John William Coltrane (also known as "Trane"; September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967^[1]) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz. He organized at least fifty recording sessions as a leader during his recording career, and appeared as a sideman on many other albums, notably with trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk.

As his career progressed, Coltrane and his music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. His second wife was pianist Alice Coltrane, and their son Ravi Coltrane is also a saxophonist. Coltrane influenced innumerable musicians, and remains one of the most significant tenor saxophonists in jazz history. He received many posthumous awards and recognitions, including canonization by the African Orthodox Church as Saint John William Coltrane. In 2007, Coltrane was awarded the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his "masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz."^[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_coltrane

My Favorite Things is the seventh album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records, catalogue SD-1361. It was the first album to feature Coltrane's playing on soprano saxophone, and yielded a commercial breakthrough in the form of a hit single that gained popularity in 1961 on radio, an edited version of the title song, "My Favorite Things."^[2] In 1998, the album was a recipient of the Grammy Hall of Fame award.^[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Favorite_Things_%28album%29

"My Favorite Things" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Favorite_Things_%28song%29

Coltrane is modern jazz.

Dead at 40.

The music lives on until audiences are no more.