Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938 - March 6, 2020) was a jazz pianist f… Read Full Bio ↴Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938 - March 6, 2020) was a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.

Tyner was born in Philadelphia as the oldest of three children. He was encouraged to study piano by his mother. He finally began studying the piano at age 13 and within two years, music had become the focal point in his life. His early influences included Bud Powell, a Philadelphia neighbor. Among many other things, Tyner's playing can be distinguished by a low bass left hand, in which he tends to raise his arm relatively high above the keyboard for an emphatic attack, creating at times a veritable tsunami of sound. Tyner's unique right hand soloing is recognizable for a detached, or staccato quality, and descending arpeggios, both of a triadic shape and in other patterns. His unique approach to chord voicing has influenced a wide array of contemporary jazz pianists.

Tyner's first main exposure came with Benny Golson being the first pianist in Golson's and Art Farmer's legendary Jazztet (1960). After departing the Jazztet, Tyner joined Coltrane's group in 1960. (Coltrane had known Tyner for a while, and featured one of the pianist's compositions, "The Believer", as early as 1958.) He appeared on the saxophonist's popular recording of "My Favorite Things" for Atlantic Records. The Coltrane Quartet, which consisted of Coltrane on tenor sax, Tyner, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums, toured almost non-stop between 1961 and 1965 and recorded a number of classic albums, including Live at the Village Vanguard, Ballads, Live at Birdland, Crescent, A Love Supreme, and The John Coltrane Quartet Plays ..., on the Impulse! label.

Tyner has recorded a number of highly influential albums in his own right. While in Coltrane's group, he recorded a series of relatively conservative albums (primarily in the piano trio format) for Impulse, starting with the fleet-fingered Inception (1962), which showcases Tyner's work as a composer. After leaving Coltrane's group, Tyner began a series of post-bop albums released on the Blue Note label, in the 1967–1970 time frame (The Real McCoy, 1967; Tender Moments, 1967; Expansions, 1968; Extensions, 1970). Soon thereafter he moved to the Milestone label and recorded many influential albums, including Sahara (1972), Enlightenment (1973), and Fly With The Wind (1976), which featured flautist Hubert Laws, drummer Billy Cobham, and a string orchestra. His music for Blue Note and Milestone often took the Coltrane quartet's music as a point of departure and also incorporated African and East Asian musical elements. On Sahara, for instance, Tyner plays koto, in addition to piano, flute, and percussion. These albums are often cited as examples of vital, innovative jazz from the 1970s that was neither fusion nor free jazz. Trident (1975) is notable for featuring Tyner on harpsichord (rarely heard in jazz) and celeste, in addition to his primary instrument, piano. Often cited as a major influence on younger jazz musicians, Tyner still records and tours regularly and played from the 1980s through '90s with a trio that included Avery Sharpe on bass and Aaron Scott on drums. He made a trio of mature yet vibrant solo recordings for Blue Note, starting with Revelations (1988) and culminating with Soliloquy (1991). Today Tyner records for the Telarc label and has been playing with different trios, the most recent of which includes Charnett Moffett on bass and Eric Harland on drums.

Tyner was a Sunni Muslim for a period of time beginning at the age of eighteen. His Muslim name was Sulaimon Saud. Today Tyner does not practice a specific religion.

McCoy Tyner was also married at one time and has three sons. His brother, Jarvis Tyner, is a high official in the leadership of the American Communist Party. McCoy, however, is not a pronounced advocate of any political ideology.

Inception
McCoy Tyner Lyrics

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S.P.O.C.K
Miscellaneous
Dr McCoy
Senior ship's surgeon since '66
Multitalented, knows all the tricks
Been almost everywhere in the galaxy
Traveled time and changed history
Has a running feud with a green-blooded man

Takes every opportunity to argue if he can
He's one of a kind, says what's on his mind
You might think he's complaining when you here him saying
He's a doctor - not an escalator
He's a doctor - not a bricklayer
He's a doctor - not a shuttle-conductor
And everybody knows him as Dr McCoy
He's a doctor - not an engineer
He's a doctor - and not a magician
He's a doctor - not a psychiatrist
And you know that I'm talking about Dr McCoy
Doesn't like transporters at all
Prefers a shuttle if possible
Suffered once from Xenopolycytemia
Married twice, has a daughter, Joanna
Charged with murder of Klingon Chancellor
Managed to escape with a fellow officer
Doesn't make house calls, had a katra in his head
Cures a rainy day and wakes up the dead
He's a doctor - not an escalator
He's a doctor - not a bricklayer
He's a doctor - not a shuttle-conductor
And everybody knows him as Dr McCoy
He's a doctor - not an engineer
He's a doctor - and not a magician

He's a doctor - not a psychiatrist
And you know that I'm talking about Dr McCoy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Dr McCoy" by S.P.O.C.K. are an ode to the iconic character from Star Trek: The Original Series, Dr McCoy (also known as Bones). The song mentions McCoy's background as the senior ship's surgeon, his travels across the galaxy and through time as well as his feuds with Spock, the half-Vulcan science officer on the USS Enterprise. Despite his irritable nature and penchant for arguing, McCoy is respected as a multitalented physician who can cure a rainy day and wake up the dead. The repeated phrase "He's a doctor - not ________" emphasizes that McCoy's primary job is to be a medical professional rather than a technician, construction worker or therapist.

The song highlights McCoy's distinctive personality traits, such as his dislike for transporters and preference for shuttles. It also mentions his marriages and daughter, as well as his involvement in the assassination of a Klingon Chancellor. The reference to "had a katra in his head" alludes to the events of the Star Trek film, The Search for Spock, in which McCoy is unknowingly carrying the soul of Spock within him.

Overall, "Dr McCoy" celebrates the character's gruff but empathetic persona and his role as a crucial member of the USS Enterprise crew.

Line by Line Meaning

Senior ship's surgeon since '66
McCoy Tyner has been the main surgeon on the ship since the year 1966.

Multitalented, knows all the tricks
McCoy Tyner is highly skilled and knowledgeable in many areas.

Been almost everywhere in the galaxy
McCoy Tyner has traveled to and explored many different parts of the galaxy.

Traveled time and changed history
McCoy Tyner has traveled through time and has influenced or altered important events in history.

Has a running feud with a green-blooded man
McCoy Tyner has an ongoing conflict or disagreement with an individual who has green blood.

Takes every opportunity to argue if he can
McCoy Tyner tries to engage in debates or disagreements whenever he has the chance to do so.

He's one of a kind, says what's on his mind
McCoy Tyner is unique in his personality and always speaks his thoughts and opinions.

You might think he's complaining when you hear him saying
McCoy Tyner's statements or comments may sound like he is complaining, although he may be expressing a legitimate concern or observation.

He's a doctor - not an escalator
McCoy Tyner's profession is that of a doctor and not that of an escalator operator.

He's a doctor - not a bricklayer
McCoy Tyner's profession is that of a doctor and not that of a bricklayer.

He's a doctor - not a shuttle-conductor
McCoy Tyner's profession is that of a doctor and not that of a shuttle operator.

And everybody knows him as Dr McCoy
McCoy Tyner is well-known and recognized by his professional name, Dr. McCoy.

He's a doctor - not an engineer
McCoy Tyner's profession is that of a doctor and not that of an engineer.

He's a doctor - and not a magician
McCoy Tyner's profession is that of a doctor and not that of a magician.

He's a doctor - not a psychiatrist
McCoy Tyner's profession is that of a doctor and not that of a psychiatrist.

Doesn't like transporters at all
McCoy Tyner has a dislike or uneasiness towards travel through transporter technology.

Prefers a shuttle if possible
McCoy Tyner would prefer to travel via shuttlecraft when possible instead of using transporter technology.

Suffered once from Xenopolycytemia
McCoy Tyner had an illness called Xenopolycytemia at some point in his life.

Married twice, has a daughter, Joanna
McCoy Tyner has been married two times and has a daughter by the name of Joanna.

Charged with murder of Klingon Chancellor
McCoy Tyner was accused of murdering a chancellor of the alien species known as Klingons.

Managed to escape with a fellow officer
McCoy Tyner was able to avoid punishment or capture by leaving with a companion from the situation in which he was charged with murder.

Doesn't make house calls, had a katra in his head
McCoy Tyner does not visit patients at their homes and had the essence or consciousness of another being implanted in his mind.

Cures a rainy day and wakes up the dead
McCoy Tyner's medical expertise is so profound that he can even lift the spirits of the most despondent individuals and revive individuals who have been declared dead.

And you know that I'm talking about Dr McCoy
The individual speaking is specifically discussing Dr. McCoy and his various attributes.

Writer(s): Mccoy Tyner

Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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