1965 – Sallye Bell Davis, Activist and Mother of Miles Davis, Passes

On June 18, 1965, Sallye Bell Davis, an influential music teacher, civil rights advocate, and mother of jazz legend Miles Davis, passed away. A strong-willed educator, Sallye nurtured her son’s early talent by insisting on formal training and discipline. She was also active in St. Louis’ Black cultural and political circles, advocating for racial uplift and education in segregated America. Her values profoundly shaped Miles Davis’s worldview and artistry. Sallye’s death marked the end of a life committed to Black excellence through education and family legacy. Often overlooked in the jazz narrative, she represents the crucial role Black mothers played in cultivating genius under systems of racial inequality. Her quiet strength and determination helped foster one of the most influential figures in 20th-century music, reflecting the generational impact of Black women’s often-unheralded contributions to both culture and justice.