Hank Jones

This article is about the American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. For other people, see Henry Jones.

Hank Jones
Jones in 1985
Jones in 1985
Background information
Birth nameHenry Jones Jr.
Born(1918-07-31)July 31, 1918
Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedMay 16, 2010(2010-05-16) (aged 91)
New York City, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1944–2010
Labels
Websiteofficialhankjones.com

Henry Jones Jr. (July 31, 1918 – May 16, 2010)[1] was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable.[2] In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts honored him with the NEA Jazz Masters Award.[3] He was also honored in 2003 with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Jazz Living Legend Award.[4] In 2008, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. On April 13, 2009, the University of Hartford presented Jones with an honorary Doctorate of Music for his musical accomplishments.[5]

Jones recorded more than 60 albums under his own name, and countless others as a sideman,[6] including Cannonball Adderley's celebrated album Somethin' Else. On May 19, 1962, he played piano as actress Marilyn Monroe sang her famous "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" song to then U.S. president John F. Kennedy.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dead was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ According to Arnold Jay Smith (in "The Impeccable Hank Jones", Down Beat, July 31, 1976), Jones was branded "the impeccable one" by WRVR-FM jazz historian Ed Beach.
  3. ^ National Endowment for the Arts: Henry "Hank" Jones Archived October 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame". ASCAP. Archived from the original on November 5, 2007. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
  5. ^ Chuck Obuchowski (April 15, 2009). "Hank Jones Teaches A Lesson From The Piano". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "Featured Artist: The Great Jazz Trio", Jazz Review, Archived October 23, 2004, at the Wayback Machine,
  7. ^ "Hank Jones: The Man Who Accompanied Marilyn", The Marilyn Monroe Collection Blog, February 4, 2009.