Thelonious Monk was a jazz pianist and composer known for his unique improvisational style, which was full of dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists. He was one of the primary architects of bebop, yet his playing was distinct for its use of silence and hesitation. Monk is the second-most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington, which is remarkable given that he wrote only about 70 songs. His compositions like 'Round Midnight' and 'Straight, No Chaser' are essential jazz standards. Known for his eccentricities—including wearing strange hats and dancing on stage while his band played—Monk was a true original. His playing style, often described as 'percussive,' challenged traditional ideas of how the piano should be played in jazz. He was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his contribution to music.