Legendary jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea passed away on February 9th at age 79 due to a rare form of cancer that was recently discovered.

A 23-time Grammy winner and founder of the influential jazz fusion group Return to Forever, Corea left an indelible mark on jazz music through his five-decade career. He released over 80 studio albums, beginning with "Tones for Joan's Bones" in 1968.

In his final message to fans, Corea encouraged aspiring musicians: "It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It's not only that the world needs more artists, it's also just a lot of fun."

Notable achievements include:

• Founded Return to Forever in 1971
• Received 67 Grammy nominations and 23 wins
• Created enduring jazz standards like "Spain," "500 Miles High," and "Windows"
• Collaborated with jazz giants including Miles Davis, Gary Burton, and Steve Gadd

Musicians worldwide paid tribute to Corea's legacy, including eight-time Grammy winner Eddie Palmieri who called him "a mentor and dear friend," and NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd who remembered their deep musical explorations in 1960s New York.

Before launching his solo career, Corea performed with Blue Mitchell and Herbie Mann. His final album was released in 1977, though he continued performing live well into the 2000s.

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