Herbie Hancock Biography

After he graduated from Grinnell College in Iowa, he moved to New York City and, at twenty, joined with trumpeter Donald Byrd. Byrd introduced him to Blue Note Records executives, and Hancock recorded his first solo album in 1963.

Soon Hancock won the attention of the legendary Miles Davis, who invited Hancock to join his new group. While working with Miles, Hancock developed an interest in funk.

Hancock then decided to form his own band, The Headhunters. He began to pioneer what would later be called fusion, a mixture of funk and rock with jazz.

'Headhunters' (1973) was the first album on which Hancock used a synthesizer, and went on to become the largest-selling jazz album in history.

After a few years, Hancock returned to his roots as an acoustic pianist, with the V.S.O.P. Quintet, a recreation of Miles' band (without Miles).

In 1983, Hancock released 'Future Shock', which was a pioneering electronic work, but also a hit on both R&B and dance charts. The single 'Rock It' won Grammy for best R&B Instrumental, and the album went gold.

Hancock released 'Dis is Da Drum' in 1994, an album based on West African rhythms.

In 1997 Hancock released '1+1', a duet session with saxophonist, Wayne Shorter. The following year he reunited with his old Headhunter bandmates, to record an album, 'Return of the Headhunters', and for a series of summer concerts.

In 2007, Hancock, a longtime associate and friend of Joni Mitchell, released an album, River: The Joni Letters, that paid tribute to her work. Norah Jones and Tina Turner were among the stars to record vocals on the album. Mitchell herself also made an appearance.

The album was released in September of that year, simultaneously with the release of Mitchell's album Shine. "River" was nominated for and won the 2008 Album of the Year Grammy Award, only the second jazz album ever to receive either honour. The album also won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, and the song "Both Sides Now" was nominated for Best Instrumental Jazz Solo.