His stunning debut album, Takin' Off, released in 1962, featured jazz greats such as Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard, and introduced Hancock's tune “Watermelon Man.
” This song was made into a hit by Mongo Santamaria a year later, and it has since been recorded by over 200 artists. In 1963, he joined jazz giant
Miles Davis's quintet
. During Hancock's tenure, the Davis rhythm section (of Hancock, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums)...