The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary

View Poll Results: Who do YOU think composed "Donna Lee"?

Voters
64. You may not vote on this poll
  • Charlie Parker

    32 50.00%
  • Miles Davis

    32 50.00%
Reply to Thread Bookmark Thread
Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123
Posts 51 to 52 of 52
  1. #51

    User Info Menu

    Let's just say Miles wrote the Real Book and call it a day lol.

  2.  

    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #52

    User Info Menu

    This has been an interesting discussion. I didn’t know it was a controversial thing re’ who wrote Donna Lee.

    I think in jazz “ownership” of a song is less of an issue than with rock. Of course there are royalties to be paid.

    But many if not most jazz songs are collaborative, like the music itself. I would guess the bandleader when a song was introduced publicly would ordinarily get the credit, and his fellow players would just grumble awhile then think “I can’t wait until I’m a bandleader.”

    There are the occasional situations where an artist’s manager or record company chief insists on the artist getting coauthorship. I think that happened with Billie Holiday and Strange Fruit. Of course it happened with Frank Sinatra and Elvis a gazillion times. Kind of a “pay to play” thing.