At the forefront of jazz, one name stands out: Chick Corea. Since the 1960s,Corea has brought music to life as a prominent jazz pianist and composer,winning 25 Grammy Awards throughout his career (and over 60 nominations). Corea is considered largely responsible for the birth of jazz fusion, a genrethat combines jazz harmony and improvisational technique with rock music, funk,and rhythm and blues. Corea passed away at age 79 this past February, leavingbehind an impressive discography spanning decades. Today, June 12, let'scelebrate what would have been Corea's 80th birthday by revisiting some of thislegend's greatest hits. Photo credit: CHICK COREA PRODUCTIONS.Chick Corea was born Armando Anthony Coreain Chelsea, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1941. He began playing piano at age 4,largely inspired by his musician parents and the vibrant jazz community inBoston at the time. Further, Corea's first piano teacher was Salvatore Sullo, atalented pianist who instilled proper technique in the young artist as well asan appreciation of European classical influences such as Mozart and Beethoven.By high school, Corea was already performing with a trio at a local jazz club.In the early 1960s, Corea began his professional career as a jazz pianist.Alongside jazz greats such as saxophonist Stan Getz, flutist Herbie Mann, andtrumpeter Blue Mitchell, Corea recorded his debut album, Tones for Joan's Bones, in 1966 (released in 1968). While the album marked Corea's first officialrecording, his breakthrough moment truly came with the release of his trioalbum, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (1968). This album solidified Corea's place asnot just an excellent pianist and composer, but a brilliant musical mind. It'snow considered a jazz classic, and cemented Corea's place in the jazz universeas a pianist of incomparable skill.Photo credit: Ed Perlstein / Redferns via Getty.Soon after, Corea met and beganwork with legendary Miles Davis. Alongside Davis, Corea recorded, toured andplayed into the 1970s, often experimenting with his sound by using a devicecalled a ring modulator. Using this style, Corea appeared on several of Davis'albums until departing to form his own avant-garde quartet called Circle withsaxophonist Anthony Braxton and drummer Barry Altschul.Photo credit: Rainer Alexander.In 1971, Corea formed the band Return to Forever,relying on both acoustic and electronic instrumentation and initially drawingupon Latin American music styles. It wasn't until 1973 that Corea returned tomore rock-influenced styles that characterized the jazz fusion movement, addingelectric guitarist Bill Connors and drummer Lenny White. In the late 70s, Return to Forever disbanded, and Corea turned to duet and solowork. Most prominently, Corea embarked on a series of concerts with fellowpianist Herbie Hancock. At the same time, Corea released a series of soloprojects, including his album The Mad Hatter (1978). Into the 1980s, Corealooked to reinvent electric and acoustic jazz with his groups Elektric andAkoustic, respectively. Alongside saxophonist Eric Marienthal, guitarist FrankGambale, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Dave Weckl, Corea breathed new lifeinto the fusion scene. In the 90s and early 2000s, Corea continued to do what he did best: improvise,create, and innovate. During the later part of his career, Corea exploredcontemporary classical music. He composed his first piano concerto – and anadaptation of his signature piece "Spain" for a full symphony orchestra – andperformed it in 1999 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In the early 2000s,Corea toured with the third iteration of Return to Forever. It goes without saying (but we'll say it anyway) that Chick Corea dedicated hisentire life to the pursuit of better music. He leaves behind a vast body of workand innumerable contributions to the jazz scene. Learn more about this legendarymusician below.