Bobby Hutcherson

Bobby Hutcherson is an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. "Little B's Poem", from the 1966 Blue Note album Components, is one of his best-known compositions. Bobby Hutcherson was born in Los Angeles, California. Hutcherson was exposed to jazz by his brother Teddy, who listened to Art Blakey records in the family home. His older sister Peggy was a singer in Gerald Wilson's orchestra. Hutcherson went on to record on a number of Gerald Wilson's Pacific Jazz recordings as well as play in his orchestra. Still in his teens, Hutcherson began his professional career in the late 1950s working with tenor saxophonist Curtis Amy and trumpeter Carmell Jones. Hutcherson won the "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition" award in the 1964 Down Beat readers' poll. Spanning the years 1963 to 1977, Hutcherson had one of the longest recording careers with Blue Note, second only to Horace Silver's. Hutcherson's intermittent acting career included an appearance as the bandleader in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), and as Ace in 'Round Midnight (1986).