Horace Silver, 1928 – 2014

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Piano player, composer, arranger, band leader, Silver knew he wanted to be a jazz artist when he heard Jimmy Lunceford’s orchestra at the age of 11.  In 1950 he got his first big break when he was hired by Stan Getz.  Shortly thereafter he co-founded The Jazz Messengers with Art Blakey.  He formed his own quintet in 1956 which became the prototype for many upcoming groups.

 

Silver is known as a top band leader in the Be Bop, Hard Bop and Soul-Jazz styles.  SONG FOR MY FATHER is probably his best loved album.  Some of his compositions include “Doodlin’,” “Sister Sadie,” and “Finger Poppin’ ”.  His many albums on the Blue Note label, especially from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, form an artistic legacy very few can equal.

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Photograph by Roger Kallins. Courtesy of Patricia Darlington.

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