Although ___ (b. 1903 and d. 1931) was always stuck performing with highly "commercial" ensembles, he was one of the first European American soloists to develop a reputation as an improviser in "jazz." Born in Davenport, he was a self-taught musician who began piano lessons when he was five years old but was unable to learn to read music.
a. Louis Armstrong
b. Bix Beiderbecke
c. Duke Ellington
d. Jelly Roll Morton