Q 01/05

Herbie Hancock was born in 1940 in which US city?

A) Chicago

B) Detroit

C) Philadelphia

D) St. Louis

Answer · why

A) Chicago

His parents named him after the singer and actor Herb Jeffries.

Q 02/05

At age 11, Hancock played a movement of a Mozart piano concerto with which ensemble?

A) The Boston Pops

B) The New York Philharmonic

C) The Chicago Symphony

D) The Cleveland Orchestra

Answer · why

C) The Chicago Symphony

It was the first movement of the 'Coronation' concerto, K. 537, at a young people's concert in February 1952.

Q 03/05

Hancock graduated from Grinnell College in 1960 with degrees in music and which other subject?

A) Applied mathematics

B) Electrical engineering

C) Organic chemistry

D) Political science

Answer · why

B) Electrical engineering

The technical background foreshadowed his later fascination with synthesizers and electronics.

Q 04/05

Hancock's 1962 debut album for Blue Note was titled what?

A) Maiden Voyage

B) Empyrean Isles

C) Speak Like a Child

D) Takin' Off

Answer · why

D) Takin' Off

It included 'Watermelon Man', which gave Mongo Santamaría a hit single and caught the ear of Miles Davis.

Q 05/05

Which trumpeter's group gave Hancock his start before Miles Davis came calling?

A) Freddie Hubbard

B) Lee Morgan

C) Kenny Dorham

D) Donald Byrd

Answer · why

D) Donald Byrd

Byrd also suggested he study composition with Vittorio Giannini at the Manhattan School of Music.