Herbie Hancock
Sound
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.
Known for
Sound17
movieOn the Shoulders of Giants
2011
Original Music Composer
movieTraffic
2000
Musician
movieThe Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is
1991
Music Director
movieLivin' Large!
1991
Original Music Composer
movieHarlem Nights
1989
Original Music Composer
movieThe George McKenna Story
1988
Original Music Composer
movieColors
1988
Original Music Composer
movieAction Jackson
1988
Original Music Composer
movie'Round Midnight
1986
Original Music Composer, Conductor
movieJo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
1986
Original Music Composer
movieA Soldier's Story
1984
Original Music Composer
movieDeath Wish
1974
Original Music Composer, Orchestrator
movieThe Spook Who Sat by the Door
1973
Original Music Composer
movieHey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert
1969
Original Music Composer
movieBlow-Up
1966
Original Music Composer
movieHerbie
1966
Music
Acting102
movieTuner
2026
Herbie Hancock
movieHerbie
2025
Self (Archives)
movieMiles Davis: Birth of the Cool
2019
Self - Musician
movieValerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
2017
Defence Minister
movieMore Than Jazz
2016
Himself
movieRiver of Gold
2016
Narrator
movieMiles Ahead
2016
Live Concert Band
movieMarcus
2015
Self
movieA MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand
2011
Self - Performer
movieMusic
2010
Self
movieHitters
2002
District Attorney
movieHerbie Hancock: Jazz Channel
2001
Herbie Hancock
tvKulturzeit
1995
self
movieAntonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tribute
1995
Self - Pianist
movieIndecent Proposal
1993
Himself
movie'Round Midnight
1986
Eddie Wayne
movieBefore Midnight
1986
Self (archive footage)
movieHerbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane!
1984
Self - Piano
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Self - Musical Guest
