Herbie Hancock: Grammy Award Winner at Age 67

Herbie Hancock was born in my State of Illinois in 1940 in Chicago. He started studying music at the age of seven about 60 years ago. by the age of 11, he was playing in the young person's concert at the Chicago Symphony.

He began studying engineering at Grinnell College in Iowas but after two years switched to music. He left Grinnell one class short of graduation. Miles Davis added Hancock to his band after hearing Hancock's first album "Takin Off."

With Davis and his Blue Note band, Hancock recorded dozens of sessions for future use. Hancock found new ways to use common cords with his music.

Two albums of the 60's became some of the best Rhythm and Jazz albums of all times. They were Empyrean Isles in 1964 and Maiden voyage in 1965. A little later he did the score soundtrack for the movie "Blowup". This was just one of many soundtracks that he would do.

In the late 60's and early 70's Hancock started exploring the use of electronic music, which brought in the use of synthesizers. In 1973, he introduced the "Headhunters" along with the album titled "Headhunters." It became a major hit and could cross over among pop cultures.

Between 1978-82, Hancock continued to turn out albums. 1983 was a great year for Hancock. His single "Rockit" off of the "Future shock" album won him a Grammy. It was the first mainstream song to feature what was known as scratching. During this time, he also appeared on stage at the Grammys with Stevie Wonder and Howard Jones.

In 1989 he decided to take a three year break from recording music. He returned to work in 1991. In 1994 he and a few others did an album "A tribute to Miles". The group was awarded a Grammy as the best performing group album at that time.

Besides turning out more albums in the late 90's and early 2000's, Hancock also started going on tours. After touring Europe in 2005, Hancock returned home to begin working on another album. A two disc set was released in 2006 called the "Essential Herbie Hancock" by Sony BMG Music Entertainment.