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.
You Taught My Heart To Sing
McCoy Tyner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sound of violins
The song of birds high on the wing
You taught my heart to sing
Why does this heart of mine
Feel like a valentine
You smiled and suddenly it's spring
My heart was an empty shell
Then you came along
Now my heart's a carousel
Filled with song
The miracle of you
Will last my whole life through
You're all I'll keep remembering
You taught my heart to sing
My heart was an empty shell
Then you came along
Now my heart's a carousel
Filled with song
The miracle of you
Will last my whole life through
You're all I'll keep remembering
You taught my heart to sing
Oh la la la la la la la
You taught my heart
You taught my heart to sing
You taught my heart to sing
In the song "You Taught My Heart to Sing," McCoy Tyner describes how meeting someone special can change your entire outlook on life. The sound of violins and the song of birds are used as metaphors to represent the happiness and hope that this person brings. The person in question "taught" Tyner's heart to sing, meaning that they filled him with love and joy, much like a teacher would teach a student.
As the song progresses, Tyner's heart is compared to an "empty shell" before meeting this person, and then a "carousel filled with song" once they enter his life. The miracle of this person’s impact on Tyner's life will last his whole life through, serving as a memory of this special person and the happiness they brought into his life.
The phrase “Oh la la la la la la la” at the end of the song feels like a cathartic release of happiness and love, emphasizing the joy that Tyner has found in this person.
Overall, "You Taught My Heart To Sing" is a beautiful and poetic love song that expresses the power of love to change someone's life for the better. The metaphorical language Tyner uses creates a sense of whimsy and enchantment, painting a picture of the sheer joy that comes from finding someone that brings light into our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
We meet and it begins
The start of something new and exciting as two people come together.
The sound of violins
The music that fills the air, symbolizing the beauty and grace of the moment.
The song of birds high on the wing
The natural world joining in on this magical moment, adding melody and harmony.
You taught my heart to sing
A declaration of love and appreciation for the other person, who has brought joy and meaning to life.
Why does this heart of mine
A rhetorical question expressing wonder at the intensity of one's feelings.
Feel like a valentine
Comparing oneself to a symbol of love and affection, overwhelmed by the strong emotions.
You smiled and suddenly it's spring
The power of a smile to transform the world, bringing warmth and renewal to everything.
My heart was an empty shell
Before meeting the other person, life and love felt meaningless and hollow.
Then you came along
The turning point when everything changed for the better, thanks to the arrival of someone special.
Now my heart's a carousel
The happiness and excitement that fills one's heart when in love, spinning and soaring like a ride at a fairground.
Filled with song
All the beautiful feelings and emotions that come from being in love, expressed through music and lyrics.
The miracle of you
Recognizing the incredible value and uniqueness of the other person, and the way they have impacted one's life.
Will last my whole life through
A vow to always treasure this love and hold it dear, no matter what the future holds.
You're all I'll keep remembering
An acknowledgement that this love will always be a part of one's memories and heart, even when physically apart.
You taught my heart to sing
Reiterating the impact and importance of the other person, in bringing love, joy, and meaning to one's life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MC COY TYNER, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Habanero212
I'm crying. What a loss! He was one of the last titans left. RIP
JoshuaScheffrin
So absolutely beautiful!
JoshuaScheffrin
So very beautiful and angelic...
Al Habeeb
😭❤️ you will not be forgotten
Spitzerauditiv-Coaching mit Musik
R.I.P