Jazz pianist icon Ahmad Jamal passed away at 92 years old last Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023. Jamal, whose influence has impacted generations of musicians and jazz artists alike, will be greatly missed by the community.
Since he was announced dead, Ahmad Jamal's cause of death has been kept under wraps.
Ahmad Jamal Cause of Death
The Washington Post initially reported his death, saying that the iconic jazz pianist passed away.
His daughter, Sumayah Jamal also confirmed his father's death to Rolling Stone. She revealed that Ahmad Jamal's cause of death was prostate cancer. The eventual demise of his father after a long and grueling battle with the disease was the cause of his death.
Sumayah said that her father died in their home at Ashley Falls in Massachusetts.
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Ahmad Jamal Music Career
Born July 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ahmad Jamal was initially named Frederick Rusell Jones. At the young age of three, he learned to play piano by being challenged by his uncle. Four years later, he began playing piano, thanks to the influence and help of Mary Cardwell Dawson.
Growing up he became immersed in the jazz community in Pittsburgh. He was influenced by Billy Strayhorn, Mary Lou Williams, Earl Hines, And even Errol Garner. He also received an education from James Miller and became a professional pianist by fourteen years old.
"I used to practice and practice with the door open, hoping someone would come by and discover me. I was never the practitioner in the sense of twelve hours a day, but I always thought about music. I think about music all the time," he told The New York Times when asked about his practicing techniques.
According to Rolling Stone, Ahmad Jamal originally performed under the name Fritz Jones, an ode to his given name. However, he also became one of the first African American artists who publicly converted to the Muslim faith, which led him to become Ahmad Jamal in the 1950s.
Ahmad Jamal Awards and Honors
In 1981, Ahmad Jamal received his very first Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental R&B Performance for "You're Welcome," and "Stop on By." He also became a renowned Jazz Master, as he was bestowed by the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2017, The Recording Academy gave him a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contribution to jazz education and his impact on the jazz and music community in general.
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