Dave Brubeck, the jazz legend best known for the song ‘Take Five’, has died from heart failure in a Connecticut hospital at age 91.
Dave Brubeck
Brubeck was born in San Francisco in 1920. Dave was drafted into the army in 1942 where he played piano at a Red Cross show and then formed an army band.
After leaving the army, Coronet Records in San Francisco made his first recordings.
In 1951, Dave formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet and signed with Fantasy Records where he also worked in A&R.
In 1954, he became the second jazz musician (after Louis Armstrong) to make the cover of Time magazine.
The big one came in 1959 with the release of the ‘Time Out’ album. It contained the classic ‘Take Five’ as well as ‘Blue Rondo a la Turk’ and ‘Three To Get Ready’. ‘Time Out’ became the first jazz album to sell over one million copies, a remarkable feat in its time.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet broke up in 1967. Dave went on to classical composing and in 1968 premiered ‘The Light of Wilderness’ with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Dave Brubeck would have turned 92 tomorrow. He was on his way to the doctor for a check-up when it happened. A birthday party had been planned for tomorrow. The family and friends will now meet up to pay tribute to the great man instead.
