Prestige Records: The '50s

Founded in 1949, Prestige Records was at the vanguard of jazz in mid-century America. Pianist Thelonious Monk signed with Prestige in the early ‘50s, while Miles Davis called the label home during his “first great quintet” period. Prestige also gave John Coltrane the opportunity to step out as a bandleader, and would later issue classic albums by Steve Lacy, Art Farmer, Annie Ross and many others.