A Supreme Life The loss of three close family members in a very short period of time is something most people can't even begin to imagine. John Coltrane experienced the death of his father, grandfather, and grandmother (Feinstein 77), but he overcame it with the help of his saxophone and music in general. He had a perseverance and dedication that is very inspiring and impressive in his music. John Coltrane overcame a difficult childhood by learning to play the saxophone, playing a very influential role in jazz music and today's music, and becoming a revolutionary musician. Coltrane overcame the tragedy of losing his family by learning to play the saxophone. Practicing his instrument and attending classes and lessons helped him get through a difficult time in his life. He was constantly practicing his saxophone or going to class and this played a huge role in overcoming the grief of losing his family members and provided him with a distraction. It was a safe way to deal with his problems, and it was a great outlet for him, especially since he had grown up with music (Feinstein 77). He channeled his emotions into an activity with which he could do something productive, bringing out a positive end result from an unfortunate situation, regardless of how difficult and time-consuming it may have been. Playing an instrument is a great way to take your mind off of everyday life and Coltrane used this method extensively, and it was probably one of his only coping mechanisms. A classmate of his said: “He kept that saxophone with him. You could hear him all the time, from everywhere else in the school building, in the music room practicing by himself” (Feinstein 79). This shows that even his c...... middle of paper ...... to his music, but the music he made was so innovative that it is still widely listened to today, and his beliefs and techniques are still lives in the work of others. Works Cited Feinstein, Stephen. "Chapter 7: John Coltrane." Incredible African American jazz musicians. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2013. Page No. Print.Hansen, Liane. "John McLaughlin: On Coltrane and Spirituality in Music." Weekend edition Sunday 2 January. 2011: n. page Inspire. Web. April 1, 2014. Columbia University Office of Public Affairs, April 17, 2007. Web. April 1, 2014. Kofsky, Frank. John Coltrane and the jazz revolution of the 60s. New York: Pathfinder, 1998. Print. Porter, Lewis. John Coltrane: His Life and Music. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1998. Print. “Pulitzer Prize Committee Honors Jazz Legend John Coltrane with Special Citation.” The Pulitzer Prizes.