Herbie Hancock
Biography
Herbert Jeffrey Hancock, born April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American pianist, bandleader, and composer. Active on the professional scene since 1960, he was a member of Miles Davis's group and helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section as part of the second great quintet, serving as a primary architect of the post-bop sound. He was among the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk, incorporating elements of funk, soul, and freer stylistic elements from jazz, alongside a blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music. Known for melodic and accessible music that has crossed over to pop audiences, Hancock has known credits in sound and is associated with projects including The Midnight Special, Great Performances, and Zvětšenina.
Career overview
Herbert Jeffrey Hancock, born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American pianist, bandleader, and composer. Active on the professional scene since 1960, he is recognized as a jazz and jazz-rock composer and keyboard player. As part of Miles Davis's second great quintet, Hancock helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and served as one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound.
Hancock was among the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk. His music often features melodic and accessible qualities, embracing elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz and incorporating a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music with harmonic stylings. He achieved success by writing many songs that crossed over to pop audiences.
Throughout his career, Hancock has accumulated 117 known credits primarily in the sound department. His work in film and television is associated with projects such as The Midnight Special, Great Performances, and Blow-Up.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
123 titles- Tuner (2026) as Herbie Hancock
- Herbie (2025) as Self (Archives)
- Henry Mancini: 100 at the Hollywood Bowl (2024) as Self
- Don Lewis and The Live Electronic Orchestra (2024) as Self
- They All Came Out to Montreux (2023) as Self
- Joni Mitchell - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song (2023) as Self
- Herbie Hancock - Live at SummerStage 2022 (2022) as Self
- Hargrove (2022) as Self
- Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes (2022) as Self
- Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens (2022)
- By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (2020) as Self
- That Click (2019) as Self
- Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019) as Self - Musician
- Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes (2019) as Self
- Buster Williams Bass to Infinity (2019) as Himself
- International Jazz Day Australia Concert 2019 (2019) as Self
- Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones (2018) as Self
- It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story (2018) as Self
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) as Defence Minister
- Chick Corea: The Musician (2017) as Self
- Miles Ahead (2016) as Live Concert Band
- Jazz at the White House (2016) as Self
- River of Gold (2016) as Narrator
- More Than Jazz (2016) as Himself
- StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson (2015) as Self
- Jay Leno's Garage (2015) as Self
- Kareem: Minority of One (2015) as Self
- Marcus (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Girl Meets World (2014) as Self
- Keep On Keepin' On (2014) as Self
- Charles Lloyd - Arrows Into Infinity (2014) as Piano
- Herbie Hancock Trio - Full Concert - 08/14/88 - Newport Jazz Festival (2014) as Self
- Experience Montreux (2013) as Self
- Lang Lang & Herbie Hancock - Live in Berlin (2012) as Himself
- A Man's Story (2011) as Self
- On the Shoulders of Giants (2011)
- On the Shoulders of Giants (2011) Original Music Composer
- The Girls in the Band (2011)
- A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand (2011) as Self - Performer
- All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater (2011) as Self
- Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock Celebrate Gershwin (2011)
- Miles Davis: Around Midnight (2011) as Piano
- Tribute to Miles - Jazz à Vienne (2011) as Himself
- Music (2010) as Self
- DeJohnette, Metheny, Holland, Hancock - Parallel Realities Live (2010) as Himself
- We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2009) as Self
- Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (2008) as Self
- Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux (2008) as Self
- Herbie Hancock - The River Of Possibilities Tour - Jazz a Vienne (2008) as Piano
- Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound (2008) as Self
- Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (2006) as Self
- Marcus Miller - Master Of All Trades (2006) as Self
- Valerian (2004)
- One Night with Blue Note (2004) as Self
- Janet Jackson: From Janet. To Damita Jo: The Videos (2004) Musical
- Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue (2004) as Self
- Dennis Hopper: The Decisive Moments (2004) as Self
- Larry presents: Best of The 80s (2004) as Self
- Herbie Hancock Special (2004)
- Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux (2004)
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind (2003) as Self
- Prachtig 80: Volume 2 (2003) as Self
- Hitters (2002) as District Attorney
- Herbie Hancock Future2future Live (2002) as Himself
- World of Rhythm - Live in Lugano (2002) as Self
- The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock (2002) as Himself
- Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel (2001) as Herbie Hancock
- Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel (2001) Director
- Traffic (2000) Musician
- Classic Albums (1997) as Self
- Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz (1997) as Self
- Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996 (1996)
- Kulturzeit (1995) as self
- Antonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tribute (1995) as Self - Pianist
- Oscar Peterson: Music in the Key of Oscar (1995) as Self
- Indecent Proposal (1993) as Himself
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- ECHO-Verleihung (1992) as Self
- Branford Marsalis: Steep (1991) as Self
- Livin' Large! (1991) Original Music Composer
- Rabbit Ears - Koi and the Kola Nuts (1991) Music
- The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is (1991)
- The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is (1991) Music Director
- Miles Davis - At La Villette (1991) as Himself
- Celebrity Guide to Wine (1990) as Self
- Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland: Parallel Realities Live... (Live at Mellon Jazz Festival) (1990) as Keyboards
- Jazz Under the Skies (1990) as Self
- Dejohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny in Concert (1990)
- Harlem Nights (1989) Original Music Composer
- Colors (1988) Original Music Composer
- Action Jackson (1988) Original Music Composer
- The George McKenna Story (1988) Original Music Composer
- Live at Munich Summer Piano Festiva (1988)
- Herbie Hancock At The Munich Summer Piano Festival (1987) as Himself
- Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions (1987) as Himself
- 'Round Midnight (1986) as Eddie Wayne
- 'Round Midnight (1986) Original Music Composer
- 'Round Midnight (1986) Conductor
- Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986) Original Music Composer
- Before Midnight (1986) as Self (archive footage)
- Miles Ahead: The Music of Miles Davis (1986) as Self
- The Making of Sun City (1985) as Self
- A Soldier's Story (1984) Original Music Composer
- I Love Quincy (1984) as Self
- Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane! (1984) as Self - Piano
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Musical Guest
- Death Wish (1974) Original Music Composer
- Death Wish (1974) Orchestrator
- PBS Soundstage 1974: Chick Corea & Return to Forever + Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters (1974)
- Rock Concert (1973) as Self
- The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) Original Music Composer
- Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest (1972) as Self
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert (1969) Original Music Composer
- Blow-Up (1966) Original Music Composer
- Herbie (1966) Music
- Miles Davis Quintet: Milan 1964 (1964)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Grammys (1959) as Self
- Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band Live in London as Themself
- Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Herbie Hancock best known for?
Herbie Hancock is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Tuner (2026), Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), Miles Ahead (2016), Jay Leno's Garage (2015).
When and where was Herbie Hancock born?
Herbie Hancock was born on April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
How many credits does Herbie Hancock have?
Herbie Hancock has accumulated over 123 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1959 to 2026.
What is Herbie Hancock's background in cinema and television?
Herbert Jeffrey Hancock, born April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American pianist, bandleader, and composer. Active on the professional scene since 1960, he was a member of Miles Davis's group and helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section as part of the second great quintet, serving as a primary archit...