* Louis Armstrong: Armstrong was a trumpeter and singer who led his own band, the Louis Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven, in the 1920s and 1930s.
* Duke Ellington: Ellington was a pianist and composer who led his own band, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, from 1923 until his death in 1974.
* Cab Calloway: Calloway was a singer, dancer and bandleader who led his own band, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, from the 1930s to the 1950s.
* Nat King Cole: Cole was a singer and pianist who led his own trio and toured with his own band, the Nat King Cole Trio, in the 1940s and 1950s.
* Miles Davis: Davis was a trumpeter and composer who led his own bands, including the Miles Davis Quintet and the Miles Davis Sextet, in the 1950s and 1960s.
* John Coltrane: Coltrane was a saxophonist and composer who led his own bands, including the John Coltrane Quartet and the John Coltrane Quintet, in the 1950s and 1960s.
* Charles Mingus: Mingus was a bassist and composer who led his own bands, including the Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop and the Charles Mingus Sextet, in the 1950s and 1960s.
* Max Roach: Roach was a drummer and composer who led his own bands, including the Max Roach Quartet and the Max Roach Double Quartet, in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
* Art Blakey: Blakey was a drummer who led his own band, the Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, from 1955 until his death in 1990.
* Horace Silver: Silver was a pianist and composer who led his own bands, including the Horace Silver Quintet and the Horace Silver Trio, in the 1950s and 1960s.