Soulful jazz great Les McCann, whose work was sampled by hundreds of hip-hop artists including Notorious B.I.G. and Dr. Dre, died Friday in the Los Angeles area. He was 88.
The musician, who released more than 60 albums over the course of his career, had been admitted to a hospital from the nursing care facility he’d lived in for the past four years and was diagnosed with pneumonia, his manager Alan Abrahams told The Hollywood Reporter.
In a prolific career, he was arguably best known for his 1969 Montreaux Jazz Festival performance of the protest song “Compared to What.”
McCann joined forces with saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey. The three hadn’t played together before, and there wasn’t time for rehearsal, according to The New York Times.
The outlet cites the liner notes for a reissue of the concert album, the Grammy-nominated Swiss Movement, in which McCann writes: “Just before we went onstage,...
The musician, who released more than 60 albums over the course of his career, had been admitted to a hospital from the nursing care facility he’d lived in for the past four years and was diagnosed with pneumonia, his manager Alan Abrahams told The Hollywood Reporter.
In a prolific career, he was arguably best known for his 1969 Montreaux Jazz Festival performance of the protest song “Compared to What.”
McCann joined forces with saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey. The three hadn’t played together before, and there wasn’t time for rehearsal, according to The New York Times.
The outlet cites the liner notes for a reissue of the concert album, the Grammy-nominated Swiss Movement, in which McCann writes: “Just before we went onstage,...
- 1/1/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Les McCann, acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist whose greatest commercial success came with the 1969 song “Compared to What”, from his album Swiss Movement, criticizing the Vietnam War, has died. His longtime manager Alan Abrahams confirmed to multiple media outlets that McCann died Friday at a hospital in Los Angeles where he had been admitted with pneumonia. He was 88.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, McCann grew up in a musical family of four. Largely self-taught as a pianist, McCann won a singing contest during his service in the U.S. Navy, which led to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. After moving to California with his own trio, he turned down an offer to join Cannonball Adderley’s band so that he could dedicate himself to his own music.
McCann’s career began to take off when he recorded as a pianist with his trio for Pacific Jazz Records. His album Swiss...
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, McCann grew up in a musical family of four. Largely self-taught as a pianist, McCann won a singing contest during his service in the U.S. Navy, which led to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. After moving to California with his own trio, he turned down an offer to join Cannonball Adderley’s band so that he could dedicate himself to his own music.
McCann’s career began to take off when he recorded as a pianist with his trio for Pacific Jazz Records. His album Swiss...
- 1/1/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Les McCann, a trailblazing pianist and singer known for fusing strains of jazz, funk, and R&b and pioneering soul jazz, died on Friday at the age of 88.
The cause of death has not been disclosed, but his manager Alan Abrahams told NBC News that the musician had died at a Los Angeles hospital after developing pneumonia a week ago.
The singer had lived for the last four years at a skilled nursing facility in L.A, according to The New York Times.
McCann, who is best remembered for his 1967 protest song “Compared to What,...
The cause of death has not been disclosed, but his manager Alan Abrahams told NBC News that the musician had died at a Los Angeles hospital after developing pneumonia a week ago.
The singer had lived for the last four years at a skilled nursing facility in L.A, according to The New York Times.
McCann, who is best remembered for his 1967 protest song “Compared to What,...
- 1/1/2024
- by Julyssa Lopez and Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
John Legend & The Roots - Wake Up! "Wake up everybody, no more sleepin' in bed, no more backward thinkin', time for thinkin' ahead..." Back in the sixties, Eugene McDaniels created a glorious anti-Vietnam War anthem titled "Compared To What" that became a hit by Les McCann and sax blower Eddie Harris, its most passionate read delivered by Roberta Flack on her First Take album. This brilliant protest song, whose lyrics earned McDaniels a spot on Nixon's hit list, gets reworked into an urgent call-up by John Legend and his pals The Roots to be as relevant in 2010 as it was in 1969 regardless of its Vietnam storyline. The track is one of Wake Up!'s best groove-a-thons, this new Legend/Roots summit producing some of the most soulful and inspired recordings ever heard by either entity. It might even be appropriate to...
- 9/22/2010
- by Mike Ragogna
- Huffington Post
John Legend and The Roots join forces to open our eyes in their new album Wake up!, coming out September 21st. It's a cover album of soulful political, social and war-protest songs from the 1960s and '70s, summoning the activist spirit from our more socially conscious past. So far we know they've covered Marvin Gaye's "Wholy Holy," Donny Hathaway's "Little Ghetto Boy," Mike James Kirkland's "Hang on in There," Eddie Harris and LesMcCann's "Real Compared to What," and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody" which will be their first single and feature Melanie Fiona and Common. Here's an exclusive preview of the album cover: I spoke to John Legend about this new album, Obama, The Roots and more. Why make this kind of an album now? "We were kinda inspired by what was going on with the...
- 7/15/2010
- by Samantha Zalaznick
- Huffington Post
I’m back! For those wondering (all twelve of you) where this column had disappeared to, the answer is a sad and lonely one. I didn’t receive any friend requests!
It’s true, this column is dependent on bands spamming me and for two months… no one bothered. I was tempted to review some bands I was already friends with but that would have been cheating (and it would have resulted in one of these being 100% positive and I couldn’t do that to you). So I had to play the waiting game. And now, just like buses and a group of men in a porno, they’ve all come at once.
I actually got 8 requests in the space of two weeks so now I have to try and catch up with myself. It’s a mad, mad world.
Considering it’s been so long, I should probably remind...
It’s true, this column is dependent on bands spamming me and for two months… no one bothered. I was tempted to review some bands I was already friends with but that would have been cheating (and it would have resulted in one of these being 100% positive and I couldn’t do that to you). So I had to play the waiting game. And now, just like buses and a group of men in a porno, they’ve all come at once.
I actually got 8 requests in the space of two weeks so now I have to try and catch up with myself. It’s a mad, mad world.
Considering it’s been so long, I should probably remind...
- 6/25/2010
- by Aaron
John Legend, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, more join the hip-hop band onstage at their sixth annual event.
By Ryan J. Downey
The Roots arrive at Hollywood's Key Club
Photo: MTV News
West Hollywood — The Roots, the Roots, the Roots were on fire as they blasted through back-to-back classics, covers and mash-ups at their sixth annual Pre-Grammy Jam Session at Hollywood's Key Club. The Philadelphia crew was clearly having a blast as friends like John Legend, Mos Def and ex-keyboardist Scott Storch joined them onstage throughout a night that lasted well past 2 a.m.
Slash, Twista, David Banner, Ryan Phillippe and Kelsey Grammer were among the luminaries who skipped stuffier Grammy events around town to check out the star-studded-but-casual affair. Prince, Dave Chappelle, Snoop Dogg and even Tom Cruise have dropped by in the past, and the 2010 incarnation of the event, sponsored by Green Music Group, lived up to all prior...
By Ryan J. Downey
The Roots arrive at Hollywood's Key Club
Photo: MTV News
West Hollywood — The Roots, the Roots, the Roots were on fire as they blasted through back-to-back classics, covers and mash-ups at their sixth annual Pre-Grammy Jam Session at Hollywood's Key Club. The Philadelphia crew was clearly having a blast as friends like John Legend, Mos Def and ex-keyboardist Scott Storch joined them onstage throughout a night that lasted well past 2 a.m.
Slash, Twista, David Banner, Ryan Phillippe and Kelsey Grammer were among the luminaries who skipped stuffier Grammy events around town to check out the star-studded-but-casual affair. Prince, Dave Chappelle, Snoop Dogg and even Tom Cruise have dropped by in the past, and the 2010 incarnation of the event, sponsored by Green Music Group, lived up to all prior...
- 1/31/2010
- MTV Music News
So the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez was last night's World Series hero, knocking a ninth-inning double for the go-ahead run and a 3-1 series lead against the Phillies. In tonight's Game 5, A. J. Burnett looks to mirror his one-run gem from last week as he takes the mound at Citizens Bank Park. With the Yanks possibly locking up the Fall Classic in a matter of hours, either of these guys could end up nabbing the series' Mvp award. Or the Phils could stage a comeback powered by Game 1 gods, Chase Utley and Cliff Lee.
Whatever happens, though, I know one thing: I detest both these teams because I am a heart-broken Mets fan (is there any other kind?). That's why when I think about ballplayers these days, I tend to think about movies. Cinema has given us some of the best and silliest sluggers and hurlers imaginable, and it is these...
Whatever happens, though, I know one thing: I detest both these teams because I am a heart-broken Mets fan (is there any other kind?). That's why when I think about ballplayers these days, I tend to think about movies. Cinema has given us some of the best and silliest sluggers and hurlers imaginable, and it is these...
- 11/2/2009
- by Eric Ditzian
- MTV Movies Blog
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