- Born
- Died
- Birth nameHorace Lumont Parlan
- Horace Parlan was born on January 9, 1931 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a composer, known for Malcolm & Marie (2021), Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) and Choose Me (1984). He was married to Norma. He died on February 23, 2017 in Korsør, Denmark.
- Spouses? (divorced)Norma(? - February 23, 2017) (his death)
- Jazz hard bop pianist.
- He studied at the University of Pittsburgh, planning on becoming a lawyer before deciding on a career in music. He worked with top musicians visiting Pittsburgh before moving to New York in the late 1950s. He played in Charles Mingus' ensemble, and recorded seven albums on Blue Note.
- He contracted polio at age five and became partially paralyzed on his right side. His parents had him take up piano as a form of therapy. He eventually regained partial use of three fingers on his right hand.
- When jazz declined in popularity, he found it harder to make a living. In 1972 he moved to Denmark, where other expatriate jazz stars lived. He worked mainly in Europe for the rest of his career.
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