Roy Haynes
Drums
November 12, 2024 (Age 99) died
March 13, 1925 Birthday
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Birthplace
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About
Roy Haynes was an American jazz drummer whose career spanned more than eight decades, making him one of the most recorded and influential drummers in jazz history. His playing bridged the swing, bebop, and avant-garde eras—an achievement few musicians could claim—and he remained active well into his 90s, often performing with much younger artists. Haynes collaborated with a wide range of jazz legends, including Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, and Pat Metheny. As a bandleader, he recorded nearly 30 albums, including the Grammy-nominated Birds of a Feather: A Tribute to Charlie Parker (2001), and several more as a co-leader. In recognition of his contributions, Haynes was named an NEA Jazz Master in 1995 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. He passed away in 2024 at the age of 99.
Trivia
Roy Haynes was nicknamed "Snap Crackle" for his distinctive snare drum sound, a moniker that reflected his energetic and inventive playing style. Roy Haynes voiced the fictional jazz DJ in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Roy Haynes was named one of the Best Dressed Men in America by Esquire Magazine in 1960.
Early Life
Roy Haynes was born in 1925, to parents who immigrated from Barbados. His upbringing was steeped in music—his father played organ and both parents sang in their church, fostering a rich musical environment at home. Haynes began playing drums around age seven and by his teens, was playing professionally in Boston nightclubs. In 1945 he was called to join Luis Russell's big band and moved to New York. He spent his off hours in the jazz clubs of New York soaking up the jazz scene and in 1947 joined saxophonist Lester Young's band.
Roy Haynes Solos
1958
Drums solo - Blues Five Spot - 1958
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 141 BPM
Drums solo - In Walked Bud - 1958
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 209 BPM
Drums solo - Evidence - 1958
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 206 BPM