Legendary jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea died on February 9th at age 79 due to a rare form of cancer that was recently discovered.

In a final message to his fans, Corea encouraged aspiring musicians to pursue their creativity: "It's not only that the world needs more artists, it's also just a lot of fun."

Chick Corea performing live. Photo Credit: Tore Sætre

Throughout his illustrious five-decade career, Corea:

• Released over 80 studio albums, starting with "Tones for Joan's Bones" (1968)
• Founded the influential jazz-fusion group Return to Forever in 1971
• Won 23 Grammy Awards from 67 nominations
• Created enduring jazz standards like "Spain," "500 Miles High," and "Windows"
• Collaborated with icons including Miles Davis, Gary Burton, and Steve Gadd

Before his solo career, Corea performed with notable jazz figures Blue Mitchell and Herbie Mann. His group Return to Forever released seven studio albums between 1971-1977 and continued performing live into the 2000s.

Fellow musicians paid tribute to Corea's legacy. Eight-time Grammy winner Eddie Palmieri called him "my mentor and dear friend," while NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd remembered him as "a generous bright light" who "loved exploring."

Born Armando Anthony Corea in Chelsea, Massachusetts, he leaves behind an unmatched legacy as one of jazz's most innovative and influential artists, inspiring generations of musicians with his creativity and passion for musical exploration.

Related Articles

Previous Articles