Chick Corea
Chick Corea (1941–2021) was a jazz pianist, composer and bandleader whose music lives on through Return to Forever, beloved standards and new releases from his archives.
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Latest
Chick’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- June 12, 1941 · Chelsea, Massachusetts
- Died
- February 9, 2021 · Age 79
- Work
- Pianist, keyboardist, composer and bandleader
- Breakout
- Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (1968)
- Signature compositions
- Spain, La Fiesta and Windows
- Grammy Awards
- 29 wins, as listed by the Recording Academy in 2026
Mini bio
How it started.
Born Armando Anthony Corea in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Chick began playing piano at four. He grew up hearing jazz and classical music, then learned on the bandstand with Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Blue Mitchell, Herbie Mann and Stan Getz.
Finding his voice.
His 1968 trio album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, with Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes, became a breakthrough. With Miles Davis, he explored electric piano on recordings including In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew.
Many ways to play.
Return to Forever carried his music into electric fusion, while his partnership with vibraphonist Gary Burton explored the intimacy of a duo. He also led the Elektric Band and Akoustic Band, wrote classical music and composed the jazz standards Spain, La Fiesta and Windows.
The music continues.
Corea died on February 9, 2021. His estate and record labels continue to share recordings from his archives, including his final trio tour and final solo concerts. Recent posthumous Grammy wins include Remembrance with Béla Fleck and Windows with Christian McBride and Brian Blade.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2025Trilogy 3Pianist, with Christian McBride and Brian Blade
- 2025Forever Yours: The Final Performance (Live)Solo pianist
- 2025The VisitorsComposer; performed by Gary Burton and Kirill Gerstein
- 2024RemembrancePianist, with Béla Fleck
- 1973Crystal SilencePianist, with Gary Burton
- 1972Return to ForeverElectric pianist and composer
- 1968Now He Sings, Now He SobsPianist, composer and trio leader
Awards
- 2026 Grammy AwardBest Jazz Performance for Windows – Live, with Christian McBride and Brian Blade.
- 2025 Grammy AwardBest Jazz Instrumental Album for Remembrance, with Béla Fleck.
- 2006 NEA Jazz MasterHonored by the National Endowment for the Arts as a keyboardist, composer and arranger.
- 1999 Grammy Hall of FameNow He Sings, Now He Sobs was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Quotes
Here’s to freedom in music.Chick Corea, The Visitors composer’s note
He closed his March 2012 note with this line while describing the freedom performers have to interpret the duet.
Trivia
- He also drew with pencils and crayons, which he liked because they were easy to carry while touring.
- He established his own label, Stretch Records, in 1992.
- He performed with the Foo Fighters on “Times Like These” at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
Find Chick
Follow the official channels for archival performances, releases and memories from Chick’s team.
Are you Chick Corea?
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