Dick Hyman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dick Hyman
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Hyman (Eugene, Oregon, 2005)
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Hyman |
| Born | March 8, 1927 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, swing, lounge, stride piano |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Piano, organ |
| Years active | 1940s–present |
| Labels | MGM, Command, MCA, Concord Jazz, Chiaroscuro, Arbors |
| Associated acts | Ruby Braff, Bob Wilber |
Richard Hyman (born March 8, 1927) is an American jazz pianist and composer. For more than 70 years, he has been a talented musician. He plays piano and organ, arranges music, directs music, and composes. In 2017, he was honored as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.
People often praise Hyman for how many different styles he can play on the piano. DownBeat magazine called him a "pianist of longstanding grace and bountiful talent." They said he can play almost any historical style, from stride piano to modern jazz.
His daughter, Judy Hyman, helped start The Horse Flies. This is an American rock and folk band from Ithaca, New York. His grandson, Adam Charlap Hyman, is a designer and artist.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Richard Hyman was born in New York City on March 8, 1927. He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. His older brother, Arthur, had a collection of jazz records. This is how Dick first heard the music of famous jazz artists like Bix Beiderbecke and Art Tatum.
Learning to Play the Piano
Hyman learned classical piano from his uncle, Anton Rovinsky. Anton was a concert pianist. Dick learned how to touch the piano keys and play many classical pieces from him. He especially loved Beethoven and Chopin. Hyman felt that Chopin's way of adding fancy parts to melodies was like what jazz musicians do. He even said Chopin would have been a great jazz pianist!
In June 1945, Hyman joined the U.S. Army. He was then moved to the U.S. Navy band department. He played with musicians who were much more experienced than him. This helped him improve his skills a lot. He learned to read music and play with better players.
After leaving the Navy, he went to Columbia University. While there, he won a piano contest. The prize was 12 free lessons with Teddy Wilson, a famous swing-era pianist. Hyman said he "fell in love with jazz" during this time. In 1948, after finishing college, Hyman married his wife, Julia.
A Long and Busy Career
Dick Hyman started recording around 1950. He even used fun fake names like "Knuckles O'Toole" and "Willie the Rock Knox" for some of his early piano albums.
Playing with Famous Artists
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Hyman was a busy studio musician. This means he played on recordings for many different artists. He worked with stars like Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, and Mitch Miller. He even played with the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker for Parker's only movie appearance. From 1959 to 1961, he was the music director for Arthur Godfrey's television show.
Music for Movies and Ballets
Hyman has composed, arranged, and played music for many films. He worked on several Woody Allen movies, including Zelig, The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Radio Days. His music has also been heard in other movies like Moonstruck and Mask.
He also created music for ballet companies. He composed Piano Man for the Cleveland/San Jose Ballet Company. He also worked with famous choreographer Twyla Tharp on ballets like The Bum's Rush. In 2007, his musical Adventures of Tom Sawyer premiered in Eugene, Oregon.
Exploring Electronic Music
In the 1960s, Hyman recorded several pop albums. He used the Lowrey organ for some of these. Later, he started experimenting with the Moog synthesizer. This was a new electronic instrument at the time. His albums Moog: The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman and The Age of Electronicus featured this new sound.
One of his songs, "The Minotaur," became a hit in 1969. It was one of the first popular songs to feature the Moog synthesizer. Parts of his song "The Moog and Me" were even used by the artist Beck in his 1996 song "Sissyneck".
Dick Hyman has performed at many jazz festivals and concert halls around the world. Around 1995, he and his wife, Julia, moved to Venice, Florida.
Selected Recordings
Dick Hyman has released many albums as a leader and has played on countless others as a sideman. Here are a few examples of his work:
As a Leader
- September Song: Dick Hyman Plays the Music of Kurt Weill (1953)
- The Unforgettable Sound of the Dick Hyman Trio (1956)
- Moog: The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman (1969)
- Scott Joplin: The Complete Works for Piano (1975)
- The Music of Jelly Roll Morton (1978)
- Kitten on the Keys: The Piano Music of Zez Confrey (1983)
- Dick Hyman Plays Fats Waller (1990)
- Gershwin Songbook: Hyman Variations (1996)
- If Bix Played Gershwin (2004)
As a Sideman
Hyman has played with many other jazz greats. Some of these include:
- Ruby Braff (cornet)
- Benny Goodman (clarinet)
- Urbie Green (trombone)
- Wes Montgomery (guitar)
- Flip Phillips (saxophone)
- Doc Severinsen (trumpet)
- Bob Wilber (reeds)
He also worked as an arranger for artists like Count Basie and The Mills Brothers.
See also
In Spanish: Dick Hyman para niños
