Larry Young

Born on October 7, 1940, in Newark, New Jersey, jazz organist Larry Young – also known by his Islamic name Khalid Yasin - made a big impact in the world of jazz and jazz fusion during his short life. His pioneering style on the Hammond B-3 organ led to his services being in demand by some of the top names in American music with him making an appearance as a sideman on some of the finest jazz fusion albums of 1960s. Names such as Miles Davis, Woody Shaw, Grant Green, and John McLaughlin all used Larry Young's talents on the organ to give depth, rhythm and melody to their recordings. After several albums as a leader on the New Jazz and Prestige labels, Larry Young signed to Blue Note Records, and he appears on a number of classic Blue Note recordings from that era. He also released several albums as a leader including Into Somethin’ (1965), Unity (1966), Of Love and Peace (1967), Contrasts (1968), and Heaven on Earth (1969). During his career he was closely associated with the gifted jazz guitarist Grant Green and drummer Elvin Jones and the three musicians often performed and recorded as a trio, usually under Green's name. One of their best-loved works was a seven-minute version of the Lennon and McCartney's song “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and was the title track from Green's album of the same name released in 1965. Larry Young continued to record for the Perception and Arista labels into the 1970s. After checking himself into the hospital for stomach pains, Larry Young died on March 30, 1978, at the age of 37. The exact cause of death is still unknown.

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