Herbie Hancock

A world-renowned figure of contemporary music, iconic jazz pianist Herbie Hancock has garnered numerous accolades, including 14 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, in an impressive career spanning five decades.

Born in Chicago in 1940, Hancock was a child music prodigy, performing at a piano concerto alongside the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the age of just 11 years old. His collaboration with Donald Byrd in 1960 marked his debut in the jazz music scene. Two years later, he was signed by the famous Blue Note record label. In 1963, he embarked on a five-year collaboration with Miles Davis and together they recorded several classic albums. In 1966, Hancock composed the music for Michelangelo Antonioni’s film Blow-Up, the success of which paved the road for him for a successful career in cinema. In the 1970s, he reached the pinnacle of his fame with his group Head Hunters, while also working with artists such as Chick Corea and Oscar Peterson. He is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and has been honoured for his social contributions.