Monk once played 60 consecutive games of ping pong with John Coltrane, winning 59 of them.

In 1956 he brought a brand-new black and white Buick. He named it the "Piebald Beetle." He drove it for about 2-3 months and then it was stolen. It was returned in perfect condition, but Monk said the vibrations in the car had changed and he never drove it again.

"The Pump" was later retitled "Little Rootie Tootie" in dedication to Monk's son, "Toot" Monk.

He was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

He died of a stroke on February 17, 1982, and was buried in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.

"Coming on the Hudson" was written in 1958 while Monk was staying Pannonica de Koenigswarter's house at Weehawken, New Jersey, where the house had a good view of the Hudson River.

"Misterioso" was first recorded July 2, 1948 for the Wizard of the Vibes sessions, featuring Milt Jackson.

New York City police searched a parked car occupied by Monk and his friend Bud Powell. They found narcotics in the car, presumed to have belonged to Powell. Monk refused to testify against his friend, so the police confiscated his New York City Cabaret Card. Without this, Monk was unable to play in any New York venue where liquor was served, and this severely restricted his ability to perform for several years.

The Giants of Jazz was a jazz all-star group of the 1970s which featured Art Blakey (drums), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Al McKibbon (bass), Thelonious Monk (piano), Sonny Stitt (alto and tenor sax), and Kai Winding (trombone).

Originally titled "Manhattan Moods", "Ruby, My Dear" was named after Rubie Richardson, Monk's first love and his older sister Marion's best friend.