Del.icio.usChick Corea
Corea started out in the '60s playing with trumpeter Blue Mitchell and Latin greats such as Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria. His first album as a leader was Tones For Joan's Bones in 1966, two years before the release of his legendary album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, with Roy Haynes on drums, and Miroslav Vitous on bass.
In the late '60s, he joined Miles Davis' band and appeared on important albums such as In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. With this band, he experimented using electric instruments, mainly the Fender Rhodes.
In the early '70s, Corea took on different projects as a bandleader. In the period 1970-71, he was active in the band Circle, an avant-jazz group featuring Anthony Braxton, Dave Holland and Barry Altschul. In 1971, he founded another band, Return to Forever. On its early records, Return to Forever has a bright sound dominated by vocals, Fender Rhodes and flute. Through the '70s, the band moved more in the direction of rock music. Al DiMeola joined the band in 1974, and Corea extended the use of synthesizers, particularly the Moog and Minimoog synthesizers.
In the late '70s, Corea started working with vibraphonist Gary Burton, with whom he recorded several duet albums. His other bands include the Elektric Band, the Akoustic Band, and Origin.
One of his most famous songs is Spain. His album Corea.Concerto won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement (for "Spain for Sextet and Orchestra") in 2001.
He is also known for promoting Scientology.