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HomeEntertainmentArtists and Addicts: Heroin in Jazz

Artists and Addicts: Heroin in Jazz

Jazz became a mainstream staple of American culture in the early 1900’s with the rise of Be-Bop. Many rising artists from this era of jazz suffered from heroin addiction. 

A Brief History of Jazz 

Jazz developed from Rag and blues in the late 19th century, and was born in New Orleans. Louis Armstrong was one of the frontiers of jazz and became the father of swing. Duke Ellington made notable contributions to atonality during this time period and paved the way for musicians later in Harlem. 

Harlem, heroin and Jazz

The intersection of Jazz and heroin is largely a result of geographic elements. The turn of the 18th century brought with it the introduction of heroin to New York streets. During prohibition and continuing afterwards the Sicilian mobbed trafficked a large quantity of heroin across America. New York simply became the cornerstone to their business and the center for all their trade. Harlem became a booming cultural center, one of its greatest attractions: Jazz. 

This map illustrates the mischievous night life in Harlem. The witty map was published in 1932 towards the end of prohibition and pokes fun at a culture which openly endorsed drug use.

At this crossing lied a vulnerable population of economically and socially marginalized artists and a subculture that encouraged substance abuse. Jazz and blues clubs became outposts for drug dealers to sell; after all both musicians and fans were more than willing. Certain record companies went as far as to pay their musicians in heroin. The market was more than ripe. Musicians felt enormous pressure both internally and externally. The pressure to secure gigs, and record deals led to immense stresses in artists lives. Mental health issues may have also been a dominant factor in contributing to heroin use; often, musicians suffered from depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Medically speaking heroin is very effective at relieving stress. Heroin was believed to make many musicians play better, this myth was further perpetuated by artists such as Charlie Parker. Parker was the staple of Be-bop and a heavy heroin user, he himself believed that he was able to better concentrate on the music when he used. In an effort to replicate his talent other musicians began using. Jazz artists were focused on pushing boundaries, heroin simply became a passage to expand creativity and imagination.

Charlie Parker

Charles Winick conducted a study in 1957 and concluded that a startling half of all 357Jazz musicians he had surveyed had used heroin. He had thought that a culture of fantasy had been curated around heroin, making it attractive to this population of users. In a way contagious a sort of trend led by Charlie Parker, and a desire to follow. Those that performed in this subculture took heroin in stride as another aspect to leading such a life. 

Substance abuse runs rampant in populations which struggle economically and during the great depression nearly half the African American population was left unemployed. 

Law enforcement was less than fair in their treatment of African American users, often being brutal in punishment towards these populations. This was largely a result of racial tensions and media portrayal which often pushed a false narrative that addiction was an epidemic which was limited to the black population. These associations proved themselves dangerous when government officials used heroin as an excuse to further marginalize black communities. Policies began to target African Americans.

In the early 1920’s one third of all prison mates were being punished for drug related charges. Overcrowding lead to reformations in the US Public Health Service. This lead to a new approach in the form of new institutions. These rehabilitation centres were placed in the country and worked to treat and study substance abuse. The first of these facilities was Lexington, Kentucky. Music was used frequently as rehabilitation in this form of treatment. Jazz Giants such as Chet Baker, Elvin Jones, Ray Charles, Jackie Mclean and Benny Green were all figures that performed in this facility. Sunny Rollins himself attended this facility. 

Lee Morgan was one patient which attended this facility. After years of addiction he cleaned up due to treatment and recorded his first track in 3 years: The Sidewinder. For many lexington had a great influence upon their careers. Patients were given instruments and practice rooms. They were able to write music and play music in an environment free of stress and heroin. In this way jazz could be the contagion or the treatment of addiction. 

Heroin however led to many premature deaths among musicians. Billie Holiday worked with John Hammond and toured with Count Basie, and was a heroin addict the majority of her life. She was known for her powerful, soulful vocal style. Holiday was arrested after looking for treatment for addiction in 1947. As a result she had her cabaret card revoked and was no longer permitted to perform in clubs where liquor was sold. The loss of her cabaret card led to a decline in her career. Afterwards she continued abusing alcohol and heroin until suffering liver failure. After being admitted to the hospital Holiday was arrested police but unfortunately died of heart complications and liver issues before being able to leave the hospital.

Billie Holiday

Another famous artist whose career was cut short by a life of heroin addiction was Chet Baker. Baker was the clean cut trumpet player and singer behind hits such as My Funny Valentine and It’s Always You. Baker established himself as an immensely popular name in cool jazz in America, however in the late 50’s Baker fled from America to Europe, evading persecution for his drug habits. While in Europe he was imprisoned in Italy, and kicked out of both Germany and Britain. When he returned to America in 1960 he continued to record. His career came to a temporary halt in 1966 when, in a drug related fight, he had his teeth knocked out and was unable to play his trumpet. During this time he became a pump attendant until he received dentures. Baker died in 1988 after taking heroin and cocaine and promptly falling out of a window in Amsterdam. 

Chet Baker

The implications of heroin in the jazz industry are of profound depth in their connection to culture, and the positive/negative impacts on the contributions of individual musicians. The effects on social aspects such as racism and discrimination is an intriguing and controversial topic. 

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