How Miles Davis Went From “Best Kept Secret” to Legend in His Field

Here’s a story about how a little-known musician broke through and became a star — and how you can do it, too.

A few nights ago, Melissa and I heard an all-star jazz band perform in honor of Miles Davis who was born 100 years ago — May 26, 1926.

Miles grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois — just across the Mississippi from my home in St. Louis. As a teenager he used to hang out at the jazz clubs, just around the corner from where I live today.

In July 1944, Billy Eckstine was in town with his band that included Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. One of the trumpet players was sick so Billy invited 18-year-old Miles to stand in.

He wasn’t flashy like Dizzy. But he was good, and his style was unique.

Dizzy and Charlie were impressed. They encouraged him to move to New York.

A few months later, Miles arrived in the Big Apple and began hanging out with Dizzy, Charlie, and other jazz greats. He joined Charlies’s band soon after, and he began producing solo material — including “The Birth of the Cool” — less than three years later.

This is a story about Other People’s Stages.

Miles broke through because he got on Billy Eckstine’s stage — where larger audiences and influential players discovered his brilliance.

Before then, he was a “best kept secret,” known to jazz fans around St. Louis as a talented young player, but far from famous.

If you’re a best kept secret who wants to reveal your brilliance and break through, other people’s stages can help.

Podcasts, live speaking gigs, online events. So many opportunities if you know what you’re doing.

Two things you need to know to make this work:

1) How to find and get on the RIGHT stages.

2) How to leverage your time on stage to build your business.

I’m planning some live events, video trainings, and other resources to help you with both of these things. But I’m going to dive deep into this only if there’s interest.

So, a question for you…

Are you interested in learning how to implement an ‘other people’s stages’ strategy to grow your business?

Reply with “yes” if so.

If there’s enough interest, I’ll have more for you soon.