Herbie Hancock is an American jazz pianist, composer, and producer born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois. Hancock is regarded as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the late 20th century. He played a significant role in the evolution of jazz fusion with his album "Maiden Voyage" (1965), and has been widely imitated by many musicians. Hancock has also had a prolific career as a sideman, with albums such as "Miles in the Sky" (1968) and "Bitches Brew" (1970), as well as a successful solo career with albums like "Head Hunters" (1973). Hancock was born into a musical family, with father William Hancock being a big band trombonist and mother Verna, a gospel singer. He began learning piano at the age of seven and studied classical music at the Chicago Conservatory, before turning to jazz with Muhal Richard Abrams. Hancock joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1963 and played on several of Davis's albums, including "E.S.P." (1965) and "Miles in the Sky" (1968). He left Davis's quintet in 1968 to record his first solo album, "Maiden Voyage" (1965). Herbie Hancock has also been very active as a film score composer and producer, working on soundtracks such as "Blow-Up" (1966) and "Round Midnight" (1986). He was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1992 and received the Polar Music Prize in 2007.

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