Trivia

"Take Five" (1959) was his biggest selling single. However, contrary to popular belief, he did not write it; that was done by his longtime musical partner and sax player Paul Desmond (who plays on the record).

In 1954, Brubeck was the second jazz musician to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. Brubeck found that embarrassing considering he considered Duke Ellington more worthy and was convinced that he himself was featured because he was white and told Ellington that.

Dedicated two album tracks to his children: "Kathy's Waltz" (from "Time Out" 1959) was inspired by his only daughter Catherine, and "Charles Matthew Hallelujah" (from "Time Further Out" 1961) was inspired by son Matthew. His record label, Columbia, misspelled Catherine as "Kathy" but the typo was left unaltered.

His father was a cattle rancher and his mother was a piano teacher.

Studied with composer Darius Milhaud. Brubeck's son, Darius Brubeck, in named for him.

Is the composer of a large body of work both jazz and classical.

Was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1994 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington, DC.

Is a pianist, band leader and composer.

Winner of the first Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy, given by the US Department of State, in April 2008.

Born at 6:35pm-PST

Jazz pianist.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1986.

Graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. The Conservatory at UOP holds special concerts every year as part of its Brubeck festival, and there is a Brubeck institute at the University of his works.

Father of Darius Brubeck, Chris Brubeck, Dan Brubeck, Matthew Brubeck and Catherine Brubeck Yaghsizian.

Received Honorary MFA 1946 from Mills College, Oakland, CA. There is a statue of him in the college's Music Department.

His six children include four musicians--Darius, Chris, Dan and Matthew.

Was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1716 Vine St.

Younger brother of Howard Brubeck.

One of the five winners of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors. Other 2009 winners were Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks, and Grace Bumbry.

He and his wife are buried at Umpawaug Cemetery in Redding, CT, beside the grave of stage and screen actress Barbara Baxley.

Mentioned in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959) {Caper at the Bijou (#1.1)}.