10 interesting facts about Paul Desmond. Life insights.

1. The composer of the greatest hit. Paul Desmond composed Dave Brubeck Quartet’s greatest hit "Take Five", written with its distinctive 5/4 time signature, which was quite untypical for jazz music of that time. The song also featured Desmond's iconic lyrical saxophone solo.
2. Unsatisfied desire. Paul wished to study the violin, but his father discouraged him, by explaining that playing the violin would lead him to starvation as a musician. Before he started playing a saxophone, he played a clarinet.
3. Passion for writing. During high school years, Paul showed great skills in writing and worked as a co-editor of the high school newspaper.
4. Change of the name. His birth name was Paul Emil Breitenfeld. He changed it to Desmond in 1946. There are many speculations about what inspired him to choose this option. According to his biographer Doug Ramsey, Paul was inspired by Johnny Desmond, a singer of Glenn Miller’ band. He liked the name Desmond for its smooth and uncommon sound.
5. Playing a renowned instrument. Paul Desmond played a Selmer Paris Super Action alto saxophone. His performance impressed the audience with the fluid, airy, clear tones, and relaxed phrasing.
6. Struggles from addictions. Paul had several addictions. During most of his life, he struggled with alcoholism and cigarettes. In the 1940s and 1950s, Desmond took amphetamines, and in the 1970s, he used cocaine.
7. Close friendship. Although he and Dave Brubeck, with whom they founded the Dave Brubeck Quartet, had two different personalities, their families were very close.
8. Controversial reputation. Sometimes Desmond was described as a womanizer, who had casual relationships with multiple women. Indeed, throughout his life, he never lacked the attention from women. He was also married from 1947 to 1949.
9. Health issues. Long years of smoking and poor health resulted in serious problems. Desmond suffered from lung cancer, which caused his death in 1977 after a tour with Brubeck.
10. In his will, Paul Desmond specified that all earnings generated from “Take Five” would be donated to the Red Cross after his passing.

Explore a more detailed biography of Paul Desmond in this article.