Herbie Hancock Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Pianist

Birthday :

April 12, 1940

Also Known For :

Songwriter

Birth Place :

Chicago, Illinois, United states of America

Birth Element :

Metal

Jazz musician Herbie Hancock was born on the 12 April 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. He showed musical talent at a young age and was a young child when his musical education began.

Education

Initially, Herbie Hancock studied electrical engineering at college level but later changed to majoring in music composition.

Rise To Fame

As a young man, Herbie Hancock was playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and it was at high school that he developed an appreciation of jazz. After graduating from college, he relocated to New York City where he played in Donald Byrd’s band. Blue Label offered him a contract, and his debut album was entitled Takin’ Off. Takin’ Off included the song Watermelon which was covered by Mongo Santamaria. Other compositions he wrote at the time include Maiden Voyage, Speak Like a Child and Goodbye to Childhood. He also wrote the soundtrack for the film Blow Up which led to further work in the film industry.

Career

After playing in Miles Davis’s band from 1963 through to 1968, Hancock Recorded Fat Albert Rotunda. He continued experimenting and composing producing cutting-edge music in a sextet that he founded (1969-1970). Hancock has continued composing cutting edge, avant-garde music including albums and film scores.