Billy Higgins (October 11, 1936 – May 3, 2001) was an American musician who played the drums. He primarily performed free jazz and hard bop music.
Biography
Billy Higgins was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. He began playing music with Ornette Coleman’s first recordings in 1958. Later, he worked with many musicians who played hard bop and other post-bop styles, including Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Don Cherry, Paul Horn, Milt Jackson, Jackie McLean, Pat Metheny, Hank Mobley, Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan, David Murray, Art Pepper, Sonny Rollins, Mal Waldron, and Cedar Walton. He was one of the main drummers for Blue Note Records and played on many Blue Note albums from the 1960s. He also worked with composer La Monte Young and guitarist Sandy Bull.
Throughout his career, Higgins played on more than 700 recordings, including music from rock and funk genres. He appeared as a jazz drummer in the 1986 movie Round Midnight and the 2001 movie Southlander.
In 1989, Higgins helped create a cultural center called The World Stage in Los Angeles to support young jazz musicians. The center offers classes in performance and writing, as well as concerts and recordings. Higgins also taught in the jazz studies program at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Billy Higgins passed away from kidney and liver failure on May 3, 2001, at a hospital in Inglewood, California.
Discography
- In the year 1979: Soweto (Red)
- In the year 1979: The Soldier (Timeless, [1981])
- In the year 1980: Once More (Red)
- In the year 1984: Mr. Billy Higgins (Evidence)
- From 1980 to 1986: Bridgework (Contemporary)
- In the year 1994: ¾ for Peace (Red)
- In the year 1997: Billy Higgins Quintet (Evidence)
- In the year 2001: The Best of Summer Nights at Moca (Exodus)