Legendary jazz artist Les McCann died Friday at the age of 88, according to NBC News.
McCann, perhaps best known for the song “Compare to What,” died Friday, according to his manager Alan Abrahams, NBC News reported. report. The cause of death is unknown, but McCann had been admitted to a hospital in the Los Angeles area about a week ago after developing pneumonia, according to NBC News.
“He brought something from the black church to jazz,” Abrahams said, according to NBC News. (Related: Remembering Celebrities Lost in 2023)
McCann's music centers around a soul-jazz sound, and many prominent hip-hop stars have sampled his work, including Dr. Dre, Notorious Big, Pete Rock, and CL Smooth, NBC News reported. Ta.
Les McCann, the pioneering jazz pianist and singer whose work was sampled by The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, has died at 88. https://t.co/DsKK3bmCLe https://t.co/DsKK3bmCLe
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) January 1, 2024
Legendary producer Quincy Jones said, “McCann has had a natural musical talent ever since he burst onto the scene in the early 60s. Every time I hear him live or on record, he always does something unexpected.'' He did it.”
According to NBC News, McCann made his debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” after winning a talent contest. Later, fellow legendary jazz artist Miles Davis saw McCann play and recommended him to other artists.
According to NBC News, McCann's breakthrough came in 1968 when he collaborated with Eddie Harris on the song “Compare to What” in Switzerland. McCann continued to play even after a stroke in 1995 left him paralyzed on the right side of his body.
