Roy Haynes, Legendary Jazz Drummer, Dies at 99

Roy Haynes, a prolific jazz drummer who had more than a seven-decade-long career, has died at the age of 99.

A representative for Haynes confirmed news of his death to PEOPLE. WRTI and The New York Times first reported that the drummer died on Tuesday, Nov. 12 in Nassau County, N.Y. after a brief illness.

Born in March 1925 to immigrant parents, Haynes grew up in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. He launched his music career in his teens during the 1940s, when he performed throughout Boston nightclubs and worked alongside Sabby Lewis, Pete Brown, Frankie Newton, and Felix Barbozza.

By 1945, the moved to New York City and became a full-time professional drummer, working under Luis Russell’s band, per Percussive Arts Society. During that time, he collaborated with saxophonist Lester Young and played in Charlie Parker’s quintet from 1949 to 1952. The following year, he began working with singer Sarah Vaughan, a working relationship that lasted until 1958. Thereafter, he collaborated with Thelonious Monk, Eric Dolphy, Lennie Tristano, and Stan Getz.

In the late 1960s, Haynes worked with vibraphonist Gary Burton and launched his jazz-rock project the Hip Ensemble. In 1971, he released an album called Hip Ensemble. In the following years, Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Haynes collaborated with Chick Corea, and in the 1980s and 1990s he worked with Pat Metheny.

Throughout his career, Haynes won two Grammy Awards in his career: best jazz instrumental performance, group in 1989 for Blues for Coltrane – A Tribute to John Coltrane and best jazz instrumental performance, individual or group in 2000 for Like Minds. He also earned the nickname “Snap Crackle” for his style of playing.

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In 1996, Haynes earned the French Chevalier des l’Ordres Artes et des Lettres, and two years later, in September 1998, Haynes, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, and Louis Bellson received American Drummers Achievement Awards by the Zildjian company.

Haynes released his final album Roy-Alty in 2011.

According to The New York Times, Haynes is survived by his daughter, his sons, Craig, a drummer, and Graham, a cornetist, as well as eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.