Coltrane is one of the most influential saxophonists in music history.

The "Sheets of Sound" technique is a vertical improvisation technique featuring rapid runs in which individual notes are virtually indistinguishable.

Coltrane enlisted in the Navy on August 6, 1945, the day the first U.S. atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor, where he played with the Melody Masters, the base swing band. As it was an all-white band, however, Coltrane was treated as a "guest performer" to avoid alerting superior officers to his participation.

The Five Spot Café, a club located in New York City's Bowery neighborhood, was the site of a six month gig for the quartet of Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, drummer Shadow Wilson, and bassist Wilbur Ware.

Coltrane had a number of early jobs playing R&B but particularly remembered his 1946 tour with King Kolax, playing a mix of things, including modern jazz, as truly his "school".

It was Coltrane's first album on soprano saxophone, which he began playing with Miles Davis. It was considered an unconventional move because the instrument was not as popular in jazz as other types of saxophone.

The fourth movement of A Love Supreme, "Psalm" is, in fact, a musical setting for an original poem to God written by Coltrane and printed in the album's liner notes. Coltrane plays almost exactly one note for each syllable of the poem, and bases his phrasing on the words.

Coltrane formed his first quartet for live performances in 1960 for an appearance at the Jazz Gallery in New York City. After moving through different personnel, including Steve Kuhn, Pete La Roca, and Billy Higgins, he kept pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Steve Davis, and drummer Elvin Jones.

Coltrane was addicted to heroin in the 1950s, quit cold turkey, and later said he had heard the voice of God during his brutal withdrawal.

Two marathon recording sessions resulted in: Cookin' , Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin'. Most critics consider Cookin' and Relaxin' the best of the bunch.