Jazz pianist Horace Silver has died, aged 85. The pioneer of hard bop, who recorded for the Blue Note label for decades, passed away in New York state on Wednesday (June 18). Silver, whose father emigrated to the US from the Portuguese-speaking Cape Verde Islands, mixed bebop with gospel, blues and African influences to spawn hard bop. During his early career, he performed with Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis, and co-founded Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, before stepping up as band leader in his own groups. He rose to greater mainstream fame in the 1960s, scoring hits with albums like Song For My Father and The Cape Verdean Blues, and influencing a wider scope of musicians, including Steely Dan on "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", which echoed the distinctive bassline from "Song For My Father". Silver's final album, Jazz Has A Sense Of Humor, was released in 1999.
Jazz pianist Horace Silver has died, aged 85.
The pioneer of hard bop, who recorded for the Blue Note label for decades, passed away in New York state on Wednesday (June 18).
Silver, whose father emigrated to the US from the Portuguese-speaking Cape Verde Islands, mixed bebop with gospel, blues and African influences to spawn hard bop. During his early career, he performed with Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis, and co-founded Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, before stepping up as band leader in his own groups.
He rose to greater mainstream fame in the 1960s, scoring hits with albums like Song For My Father and The Cape Verdean Blues, and influencing a wider scope of musicians, including Steely Dan on “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, which echoed the distinctive bassline from “Song For My Father”.
Silver’s final album, Jazz Has A Sense Of Humor, was released in 1999.
