Thelonius Monk

[Mancgreg]

Was Thelonius born with his middle name "Sphere" or did he add it later in life?

[mikewith]

Thelonious Sphere Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on October 10, 1917. You can see his birth certificate here: http://home.achilles.net/~howardm/biografy.shtml It *appears* to read 'Thelonious Junior Monk' but his father was apparantly Thelonioous Sphere Monk Senior... so it looks like he was born with it. I came across this delightful passage on his names which I nominate for Pseud's Corner:

"...'Thelonious' announces imposing complexity and originality with roots in tradition, 'Monk' signals abrupt angularity, and the rhythmic impact of the two in juxtaposition is indelible and unique... Most revealing of all though, is "Sphere" with its intimations of rounded three-dimensional completeness, of a self-contained planet pursuing its own course in the musical universe."

-- Bob Blumenthal's liner notes for "Thelonious Monk: The Complete Blue Note Recordings" (Blue Note 30363). [Source: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/letters/1098ltte.htm ]