Renowned jazz drummer Roy Haynes died in Nassau County, New York, on Tuesday at the age of 99, his daughter Leslie Haynes-Gilmore announced.
Haynes’ illustrious 70-year career spanned collaborations with some of the greatest names in jazz, including Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, and Art Blakey.
Born on March 13, 1925, in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood, Haynes began playing music in his teens and turned professional by 20. He joined saxophone player Lester Young’s band in the 1940s and later became a member of Charlie Parker’s quintet from 1949 to 1952. Haynes declined an offer to join Duke Ellington’s orchestra in 1952, opting for smaller bands that allowed him more creative freedom.
Throughout his career, Haynes worked as a bandleader, releasing his debut album “Busman’s Holiday” in 1954. Other notable albums include “We Three” (1958) with Paul Chambers and Phineas Newborn Jr., and “Out of the Afternoon” (1962) with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Tommy Flanagan, and Henry Grimes. He also collaborated on iconic albums such as Eric Dolphy’s “Outward Bound” (1960), Oliver Nelson’s “The Blues and the Abstract Truth” (1961), and Chick Corea’s “Now He Sings, Now He Sobs” (1968).
Haynes’ impressive discography earned him two Grammy Awards and eight nominations. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and was honored with France’s Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1996. The New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music also awarded him honorary doctorates.
Tributes poured in from musicians, authors, and fans, celebrating Haynes’ innovative legacy. Musician and educator Peter Erskine praised Haynes, saying, “When you listened to Roy Haynes play, it was as if the music sent you a postcard saying, ‘Greetings from the future. Wish you were here!’ RIP, maestro.”
Jazz author Ted Gioia hailed Haynes’ “amazing career,” noting his performances with John Coltrane, Lester Young, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Chick Corea, Sarah Vaughan, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, and many others.
Haynes is survived by his daughter Leslie, sons Craig and Graham (both musicians), eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. His wife, Jesse Lee Nevels Haynes, passed away in 1979.
