heroin, struggling with an addiction that has forced him away from the stage, and has finally ended his life at 58 years of age.

Documentaries and films have been made about Chet's life, his unfinished biography was published in 1997 under the name "As though I had wings: the lost memoir", as if you had wings: the lost memory.

5- Clark Terry (1920-2015)

Clark Terry at Monterey Jazz Festival, 1981

Famous Jazz trumpeter from the United States, with more than seventy years of career, has left his mark in different parts of the world with his art. He began his career in St. Louis, Missouri where Jazz was the music that used to be heard by then.

Having traveled much of the world with his talent, his style marked by contemporary music, his writings, his technique and virtuosity, have made this wonderful musician an impeccable career.

Clark has won an abundance of awards in recognition of his music and has been recognized as an Ambassador for Jazz to Africa and the Middle East. His gift for music has been the inspiration for Miles Davis, famous great trumpeter.

According to Clark, teaching Jazz has allowed him to play an important role in fulfilling the dreams of those who wanted to perform as musicians in the world of Jazz. It was he himself who wrote his autobiography called "Clark, the autobiography of Clark Terry."

6- Clifford Brown (1930-1956)

Source: wikipedia.org

Born in Pennsylvania, he has had a short career as a trumpet musician, but strongly influential in many trumpeters of the time such as Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Blue Mitchel, among others.

His beginnings with the trumpet were at the age of 15 and his talent quickly appeared, with virtuosity, improvisation capacity and adaptation to different musical styles. Success came around his 23 years.

He has stood out in the bebop rhythm and today he is a strong reference of Jazz hardbop being Fats Navarro who we will talk about later too, who inspired him with his virtuosity.

Clifford Brown dies at an early age in a car accident, but his talent, his music and his style have been transmitted through different renowned artists over time; keeping his spirit alive through music.

7- Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie, so he was known, but his real name is John Birks Gillespie (1917-1993). Famous trumpeter, composer and singer of American Jazz transcended by his style, which he has acquired after having recognized trying to imitate that of Roy Eldridge, famous trumpeter that we will deal with later.

Today Dizzy is a benchmark for modern Jazz and has stood out for trying to fuse Afro-Cuban Jazz with Afro-American music.

Gillespie was virtuous in playing various percussion instruments which led him to make a unique fusion of these different styles, making it his own style. Being today one of the most recognized musical artists in the world of Jazz.

8- Donald Byrd

Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (1932-2013) born in the United States, began to develop his musical career influenced by the hard bop style. With the passing of the years, and his different experiences throughout the trips undertaken to train, he begins to awaken his interest in music from Africa.

At the same time influenced by the changes in the musical style of Miles Davis, he begins to feel attracted to the funky style, thus recording an album that has been widely criticized but at the same time the best-selling of the time.

Due to health problems, he has dedicated several years of his life to teaching, forming a musical group with some of his students together with whom he returns to the stage.

Donald finally retires from the world of Jazz with the hard bop style, the style with which he had started his career as a trumpet player; and dedicates his last years of life to his profession as an educator.

9- Fats Navarro

Fats Navarro, Theodore «Fats» Navarro (1923-1950) born in Florida, United States, began his professional career early at the age of 13 playing the trumpet.

He had previously started studying piano and sax, but was amazed to learn about the instrument that made him one of America's most famous trumpet players.

He quickly awakened his passion for the trumpet, influenced by the music of Dizzy Gillespie and did not delay in marking his own style, with creativity as his main strength.

After suffering from tuberculosis, immersed in the world of drugs, he died at the age of 26, leaving his style in the works of Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan and Clifford Brown, in whom with his style he has notably influenced the music of these famous trumpeters..

10- Freedie Hubbard

Freedie Hubbard , Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (1938-2008) originally from Indiana, began studying the art of music at an early age, and thanks to the influence of his brother, he began to enter the world of Jazz.

At the age of 20, he decided to move to New York where a successful career awaited him. He has been influenced by the music of Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan, later marking his own style by fusing Jazz with soul and funk.

He has participated in several musical groups, but it has been on the recommendation of Miles Davis, who has been able to record his first musical themes as a soloist.

It is in the 70s where Freedie Hubbard achieves his greatest success as a trumpeter in the world of music. After several years of career Freedie decides to share his knowledge and his musical talent with different emerging music students at that time. He loses his life in his 70s, weeks after suffering a heart attack.

11- Harry James

Harry James, Harry Haag James (1916-1983) born in Georgia, United States, comes from a family in which music was present, forming part of their lives. His father was a conductor and has been the one who taught Harry to play the trumpet at a young age.

This famous American trumpeter has dedicated years of his life to the rigorous study of music. Thanks to this and to his immeasurable talent, he has formed his own big band, in which the renowned Frank Sinatra has participated.

Harry died in 1983 after suffering from lymphatic cancer, which did not prevent him from playing until the last days of his life.

12- Herbert «Herb» Alpert Goldberg

Source: nndb.com

Herbert "Herb" Alpert Goldberg was born in Los Angeles, California in 1935. He began his musical studies in his childhood with a passion for the trumpet, and culminated with a Bachelor of Music degree. But as the years went by, Herb found a way of life in art.

He became interested in phonography, painting, theater and music. In the musical field he has been and is one of the most famous American trumpeters for the number of records sold and the gold record awards obtained.

Albert was a participant in great successes, among them the most outstanding ones are those generated in Tijuana by the musical group Tijuana Brass. His main successes have occupied the top positions of the musical ranking in the 70s and early 80s.

It is around this time that Albert created his own foundation aimed at supporting youth and art education. This wonderful artist found a way to express himself in music, and it is through it that he has developed his enormous musical career.

13- Louis Armstrong

Source: wikipedia.org

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was born in New York, into a family without resources. He has suffered the abandonment of his father, and from a very young age he had to face a harsh reality that led him to commit minor crimes, for which he was sent to different reformatories.

It is there where his admiration for music began, since the local children had formed different musical bands. Those who have given him his first trumpet have been his adoptive parents for whom Louis works.

It is in New Orleans, a city that currently bears his name at the local airport, where Louis Armstrong begins his musical career participating in different musical bands that provided street performances.

He participated in different orchestras, has recorded as a soloist and always shone for his creativity. He was successful to his fullest potential; his personality, charisma and undoubted talent helped him to become the most popular jazz musician of the time.

Louis passes away after having suffered two heart attacks, a few months before his 70th birthday, but his legacy, his love for music, his style, and spontaneity renew his spirit in each of his songs.

14- Maurice André

Maurice André (1933-2012) known as the genius of the trumpet, was born in France and soon acquired a taste for playing the trumpet, which came from his father, who did it in his spare time, playing in a musical band in his city.

Maurice began to study music at the age of 14, and by his 20s he was awarded by the music conservatory, being invited to play in several renowned orchestras of the moment.

His freshness together with his talent and musical style made him successful quickly, so he has traveled with his music to different countries in Europe, North America and different parts of the world becoming an international artist.

He was a professor at the Paris Conservatory of Music and in his later years he devoted himself to music, teaching and spreading his precious instrument: the trumpet.

15- Maynard Ferguson

Maynard Ferguson (1928-2006) was a famous Jazz trumpeter from Canada. He seems to have inherited a passion for music from his mother, who was a violinist in a symphony orchestra.

By his 4 years Maynard already knew how to play the violin, at 9 he began to study music at the French conservatory, which has led him at the young age of 11, to be a soloist in a prestigious musical orchestra.

At 13 he started as a soloist and soon put together his musical group, having chosen to prioritize his musical career at 15 because of the immense vocation he felt towards it.

He has played with renowned musicians, including Dizzi Gillespie, with his mother and trumpeter Luis Armstrong being the main sources of inspiration for him.

16- Miles Davis

Miles Davis, Miles Dewey Davis III (1926-1991) is an American trumpeter with more than five decades of career. Miles was born in Alton, a town in Illinois into a middle-class family.

His mother was a music teacher, and it seems that they were not only united by the bond between mother and son, but also by the love of music.

Miles is attracted to it during his childhood. At 12 he began to take trumpet classes and a few years later he played in different cities.

As a teenager, it was clear to him that his career as a jazz trumpeter was what he wanted for his life, so he dropped out of college to dedicate his energy to what was his passion. He was recognized and achieved his maximum potential with the fusion of Jazz with Rock.

17- Nicholas Payton

Nicholas Payton was born on September 23, 1973 in New Orleans. He is a contemporary American trumpeter recognized worldwide for dedicating himself entirely to Jazz.

Nicholas comes from a family of musicians, so he has lived a childhood surrounded by music. At 4 he knew how to play the trumpet; driven by his parents at 9 he was already playing in a prestigious orchestra in his city.

In addition to the impulse of his parents, Nicholas Payton has been fascinated by the music of Miles Davis, who has been a main inspiration to later forge his career as a Jazz trumpeter.

18- Roy Eldridge

Roy Eldridge, Roy David Eldridge (1911-1989), a native of Pennsylvania, began to enter the world of music in his teens.

At the age of 16 he participated in an important orchestra, as a trumpeter, and it is later when he decides to create his own musical band under the name Roy Elliot.

He has worked in various orchestras, big bands, being an important figure of classical Jazz and the inspiration of Miles Davis among other great trumpeters.

19- Rubén Simeó

Source: farodevigo.es

Rubén Simeó, contemporary and young Spanish trumpet player, born in 1992 has had the opportunity to quickly show his talent.

At just 8 years old, he has shown to possess a brilliant musical technique with his trumpet in the presentations he has made in different contests and competitions.

At the age of 12 he participated in different orchestras as a guest, and it is at the same age that he released his first album. Rubén Simeó not only has talent and maturity in his musical technique, but he is also an excellent teacher in different parts of the world, imparting knowledge about the art of music.

At present he has decided to travel the world as a soloist, accompanied by his most faithful friend, his trumpet.

20- Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis was born on October 18, 1961 in New Orleans. He is the last successful trumpeter to be selected from this list of twenty. Wynton is considered an exceptional classical trumpeter, being one of the best in his field.

He received his first trumpet at the age of 6. With two other brothers who were dedicated to jazz, and inspired by the influence of trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, Wynton has formed his own band consisting of three musicians, his brother Branford Marsalis and himself.

In the same year, 1982 he recorded his first classical album with which success did not take long to come, currently being part not only of the list of 20 famous trumpeters, but also a maximum exponent of classical music along with his trumpet.

21-Chet Baker

Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 - May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist.

Baker gained much attention and critical acclaim throughout the 1950s, especially on the albums Chet Baker Sings and It Could Happen to You.