American jazz pianist, composer and bandleader
Born September 2, 1928, in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA, died June 18, 2014 (age 85), in New Rochelle, New York, USA
Pioneer of the hard bop style of jazz in the 1950s. Received big break backing Stan Getz in 1950 during a club date in Hartford, Connecticut. Soon relocated to New York, and made recording debut for Blue Note in 1952. In 1953, with Art Blakey established a cooperative small group under their joint leadership. Under exclusive contract with Blue Note from the late 1950s until the late 1970s, though some live dates on other labels eventually surfaced, he founded his own label, Silveto Records, in 1980. Recorded for Columbia and Impulse! in the 1990s, suffered health problems though the decade, made final studio recording for Verve Records in 1998, briefly returning to performing in 2004. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2007. Son of John Tavares Silver (Silva), of Portuguese descent, born in the Cape Verde Islands, and Gertrude Silver, of New Canaan, Connecticut.
