Alice Coltrane, born Alice McLeod (b. August 27, 1937; d. January 13, 2007), was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Coltrane studied classical music, and was given piano lessons by Bud Powell. She began playing jazz as a professional in Detroit, with her own trio and as a duo with vibist Terry Pollard. From 1962 to 1963 she played with Terry Gibbs's quartet, during which time she met John Coltrane. She played piano with his group from 1965 until his death in 1967, and married him in 1966. In addition to John becoming step-father to Alice's daughter Miki, they had three children: drummer John Jr., and saxophonists Oran and Ravi. John Jr. died in a car crash at the beginning of the 1980s.
Since her husband's death she continued to play with her own groups, moving into more and more meditative music, and recently playing with her children. She was one of the few harpists in the history of jazz. In the early 1970s, after years of involvement with Eastern religion, Coltrane took the name Swamini Turiyasangitananda. She was a devotee of the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba. She kept performing under the name Alice Coltrane, however.
edit: Alice's spiritual practice here:
http://www.saiquest.com/html/swamini.html
