John Coltrane was born in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 23, 1926. He grew up in High Point, North Carolina. Early on Coltrane started to play E-flat horn and clarinet. In high school he switched to playing alto saxophone. In his early years of playing he was influenced by Lester Young and Johnny Hodges.

Once he graduated from high school he moved to Philadelphia to sudy music at Ornstein School of Music. His studies were interrupted when he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He played in the Navy band in Hawaii. In 1946 he left the Navy and returned to Philadelphia. He started playing tenor saxophone in the Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson Band.

Here’s a 1960 interview with Coltrane. Below the interview is a performance of “Impressions” with Eric Dolphy.