Hank Jones
A pianist whose elegant, swinging touch and harmonic sophistication made him the ultimate accompanist and a revered elder statesman of jazz.
1918–2010 (age 92)·American jazz pianist and bandleader·Birthday: July 31·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Hank Jones emerged from the musical hotbed of Pontiac, Michigan, the eldest of three brothers who would all become jazz luminaries. His style, forged in the swing era and refined through bebop, was characterized by a flawless touch, impeccable time, and a deep, singing lyricism. While he could blaze through complex harmonies, his genius often shone brightest in support of others; he was the first-call pianist for Ella Fitzgerald for nearly two decades, providing a lush, responsive carpet for her voice. Jones carried himself with a quiet dignity that matched his playing, a professional who treated every gig, from a Harlem nightclub to the White House, with the same thoughtful commitment. In his later years, he led superb trios, his playing distilled to an essence of swing and beauty, proving that subtlety could be the most powerful force in the room.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Hank was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hank Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Hank's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2010Died at 92
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Served as Ella Fitzgerald's primary pianist and musical director from 1948 to 1965.
- Received the National Medal of Arts in 2008 for his contributions to American music.
- Named an NEA Jazz Master in 1989, the nation's highest jazz honor.
- Recorded the acclaimed solo album 'The Oracle' in 1989, showcasing his mature artistry.
Did You Know?
He was the brother of famed jazz trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Elvin Jones.
Jones was the staff pianist for CBS television in the 1950s, playing for stars like Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.
He performed at President John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball in 1961.
An avid gardener, he often compared the patience and care needed for plants to his approach to music.
“I try to play what I feel. I don't think about style. Style is what comes out of you.”
