Born on May 26, 1926, in Alton, Illinois, Miles Dewey Davis III was a musical prodigy who began playing trumpet at the age of 13. He moved to New York City in the late 1940s to pursue a career in music, eventually becoming a key figure in the development of cool jazz, hard bop, and fusion. Davis was known for his introspective and melodic playing style, as well as his iconic fashion sense and charismatic stage presence.