Chick Corea was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1941. His father was a jazz musician. His earliest influences were Horace Silver and Bud Powell.
His early classical training allowed strands of Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky, and Ravel to show through. During the early ’60’s he played in Latin and Afro-Cuban groups like Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo and Herbie Mann.
Later in the ’60’s Chick played with Blue Mitchell and Stan Getz. Two of his compositions, Litha and Windows, were recorded on the session for “Sweet Rain”.
Time spent with Miles Davis’ group during his transition to jazz-rock saw Chick sharing electric keyboard duties with Joe Zawinal on such albums as Bitches Brew and In a Silent Way.
Tones For Joan’s Bones, an album with Woody Shaw, Joe Farrell and Joe Chambers, recorded in the 60’s, shows off his fierce energetic playing style.