Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy, Horace Silver and Dan Carlin, chairman of The Recording Academy. Silver, along with Benny Golson and Jon Hendricks, was honored at the GRAMMY Salute to Jazz on Feb. 8, 2005. Photo Courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Wireimage.com © 2005. Photographed by: R. Diamond
Jazz pianist, composer and bandleader Horace Silver was one of the most popular and influential jazz musicians of the ’50s and ’60s. Widely regarded as the creator of the hard bop sound — a combination of R&B, gospel, and his unique piano style — he performed with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Stan Getz, Miles Davis, and Art Blakey, the latter with whom he founded the legendary Jazz Messengers.
In Feb. 2005, Silver received the President’s Merit Award at our GRAMMY Salute To Jazz event for his lasting contributions to jazz and the music community. His funky, unique and infectious piano-playing style set a standard for many pianists to follow, further cementing his well-deserved legacy. Jazz has lost one of its great masters, and our sincere condolences go out to his family, his friends, and all who continue to be inspired by his timeless repertoire.
Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy