All Ages: Herbie Hancock Lesson

Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Born in Chicago in 1940, Herbie was a child piano prodigy who performed a Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at 11. Being inspired by pianists Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans, he began studying jazz in high school. He also developed a passion for electronics and science, which you can hear in many of his compositions. His 1963 debut album, “Takin Off,” was an immediate success, including the hit song, “Watermelon Man.” His band, The Headhunters, recorded the first jazz album to go platinum in 1973. In the 1980s, Herbie began expanding his music outside of jazz to include electronic, funk, R&B.

His work has earned him numerous awards, including 14 Grammys, an Oscar, and more. Over his career, he has collaborated with artists across many genres, including Miles Davis, Donald Byrd, Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, and many more. In the sixth decade of his professional career, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: in the forefront of technology, business, and music. Herbie Hancock, an American icon.