Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

August 19, 1918 in Spokane, WA

Death

:

May 28, 1996 in Los Angeles, CA

 

Jimmy Rowles was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger who was born on August 19, 1918, in Spokane, Washington. He was the youngest of four children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a trumpet player, and his mother played the piano. Rowles started playing the piano at the age of three and was already performing in public by the time he was six. Rowles' family moved to Los Angeles when he was a teenager, and he began playing in local clubs and dance halls. He dropped out of high school to pursue his music career full-time and quickly became a sought-after pianist in the Los Angeles jazz scene. He played with many of the top musicians of the time, including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Billie Holiday. In the 1940s, Rowles moved to New York City and continued to play with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and Miles Davis. He also began composing and arranging music, and his compositions were recorded by many jazz greats, including Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Ella Fitzgerald. One of Rowles' most famous compositions is "The Peacocks," which he wrote in the 1960s. The song has become a jazz standard and has been recorded by many musicians, including Stan Getz, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrett. Another notable composition is "The Duke," which he wrote as a tribute to Duke Ellington. Rowles was known for his unique style of playing the piano, which was characterized by his use of harmonies and his ability to create complex arrangements on the spot. He was also known for his ability to accompany singers, and he worked with many of the top vocalists of the time, including Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and Mel Tormé. In addition to his work as a pianist and composer, Rowles was also a respected music educator. He taught at the University of Southern California and the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. He also gave private lessons to many aspiring musicians. Rowles continued to perform and record music throughout his life, and he received many accolades for his contributions to jazz. He was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame in 1992 and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship in 1998. Jimmy Rowles passed away on May 28, 1996, at the age of 77. He left behind a legacy of music that continues to inspire and influence musicians today. His unique style of playing the piano and his contributions to jazz composition and arrangement have made him one of the most respected musicians of his time.

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