Larry Young

7th October 1940 - 30th March 1978

orn in Newark, New Jersey, Larry Young studied piano and taught himself to play the organ. He played in R&B groups from the age of seventeen and in 1960 began recording under his own name. In 1961 he recorded with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest and then went on to play with, among many others, Grant Green, Joe Henderson and Elvin Jones after signing to Blue Note

He often freelanced on piano and sometimes played under his Muslim name Khalid Yasin. After making the transition from jazz to jazz/rock in the late 1960's he recorded with Tony William's Lifetime, John McLaughlin and Miles Davis. Heavily influenced by John Coltrane's later works, Larry Young's recognition never quite matched his playing talents.

Young died in hospital from pneumonia which he contracted while undergoing treatment for a stomach infection.