Kenny Clarke (born January 9, 1914 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania-died January 26, 1985 in Paris, France) was a jazz drummer and an early innovator of the bebop style of drumming. As the house drummer at Minton's Playhouse in the early 1940's, he participated in the after hours jams that led to the birth of modern jazz. He is credited with creating the modern role of the ride cymbal as the primary timekeeper. Before, drummers kept time on the snare drum ("digging coal", Clarke called it) with heavy support from the bass drum. With Clarke time was played on the cymbal and the bass and snare were used more for punctuation. For this, "every drummer" Ed Thigpen said, "owes him a debt of gratitude." 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Pittsburg is the name of some places in the United States of America: Pittsburg, California Pittsburg, Kansas Pittsburg, New Hampshire Pittsburg was at one time also a common spelling of the city now always written as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... State nickname: The QUENESE PERSON STATE Other U.S. States Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell Official languages None Area 119,283 km² (33rd)  - Land 116,074 km²  - Water 3,208 km² (2. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Jazz is a musical art form characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation. ... A drummer is a musician who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... Bebop or bop is a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos and improvisation based on harmonic structure rather than melody. ... Mintons Playhouse was a bar and club, established by Henry Minton on West 118th Street in New York City in 1938. ... A 20 inch Sabian AAX Metal Ride A ride cymbal is a type of cymbal that is a standard part of most drum kits. ... The snare drum or side drum is a tubular drum made of wood or metal with skins, or heads, stretched over the top and bottom openings. ... A bass drum is a large, heavy drum that produces a thump of low but indefinite pitch. ... Edmund Leonard (Ed) Thigpen (born December 28, 1930) is an American jazz drummer. ...

Clarke was a founder member of the Modern Jazz Quartet (as the Milt Jackson Quartet) in 1951 and also participated in many recording sessions as house drummer for Savoy Records. Connie Kay took his place in the MJQ in 1955 and from 1956 Clarke was resident in France where he regularly worked with visiting american musicians in Paris, in particular forming a working trio, known as "The Bosses", with Bud Powell and Pierre Michelot. Later in 1961, with Belgian pianist Francy Boland he formed a regular big band featuring leading european and ex-patriate american musicians. The big band, which had been the idea of Italian producer Gigi Campi, lasted for eleven years. The Modern Jazz Quartet was established in 1952 by Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano, musical director), Percy Heath (bass), and Kenny Clarke (drums). ... 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Savoy Records the name of two record labels, one in the United States of America, and the other in the United Kingdom. ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Bud Powell (September 27, 1924 _ July 31, 1966) is widely regarded as one of the finest and most influential pianists in the history of jazz. ... 1961 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...