Herbie Hancock

American jazz pianist and composer (born 1940)

Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, composer and actor.[1] He started his career with Donald Byrd. He then joined the Miles Davis Quintet. Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section. He was one of the main architects of the post-bop sound. He was also one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk music.

Herbie Hancock
Hancock in December 2013
Hancock in December 2013
Background information
Birth nameHerbert Jeffrey Hancock
Born (1940-04-12) April 12, 1940 (age 84)
Woodlawn, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresJazz, post-bop, fusion, jazz-funk, electro, classical
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, bandleader, record producer, arranger, actor
InstrumentsPiano, electric piano, keyboards, synthesizers, workstation synthesizers, organ, clavinet, keytar, vocoder, Fairlight CMI
Years active1961–present
LabelsColumbia, Blue Note, Warner Bros., Verve
WebsiteHerbieHancock.com

Hancock's best-known compositions include "Watermelon Man", "Canteloupe Island" and "Chameleon". His 2007 tribute album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Hancock was born in Chicago.

References

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  1. "Herbie Hancock". Film Reference. Retrieved April 3, 2017.