Bronx Cemetery to Sell Over 2,000 Mausoleum Plots Near Jazz Legends

Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx has added 2,275 new mausoleum and burial plots to the “Jazz Corner” of its cemetery grounds – where jazz legends Miles Davis, Max Roach, and Duke Ellington are interred. According to the cemetery’s executive director, the plots are selling like hot cakes.

The new plots are located in a garden area under construction near Miles Davis’ headstone and will feature a domed mausoleum as well as four other clustered buildings. Burial and mausoleums plots at the cemetery start at $6,000.

Woodlawn Cemetery has been a favorite destination for jazz aficionados and tourists. The cemetery provides a guided audio-video tour to visitors with smartphones, and the Jazz at Lincoln Orchestra marked the cemetery’s 150th anniversary with a free concert on the grounds last month.

The cemetery’s addition highlights the growing trend towards ultra-personalized end-of-life options. Music lovers are now able to purchase mausoleum plots that reflect their passion for jazz. Yet other cemeteries offer everything from stunning cliffside views to elaborate landscaping.

As jazz fan and Woodlawn patron Pauline Smith told the Associated Press: ““I love the idea that I could be continuing my love on the other side.”