Herbie Hancock

Herbert 'Herbie' Jeffrey Hancock is an internationally recognized jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. Born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Hancock's musical career spans over six decades beginning in 1961. He started his career performing with musician Donald Byrd's group and then joined the Miles Davis Quintet, predominantly contributing to the establishment of the post-bop sound. Throughout the 1970s, Hancock experimented with a range of styles such as funk and electro, utilizing a vast array of synthesizers and electronics.

In the 1980s, he made his mark in the electronic music era with his hit 'Rockit' and has since won an Academy Award and 14 Grammy Awards. In addition to his performing career, Hancock has devoted a portion of this life to education. Since 2012, he has served as a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, teaching at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Hancock is also the chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Notable compositions of Hancock's discography include 'Cantaloupe Island', 'Watermelon Man', 'Maiden Voyage', and 'Chameleon'. His contribution to music genres has been substantial, influencing jazz, funk, and even shaping hip-hop sounds.