"Soul Jazz Icon Les McCann, Sampled by Hip-Hop Legends, Passes Away at 88"
TL;DR Summary
Les McCann, the influential jazz pianist and vocalist known for his soul jazz style and the hit "Compared to What," has passed away at 88 due to pneumonia. McCann's career spanned over five decades, producing more than 50 albums and leaving a legacy that influenced funk, R&B, and hip-hop artists. His impromptu performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1969 catapulted "Compared to What" to commercial success, and his work has been widely sampled in the hip-hop genre. McCann was also a painter and photographer, capturing jazz culture and Black history through his lens.
- Les McCann, Pianist, Singer and Soul Jazz Pioneer, Dies at 88 The New York Times
- ‘Compared to What' performer Les McCann, a wellspring for hip-hop samples, dies at 88 NBC 10 Philadelphia
- Les McCann, innovative soul jazz pianist and composer, dies at the age of 88 wbgo.org
- Les McCann, Legendary Jazz Pianist Sampled by Notorious B.I.G. and Snoop Dogg, Dies at 88 Variety
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