Hank Jones
Source: Wikipedia: Hank Jones
Arts & Music • Historical Archive • 🇺🇸 United States • 13 views

Hank Jones 🇺🇸

Henry Jones
Jazz Pianist, Bandleader, Composer, NEA Jazz Master
Born Jul 31, 1918 🇺🇸 Vicksburg, United States
Passed Away May 16, 2010 New York City, United States
Lifespan 91 years old
13 views
Notice / Correction
"You can never master this instrument; you can only spend a lifetime trying to understand it."

Archival Overview

Master American jazz pianist and composer whose flawless touch, lyrical swing, and harmonic sophistication spanned seven decades of recordings with Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker.

Biographical Record

Henry Jones was raised in Pontiac, Michigan, in an extraordinary musical family alongside brothers Thad Jones (trumpeter) and Elvin Jones (drummer). Moving to New York in 1944, he recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, and Lester Young, becoming Ella Fitzgerald's primary accompanist.

Jones played piano on Cannonball Adderley's legendary 1958 album 'Somethin' Else' with Miles Davis, and famously accompanied Marilyn Monroe singing 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' to John F. Kennedy in 1962. He recorded over 60 albums as a leader and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2008.

Key Life Milestones

1958

Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else

Anchored the rhythm section alongside Miles Davis and Art Blakey on the Blue Note jazz masterpiece.

2008

National Medal of Arts

Presented with the highest award given to artists by the United States government.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Cremated, private memorial
New York City, United States
GPS: 40.7128, -74.0060
View on Memory Atlas
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