Herbie Hancock
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.
Acting
Movie
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
as Defence Minister
2017
Movie
Indecent Proposal
as Himself
1993
TV
Girl Meets World
as Self
2014
TV
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Musical Guest
1975
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Self
2014
Movie
Miles Ahead
as Live Concert Band
2016
TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self
2003
Movie
'Round Midnight
as Eddie Wayne
1986
TV
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Movie
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
as Self - Musician
2019
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
TV
The Grammys
as Self
1959
Movie
Tuner
as Herbie Hancock
2026
Movie
Kareem: Minority of One
as Self
2015
TV
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
as Self
2015
TV
Great Performances
as Self
1971
Movie
Keep On Keepin' On
as Self
2014
Movie
Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes
as Self
2019
TV
Jay Leno's Garage
as Self
2015
Movie
It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story
as Self
2018
Movie
Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz
as Self
1997
Movie
A Man's Story
as Self
2011
TV
Classic Albums
as Self
1997
Movie
Herbie Hancock: Possibilities
as Self
2006
Crew
Movie
Traffic
Musician
2000
Movie
Blow-Up
Original Music Composer
1966
Movie
Death Wish
Original Music Composer
1974
Movie
Colors
Original Music Composer
1988
Movie
Harlem Nights
Original Music Composer
1989
Movie
Action Jackson
Original Music Composer
1988
Movie
A Soldier's Story
Original Music Composer
1984
Movie
'Round Midnight
Original Music Composer
1986
Movie
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Original Music Composer
1986
Movie
The Spook Who Sat by the Door
Original Music Composer
1973
Movie
The George McKenna Story
Original Music Composer
1988
Movie
Herbie
Music
1966