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1961
Born in New Orleans, LA on October 18, 1961.
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1967
Receives first trumpet from Al Hirt on his 6th birthday.
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1969
Joins the Fairview Baptist Church band led by Danny Barker.
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1975
Performs with the New Orleans Philharmonic.
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1975-79
Plays with local funk band, The Creators, as well as New Orleans Symphony Brass Quintet, New Orleans Community Concert Band, New Orleans Youth Orchestra and New Orleans Symphony.
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1978
Moves to New York City to attend The Juilliard School.
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1980
Joins Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.
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1981
Begins touring with his own band.
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1983
Releases his first classical recording Haydn, Hummel, Mozart. Becomes the first and only artist to win both classical and jazz GRAMMY® Awards in the same year for Trumpet Concertos: Haydn, Hummel, Mozart and Think Of One.
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1984
Wins classical and jazz GRAMMY® Awards for a second year for Baroque Music for Trumpet and Hot House Flowers.
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1985
Receives two GRAMMY® awards for Black Codes From The Underground.
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1986
Wins Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group GRAMMY® for J Mood.
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1987
Receives GRAMMY® for Marsalis Standard Time – Volume I in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group. Co-founds the first jazz program at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City.
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1990
Records Live at the Village Vanguard with his septet.
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1991
Makes first appearance at the annual jazz festival in Marciac, France. Has performed here every year since.
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1992
Composes first dance score: Citi Movement (Griot New York) for Garth Fagan Dance.
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1995
Jazz at Lincoln Center officially joins Lincoln Center, New York City.
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1997
Wins the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his epic oratorio Blood on the Fields.
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1999
Wins GRAMMY® for Best Spoken Word Album For Children for his album Listen To The Storyteller, his 9th GRAMMY®. Composes and records Marciac Suite as a tribute to the people of Marciac, France.
Provides consultation for Ken Burns’ PBS documentary JAZZ. -
2004
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s new home, Frederick P. Rose Hall, opens on Wynton’s birthday. It is the world’s first concert hall built specifically for jazz. Releases The Magic Hour, his first album with legendary Blue Note Records.
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2006
Records Congo Square with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Yacub Addy and Odadaa!. Performs this music on tour including a performance in New Orleans’ historic Congo Square.
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2007
Performs with his quintet and Willie Nelson at Jazz at Lincoln Center, a concert that was recorded live and later released as Two Men with the Blues on Blue Note Records.
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2008
Composes and performs Abyssinian 200: A Celebration to commemorate the 200th anniversary of this Harlem Baptist church.
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2009
Vitoria, Spain confers their Gold Medal upon Wynton. Receives the insignia of chevalier of the Legion of Honor, the highest award given by the French Government. Composes Blues Symphony.