Alfred McCoy Tyner was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and his long solo career afterwards.
27 Facts About McCoy Tyner
2.
McCoy Tyner was an NEA Jazz Master and five-time Grammy award winner.
3.
McCoy Tyner has been widely imitated, and is one of the most recognizable and influential jazz pianists of all time.
4.
McCoy Tyner was born on December 11,1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the eldest of three children of Jarvis and Beatrice McCoy Tyner.
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McCoy Tyner was encouraged to study piano by his mother, who had installed a piano at her beauty salon.
6.
McCoy Tyner began piano lessons at age 13 at the Granoff School of Music where he had studied music theory and harmony, and music became the focal point of his life within two years.
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McCoy Tyner played professionally in Philadelphia, becoming part of its modern jazz scene.
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McCoy Tyner married Aisha Saud, ending in divorce; they had three sons.
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In 1960, McCoy Tyner joined The Jazztet led by Benny Golson and Art Farmer.
10.
McCoy Tyner worked with the band during its extended run at the Jazz Gallery, replacing Steve Kuhn.
11.
McCoy Tyner recorded the pianist's composition "The Believer" on January 10,1958, which became the title track of Prestige Records' 1964 issued album under Coltrane's name.
12.
McCoy Tyner played on Coltrane's My Favorite Things for Atlantic Records.
13.
In late 1962 and the first half of 1963, McCoy Tyner was asked by producer Bob Thiele to record more straightforward jazz albums as a leader.
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McCoy Tyner's playing is exciting and exceptional on all of the tracks.
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In 1966, McCoy Tyner rehearsed with a new trio and embarked on a career as a bandleader.
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McCoy Tyner produced a series of post-bop albums released by Blue Note from 1967 to 1970.
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McCoy Tyner signed with Milestone Records and recorded such albums as Sahara and Echoes of a Friend, Enlightenment, and Fly with the Wind, which included flautist Hubert Laws, drummer Billy Cobham, and a string orchestra.
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McCoy Tyner incorporated African and East Asian elements in his music.
19.
On Trident McCoy Tyner played the harpsichord and celeste, instruments rarely heard in jazz.
20.
McCoy Tyner recorded some solo albums for the Blue Note label, beginning with Revelations and culminating in Soliloquy.
21.
On March 6,2020, McCoy Tyner died at his home, at Bergenfield, New Jersey, at the age of 81.
22.
McCoy Tyner is considered to be one of the most influential jazz pianists of the late 20th century, an honor he earned during and after his time with Coltrane.
23.
McCoy Tyner, who was left-handed, played with a low bass left hand and he raised his arm high above the keyboard for an emphatic attack.
24.
McCoy Tyner was named a 2002 NEA Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.
25.
McCoy Tyner won five Grammy Awards: for The Turning Point and Journey and best instrumental jazz album for Illuminations, Infinity, and Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane.
26.
McCoy Tyner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music at the Sala dei Notari during the Umbria Jazz Festival.
27.
McCoy Tyner was a judge for the 6th, 10th and 11th annual Independent Music Awards.