Soulful jazz great Les McCann, whose work was sampled by hundreds of hip-hop artists including Notorious B.I.G. and Dr. Dre, died Friday in the Los Angeles area. He was 88.
The musician, who released more than 60 albums over the course of his career, had been admitted to a hospital from the nursing care facility he’d lived in for the past four years and was diagnosed with pneumonia, his manager Alan Abrahams told The Hollywood Reporter.
In a prolific career, he was arguably best known for his 1969 Montreaux Jazz Festival performance of the protest song “Compared to What.”
McCann joined forces with saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey. The three hadn’t played together before, and there wasn’t time for rehearsal, according to The New York Times.
The outlet cites the liner notes for a reissue of the concert album, the Grammy-nominated Swiss Movement, in which McCann writes: “Just before we went onstage,...
The musician, who released more than 60 albums over the course of his career, had been admitted to a hospital from the nursing care facility he’d lived in for the past four years and was diagnosed with pneumonia, his manager Alan Abrahams told The Hollywood Reporter.
In a prolific career, he was arguably best known for his 1969 Montreaux Jazz Festival performance of the protest song “Compared to What.”
McCann joined forces with saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey. The three hadn’t played together before, and there wasn’t time for rehearsal, according to The New York Times.
The outlet cites the liner notes for a reissue of the concert album, the Grammy-nominated Swiss Movement, in which McCann writes: “Just before we went onstage,...
- 1/1/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Les McCann, acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist whose greatest commercial success came with the 1969 song “Compared to What”, from his album Swiss Movement, criticizing the Vietnam War, has died. His longtime manager Alan Abrahams confirmed to multiple media outlets that McCann died Friday at a hospital in Los Angeles where he had been admitted with pneumonia. He was 88.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, McCann grew up in a musical family of four. Largely self-taught as a pianist, McCann won a singing contest during his service in the U.S. Navy, which led to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. After moving to California with his own trio, he turned down an offer to join Cannonball Adderley’s band so that he could dedicate himself to his own music.
McCann’s career began to take off when he recorded as a pianist with his trio for Pacific Jazz Records. His album Swiss...
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, McCann grew up in a musical family of four. Largely self-taught as a pianist, McCann won a singing contest during his service in the U.S. Navy, which led to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. After moving to California with his own trio, he turned down an offer to join Cannonball Adderley’s band so that he could dedicate himself to his own music.
McCann’s career began to take off when he recorded as a pianist with his trio for Pacific Jazz Records. His album Swiss...
- 1/1/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Les McCann, a trailblazing pianist and singer known for fusing strains of jazz, funk, and R&b and pioneering soul jazz, died on Friday at the age of 88.
The cause of death has not been disclosed, but his manager Alan Abrahams told NBC News that the musician had died at a Los Angeles hospital after developing pneumonia a week ago.
The singer had lived for the last four years at a skilled nursing facility in L.A, according to The New York Times.
McCann, who is best remembered for his 1967 protest song “Compared to What,...
The cause of death has not been disclosed, but his manager Alan Abrahams told NBC News that the musician had died at a Los Angeles hospital after developing pneumonia a week ago.
The singer had lived for the last four years at a skilled nursing facility in L.A, according to The New York Times.
McCann, who is best remembered for his 1967 protest song “Compared to What,...
- 1/1/2024
- by Julyssa Lopez and Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
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