BIRTHDAY: Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s birthday today! Kirk was born Ronald Theodore Kirk in Columbus, Ohio, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make Roland. In 1970, Kirk added “Rahsaan” to his name. Preferring to lead his own groups, Kirk rarely performed as a sideman, though he did record with arranger Quincy Jones, Roy Haynes and had especially notable stints with Charles Mingus…