Chick Corea was an American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader known for his innovative contributions to jazz and fusion music.
He was honored as an NEA Jazz Master, one of the highest recognitions in the jazz community.
Corea won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album, showcasing his influence in Latin jazz.
Biography
Early Life
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea was born on June 12, 1941, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, to Anna and Armando J. Corea. His father, a trumpeter who led a Dixieland band, introduced him to music at a young age, sparking his passion for jazz. Corea began playing piano at four and later took formal lessons from Italian concert pianist Salvatore Sullo. Although Sullo focused on classical music, this exposure ignited Corea's interest in composition. By high school, he was already performing gigs, influenced by jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.
Career
Corea's professional career took off in the early 1960s, collaborating with notable artists such as Mongo Santamaria and Stan Getz. His debut album, "Tones for Joan's Bones," was released in 1966, followed by the acclaimed trio album "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs" in 1968. Corea gained further recognition while working with Miles Davis, contributing to landmark albums like "Bitches Brew". In 1972, he formed the influential jazz fusion group Return to Forever, blending acoustic and electronic sounds. Throughout his career, Corea released numerous albums, including "Crystal Silence" and "My Spanish Heart," and earned a reputation as a pioneering figure in jazz.
Personal Life and Legacy
Chick Corea was married twice, first to Joanie, with whom he had two children, and later to vocalist Gayle Moran. His spiritual journey began in 1968 when he discovered Scientology, which he credited with profoundly influencing his music. Corea received numerous accolades, including 29 Grammy Awards and an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music. He passed away on February 9, 2021, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of the most innovative jazz musicians of his time, with compositions like "Spain" and "La Fiesta" becoming jazz standards.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Circulus1978
- 1.Drone22:25
- 2.Quartet Piece No. 116:11
- 3.Quartet Piece No. 217:33
- 4.Quartet Piece No. 312:27
- 5.Percussion Piece5:54
Friends1978
- 1.The One Step6:09
- 2.Waltse for Dave7:41
- 3.Children's Song #51:20
- 4.Samba Song10:14
- 5.Friends9:30
- 6.Sicily6:21
- 7.Children's Song #151:15
- 8.Cappucino8:43
The Leprechaun1976
- 1.La bienvenida de imp (Imp's Welcome)2:55
- 2.Lenore3:25
- 3.Recuerdos (Reverie)1:58
- 4.Mirando al mundo (Looking at the World)5:29
- 5.Los duendeillos nocturnos (Nite Sprite)4:31
- 6.Suave y gentil (Soft and Gentle)5:08
- 7.Rag de pixiland (Pixiland Rag)1:10
- 8.El sueño del duende (Leprechaun's Dream)13:03
My Spanish Heart1976
- 1.Love Castle4:47
- 2.The Gardens3:11
- 3.Day Danse4:29
- 4.My Spanish Heart1:37
- 5.Night Streets6:02
- 6.The Hilltop6:15
- 7.The Sky: Part I: Children's Song No. 8 / Part II: Portrait of Children's Song No. 85:01
- 8.Wind Danse4:55
- 9.Armando's Rhumba5:19
- 10.Prelude to El Bozo1:36
- 11.El Bozo, Part I2:49
- 12.El Bozo, Part II2:06
- 13.El Bozo, Part III4:56
- 14.Spanish Fantasy, Part I6:07
- 15.Spanish Fantasy, Part II5:11
- 16.Spanish Fantasy, Part III3:09
- 17.Spanish Fantasy, Part IV5:04
No Mystery1975
- 1.Dayride3:25
- 2.Jungle Waterfall3:04
- 3.Flight of the Newborn7:23
- 4.Sofistifunk3:52
- 5.Excerpt From the First Movement of Heavy Metal2:45
- 6.No Mystery6:10
- 7.Interplay2:16
- 8.Celebration Suite, Part I8:27
- 9.Celebration Suite, Part II5:32
Where Have I Known You Before1974
- 1.Vulcan Worlds7:51
- 2.Where Have I Loved You Before1:01
- 3.The Shadow of Lo7:34
- 4.Where Have I Danced With You Before3:11
- 5.Beyond the Seventh Galaxy
- 6.Earth Juice3:45
- 7.Where Have I Known You Before2:09
- 8.Song to the Pharaoh Kings14:21
Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy1973
- 1.Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy3:25
- 2.After the Cosmic Rain8:33
- 3.Captain Señor Mouse8:56
- 4.Theme to the Mothership8:22
- 5.Space Circus, Part I1:28
- 6.Space Circus, Part II4:08
- 7.The Game Maker6:44
Crystal Silence1973
- 1.Señor Mouse6:22
- 2.Arise, Her Eyes5:09
- 3.I’m Your Pal4:03
- 4.Desert Air6:27
- 5.Crystal Silence9:05
- 6.Falling Grace2:43
- 7.Feelings and Things4:46
- 8.Children’s Song2:12
- 9.What Game Shall We Play Today3:43
Light as a Feather1973
- 1.You're Everything5:10
- 2.Light as a Feather11:00
- 3.Captain Marvel4:55
- 4.500 Miles High9:06
- 5.Children's Song2:48
- 6.Spain9:55
Piano Giants1973
- 1.The Brain10:08
- 2.Song of Wind8:02
- 3.Converge7:57
- 4.Sundance9:58
- 5.Ole (For The Gypsies)5:21
- 6.Samia4:48
- 7.Funkia5:39
- 8.Windmills of Your Mind4:26
- 9.What's Going On6:14
- 10.The Last Tango in Paris4:27
- 11.Southern Soul8:02
- 12.Gingele2:10
Inner Space1973
- 1.Straight Up And Down12:33
- 2.This Is New7:39
- 3.Tones For Joans Bones6:06
- 4.Litha13:31
- 5.Inner Space9:21
- 6.Windows8:47
- 7.Guijira12:21
- 8.Trio For Flute, Bassoon And Piano5:10
Sundance1972
Tracklist not collected yet.
Return to Forever1972
- 1.Return to Forever12:14
- 2.Crystal Silence6:59
- 3.What Game Shall We Play Today4:31
- 4.Sometime Ago - La Fiesta23:14
A.R.C.1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Going to the Rainbow1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Piano Improvisations, Volume 11971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Piano Improvisations, Volume 21971
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Song of Singing1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Sun1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Round Trip1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Is1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Now He Sings, Now He Sobs1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Tones for Joan's Bones1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Live Under The Sky... ´802021
Tracklist not collected yet.
Take Care
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- ECM Records
- Record label
- Stretch Records
Achievements
- Award
- IAS Freedom Medal
- Award
- honorary doctor of the Eastman School of Music
- Award
- Frankfurter Musikpreis
- Award
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album
- Award
- NEA Jazz Masters
Groups
- Booker Ervin Quartetcurrent
- Chick Corea & Friendseponymous, originalcurrent
- Chick Corea & Origincurrent
- Chick Corea Akoustic Bandeponymouscurrent
- Chick Corea Elektric Bandeponymouscurrent
- Chick Corea Elektric Band IIeponymouscurrent
- Chick Corea Freedom Bandeponymous, original, principalcurrent
- Chick Corea Quarteteponymous, pianocurrent
- Chick Corea Quinteteponymouscurrent
- Chick Corea Trioeponymous, pianocurrent
- Corea, Clarke & Whiteeponymous, keyboardcurrent
- Echoes of an Eraoriginal, pianocurrent
- The Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Bandcurrent
- The Chick Corea New Triocurrent
- Miles Davis Quintet1968–1970
- Circle1971
- Return to Foreveroriginal, piano
Played together with
Airto MoreiraReturn to Forever · original, percussion
Al Di MeolaReturn to Forever · 1974 · guitar- Bill ConnorsReturn to Forever · 1973–1974 · guitar
Flora PurimReturn to Forever · lead vocals, original- Frank GambaleReturn to Forever · 2010
- Gerry BrownReturn to Forever · drums (drum set)
Jean‐Luc PontyReturn to Forever · 2010 · violin- Joe FarrellReturn to Forever · flute, original
- Lenny WhiteCorea, Clarke & White · drums (drum set)
- Lenny WhiteReturn to Forever · 1973 · drums (drum set)
Stanley ClarkeCorea, Clarke & White · bass- Stanley ClarkeReturn to Forever · double bass, original
Similar artists
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Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Armando Anthony Corea, C. Corea
American jazz and fusion pianist, keyboardist, and composer (1941-2021)
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain", "500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba", and "Windows" are considered jazz standards.
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Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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