Bandleader Chico Hamilton Dies

The Los Angeles native began his career in the 1950s and went on to record more than 60 albums as a bandleader and appeared in and scored films.

Hamilton moved to New York in 1965, where he founded a commercial and film music production company.

He later helped found New School University Jazz & Contemporary Music Program in 1987.

The National Endowment for the Arts named Hamilton a Jazz Master in 2004 and the Kennedy Center designated the performer a Living Jazz Legend in 2007. He continued to record up to his 90th birthday.