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Coverage dated December 31, 2023 to January 1, 2024

Les McCann, innovative jazz musician best known for 'Compared to What,' dies at 88

Headline from KTVB Boise

McCann became a favorite source for sampling by Dr. Dre, A Tribe Called Quest and hundreds of other hip-hop performers

KTVB Boise's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

30 articles, oldest first.

  1. NBC New York

    ‘Compared to What' performer Les McCann, a wellspring for hip-hop samples, dies at 88 (opens NBC New York)

    Published

    NBC New York's feed description

    Les McCann, a jazz titan best known for his performance with musical partner Eddie Harris of the protest song “Compared to What,” has died at age 88, his manager said Sunday.

  2. Deadline

    Les McCann Dies: Legendary Jazz Pianist & Singer Was 88 (opens Deadline)

    Published

    Deadline's feed description

    Les McCann, acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist whose greatest commercial success came with the 1969 song “Compared to What”, from his album Swiss Movement, criticizing the Vietnam War,…

  3. New York Times

    Les McCann, Pianist, Singer and Soul Jazz Pioneer, Dies at 88 (opens New York Times)

    Published

    New York Times's feed description

    He released more than 50 albums but had his greatest commercial success with “Compared to What,” a recording that came together at the last minute in 1969.

  4. Variety

    Les McCann, Legendary Jazz Pianist Sampled by Notorious B.I.G. and Snoop Dogg, Dies at 88 (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Les McCann, the veteran jazz pianist who has been sampled countless times and is best known for the protest song 'Compared to What,' has died.

  5. KTVB Boise

    Les McCann, innovative jazz musician best known for 'Compared to What,' dies at 88 (opens KTVB Boise)

    Published

    KTVB Boise's feed description

    McCann became a favorite source for sampling by Dr. Dre, A Tribe Called Quest and hundreds of other hip-hop performers

  6. Los Angeles Times

    L.A. jazz pianist and 'Compared to What' singer Les McCann dies at 88 (opens Los Angeles Times)

    Published

    Los Angeles Times's feed description

    McCann, 88, died in a Los Angeles-area hospital Friday after being hospitalized with pneumonia, his longtime manager and producer told The Times.

  7. Rolling Stone

    Les McCann, Jazz Pioneer Sampled by Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre, Dead at 88 (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Les McCann, a trailblazing jazz pianist and singer whose work was sampled by Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre, has died at the age of 88.

  8. The Hollywood Reporter

    Les McCann, Soulful Jazz Great Sampled by Notorious B.I.G. and Dr. Dre, Dies at 88 (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

    Published

    The Hollywood Reporter's feed description

    The acclaimed musician released more than 60 albums but was arguably best known for his 1969 Montreaux Jazz Festival performance of protest song "Compared to What."

  9. The Boston Globe

    Les McCann, pianist, singer, and soul jazz pioneer, dies at 88 (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    The Grammy nominee provided the vocals to the protest song “Compared to What.”

  10. NPR

    Les McCann, jazz pianist with a soulful holler, dies at 88 (opens NPR)

    Published

    NPR's feed description

    An impromptu jam of "Compared to What" gave McCann a career-defining moment at the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival.

  11. Fox News

    Jazz pioneer Les McCann, known for 'Compared to What,' dies at 88 (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Les McCann, a musician and recording artist known for his contributions to the soul-jazz genre and influential collaborations in the music industry, has died at 88.

  12. The Daily Caller

    Legendary Jazz Artist Les McCann Dies At 88 (opens The Daily Caller)

    Published

    The Daily Caller's feed description

    Legendary jazz artist Les McCann died Friday at the age of 88, according to multiple reports.

  13. People

    Les McCann, Soul Jazz Pianist and Singer Sampled by Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg and Others, Dead at 88 (opens People)

    Published

    People's feed description

    Les McCann, soul jazz pianist and singer, has died. The musician was known for his 'Swiss Movement' live album, pioneering the soul jazz sound and his samples on Notorious B.I.G, Snoop Dogg and A Tribe Called Quest songs.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Les McCann, innovative jazz musician best known for 'Compared to What,' dies at 88 | Since Then