At age 11, Herbie Hancock performed the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 26 in D Major with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Born in Chicago in 1940, the American pianist and composer developed a expansive career spanning jazz, funk, and electronic fusion, fundamentally altering the role of the rhythm section in improvisational music.
Formative Training
Hancock attended Hyde Park Academy High School and Wendell Phillips Academy High School. He pursued formal studies at the Manhattan School of Music and Grinnell College, where he earned degrees in electrical engineering and music in 1960. Early influences included jazz pianists Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson, alongside the vocal arrangements of the Hi-Lo's. In 1960, he sought instruction from Chicago-based pianist Chris Anderson to refine his harmonic approach.
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In 1962, Hancock released his debut solo album, Takin' Off, which featured the composition 'Watermelon Man'. Shortly thereafter, in May 1963, he joined the Miles Davis Quintet. During his tenure with Davis, he contributed to the development of the post-bop sound. Simultaneously, he maintained a prolific schedule as a sideman and bandleader, recording multiple albums for Blue Note Records, including Inventions and Dimensions, My Point of View, and Speak Like a Child.
Electronic Evolution and Composition
Under the influence of Miles Davis, Hancock began utilizing electric keyboards, notably the Fender Rhodes. By the 1970s, his work increasingly incorporated synthesizers and funk aesthetics, leading to the release of the influential album Head Hunters. His compositional catalog includes jazz standards such as 'Cantaloupe Island', 'Maiden Voyage', and 'Chameleon'. He also expanded into film scoring, beginning with Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blowup.
Academic and Public Roles
Hancock holds various institutional roles, serving as a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, within the Herb Alpert School of Music starting in 2012. He functions as the chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. In 2011, he was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and practices Nichiren Buddhism.
Fast facts
- Born: 1940, Chicago
- Education: Grinnell College, Manhattan School of Music
- Instruments: Piano, Keyboard
- Notable Compositions: Watermelon Man, Cantaloupe Island, Maiden Voyage, Chameleon
- Religion: Nichiren Buddhism
- UNESCO Role: Goodwill Ambassador (2011)
- Academic Position: UCLA Professor (since 2012)
Questions readers ask
What instruments does Herbie Hancock play?
He is a pianist, keyboardist, and musician known for utilizing both acoustic and electric pianos alongside synthesizers.
Is Herbie Hancock an academic?
Yes, he has served as a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, since 2012.
Achievements
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance — 1984
- Academy Award for Best Original Score — 1987
- Instruments: piano, keytar and electric piano
- Genres: jazz, bebop and jazz fusion
