HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT 1949 Mile Davis Playing Birdland Original Double Weight Silver Gelatin TYPE I Photo by Popsie PSA/DNA

Miles Davis (1926-1991) was one of the most influential musicians in jazz history. A virtuoso trumpeter and innovative bandleader, he helped pioneer bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion. His landmark albums include Kind of Blue, Birth of the Cool, Sketches of Spain, and Bitches Brew. Davis mentored legends including John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter.

Offered is an original 6.75” x 11.25”" Silver Gelatin photograph taken by William "PoPsie" Randolph at Birdland in New York City during the club's inaugural season, circa late 1949. The image captures a 23-year-old Miles Davis during the formative Birth of the Cool era, just as he was emerging as one of bebop's most promising young trumpeters.

About photographer, William "Popsie" Randolph:

William "Popsie" Randolph was a legendary photographer who captured the heart of mid-20th-century jazz and entertainment. Born in New York City in 1920, Randolph started in the Benny Goodman Orchestra before finding his calling behind the camera. From the 1940s to the 1980s, his lens documented the icons of jazz, Broadway, and pop, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley.

Randolph's work stands out for its intimacy, capturing both the glamour and raw, unguarded moments of his subjects. Sought after by artists and labels like Columbia Records and RCA, his images graced album covers, newspapers, and magazines, making him a hidden yet influential force in music photography. Though he passed away in 1978, Randolph's photos remain a vital record of American music culture, inspiring generations of musicians and photographers.

The historical significance of this photograph cannot be understated as this is one of the earliest professional photographs of Davis that has ever surfaced.  His appearance would drastically change throughout the years.  Notably, the Babe Ruth of Jazz was playing at the opening of the Yankee Stadium of Jazz clubs!!!!