Herbie Hancock

Sound

Born: 1940-04-12

From: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Gender: Male

Popularity: 1

Also Known As

Herbert Jeffrey HancockHerbert Hancock

Biography

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet", Hancock helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section, and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk. Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "cross over" and achieved success among pop audiences. His music embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings much like the styles of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Hancock's best-known solo works include "Cantaloupe Island", "Watermelon Man" (later performed by dozens of musicians, including bandleader Mongo Santamaría), "Maiden Voyage", "Chameleon", and the singles "I Thought It Was You" and "Rockit". His 2007 tribute album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album ever to win the award after Getz/Gilberto in 1965. As a member of Soka Gakkai, Hancock is an adherent of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.

Awards & Nominations28 won · 32 nominated

🏆 Won

Polar Music Prize

2025

🏆 Won

Kennedy Center Honors

2013

Nominated

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group

2013

Nominated

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album

2013

Nominated

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group

2011

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance

2010

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

2010

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance

2010

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

2010

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals

2010

🏆 Won

Grammy Hall of Fame

Head Hunters

2008

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album

River: The Joni Letters

2007

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Album of the Year

River: The Joni Letters

2007

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album

River: The Joni Letters

2007

Nominated

Grammy Award for Album of the Year

River: The Joni Letters

2007

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

2005

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance

2005

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance

2004

🏆 Won

NEA Jazz Masters

2004

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance

2004

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall

2002

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance

2002

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance

2002

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall

2002

🏆 Won

Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album

Gershwin's World

1999

Nominated

Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album

Gershwin's World

1999

🏆 Won

Grammy Hall of Fame

Maiden Voyage

1998

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals

1998

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Gershwin's World

1998

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Gershwin's World

1998

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals

1998

🏆 Won

Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album

The New Standard

1997

Nominated

Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album

The New Standard

1997

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition

1996

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition

1996

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Music Video

1995

Nominated

Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album

A Tribute to Miles

1995

🏆 Won

star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

1994

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album

A Tribute to Miles

1994

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album

A Tribute to Miles

1994

🏆 Won

Academy Award for Best Original Score

Round Midnight

1987

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition

1987

🏆 Won

César Award for Best Music Written for a Film

Round Midnight

1987

Nominated

Academy Award for Best Original Score

Round Midnight

1987

Nominated

César Award for Best Music Written for a Film

Round Midnight

1987

Nominated

BAFTA Award for Best Original Music

Round Midnight

1987

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance

1987

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition

1987

Nominated

Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score

Round Midnight

1986

🏆 Won

MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects

1984

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance

Sound-System

1984

🏆 Won

MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing

1984

🏆 Won

MTV Video Music Award for Most Experimental Video

1984

🏆 Won

MTV Video Music Award for Best Concept Video

1984

🏆 Won

MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction

1984

Nominated

MTV Video Music Award for Most Experimental Video

1984

Nominated

MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing

1984

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance

Sound-System

1984

Nominated

MTV Video Music Award for Best Concept Video

1984

Nominated

MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects

1984

Herbie Hancock

Also Known As

Biography

Awards & Nominations28 won · 32 nominated

Acting6 titles

Tuner

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

'Round Midnight

Miles Ahead

Hitters

The Girls in the Band

Writing1 title

Janet Jackson: From Janet. To Damita Jo: The Videos

Sound13 titles

Traffic

Colors

Death Wish

Blow-Up

Harlem Nights

'Round Midnight

A Soldier's Story

Action Jackson

The Spook Who Sat by the Door

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

Herbie

The George McKenna Story

Livin' Large!