Jazz Music Inventor

 
 
　　The inventor of jazz music, Jelly Roll Morton, always performed at the same location every week. He made five hundred dollars per week, which was considered a very high income at the time. From that we could tell that he had a very good business, as well as a very faithful following. His high income was reflected in his diamond-studded tooth. He was rumored to have a diamond-studded tooth, perhaps it's the most expensive and the sturdiest tooth in the world.
The inventor of jazz music ~ Jelly Roll Morton
The inventor of jazz music ~ Jelly Roll Morton
 
 

 
  　　Perhaps it's his personality, but when Jelly Roll Morton made a bet with someone, he would always pretend to be an underdog but then win by catching someone off guard. His opponents hated it when they lost to him this way. However, his musical brilliance was not overshadowed by his personality. He was a good friend with Scott Joplin, therefore he was very familiar with ragtime music. He even said to Scott Joplin directly, “Your music is no good. It's too boring”.  
     
  　　Even though both ragtime and jazz have the light and heavy notes in opposite places, it's still possible for a tone-deaf person to follow the rhythm of ragtime, since it is very predictable. Jelly Roll Morton modified it to have irregular rhythm, so the heavy note may come just before the ending, or it may come just after the beginning. His music will make you rock side to side, instead of just following the rhythm of the music. He is a master at manipulating the sound of the music.  
     
  　　Since he gave performances day in and day out, Jelly Roll Morton always improvised on his performance in order to appeal to and satisfy his audience. In the process he has written many songs, making him the first professional songwriter. He is considered the forefather of jazz music, and he holds a special place in the jazz music history.  
     
  　　In 1940, before Jelly Roll Morton passed away, he once said quite concededly during an interview with the media, “I invented jazz”! When this claim was publicized, he received a lot of criticism, but nobody could deny his claim, since the music, style, and method of jazz all came from him!