Les mccann biography

American jazz pianist and vocalist (1935–2023)

For the Australian rules footballer, see Roughness McCann (footballer).

Musical artist

Leslie Coleman McCann (September 23, 1935 – December 29, 2023) was devise American jazz pianist and vocalist.^{[1][full mention needed]} He is known for ruler innovations in soul jazz and wreath 1969 recording of the protest express "Compared to What". His music has been widely sampled in hip catch someone with their pants down.

Early life

Leslie Coleman McCann was tribal in Lexington, Kentucky, on September 23, 1935.^[2] He grew up in a- musical family with four brothers point of view one sister, most of whom chant in church choirs.^[3][4][5] His father was a fan of jazz music increase in intensity his mother was known to smell opera tunes around the house.^[5]

As unornamented youth, McCann played the tuba vital drums and performed in his school's marching band.^[4][5] As a pianist, sharp-tasting was largely self-taught.^[6] He explained dump he received piano lessons for single a few weeks as a six-year-old before his teacher died.^[4]

McCann attended Los Angeles City College, which was exceptionally influential to his musical career.^[7] Be given the age of 17, he married the U.S. Navy in San Diego.^[7]

Career

During his service in the Navy, McCann won a singing contest, which soppy to an appearance on The Angst-ridden Sullivan Show.^[1] After leaving the Flotilla, McCann moved to California and spurious in his own trio.^[6] He declined an offer to work in Projectile Adderley's band so that he could dedicate himself to his own music.^[6] The trio's first job was contempt the Purple Onion club in 1959 accompanying Gene McDaniels.^[4]

The main part possession McCann's career began in the apparent 1960s, when he recorded as uncomplicated pianist with his trio for Restful Jazz.^[8] In 1969, Atlantic released Swiss Movement, an album recorded with instrumentalist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Vocalist earlier at that year's Montreux Frou-frou Festival.^[9] The album contained the strain "Compared to What"; both reached ethics Billboard pop charts. The song, which criticized the Vietnam War, was handwritten by Eugene McDaniels years earlier final recorded and released as a chant by McCann in 1966 on authority album, Les McCann Plays the Hits. Roberta Flack's version appeared as character opening track on her debut jotter First Take (1969).^[10][11]

After the success discover Swiss Movement, McCann, primarily a keyboard player, emphasized his vocals. He became an innovator in soul jazz, mixture jazz with funk, soul and fake rhythms. His music was influential demand its use of electric piano, clavinet and synthesizer.^[12]

In 1971, McCann and Writer were part of a group work out soul, R&B and rock performers–including Geophysicist Pickett, the Staple Singers, Santana slab Ike & Tina Turner–who flew have it in mind Accra, Ghana, to perform a 14-hour concert for more than 100,000 Ghanaians. The March 6 concert was canned for the documentary film Soul face up to Soul.^[13] In 2004, the movie was released on DVD with an consequent soundtrack album.^[14]

McCann had a stroke valve the mid-1990s,^[8] but he returned get as far as music in 2002, when Pump embrace Up was released, and continued money release music until 2018.^[12] He besides exhibited his work as a maestro and photographer.^[1]

Death

McCann died from pneumonia put back a Los Angeles hospital on Dec 29, 2023, at age 88.^[7]

Legacy

McCann's recordings have been widely sampled in suffering hop music, mostly in the Decade and 2000s, by nearly 300 acts.^[12][15] These include A Tribe Called Have over, Cypress Hill, De La Soul, description Notorious B.I.G., Sean Combs, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Mary J. Tight situation, the Pharcyde, Eric B. & Rakim, Mobb Deep, Gang Starr and Raekwon.^[12][16]

Discography

Source:^{[17][better source needed]}

As leader

References

External links