Mike Wofford

Michael Wofford, born Michael Wofford on February 28, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas, was an American jazz pianist and composer. He began classical piano lessons at age seven and was introduced to jazz through his mother and radio. He studied music at Westlake College of Music and began his professional career in the late 1950s. Wofford's early career included playing with local bands and having two of his compositions performed by the San Diego Symphony at age 19. In 1959, he joined Howard Rumsey's band, the Lighthouse All Stars, and later moved to Los Angeles where he was featured on Mel Tormé's Comin' Home Baby! album in 1962. Known for his elegant, harmonically sophisticated style and his work as both a leader and an accompanist, Wofford released his debut solo album, Strawberry Wine, in 1966 under Epic Records, which received critical acclaim. He gained recognition for his collaborations with top jazz vocalists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, and Sarah Vaughan, as well as instrumentalists such as Shelly Manne, Joe Pass, and Gerald Wilson as regular member of his orchestra from 1968 to the 1980s. Throughout his career, he has recorded extensively as a leader and sideman, performing in both small-group settings and solo piano concerts. Wofford’s playing is characterized by a refined touch, inventive harmonies, and a deep understanding of swing and bebop traditions. His own recordings as leader with various musicians include Summer Night (1968), Scott Joplin: Interpretations of '76 (1976), Afterthoughts (1976), Mike Wofford Plays Jerome Kern, Vols 1-3 (1980-1981), Funkallero (1987), Mike Wofford at Maybeck (1992), Synergy (1998), Time Cafe (2001), Turn Signal (2012), and It's Personal (2013). He continued performing and recording until his death on September 19, 2025, in San Diego, California.

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