Thelonious Monk began to be an influence, when Sonny rehearsed with him for a few months in 1948, and he has continued to be. (???Monk is a teacher with a different way of playing and of voicing chords.???) Sonny also is indebted to J.J. Johnson, with whom he had a few record dates on Savoy. (???He, too, was a very great help.