Photo by Dino Perrucci

Legendary jazz composer, pianist and bandleader Chick Corea passed away on Feb. 9. The news was confirmed by a post on his official Facebook page. According to the post, Corea suffered from “a rare form of cancer which was only discovered very recently.” He was 79 years old. 

Corea wrote many compositions that are now considered jazz standards, including “Spain,” “500 Miles High,” “La Fiesta,” “Armando’s Rhumba” and “Windows.” In the late ’60s, he was involved in the birth of jazz fusion as a member of Miles Davis’ band. He later founded the group Return to Forever, which, along with Weather Report, the Headhunters and Mahavishnu Orchestra, is considered one of the key groups of the 1970s’ fusion era. Corea won 23 Grammy awards and was nominated over 60 times.

Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea was born on June 12, 1941 in Chelsea, Mass. His father, a jazz trumpeter, introduced Corea to the piano at the age of four. He began performing gigs in high school before heading to New York City to attend music school at Columbia University and the Juilliard School, both of which he left after just a few months. Undeterred, Corea stayed in New York and began his professional music career.

In 1966, he released his debut album Tones for Joan’s Bones. He later joined Miles Davis’ band, appearing on several live records including Black Beauty: Live at the Fillmore West and Miles Davis at Fillmore: Live at the Fillmore East. After leaving Davis’ band, Corea formed Return to Forever, which became one of the defining groups of the 70s fusion era. 

He was well known for his residencies in New York City, performing several at the famed Blue Note jazz club. One of these, dubbed the ‘Rendezvous in New York’ (at the Blue Note), was held over three weeks and celebrated Corea’s 60th birthday. (Watch highlights from the run below.) 

Corea also appeared at the 2006 Jammy Awards. He delivered a speech honoring Frank Zappa with that year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He then sat in with Dweezil Zappa’s ‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ project.

Throughout his career, Corea continued to explore various styles of music; he performed duets with the likes of Bela Fleck, Herbie Hancock and more. He played in a trio alongside bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl, and later in another group with bassist Avishai Cohen and drummer Jeff Ballard. He even dabbled in contemporary classical music, composing and performing his first piano concerto (an adaptation of “Spain”) in 1999. His list of collaborators is boundless, as throughout his career he worked with the likes of Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola, Christian McBride and countless others.

Corea’s impact on jazz and music in general is profound. He will be dearly missed. 

Read his family’s full statement below:

It is with great sadness we announce that on February 9th, Chick Corea passed away at the age of 79, from a rare form of cancer which was only discovered very recently. 

Throughout his life and career, Chick relished in the freedom and the fun to be had in creating something new, and in playing the games that artists do.

He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather, and a great mentor and friend to so many. Through his body of work and the decades he spent touring the world, he touched and inspired the lives of millions. 

Though he would be the first to say that his music said more than words ever could, he nevertheless had this message for all those he knew and loved, and for all those who loved him: 

“I want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright. It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It’s not only that the world needs more artists, it’s also just a lot of fun.  

“And to my amazing musician friends who have been like family to me as long as I’ve known you: It has been a blessing and an honor learning from and playing with all of you. My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could, and to have done so with all the artists that I admire so dearly—this has been the richness of my life.”

Chick’s family will of course appreciate their privacy during this difficult time of loss.