View source for Chick Corea

{{Short description|American musician and composer (1941–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Chick Corea
| image             = Chick Corea (ZMF 2019) IMGP8025 (cropped).jpg
| caption           = Corea in 2019
| birth_name        = Armando Anthony Corea
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1941|6|12}}
| birth_place       = {{nowrap|[[Chelsea, Massachusetts]], U.S.}}
| death_date        = {{death date and age|2021|2|09|1941|6|12}}
| death_place       = [[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Piano
* keyboards
* percussion
* drums
}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Jazz]]
* [[jazz fusion]]
* [[post-bop]]
* [[avant-garde jazz]]
* [[Latin jazz]]
* [[classical music|classical]]
* [[progressive rock]]
}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* composer
* bandleader
}}
| years_active      = 1962–2021<ref>{{cite web|last=Yanow |first=Scott |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chick-corea-p66463/biography |title=Chick Corea |website=AllMusic  |access-date=July 1, 2011}}</ref>
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[ECM Records|ECM]]
* [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
* [[Stretch Records|Stretch]]
* [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
}}
| past_member_of   = {{flatlist|
* [[Circle (jazz band)|Circle]]
* [[Return to Forever]]
* [[Chick Corea Elektric Band]]
* [[Chick Corea's Akoustic Band]]
* [[Five Peace Band]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|chickcorea.com}}
}}

'''Armando Anthony''' "'''Chick'''" '''Corea''' (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was an American [[jazz]] pianist, composer, bandleader, and occasional percussionist.<ref name="Siemaszko">{{cite news |first1=Corky |last1=Siemaszko |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jazz-keyboard-virtuoso-chick-corea-dead-cancer-age-79-n1257558?cid=eml_nbn_20210211 |title=Jazz Keyboard Virtuoso Chick Corea Dead from Cancer Age 79 |publisher=[[NBC]] |date=2021-02-12 }}</ref><ref name="ALLMUSIC">{{cite web |last1=Yanow |first1=Scott |title=Chick Corea – Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chick-corea-mn0000110541/biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref> His compositions "[[Spain (instrumental)|Spain]]", "[[500 Miles High]]", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba", and "[[Windows (composition)|Windows]]" are considered [[jazz standard]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluenote.com/artists/chick-corea |title=Chick Corea - Biography |publisher=Blue Note |access-date=2017-07-25 }}</ref>

As a member of the [[Miles Davis]] band in the late 1960s, Corea participated in the birth of [[jazz fusion]]. In the 1970s he formed [[Return to Forever]].<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> Along with [[McCoy Tyner]], [[Herbie Hancock]] and [[Keith Jarrett]], Corea is considered one of the foremost pianists of the post-[[John Coltrane]] era.<ref name=losangelestimes>{{cite news|first= Don |last= Heckman|title=Playing in His Key |date=2001-08-18 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-18-ca-35464-story.html |access-date=2011-06-07 }}</ref>

Corea continued to collaborate frequently while exploring different musical styles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He won 28 [[Grammy Awards]] and was nominated for the award 77 times.<ref name="Grammy"/>

==Early life and education==
On {{start date and age|1941|6|12|paren=y}}, Armando Corea was born in [[Chelsea, Massachusetts]],<ref>{{cite news |title= Today in history |work= [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=2014-06-12 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/today-history-24100059?singlePage=true |agency= [[Associated Press]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613184441/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/today-history-24100059 |archivedate=2014-06-13 }}</ref>{{failed verification|reason=Article does not list any Corea.|date=October 2025}} to parents Anna (née Zaccone) and Armando J. Corea.<ref name="Siemaszko"/><ref name= NYTOBIT>{{cite web |last1=Russonello |first1=Giovanni |title=Chick Corea, Jazz Keyboardist and Innovator, Dies at 79 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/arts/music/chick-corea-dead.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2021-02-12 |date=2021-02-11 }}</ref>

Corea was of southern Italian descent, his father having been born to an immigrant from [[Albi, Calabria|Albi]], a commune in the [[Province of Catanzaro]] in the [[Calabria]] region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://marktowns.com/chick-corea-interview/|title=Chick Corea Interview|website=Marktowns.com|date=2024-04-28 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chickcorea.com/blog/2018/06/06/musica-jazz-italy/|title=Musica Jazz, Italy – Chick Corea|website=Chickcorea.com|date=2018-06-06 }}</ref> His father, a trumpeter who led a [[Dixieland]] band in Boston in the 1930s and 1940s, introduced him to the piano at the age of four.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chick Corea On Piano Jazz |url=https://www.wwno.org/post/chick-corea-piano-jazz |website=WWNO |access-date=2021-02-12 |date=2013-01-20 }}</ref> Surrounded by jazz, he was influenced at an early age by [[bebop]] and musicians such as [[Dizzy Gillespie]], [[Charlie Parker]], [[Bud Powell]], [[Horace Silver]], and [[Lester Young]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chick Corea |url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/chick-corea |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=www.arts.gov }}</ref> He came into possession of a [[drumset]] at age 11,<ref name="Ted">{{Cite interview |last=Corea |first=Chick |interviewer=[[Ted Rosenthal]] |title=Freedom and Taste |type=Magazine |url=https://www.tedrosenthal.com/docs/ChickCoreaInterview.pdf |format=PDF |work=Piano & Keyboard |date=January–February 1998 |pages=28-34}}</ref> and would occasionally play drums for the rest of his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Checkout: Steve Gadd Remembers When Chick Corea Gave Him a Lesson On the Drums |url=https://www.wbgo.org/podcast/the-checkout/2021-02-12/the-checkout-steve-gadd-remembers-when-chick-corea-gave-him-a-lesson-on-the-drums |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=WBGO }}</ref>

Corea developed his piano skills while exploring music on his own. At first, his father taught him piano, but eventually, the elder Corea thought it proper that his son receive instruction from a professional teacher. At the age of eight, he began taking formal lessons with Italian concert pianist Salvatore Sullo. Sullo was indifferent to the young Corea’s passion for jazz, instead teaching him to play [[classical music|classical]] piano, but being introduced to classical music helped spark Corea’s interest in musical composition.<ref name = Ted/>

Given a black tuxedo by his father, he started playing gigs while still in high school. He enjoyed listening to [[Herb Pomeroy]]'s band at the time and had a trio that played Horace Silver's music at a local jazz club. He eventually moved to New York City, where he studied music at [[Columbia University]], then transferred to the [[Juilliard School]]. He later dropped out so he could spend more time playing gigs.<ref name =NYTOBIT/>

==Career==
{{stack|[[File:Chick Corea 1976.JPG|thumb|Corea (1976).]]}}
Corea began his professional recording and touring career in the early 1960s with [[Mongo Santamaria]], [[Willie Bobo]], [[Blue Mitchell]], [[Herbie Mann]], and [[Stan Getz]]. In 1966, he recorded his debut album, ''[[Tones for Joan's Bones]]''. In March 1968, he recorded the highly regarded trio album, ''[[Now He Sings, Now He Sobs]]'', with drummer [[Roy Haynes]] and bassist [[Miroslav Vitouš]].<ref name="ALLMUSIC"/>

In the fall of 1968,<ref name=Early>{{Cite web |title=Early Years: 1941-71 {{!}} Chick Corea |url=https://chickcorea.com/bio/1941-71/ |access-date=2024-01-29 }}</ref> Corea began recording and touring with [[Miles Davis]], appearing on the widely praised Davis studio albums ''[[Filles de Kilimanjaro]]'', ''[[In a Silent Way]]'', ''[[Bitches Brew]]'', and ''[[On the Corner]]''. He also appeared on later compilation albums [[Big Fun (Miles Davis album)|''Big Fun'']], [[Water Babies (album)|''Water Babies'']], and ''[[Circle in the Round]]''. He left Davis' band shortly after its performance at the [[1970 Isle of Wight Festival]].<ref name=Early/>

Bassist [[Dave Holland (bassist)|Dave Holland]] departed the Davis group with Corea to form their own group, [[Circle (jazz band)|Circle]], with [[multireedist]] [[Anthony Braxton]] and drummer [[Barry Altschul]]. They were active from 1970 to 1971, and recorded on [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]] and [[ECM Records|ECM]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Layne |first=Joslyn |title=Circle Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/circle-mn0001199548 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=AllMusic }}</ref> In 1971, Corea, at the behest of ECM producer [[Manfred Eicher]], began playing solo piano, recording the sessions that became ''[[Piano Improvisations Vol. 1]]'' and ''[[Piano Improvisations Vol. 2]]'' in April of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fordham |first=John |date=2010-04-01 |title=Chick Corea: Solo Piano, Improvisations and Children's Songs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/01/chick-corea-solo-improvisations |access-date=2024-01-31 |newspaper=The Guardian }}</ref> In 1974, Corea collaborated with Richie Grasso on the latter's album ''Season of Grace'', produced by [[Morris Levy]]'s [[Tiger Lily Records]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Grasso |url=http://badcatrecords.com/GRASSOrichard.htm |website=Bad Cat Records |access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref>

===Jazz fusion===
{{stack|[[File:Al Di Meola & Chick Corea.jpg|thumb|273x273px|Corea with [[Al Di Meola]] and [[Return to Forever]] in [[Rochester, New York]] (1976).]]}}
Named after their eponymous 1972 album, Corea's [[Return to Forever]] band combined acoustic and electronic instrumentation, and initially drew upon Hispanic music styles more than rock music. On their first two records, the group consisted of [[Flora Purim]] on vocals and percussion, [[Joe Farrell]] on flute and soprano saxophone, Miles Davis bandmate [[Airto Moreira|Airto]] on drums and percussion, and [[Stanley Clarke]] on acoustic double bass.<ref name=ALLMUSIC/> Drummer [[Lenny White]] and guitarist [[Bill Connors]] later joined Corea and Clarke to form the second version of the group, which blended the earlier Latin music elements with rock and funk-oriented music. This incarnation of the band recorded the album ''[[Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy]]'', before Connors' replacement by [[Al Di Meola]], who later played on ''[[Where Have I Known You Before]]'', ''[[No Mystery]]'' and ''[[Romantic Warrior]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Geoff |date=2020-11-15 |title=Vinyl Vault—Return to Forever: "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" |url=https://www.kuvo.org/vinyl-vault-return-to-forever-hymn-of-the-seventh-galaxy/ |access-date=2024-01-31 }}</ref>

In 1976, Corea released ''[[My Spanish Heart]]'', influenced by Hispanic music and featuring vocalist [[Gayle Moran]] (Corea's wife) and violinist [[Jean-Luc Ponty]]. The album combined jazz and [[flamenco]], supported by [[Minimoog]] synthesizer and a horn section. He collaborated with flamenco guitarist [[Paco De Lucía]] years later on the ''[[Touchstone (album)|Touchstone]]'' and ''[[Zyryab]]'' albums.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

===Duet projects===
{{stack|[[File:Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea.jpg|thumb|[[Bobby McFerrin]] and Corea, [[New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival]] (2008).]]}}
In the 1970s, Corea started working with vibraphonist [[Gary Burton]], with whom he recorded several duet albums for ECM, including 1972's ''[[Crystal Silence]]''. They reunited in 2006 for a concert tour. A new record called ''[[The New Crystal Silence]]'' was issued in 2008 and won a Grammy Award in 2009. The package includes a disc of duets and another disc with the [[Sydney Symphony Orchestra]].{{fact|date=October 2025}}

Towards the end of the 1970s, Corea embarked on a series of concerts with fellow pianist Herbie Hancock. These concerts were presented in elegant settings with both artists dressed formally and performing on concert grand pianos. The two played each other's compositions, as well as pieces by other composers such as [[Béla Bartók]], and duets. In 1982, Corea performed ''The Meeting'', a live duet with the classical pianist [[Friedrich Gulda]].{{fact|date=October 2025}}

{{stack|[[File:Béla Fleck and Chick Corea 2, March 1, 2008.jpg|thumb|Corea performs with [[Béla Fleck and the Flecktones|Béla Fleck]] (March 1, 2008).]]}}
In December 2007, Corea recorded a duet album, ''The Enchantment'', with banjoist [[Béla Fleck]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Doug |last=Levine |title=Chick Corea, Bela Fleck Collaborate On New CD |date=April 24, 2007 |publisher=Voice of America |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-04/2007-04-24-voa68.cfm |work=VOA News |access-date=January 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124233626/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-04/2007-04-24-voa68.cfm |archive-date=January 24, 2009 }}</ref> Fleck and Corea toured extensively for the album in 2007. Fleck was nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition category at the [[49th Grammy Awards]] for the track "Spectacle".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://concord.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015174952/https://concord.com/|url-status=dead|title=Concord &#124; Independent Music|archive-date=October 15, 2019|website=[[Concord (entertainment company)|Concord Entertainment Company]]|access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref>

In 2008, Corea collaborated with Japanese pianist [[Hiromi Uehara]] on the live album ''Duet (Chick Corea and Hiromi)''. The duo played a concert at Tokyo's [[Nippon Budokan|Budokan arena]] on April 30.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/video/id/S2m4Oy9TWmo/search/flh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126141436/http://www.nme.com/video/id/S2m4Oy9TWmo/search/flh|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2009|title=Website undergoing maintenance &#124; NME.com| website=[[NME]] |date=January 26, 2009}}</ref>

In 2015, Corea reprised the duet concert series with Hancock, again sticking to a dueling-piano format, though both now integrated synthesizers into their repertoire. The first concert in this series was at the [[Paramount Theatre (Seattle)|Paramount Theatre]] in [[Seattle]] and included improvisations, compositions by the duo, and standards by other composers.<ref>{{cite news|first=Paul|last=de Barros|title=Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea prove masters know how to have fun|date=March 15, 2015|url =http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/herbie-hancock-chick-corea-proved-masters-know-how-to-have-fun/| newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date =March 15, 2015}}</ref>

===Later work===
Corea's other bands included the [[Chick Corea Elektric Band]], its trio reduction called "Akoustic Band", Origin, and its trio reduction called the New Trio. Corea signed a record deal with [[GRP Records]] in 1986 which led to the release of ten albums between 1986 and 1994, seven with the Elektric Band, two with the Akoustic Band, and a solo album, ''Expressions''.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

The Akoustic Band released a self-titled album in 1989 and a live follow-up, ''Alive'', in 1991, both featuring [[John Patitucci]] on bass and [[Dave Weckl]] on drums. It marked a return to traditional jazz trio instrumentation in Corea's career, and the bulk of his subsequent recordings have featured acoustic piano.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-XZu8DBLSs| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809094809/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-XZu8DBLSs&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2019-08-09 | url-status=dead|title=The Chick Corea Akoustic Band. Jazz San Javier 2018 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

In 1992, Corea started his own label, [[Stretch Records]].<ref name="ALLMUSIC" />

{{stack|[[File:Chick Corea and John McLaughlin, Blue Note Jazz Club, New York City, 10 December 2016.jpg|thumb|Chick Corea's 75th birthday. Corea and [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Blue Note Jazz Club]], New York City (December 10, 2016).]]}}
In 2001, the Chick Corea New Trio, with bassist [[Avishai Cohen (bassist)|Avishai Cohen]] and drummer [[Jeff Ballard (musician)|Jeff Ballard]], released the album ''[[Past, Present & Futures]]''. The eleven-song album includes only one standard ([[Fats Waller]]'s "[[Jitterbug Waltz]]"). The rest of the tunes are Corea originals. He participated in 1998's ''[[Like Minds (album)|Like Minds]]'' with old associates Gary Burton on vibraphone, Dave Holland on bass, Roy Haynes on drums, and [[Pat Metheny]] playing guitars.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

During the later part of his career, Corea also explored [[contemporary classical music]]. He composed his first [[piano concerto]]—an adaptation of his signature piece "Spain" for a full symphony orchestra—and performed it in 1999 with the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]]. In 2004, he composed his first work without keyboards: his [[String quartet|String Quartet]] No. 1 was written for the [[Orion String Quartet]] and performed by them at 2004's [[Summerfest]] in Wisconsin.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

Corea continued recording fusion albums such as ''To the Stars'' (2004) and ''[[The Ultimate Adventure]]'' (2006). The latter won the [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group]] for 2007.<ref>[https://archive.today/20100117004427/http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx Grammy.com. Category 48]</ref>

In 2008, the third version of Return to Forever (Corea, Stanley Clarke, [[Lenny White]], and Di Meola) reunited for a worldwide tour. The reunion received positive reviews from jazz and mainstream publications.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/arts/music/03chin.html|work=The New York Times|title=The Return of Return to Forever | first=Nate | last=Chinen | date=August 3, 2008 | access-date=April 1, 2010}}</ref> Most of the group's studio recordings were re-released on the compilation ''Return to Forever: The Anthology'' to coincide with the tour. A concert DVD recorded during their performance at the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]] was released in May 2009. He also worked on a [[The Chick Corea Songbook|collaboration CD]] with the vocal group [[The Manhattan Transfer]].{{fact|date=October 2025}}

A new group, the [[Five Peace Band]], began a world tour in October 2008. The ensemble included John McLaughlin, whom Corea had previously worked with in Miles Davis's late 1960s bands, including the group that recorded Davis's classic album ''Bitches Brew''. Joining Corea and McLaughlin were saxophonist [[Kenny Garrett]] and bassist [[Christian McBride]]. Drummer [[Vinnie Colaiuta]] played with the band in Europe and on select North American dates; [[Brian Blade]] played all dates in Asia and Australia, and most dates in North America. The vast reach of Corea's music was celebrated in a 2011 retrospective with Corea guesting with the [[Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra]] in the [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts]]; a ''New York Times'' reviewer had high praise for the occasion: "Mr. Corea was masterly with the other musicians, absorbing the rhythm and feeding the soloists. It sounded like a band, and Mr. Corea had no need to dominate; his authority was clear without raising volume."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/arts/music/24corea.html?_r=0| title=A Jazz Man Returns to His Past| last=Ratliff| first=Ben| date=23 January 2011| access-date=20 June 2013| work=The New York Times}}</ref>

A new band, Chick Corea & The Vigil, featured Corea with bassist [[Hadrien Feraud]], [[Marcus Gilmore]] on drums (carrying on from his grandfather, [[Roy Haynes]]), saxes, flute, and bass clarinet from Origin vet [[Tim Garland]], and guitarist Charles Altura.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

Corea celebrated his 75th birthday in 2016 by playing with more than 20 different groups during a six-week stand at the [[Blue Note Jazz Club]] in [[Greenwich Village]], New York City. "I pretty well ignore the numbers that make up 'age'. It seems to be the best way to go. I have always just concentrated on having the most fun I can with the adventure of music."<ref>"Chick Corea, 75th Birthday Celebration, October 19 thru December 11, 2016," New York: Blue Note</ref>

==Personal life==
Corea and his first wife Joanie had two children, Thaddeus and Liana; the marriage ended in divorce. In 1972, Corea married his second wife, vocalist/pianist [[Gayle Moran]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Zimmerman |date=21 August 2019 |title=On the road with Chick: A jazz globetrotter shares his favorite spots and travel tips |website=jazziz.com |url=https://www.jazziz.com/on-the-road-with-chick-a-jazz-globetrotter-shares-his-favorite-spots-and-travel-tips/}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Corea, Chick |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/corea-chick}}</ref>

In 1968, Corea read ''[[Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health|Dianetics]]'', author [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s well-known self-help book, and developed an interest in Hubbard's other works in the early 1970s: "I came into contact with L. Ron Hubbard's material in 1968 with ''Dianetics'' and it kind of opened my mind up and it got me into seeing that my potential for communication was a lot greater than I thought it was."<ref>{{cite news |last=Corea |first=Chick |date=2016-02-13 |title=Chick Corea, on ''The Ultimate Adventure'' |website=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5203383 |access-date=2016-02-13 }}</ref>

Corea said that [[Scientology]] became a profound influence on his musical direction in the early 1970s: "I no longer wanted to satisfy myself. I really want to connect with the world and make my music mean something to people."<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Down Beat]] |date=21 October 1976 |page=47 |title={{grey|[title not cited]}} |quote=I no longer wanted to satisfy myself. I really want to connect with the world and make my music mean something to people.}}</ref> With Clarke<ref name="ediriwira">{{cite web |last=Ediriwira |first=Amar |date=4 October 2016 |title=How L. Ron Hubbard made the craziest jazz record ever |website=[[The Vinyl Factory]] |url=https://thevinylfactory.com/features/l-ron-hubbard-music-space-jazz/ |access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref> Corea played on ''[[Space Jazz|Space Jazz: The soundtrack of the book Battlefield Earth]]'', a 1982 album to accompany L. Ron Hubbard's novel [[Battlefield Earth (novel)|''Battlefield Earth'']].<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Morris |date=11 February 2021 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |title=Chick Corea, jazz fusion pioneer, dies at 79 |type=obituary |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/chick-corea-dead-jazz-fusion-pioneer-1234906551/ |access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref>

Corea was excluded from a concert during the [[1993 World Championships in Athletics]] in [[Stuttgart, Germany]]. The concert's organizers excluded him after the state government of [[Baden-Württemberg]] had announced it would review its subsidies for events featuring avowed members of Scientology.<ref name="Laut.de">{{cite web |title=Chick Corea |series=Biographie bei |website=Laut.de |url=http://www.laut.de/Chick-Corea |access-date=2010-10-06}}</ref><ref name="Scientology SZ">{{cite news |author=Bloch, Werner |date=1999-01-23 |title=Chick Corea: Scientology-Zeuge gegen Deutschland: Ein peinlicher Auftritt in Berlin: Chick Coreas Konzert im Namen von Scientology |language=de |newspaper=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |url=http://www.ingo-heinemann.de/Prominente.htm#Corea |access-date=2010-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824154953/http://www.ingo-heinemann.de/Prominente.htm#Corea}}</ref> After Corea's complaint against this policy before the administrative court was unsuccessful in 1996,<ref>VGH Baden-Württemberg, Urteil vom 15 Oktober 1996, Aktenzeichen 10 S 176/96</ref> members of the [[United States Congress]], in a letter to the German government, denounced the ban as a violation of Corea's human rights.<ref name=billboard>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Hennessey |author-link=Mike Hennessey |date=18 January 2011 |title=U.S. lawmakers rip Germany's ban of Corea show |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6BEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16 |access-date=9 June 2011 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Corea was not banned from performing in Germany, however, and had several appearances at the government-supported [[International Jazz Festivals Organization|International Jazz Festival]] in [[Burghausen, Altötting|Burghausen]]; he was awarded a plaque on Burghausen's "Street of Fame" in 2011.<ref name=ovbonline>{{cite news |first=Wolfgang |last=Haserer |date=18 January 2011 |title=Musikalisch unumstritten |publisher=OVB Online |language=de |url=http://www.ovb-online.de/kultur/musikalisch-unumstritten-1085897.html |access-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325165118/http://www.ovb-online.de/kultur/musikalisch-unumstritten-1085897.html |archive-date=25 March 2012 }}</ref>

Corea died at his home in [[Tampa, Florida]], on February 9, 2021, shortly after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He was 79.<ref name="Siemaszko"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Shteamer |first=Hank |date=11 February 2021 |title = Chick Corea, jazz pianist who expanded the possibilities of the genre, dead at 79 |type=obituary |magazine=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chick-corea-obit-1127283/ |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref><ref name=NYTOBIT/>

==Discography==
{{Main|Chick Corea discography}}

== Awards and honors ==
In 1997, Corea was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from [[Berklee College of Music]].<ref name="honorary">{{cite web|url=http://www.thekurlandagency.com/kurlandpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/CCSymphony.pdf|title=Chick Corea|website=The Kurland Agency|access-date=2018-01-24 |date=November 2015}}</ref>

In 1999, Corea's album ''[[Now He Sings, Now He Sobs]]'' (1968) was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame Award|Grammy Hall of Fame]].{{fact|date=October 2025}}

In 2010, Corea was named [[Honorary degree|''Doctor Honoris Causa'']] at the [[Norwegian University of Science and Technology]] (NTNU).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.7355183 |title=Chick Corea utnevnt til æresdoktor – NRK Trøndelag – NRK Nyheter |date=2010-10-27 |publisher=Nrk.no |access-date=2011-07-01 }}</ref>

===Grammy Awards===
As of November 2025, Corea had won 28 Grammy Awards, having been nominated a total of 77 times for the award.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web|title=Artist: Chick Corea|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/chick-corea/9341 |website=Grammy.com |publisher=Recording Academy |access-date=2025-11-10 |date=2025 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Category !! Album or song
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1976|1976]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group|Best Jazz Performance by a Group]] || ''[[No Mystery]]'' (with [[Return to Forever]])
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1977|1977]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement|Best Instrumental Arrangement]] || "Leprechaun's Dream"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1977|1977]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group|Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group]] || ''[[The Leprechaun (Chick Corea album)|The Leprechaun]]''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1979|1979]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group ||''[[Friends (Chick Corea album)|Friends]]''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1980|1980]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group ||''[[Duet (Gary Burton & Chick Corea album)|Duet]]'' (with [[Gary Burton]])
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1982|1982]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group || ''[[In Concert, Zürich, October 28, 1979]]'' (with Gary Burton)
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1989|1989]] || [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance|Best R&B Instrumental Performance]] || "Light Years"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1990|1990]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group ||''[[Chick Corea Akoustic Band]]''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 1999|1999]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo|Best Jazz Instrumental Solo]] || "Rhumbata" with Gary Burton
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2000|2000]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group || ''[[Like Minds (album)|Like Minds]]''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2001|2001]] || Best Instrumental Arrangement || "[[Spain (instrumental)|Spain for Sextet & Orchestra]]"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2004|2004]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Solo || "Matrix"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2007|2007]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group || ''The Ultimate Adventure''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2007|2007]] || Best Instrumental Arrangement || "Three Ghouls"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2008|2008]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group || ''[[The New Crystal Silence]]'' (with [[Gary Burton]])
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2010|2010]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group || ''[[Five Peace Band Live]]''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2012|2012]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo|Best Improvised Jazz Solo]] || "[[500 Miles High]]"<ref name="Billboard-2012">{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=Indies/And the Nominees Are|date=January 7–21, 2012|issue=|pages=38, 44, 47|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RsAnJ7Zx_qgC&pg=PA38}}</ref>
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2012|2012]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album|Best Jazz Instrumental Album]] || ''[[Forever (Corea, Clarke & White album)|Forever]]''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2013|2013]] || Best Improvised Jazz Solo || "Hot House"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2013|2013]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition|Best Instrumental Composition]] || "Mozart Goes Dancing"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2015|2015]] || Best Improvised Jazz Solo || "Fingerprints"
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2015|2015]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Album || ''[[Trilogy (Chick Corea album)|Trilogy]]''
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2020|2020]] || [[Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album|Best Latin Jazz Album]] || ''[[Antidote (Chick Corea album)|Antidote]]'' (with The Spanish Heart Band)
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2021|2021]] || Best Jazz Instrumental Album || ''[[Trilogy 2]]'' (with [[Christian McBride]] and [[Brian Blade]])
|-
|[[Grammy Awards of 2021|2021]] || Best Improvised Jazz Solo || "All Blues"
|-
|[[64th Annual Grammy Awards|2022]] || Best Improvised Jazz Solo || "Humpty Dumpty (Set 2)"
|-
|[[64th Annual Grammy Awards|2022]] || Best Latin Jazz Album || ''[[Mirror Mirror (Eliane Elias album)|Mirror Mirror]]''
|}

===Latin Grammy Awards===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year||Award||Album/song
|-
|[[Latin Grammy Awards of 2007|2007]]
|[[Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album|Best Instrumental Album]]
|''[[The Enchantment]]'' (with [[Béla Fleck]])
|-
|[[Latin Grammy Awards of 2011|2011]]
|Best Instrumental Album
|''Forever'' (with [[Stanley Clarke]] and [[Lenny White]])
|}

==See also==
*[[500 Miles High]]
*[[Spain (instrumental)|Spain]]
*[[Windows (composition)|Windows]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web |url=http://www.bobrosenbaum.com/transcripts/corea1.pdf |title=An Interview with Chick Corea |first=Bob |last=Rosenbaum |date=July 1974 |location=Cortland, New York }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.michaeljstewart.co.uk/interview-with-chick-corea |title=Chick Corea in Conversation with Michael Stewart |date=1999-11-05 |work=Michael Stewart |first1=Michael |last1=Stewart |first2=Chick |last2=Corea }}

== External links ==
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{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.chickcorea.com/ Official site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100526060018/http://www.chickcorea.com/discography.html Official discography]
* {{Discogs artist|Chick Corea}}
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/chick-corea Chick Corea Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2016, 2018)
* {{IMDb name|id=0179706}}

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