Bobby Timmons(1935-1974)

Bobby Timmons was a hard bop jazz pianist who moved to New York City in 1954 and was almost immediately in demand. He recorded with Kenny Dorham, Kenny Burrell, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Henry 'Hank' Mobley, Donald Byrd, Philly Joe Jones, Sonny Stitt, Curtis Fuller, Lee Morgan, Paul Chambers, Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakey's The Jazz Messengers (for seventeen albums), Benny Golson, Pepper Adams, Roy Haynes, Ray Barretto, Johnny Griffin, Jymie Merritt, Cannonball Adderley, Louis Hayes, Sam Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, Clifford Jordan, Billy Higgins, Wayne Shorter, Blue Mitchell and Dexter Gordon. Timmons released his first album as leader in 1960 and put out sixteen more over the next nine years; including his second to last album on which he plays piano, organ, and vibraphone. Timmons 1958 composition "Moanin'" is still a standard today; followed by his minor hit from 1959, "Dis Here". For fifteen years the pianist built a catalog equal to other jazz greats, and his hard bop style is still influential on jazz to this day. Timmon's addiction grew more severe throughout the 60's and he died from liver complications brought on by alcoholism.