Herbie Hancock explains how he composed Watermelon Man and how Mongo Santamaria influenced it. He then performs both the original 1962 and the 1973.

Jackie Vernon (born Ralph Verrone; March 29, 1924 – November 10, 1987) was an American stand-up comedian and actor who is best known for his role as the voice of Frosty the Snowman in the Rankin/Bass Productions Christmas special Frosty the Snowman and its sequel Frosty's Winter Wonderland. Vernon was known for his gentle, low-key delivery and self-deprecating humor. He has been hailed as "The King of Deadpan.

Watermelon Man" is a jazz standard written by Herbie Hancock for his debut album, Takin' Off (1962). Hancock's first version was released as a grooving hard bop record, and featured improvisations by Freddie Hubbard and Dexter Gordon. A single reached the Top 100 of the pop chart. Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaría released the tune as a Latin pop single and it became a surprise hit, reaching No. 10 on the pop chart. Santamaría's recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Watermelon Man from Herbie Hancock, digital piano sheet music to print. Choose between several difficulty levels, from beginner to expert. He re-recorded the track for the album Head Hunters released in 2003. Watermelon Man is a jazz standard and has been recorded many times by artists the world over. Choose sheet music to print at home.

Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man quickly became a jazz standard after being released, having been recorded by lots of artists in less than 5 years after the first release. Hancock later released a perhaps even better-known version of the song in the 70’s on the Head Hunters album. Watermelon Man" Track Info. Written By Herbie Hancock. Bass Paul Jackson (Jazz). Soprano Saxophone Bennie Maupin. Keyboards Herbie Hancock.

Jackie Vernon, a television and nightclub comedian, died of a heart attack yesterday at his home in Hollywood. He was 62 years old. Mr. Vernon, who was born in New York as Ralph Verrone and attended City College, began his comedy career in the early 1950's after a stint in the Air Force. In his television, club and Las Vegas performances, Mr. Vernon frequently played the hapless loser, whose deadpan routines often combined self-deprecating humor and imaginatively offbeat social and psychological satire. In one routine, the portly comedian described himself as someone ''who spends his time at parties in the room with the coats and whose idea of a good time is to go down to the bus terminal and pretend I'm going somewhere.

Watermelon Man was written by Herbie Hancock, originally for his 1962 hit record Takin’ Off. Hancock wrote this tune with the intention of marketing his record, and was the first tune he composed for commercial reasons. Watermelon Man became a hit, and he would later record it with his Head Hunters band as well in 1973. This 16 bar blues is played in a straight eight groove, originally a latin-rock style, and later funk. It is most commonly played in the key of F. Chord Charts. Videos to learn the melody/changes. Watermelon Man. 06:32. 06:32

Jackie Vernon, Actor: Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July. After many years of performing in small nightclubs around the country, the comedian Steve Allen discovered Mr. Vernon in a club in Windsor, Ontario, in 1963, and asked him to appear on his.

Watermelon Man! ‎ (LP, Album). Mongo Santamaria Orchestra - Get The Money. Mongo Santamaria - Watermelon Man (1963) 3:16.